A Beloved Disciple

Some time ago, I visited Metropolitan George Khodr at his home. I repeated before him the Lord’s words kept by John the Evangelist about the beloved disciple: “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”. Among us, Metropolitan George seems to be, in more than one way, another image of the beloved disciple. I am not saying that he believes that his hundred years signify anything. The man has lived. He loved to live, to live for one thing, for a God Whom he loved to serve. "Do you fear death?". This, he always answered it with: “I fear what comes after death”. It meant a lot to him that his birthday falls on the feast of saint Sisoes the Great. He used to reiterate to us, with every pulse in him, Sisoes' words on his death bed. It was said that Sisoes was talking to invisible people. Those who were present asked him about what he sees. He answered them: “a group of people are seeking to take me, and I am begging them to give me a little time, so that I repent”. Metropolitan George lived among us as a blessing so that we may repent. Live on, O Master.