The Last Prophecy of Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Ephraim of Arizona, in the world of Ioannis Moraitis, became a novice of the Athos elder Joseph Hesychast at the age of 19. He devoted his whole life to the service of the Almighty and did a lot to strengthen Orthodoxy both in his homeland, in Greece, and in the USA. To a wide range of people, the elder is known for his accurate predictions. The last prophecy of Ephraim of Arizona is terrible and it seems to many that it has begun to come true.
Before talking about the prophecies of the elder, it is worth dwelling on his biography. At the age of 19, the young man comes to the monastery on Mount Athos to serve God. Later, Ephraim repeatedly said that he was a very ordinary young man and it was not easy for him to get used to life in a monastery.
But willpower, faith and a passionate desire to serve the Lord changed the young man. A significant role in its formation was played by a spiritual mentor — Joseph Hesychast. He was with Ephraim for 12 years, until his death. Under him, Ioannis Moraitis received the name Ephraim, leaving the mundane in the past.
In 1973, Ephraim became the rector of one of the oldest Athos monasteries, called Philotheos. Therefore, the prefix Philotheus was added to the name Ephraim. The new abbot suggested that the monastery adopt the rules of life of its mentor Joseph Hesychast. He was supported not only by the monks of Philotheos, but also by several other Athos monasteries.
The 50-year-old Hieromonk Ephraim became seriously ill in 1979. He was offered treatment in one of the Canadian clinics. The elder underwent surgery, which he underwent successfully. While rehabilitation continued, Ephraim visited some Orthodox Greek communities in Canada. He noticed that things were not going well in them.
Feeling responsible for the compatriots who lived across the ocean, the hieromonk took patronage of the monasteries in Canada and some US states. Ephraim often crossed the ocean to restore people's faith in God and strengthen the position of the church. Very little time passed, and the elder began to spend in the USA and Canada has more time than at home.
Through the efforts of Ephraim, several Orthodox monasteries were organized in the states of Pennsylvania and Arizona. For this, he became known as Ephraim of Arizona. Until his death on December 7, 2019, the elder took an active part in the life of the overseas Orthodox communities.
Elder Ephraim of Arizona said that evil will multiply in the 21st century. This will lead to numerous cataclysms and human suffering. But the most terrible test for humanity will be the war started by the Antichrist. It will start small and gradually cover the whole world. There will not be a single corner of the planet that will not feel the breath of death, and there will not be a single nation left untouched by the breath of death.
The elder said that the antichrist would have many supporters. Some of them will consciously become part of evil. But most will help the enemy of the human race out of ignorance and because of their weaknesses. It will be aggravated by the fact that people will be deaf and will cease to hear the call of prudence and the requests of the suffering. But those who bring war into our world will themselves be ground by its millstones and will ingloriously perish.
Whether to believe the predictions of Ephraim of Arizona or not — everyone decides for himself. I want to believe that the prophecy, which has already begun to come true, will not come true completely, and good with prudence will win.