Another time, Elder Ambrose Lazaris said to one of his spiritual children:
"Sit in your room on your knees, raise your hands and head high and pray. Christ will help you. And say something like 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on your servant Ambrose' on my behalf. Pray from half past ten to eleven at night, because at this time I will also pray for you, and so will Saint Nektarios."
The man was delighted, agreed and left.
He began to do as the Elder had told him. One evening, however, when he was in a good mood, he put on and listened to folk songs on the cassette player.
He had the volume turned up loud, he enjoyed it and sang along himself.
However, at half past ten, he heard the telephone ringing. He stopped the music and picked up the receiver.
"Your blessing!" he heard the Elder say to him.
"Elder, is it you?" the man asked in surprise.
"Oh, blessed one, didn’t I tell you to pray at such an hour? What are you doing? Your songs drove me crazy. The clarinets can be heard all the way here!"
Source: From the book of the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Gavriotissa, Elder Ambrose Lazaris, The Spiritual Father of the Monastery of Dadiou, The Bosom Friend of Saint Porphyrios. Texts by Michalis Leventis, published by Athos Publications. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
"Sit in your room on your knees, raise your hands and head high and pray. Christ will help you. And say something like 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on your servant Ambrose' on my behalf. Pray from half past ten to eleven at night, because at this time I will also pray for you, and so will Saint Nektarios."
The man was delighted, agreed and left.
He began to do as the Elder had told him. One evening, however, when he was in a good mood, he put on and listened to folk songs on the cassette player.
He had the volume turned up loud, he enjoyed it and sang along himself.
However, at half past ten, he heard the telephone ringing. He stopped the music and picked up the receiver.
"Your blessing!" he heard the Elder say to him.
"Elder, is it you?" the man asked in surprise.
"Oh, blessed one, didn’t I tell you to pray at such an hour? What are you doing? Your songs drove me crazy. The clarinets can be heard all the way here!"
Source: From the book of the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Gavriotissa, Elder Ambrose Lazaris, The Spiritual Father of the Monastery of Dadiou, The Bosom Friend of Saint Porphyrios. Texts by Michalis Leventis, published by Athos Publications. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
