One day, a man came to confession to the Monk Father Porphyrios Kafsokalivia....

One day, a man came to confession to the Monk Father Porphyrios Kafsokalivia with the aim of checking whether his father is perspicacious or not. He confessed in everything and did not tell only the most important thing - that he had a mistress. The elder listened to his confession, said something to him, read the absolution prayer. And only when they began to say goodbye, the elder called the hotel where this man met his mistress, and asked him not to meet there again - because his daughter works there now, and if she sees this, it will be a big trauma . He, of course, was stunned. I see here two very important points. First, elder could say: how are you, scoundrel,  dare to come to confession and trample the Holy Mystery by lies! He said nothing of the kind. And secondly, he said it only to to prevent even more trouble in the life of this man than the one into which he pounded himself with his way of life. And here I see a huge respect for man - it is Christ’s respect and unconditional, unlimited love.

Having come into contact with such love, a person will change - not immediately, but it will be real, salutary, not hypocritical, repentance - which happened in the case of this man over time. 

When a person loves another, he can always tell the truth in his face, even it it is bitter, but to say it in such a way that the other person will not be offended. But for this, every word must be imbued with great love - the love of Christ. 

Archpriest Pavel Velikanov