Makrina of Portaria

Macrina of Portaria (in Greek: Μακρίνα της Πορταριάς), also known as Elder Macrina (1921-1995) was a nun, hegumen, and monastery founder. A disciple and friend of Ephraim of Arizona and Joseph the Hesychast, she is credited with several miracles according to Eastern Orthodox hagiographical accounts about her.

Macrina founded the Monastery of Panagia Hodigitria of Portaria in 1963 and distinguished herself as an hegumen and spiritual mother. Throughout her monastic career, she received numerous visitors seeking her spiritual guidance, including Iakovos of Evia. She gained a certain notoriety during her lifetime and died within the community she had established.

Biography She was born with the name Maria Vassopoulou in 1921 in the vicinity of Smyrna. Her family, described as devout Christians, had to flee after the fall of Smyrna to Turkish troops, who committed numerous massacres and ethnic cleansings there. partly as a housekeeper for a wealthy family. The situation for Vassopoulou and her younger brother, George, worsened, and she decided to send him to their uncle in Thessaloniki so that he could be fed. and the two met and prayed together. that she would have experienced: as he was Ephraim's spiritual father.

She led the monastery until her death on 4 June 1995. Sophrony of Essex, canonized in 2019, stated about her that she was "a titan of the spirit".

Although she is not officially canonized, the Metropolis of Morphou used the title of Venerable to describe her in 2024.