Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia

The Story Behind This Icon:

Saint Porphyrios was born in 1907 in a small village in Evoia, Greece. Still a young boy, he decided he wanted to become a monk and took a boat to Thessaloniki in order to find his way to Mount Athos. He pretended to be the nephew of a monk named Panteleimon, who became his spiritual father at Kafsokalivia. Saint Porphyrios became a monk at the age of fourteen. A few years later, an accident which almost led to his death if not for the intercession of the Theotokos, led him to return home to Evoia due to health concerns. He lived at the monastery of Saint Haralambos, where he was tonsured as a priest and eventually became a confessor. Many people came to visit him and he became well known around Greece for his spiritual capabilities. He later served as the priest for the Polyclinic Hospital in Athens, spending thirty three years there. By that time, he was sixty six years old, but Saint Porphyrios still wanted to do one thing in his life: build a monastery. Finding land on a hilltop in Milesi of Greece, he founded the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration. After living and catering to his new monastery for many years, he returned to Mount Athos and spent the last few years of his life in his old cell. He fell asleep in 1991.

Saint Porphyrios’ feast day is celebrated on December 2.

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This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.

All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.

Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.