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Blessed Elder St '''Porphyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kapsokalyvite''' (1906-1991) was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment. He was officially recognized as a [[saint]] by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of Constantinople in 2013. His [[feast day]] is [[December 2]].

{{stub}}== Early life ==He was born [[February 7]] in the little village of St. John Karystia, in the province of Evoia. His parents, Leonidas and Eleni Bairaktaris (daughter of Antonios Lambrou), christened him Evangelos. He was fourth out of five siblings. Only his youngest sister is still alive and is a [[nun]]. His family was quite poor and so Evangelos left school at an early age, having completed only the second class of primary school, to assist his family to make more money. At some stage, he found a job working at a grocer store in Chalkidiki and also in Piraeus. He was taught to pray the [[Paraklesis]] by his father and all other religious matters. == Monastic life ==At age 13, he found his way to the skete of the Holy Trinity (Kafsokalyvia). Later [[tonsure]]d with his [[monasticism|monastic]] name of Nikitas. He became a [[monk]] at the age or fourteen of fifteen. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios for six years. Forced by pleurisy to depart the [[Mount Athos|Holy Mountain]], he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the [[priest]]hood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, [[Archbishop]] of Mount Sinai and Raithu, who recognized his spiritual gifts. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital [[chaplain]] in Athens, serving in the church of Saint Gerasimos, in which post he continued for three decades until his retirement in 1970. He continued to offer his service there until 1973, after which he served in Kallithea and Milesi. His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior

== History ==He was born In 1984 he sought to return to Mount Athos in order to occupy the same [[February 7cell]] which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon. This was in order to fulfil his monastic vows and to avoid any honors by being buried in the little village world. The request was granted following the repose of St. John Karystia, in the province previous occupant of Evoia. His parentsthe cell, Leonidas and Eleni Bairaktaris (daughter of Antonios Lambrou)so, christened him Evangelos. He was fourth out together with three of five siblings. Only his youngest sister is still alive and is a [[nun]]disciples, he returned to Mount Athos.

His family was quite poor and so Evangelos left school at an early age Having foretold to assist one of his family to make more money. At some stage, spiritual children that he found a job working at a grocer store would repose when the number of his disciples in Chalkidiki and also in Piraeusthe cell had reached five, prepared his tomb. He His blessed repose was taught to pray the [[Paraklisis]] by his father and all other religious mattersat 4:31am on December 2, 1991. At the age

== Monastic Life ==Later [[tonsure]]d with According to his [[monasticism|monastic]] name of Nikitas. He became request, a [[monk]] at the age or fourteen of fifteen. He vigil was served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two by his spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon children and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the [[Mount Athos|Holy Mountain]], he returned to only after his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the [[priest]]hood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, [[Archbishop]] of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital [[chaplain]] in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970). His later years burial were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration fathers of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same [[cell]] which he had earlier monasteries informed in life been forced order to abandonavoid posthumous honors and praise.

He has left behind Elder Damaskinos, his disciple from 1969, who reviews much of the published works about the elder. <refgroup="note"> This blessed elder has visited Australia, and other countries, on many occasions and has informed christians that much of the published work do not accurately reflect the true sayings and true beliefs of the elder - or have missed the true meaning through translations. He is in the process of writing official commentary to the latest "Wounded by Love", in which it is reported that the Elder had said that some trees where over 15,000 million years old. Elder Damaskinos says this has been a mis-understood comment as Elder Porphyrios did not believe Creation to be more than the official number of years set out by the Orthodox Church.^{''citation&nbsp;needed''} </ref> == Glorification ==On 27 November 2013 the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate formally glorified Elder Porphyrius as a saint, establishing 2 December as his feast day.<ref>''[http://www.patriarchate.org/news/releases/announcement-holy-and-sacred-synod Announcement by the Holy and Sacred Synod].'' The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Wednesday, November 27, 2013.</ref><ref>''[http://www.omhksea.org/2013/11/canonization-of-two-new-saints-by-the-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Canonization of Two New Saints by the Ecumenical Patriarchate].'' Ecumenical Patriarchate - Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia ([[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia|OMHKSEA]]). November 27, 2013. </ref>

== Notes ==<referencesgroup="note" /> ==References== <div><references/></div>

*[[http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Orthodox_Elders/Greek/Fr._Porphyrios/index.shtml Biography of Elder Porphyrios]]