A Brief Account Of The Life Of St. Nectarios, Metropolitan of Aegina

Commemorated on November 9th

by Father Demetrios Serfes

Boise, Idaho, USA

November 8, 2000

St. Nectarios, towards the end of his life, was the Metropolitan of the island of Aegina, and was born in 1846, in Selybria, in Thrace, Greece. This loving saint after serving in the diocese of Alexandria, Egypt, eventually after much jealousy, eventually became Dean of the School of Theology in Athens in 1910, after so many years he then became the founder of a Greek Orthodox Convent on the island of Aegina, he also founded several churches and chapels on the island as well. An abundance of Orthodox monks, priest, and faithful came to see the Venerable Metropolitan Nectarios in Aegina, and to learn from him, as well as to obtain spiritual guidance. Without a doubt the nuns at the Holy Convent he served became great strugglers of the faith they loved, and the Church in which St. Nectarios spoke about in his writings became truly radiant to every soul he encountered, as he was indeed a great beacon to the Holy Orthodox Faith he loved.

On 9 November 1920, Metropolitan Nectarios gave up his soul to the Lord, even just a few minutes after his repose a miracle took place within the hospital room. The Respected Metropolitan was staying in a hospital room with another patient next to him, as the body of the loving hierarch was being prepared for burial and then to be taken to Aegina, someone placed his sweater on the nearby bed of a paralytic, who suddenly regained his strength and walked within that same hour, and was able to leave the hospital.

So many other miracles began to happen, and have not ceased until today, since the repose of St. Nectarios, many faithful have turned to him for the grievous illness of cancer, and many have been cured by his prayers, especially from the holy oil from his lampada which constantly burns at his grave site in Aegina. It has been attested as well that within local parishes, the same holy oil that burns in front of his holy icon is also helpful in healings.

Not only was St. Nectarios known as a great miracle-worker, particularly as a healer of every sort of disease, as well as those seeking work, he was also a prolific writer, theologian, philosopher, moralist, educator, poet, ascetic and mystic. Above all St. Nectarios was a man of deep prayer, and a hard worker who labored just as everyone else around him, no work was ever dishonorable to him. One time the Archbishop of Athens came to speak with Metropolitan Nectarios, and did not tell him he was arriving that to see him in Aegina, everywhere he looked for the Venerable Hierarch, then he went up to a person who was pulling out a stump of a tree, he hardly looked like a Metropolitan, and indicated: "You have found Despota (Bishop) Nectarios "

Everyone who had ever met Metropolitan Nectarios, or had ever prayed with him, and discussed religion with him, where astounded, and greatly spiritually nourished by his great love for God, and His Church. Even when the humble Hierarch visited Holy Mt. Athos, those who met him where ever pleased to note his humbleness, and great humility, on his own he climbed up the difficult hill side to meet with many well known holy monks. One spiritual matter should not be forgotten about St. Nectarios, he often wept when he prayed, and constantly expressed in the most simple manner his prayers with our Lord and God, the Mother of God, the saints, and martyrs. The Venerable Hierarch even on his death bed, cried out loud in prayer: "I love Thee, My Lord and my God."

Metropolitan Nectarios, however had to endure much slander and difficulty during his life time, and many later onwards would regret what they said about him, or ever might of thought him, where changed inwardly and spiritually when they would meet with him on a personal basis, many walked away spiritually uplifted, and rewarded.

We can also never forget that while he was a Metropolitan, he often reached out to care for others in desperate need, and his benefactors would help him to help those who would come to him, and seek those who needed help. Many souls where truly blessed by the love and the kindness and concerns of this Venerable Metropolitan.

So many faithful attended his funeral services and burial that it was almost impossible to find a place to stay, on the island of Aegina. Still today thousands upon thousands per month, visit the tomb of St. Nectarios in Aegina, to pray to him, and ask for his loving prayers, which always seem to be answered. I myself as a parish priest can attest to the prayers and love of St. Nectarios, as I do believe many other priest can express the same, as so many miracles continue until this very hour, all over the world. Gracious was this saint, and precious in the sight of the Lord our God!

Truly we have much to be humbly thankful, as our Lord God has truly sent us a great loving soul, as St. Nectarios, who still continues to pray for us, we who are such poor sinners! How great is the love of our Lord God, and His saints! What else could we ask for on this earth then the love of our God, and His saints. Pray to St. Nectarios, and be at peace, as he with great love prays for us all!