Commemorated on November 9
Saint Nektarios taught: “Remember always that the Lord is with you.”
Our beloved Saint Nektarios the great wonderworker, was born on October 1, 1846 with the name Anastasios Kephalas in Selebria, Thrace. Raised by pious Orthodox Christians, he was the fifth among his six brothers and sisters. His father Demos and his mother Vasiliki loved their family and instructed them well in the faith.
From his youth, Nektarios had a rich yearning for Christ and put his faith in him. Although he was raised with love, his family was poor and they were unable to survive without the work of their children.
Due to his family’s poverty, at the young age of 14, he left his hometown and traveled to Constantinople to better provide for himself. He remained there for some time working as the apprentice of a merchant. At the age of 20, Saint Nektarios left Constantinople and journeyed to Chios where he worked as a teacher. During these years, his inward desire to become a monastic grew stronger, and he visited the monasteries on the island frequently.
On November 7, 1875, Nektarios gave his whole life willingly to the service of our Lord. At the Nea Moni Monastery on Chios he was tonsured as a monastic with the new name Lazarus. After two years of sincere endurance fo the Lord, he was ordained a deacon on January 15, 1877 on the anniversary of his baptism, and then given the name Nektarios.
Nektarios then traveled to Athens where he finished his High School Education and progressed to study Theology. Due to his zeal for the faith, the great Saint began writing spiritual texts encouraging others in the faith. He was well loved by those who knew him. As he studied the faith, the Patriarch of Alexandria invited him to Egypt. Soon after, he was ordained a priest in March of 1886. There he settled in Cairo and was given a position at a local church as their priest.
St. Nektarios had a rich love for the beauty of God’s home and he preached with an open heart and with great passion for Christ. He served as a priest in Cairo for only a brief time before the Patriarch Sophronius appointed him Archimandrite (Gerondas / spiritual father) due to his zeal and deep love for the church. He worked with faith, humility, meekness, simplicity, sel-control and compassion. The Christians of Alexandra love him greatly.
Saint Nektarios remained at the church for some time and over the course of time he brought much joy and light into the church as well as among the people.
It was on the fifteenth of January that he was granted the honor of being Metropolitan of the Pentapolis, in the Saint Nicholas Church of Cairo. During his time there, the great Saint renovated the entire church and it looked anew. Nektarios took no pay for his work since the Patriarch was very poor. He only had a single room and was given food to eat each day. Nektarios always remained humble, and truly asked to God “What did I do to deserve this great honor when all I asked was to study theology? Let me carry out your will!” He was full of grace and kindness. He asked God to show him how to teach and instruct the people spiritually. All of those in his region were so amazed at his spirit, and they adored his good works.
Nektarios was appointed these positions due to his grace and purity, and naturally this brought jealously among those who were spiteful of his honorable titles.
At this time the Patriarch was still Sophronius, the same man who had ordained him a priest. He knew Nektarios for many years, but those who envied Nektarios were able to convince Sophronius that he was seeking his position as Patriarch. Sophronius did not sit well with these claims finding them strange, but after a year, on May 3, 1890 due to the accusations continuing, Saint Nektarios was taken from his position as Metropolitan. He still gave Nektarios a place to eat and sleep. However, sadly, the same year in July Sophronius also had Nektarios exiled from Egypt on the false note that he did not obey orders. Nektarios tried to speak with Patriarch Sophronius but he refused to see him.
Nekatrios accepted his exile and said “Glory be unto God.” He was meek and had the nature and kindness of a child. He desires no revenge nor did he even attempt to clear his name. He left from Cairo 1889 with no money, but he was with peace and settled back in Athens.
Unfortunately, the rumors of his false desires had spread to Athens and he was unable to get a reputable job. He accepted the work in 1893 as a preacher in a Euboia. All who heard his sermons were amazed by his wisdom. He was then granted the position as dean to Rizarios Ecclesiastical School of Athens. As a teacher to those seeking to be priests, he lifted their spirits and inspired them, as he was graced with the Holy Spirit. He put his greatest efforts instructing the students to be prepared for their duties as priests and to ensure they understood the correct nature and doxology of the Orthodox faith. He stood by them and did all he could to ensure they grew well within their understanding of Orhtodoxy.
With his new position as Dean, he gave to four worthy students each year a scholarship to school, which had not been done before. This gave those who could not afford to pay an opportunity to learn.
The church of Saint George was inside the property of the school. This church gathered many blessed and holy teachers from all over the world to enlighten the young minds that were attending the school.
When Nektarios spoke, his main teachings was to pray, make confession and give to the poor with all your heart!
During this time, he also gave greatly to those in need, whether it be materials, food or spiritual guidance. He was loved by many and those who knew of his grace would flock to him.
In July of 1898 he visited Mount Athos for the first time. He was grateful for this time and he met several Gerondas who he deeply admired. In August he returned to Constantinople. From there he traveled to his homeland of Silvia to honor his parents as they had died. He paid his respect at their grave. He also visited the icon of the Panagia in Silvia and took her blessing.
A woman sought his aid and asked if he could give the blessing to build a monastery on the island of Aegina. He gave the blessing and began aiding in the construction for the monastery in 1904. There were only four nuns who joined this monastery at the start. During this time, he still remained dean of the Theology school in Athens, but with time he realized those who had become nuns needed a spiritual father. On February 7,1908 he moved from Athens to Aegina and gave his complete attention to the monastery. He had also become ill and no longer felt like he fulfill his duties as the Dean.
Not only did he guide the sisters at the monastery, he was the helper to the entire island. However, the monastery had not yet took permission from the Metropolitan as his name was still tarnished within the hierarchal community. Throughout all this fighting and their harsh words, he remained humble and kind. He trusted in God’s Will and made patient with the situation. He would carve wooden crosses and sold them to help pay for the needs of the monastery. On the back of the cross he carved, “I bare my cross” to encourage those struggling to continue for Christ’s glory. His health remained rocky for the rest of his life. Still, he continued to do all he could to help others.
Bestowed through the grace of God with the gift of healing, he would cast out demons, cure the sick and even brought rain during the seasons of dryness.
Again he was the subject of slander as those who saw his good works envied them. He endured with humility and never tried to defend himself.
He lived on the island for 12 years guiding those and healing those in need.
In 1919 his health increasing fell. The nuns of the monastery worried greatly for him and encouraged he go to the hospital. He stayed in the hospital for 50 days. On Sunday the 8th of November he reposed with peace in 1920 at the age of 74. From his body, myrrh streamed and all in the hospital smelled this great fragrance. The next day the nuns took his body and thousands came to venerate him. After services, they properly buried him. His bodied remained intact for 20 years. It then began to decay like a regular body. On September 2, 1953 they took out his body and myrrh could be smelt from his body. In 1961 he was officially commemorated a saint by the Patriarch of Constantinople. His head and most of his body remain at the monastery he built in Aegina.
From his holy relics many miracles occurred, and continue to happen to this day. If one is to pray with faith and trust in the power of God, most prayers to St. Nekatrios are swiftly answered. Although any illness or sickness is acceptable, he is especially known to aid those who have cancer.
He remains in our hearts and minds, may it stay this way!
Glory be unto God for this great and pious saint of such modern times!
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 1
O faithful, let us honor Nectarius the divine servant of Christ, / offspring of Silyvria and guardian of Aegina, / who appeared in these last times as a true friend of virtue, / pouring forth all manner of healing upon those who reverently cry: / Glory to Him who gave you strength! / Glory to Him who granted you a crown! / Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!
Kontakion — Tone 8
Let us sing praises with gladness of heart / to the newly-shining star of Orthodoxy, the newly-built rampart of the Church. / Being glorified by the power of the Spirit, he pours forth the abundant grace of healings upon those who cry: / “Rejoice, Father Nectarius.”