“Whereas Peter the apostle was speaking his own tongue the language was instantaneously transformed in the mind of the hearers. In an ineffable way the Holy Spirit made them understand the words in their language mystically, imperceptibly. These miraculous things happen through the action of the Holy Spirit. For example the word house would be heard by the person who spoke French as maison. It was a kind of gift of clear insight; they heard their own language. The sound struck their ears but in their minds to the divine illumination the words were heard in their own tongue…The uninitiated are unable to comprehend the meaning of the mystery of God.”
(St Elder Porphyrios in ‘Wounded by Love’)

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