Orthodox Parables and Stories: Miracle of Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos

Our Lord said that His followers would perform miracles just as He did. Certainly, the life of Blessed Elder Philotheos gives ample evidence of his belonging to the company of Christ's true disciples. This is further confirmed by the abundant grace he possessed as a wonderworker, both during his lifetime and since his repose. His popularity as a confessor was heightened by his gift of clairvoyance: there are numerous examples of how he would remind people of specific sins they had forgotten or neglected to confess. There are recorded cases of barren couples who conceived soon after asking the Elder's intercession. Others have reported healings from goiter, from gangrene, from severe headaches and toothaches. A striking miracle was recorded by Efstathia and Andrew Brouma of Athens.

A son, George, was born to them in March 1963. He appeared to be a normal, healthy baby, but as the weeks went by, he stopped eating. A pediatrician diagnosed the problem as "hepatitic enlargement of the tubes" and blood tests revealed Cooley's Anemia, a condition requiring repeated blood transfusions. The prognosis for the infant was grim. A few days after the baby had been admitted to the hospital, the mother's sister recommended that they go see Elder Philotheos, who had just arrived in Athens from Paros. They did so, and, at the mother's tearful entreaty, the Elder accompanied them to the hospital.

The infant's weak breathing gave the only visible sign of life. The Elder prayed and made the sign of the Cross over the child. He then placed an icon of the Mother of God on the pillow. "What should I do?" asked the distraught mother. "Should I let him die here or should I take him home?" "No!" replied the Elder, "the doctors will give him to you in two or three days. However, in a year's time bring him to me on Paros." Those gathered around the crib were dumbfounded. "Father, what are you saying?" explained a nurse. "The child is at his end. It is unlikely that the doctors will even be able to perform the transfusion." "You are thinking one thing," responded the Elder, "and the Panagia is thinking another."

That night, the baby's fever rose and he had difficulty breathing. By morning, however, the fever had subsided, and when the nurse weighed him she was puzzled to discover that he had gained two and a half ounces: the baby hadn't eaten anything for two days.

It was a miracle. On the third day, the baby was released from the hosp'ital. His discharge papers read simply, "Anemia." The mother took her baby to Elder Philotheos to thank him for his wonderworking intercession. The Elder called the boy, "Moses-Theosostos" (God-saved).

Source: The Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos by S Kementzentzidis, trans, by Palis and Chalice, Thessaloniki 1986.