An American had gone to St. Anthony’s monastery in Arizona with his company. At some point, Elder Ephraim comes out of the cell where he confesses the world and asks the young American:
„Do you have my child a good modern working phone?”
„Why do you ask Elder,” the young man asked.
„I want you to call a monastery on Mt. Athos so I can talk to them,” the elder replied.
Elder gave the number of the monastery and said to the young man:
„My child, call in about an hour and when you get a connection, give me the phone to talk.”
Indeed the young man after an hour called the monastery on Mt. Athos and told the monk who answered the phone that Elder Ephraim of Arizona wanted to talk with them. As he said this, the young American was heading towards Elder Ephraim’s cell to give him the phone.
The monk from Mt. Athos was surprised by the phone called and told the young man that Elder Ephraim was there and wanted to talk with him! The young American was shocked! And he hears Elder Ephraim tell him:
„Come on, my child John, so I told you to call so we could talk! I from Mt. Athos and you from Arizona to see what Orthodoxy is and what the grace of the Holy Spirit is. See you soon John!”
That’s what the elder told him and hung up the phone.
Young John was shocked! Frozen like a rock! He went to open the door of Elder Ephraim’s cell but he was not there.
Then he went to his company and began to tell them what happened. And when he finished narrating his story, Elder Ephraim came out of his cell and said to him:
„John, come see me!”
This event became the reason why the young man gave up the world and became a monk at St. Anthony’s monastery.
(Orthodox Parables and Stories)
