Baldness and the Comb

 

— What is ‘experience’ in spiritual life, dearest Father?

 

— A comb that you acquire when you go bald.

 

— So, isn’t it useless?

 

— No, because you can then use it to comb the hair of others!

 

Saint Porphyrios’ words; Testimony of Metropolitan Neophytos Morfou

 

 *Photograph above: Saint Porphyrios venerated by bees

 

In the region of Kapandriti near Athens, a wonderful thing happens. Ten years ago, a devout beekeeper named Isidoros Ţiminis, thought to place in one of his hives an icon of the Crucifixion of the Lord. Soon thereafter, when he opened the hive, he was amazed that the bees showed respect and devotion to the icon, having “embroidered” it in wax, yet leaving uncovered the face and body of the Lord. Since then, every spring, he puts into the hives icons of the Savior, the Virgin Mary and the Saints, and the result is always the same. He placed a photograph of Elder Porphyrios (before he was canonized) in the hive, and the bees showed the same respect and veneration as towards other saints. (Mystagogy Resource Center)