I met the great Elder for the first time on 21 February 1986. My second son was born prematurely on that day, at eight months instead of the usual nine. He had a serious breathing problem. At the time I was living with my family in Athens where I studied theology. 

I immediately ran to Elder Porphyrios, about whom I had heard many, many amazing things. I asked him to intercede to God for me, to solve my son's problem. When I entered the room where the Elder could be found lying down, I was infinitely moved. I felt as if I found myself before a holy man who really lived according to God's will.

I told the Elder my problem and he immediately told me, "Go and find the doctors this minute, and tell them to keep giving oxygen to your child, and not to stop. Your child will become well anyway. Nothing will happen to him at all."

I returned to Athens immediately. I went to the hospital where my child was. I found the head nurse and I asked her to continue giving oxygen to my child. Her answer was: "That is our business. We know how long we should give oxygen to the child and when we should stop."

I left the head nurse's office. I went up to the first floor of the hospital. I found the gynaecologist who performed the delivery. I asked for my child to continue to be given oxygen. His reply was, "That's the head nurse's responsibility."