One time late in the day, the
hieromonk Father Fotis visited a house in our town Mytilene of the island of
Lesbos, and he stayed there over night. Before he fell asleep, he gave the
following command to the owner of the house: “Tomorrow morning we have a job to
do.”
Upon waking up the next morning, they left
Mytilene and went to Father Fotis’ sanctuary, where he quickly took the sacred
utensils and his priestly attire. Together they headed to the picturesque
church of the Mother of our God the “Milk-Giver”, within the old castle of the
city.
Once there, Father Fotis performed the Holy
Liturgy and then picked up the Holy Gifts and as he was fully dressed in his
priestly vestments he headed to one of the brothels which, in those times, used
to be in that area. There, the Father
administered last rites to a dying prostitute named Evlambia (last rites in the
Orthodox tradition consist of the Sacred Mysteries of Confession and the
reception of Holy Communion). The woman,
immediately after receiving communion found “Rest in our Lord” and died.
Later on, the house owner asked him about this
incident, and Father Fotis said:
“Incidents such as this have happened many
times before. One woman close to the Church of Saint Symeon told me of such
occasions, and so I started visiting the troubled souls in the brothels. They
allowed me in with respect and courtesy. I was talking to them about the
repentance from sins, the salvation of their souls, and the life to come. I
never talked meanly to them, but lovingly, and I would tell them to repent and
that Jesus would take care of them and would fully restore them in his heart.
Many of them repented.”
Father Fotis then told the man: “You
asked if I was scared. Who should I be afraid of? We only fear God when we sin.
I do not care about what people will say; I was acting for Christ!”
Father Fotis Lavriotis (of the monastery of
Great Lavra)
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