ABOUT ELDER EPHRAIM OF ARIZONA. PROTOPRESBYTER SERGIY BARANOV.

There once lived a small and thin old man, who seemed like no big deal. A man having no spiritual vision would had pass by without noticing him. The Elder was our contemporary, he passed away only two years ago. He had the same flesh and blood as we do. And this humble and thin old man achieved the greatest and exceptional Glory, so that people came to him even in his lifetime regarding him as a saint. Believe me, it was not just a lot of excitement, it was true. Now, when many people say that men and women are weak and the time of acts of faith and prayer passed, all of a sudden this small old man comes and proves that impossible is nothing. He was small, but had a strong hand. When I kissed that hand, I noticed it was all wiry like a bird’s claw. Because that hand worked hard throughout his life to gain what he had. From his early youth the Elder lived and struggled ascetically on Mount Athos under Elder Joseph the Hesychast, and what did he see there? He heard his name from the Elder only twice. Elder J