Metropolitan of Morphou N

eophytos:

Something we haven’t quite understood yet is that angels are not material beings; they are immaterial. This makes it very easy for them to enter us. We need to realize this. They can easily enter our hearts and inspire good desires, enter our minds and implant good thoughts, or enter our bodies to heal illnesses—sometimes latent ones that we haven’t even realized yet. The only thing required is that we call on them.

Now, I’ll share a story with you, and every story has its meaning and message. I grew up and became a deacon in Larnaca at the Church of St. George Kontos, named so because it’s near Larnaca. I remember a young man back then—it was rare to see someone with an earring in those days, unlike today, where wearing one might seem outdated. At that time, it was trendy and bold, especially for a man in his twenties.

I won’t mention his real name; let’s call him Andreas. He came to church with his earring, his hair tied in a bun, and wearing peculiar boots. He told me, “I want to confess.” We sent him to Father Symeon, our elder. Later, we became friends, and he himself told me what happened to him with his guardian angel.

Andreas eventually married and had a child. I knew his mother—she was a saintly woman of prayer, always on her knees in supplication. They lived in a village about 20 kilometers outside Larnaca. Over time, Andreas began taking a destructive path: late nights, leaving his wife alone at home even though they were newly married, and generally behaving irresponsibly. His mother grew distressed and prayed fervently because she could see her son ruining his life and marriage. Andreas began frequenting nightclubs and associating with dubious friends who led him away from his family and the Church, making him a man of the night and heavy drinking.

One Saturday night, after staying out late and drinking, he decided to drive home alone. On his way from Larnaca to his village—a 20-kilometer journey—he fell asleep at the wheel. He was drunk, exhausted, and barely functioning. Naturally, the car should have crashed at the first turn, and it’s very likely he would have died.

Do you know what happened? He told me this story with tears in his eyes. After some time, he woke up and realized the car was still moving. It was steering through the bends. He asked himself, “Who’s driving? How long have I been like this?” He then saw two radiant hands holding the steering wheel, turning it at the curves and aligning it on the straights. This continued until the car reached the outskirts of his village.

He said, “Father Neophytos, for 20 kilometers, my car was driven by someone invisible—I could only see his glowing hands. I was filled with such awe that I asked aloud, ‘Who are you who loves me so much that you didn’t let me die?’” He then heard a voice: “I am your guardian angel. Be careful and do not sin.”

He said, “At that moment, I grabbed the wheel, and the radiant hands disappeared.”