By Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong
I read that some people write that they visit some Elders and ask them “when will the events happen”?
What does “the events” mean?
About world wars, the taking of Constantinople, and the like?
I believe you understand how foolish this is, if it really happens…
Does someone go to a place of monastic asceticism, meet a monk, and the questions he asks are whether there will be wars and when will they begin?
Similar stories are mentioned in the 4th and 5th century elders. At that time, the ascetics would drive away those who went and asked such things. And they would only answer questions that concerned the spiritual life, the war against sinful passions, the life of humility and repentance.
Why do we consider it normal today for someone to go to a monk and ask to know “the future” as if the Elder were a tasseographer or a fortune teller?
The gifts of clairvoyance and foresight are given by the Holy Spirit not for the gifted futurologist to play with, but to help the faithful in the awareness of sin and for repentance.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
