Metropolitan Nektarios of Aegina. was a school principal for years

Each one striving for Christ's sake, in addition to the labor devoted to church service, is necessarily confronted with the need to perform a special, internal feat. And most often it is this feat, sometimes outwardly imperceptible, that leads a person to the Kingdom of Heaven. For the rest, we - the indispensable slaves - do what we are obliged to do. For St. Nektarios of Aegina (Kefalas), Metropolitan of Pentapolis, such a feat was the courageous, humble patience of envy and slander.

Letter from God

Anastasios Kefalas was born into a large family in Silivria in 1846. He owes a good Christian upbringing to his parents and, above all, to his mother. Very early on, the young Christian showed a desire for education and a desire to serve Christ. Therefore, at the age of 14, he went to Constantinople, miraculously got on a ship and reached his desired goal.

However, poverty did not allow the inquisitive and gifted boy to immediately start studying. Anastasy began to work at a tobacco factory and slowly engage in self-education. “At that time he lived in such need that one day, constrained to the extreme, he decided ... to write a letter to the Lord outlining his problems and needs - such was his childlike simplicity and spontaneity. “I will ask Him,” thought Anastasy, “an apron, clothes, shoes, because I have nothing, I’m cold ...” Armed with a pencil and paper, he wrote: “My Christ, I have no apron, no shoes. I ask you to send them to me. You know how much I love You." Then he folded the letter, sealed it, and put the following address on the envelope: “To the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven,” and with that went to the post office.

On the way, he met a merchant neighbor, and, as later showed, this meeting (as, indeed, everything that happens to us) was the work of God's Providence.

— Anastasy, where are you going? the neighbor asked. This unexpected question confused the boy, who muttered something in response and continued to hold the letter in his hand. Give me your letter, I'll send it. Without hesitation, he gave the letter. The merchant took it, put it in his pocket and went on. And Anastasy, joyful, returned home.

The merchant, having already approached the mailbox, drew attention to the mysterious address and, unable to contain his curiosity, opened the envelope and read the letter. Excited and alarmed, he thought that Anastassy was an exceptional child, and decided to immediately answer the letter, no doubt moved to this by those who said: “What you did to one of the least of my brothers, you did to me (Mt. 25: 40 ).

After scribbling a few touching words on paper and putting the money in an envelope, the merchant sent it to Anastasia. The answer of the “Lord” turned out to be so quick that our young saint a day later, having come to work, appeared before his master in new clothes. Seeing him so well dressed, the owner became furious, accused Anastassy of stealing money and beat him mercilessly. The boy protested, shouted that he was not guilty of anything and spoke the incredible truth that God had sent him money.

"I've never stolen in my life!" However, such strong blows continued to fall on Anastasia that the very neighbor-merchant, his patron, came running to the cry, who told the hard-hearted owner of the boy about everything, thereby saving Anastasia from inhuman tortures. With such hard work, the young saint earned his bread, provided himself with the opportunity to study and helped his family with money.

Wisdom on tobacco paper

The life of a young man at that time was simple: work, temple, prayer, reading soulful teachings and Holy Scripture. The thoughts that seemed to him the most interesting, he wrote out in a special notebook made of tobacco paper, which he later titled "A well of sacred thoughts."

He later recalled it this way: “This work is the result of long and hard work, caused by a long-standing desire to disseminate knowledge that has a soul-beneficial meaning ... For lack of money, I could not publish them. However, I managed to find a way to get around this obstacle by using cigarette paper from Constantinople tobacco merchants as advertising leaflets. The idea seemed to me successful, and I immediately took up its implementation. I copied daily on a large number of such sheets the thoughts I had collected. Thus, curious buyers could, after reading them, learn everything wise and soulful ... "

Didascalus (teacher) in him, as we see, woke up early, and he did not change this calling all his life.

Laboratory assistant under the shadow of the Holy Sepulcher

Anastasius managed to continue his systematic education when he got a job as a laboratory assistant in one of the Constantinople colleges that were under the jurisdiction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There he was given the opportunity to teach in the lower grades and at the same time study in the older ones.

Having received a secondary education, at the age of 22, the young man moved to the island of Chios, where, working as a school teacher, he already showed himself as an ascetic: he spent almost all his free time in prayer and contemplation, ate once a day.

Work for the young teacher was a service to God, and not just a way to improve material well-being. He worked not only with children, but also with adults, taught them piety by word and by his own example, helped those in need, wrote a lot.

“One very remarkable episode also belongs to this period of his life. The boy, who was engaged in shopping and cooking with him, one day, out of absent-mindedness, forgot a pot on the fire, the contents of which burned down. Anastasy got angry and gave him two slaps on the back of the head as a punishment, but immediately repented, asked God for forgiveness, and as a punishment for himself - the loss of taste sensations. God fulfilled his request, accepted repentance, and from that day on Saint Nektarios never distinguished the taste of the food he took.”

What is a slap on the back of the head for a child, according to the concepts of the time when there was no juvenile justice yet? Parents will only thank for their upbringing - they don’t raise gentlemen. And the teacher was worried, the feeling of sin and the fear of God did not allow him to live in peace.

Dreams of Athos

Influenced by frequent conversations with the abbot of the Chios monastery Nea Moni, in 1876 Anastasios took monastic tonsure with the name Lazarus, and two months later the Bishop of Chios ordained him a deacon and named him Nektarios.

The ideal of Hierodeacon Nectarios at that time was hermitage on Mount Athos. But he got there only after many years, and not for long - as a pilgrim. The Chios monastery, apparently, laid a good monastic foundation in it: serving Christ out of great filial love, out of the same love - obedience to the abbot, the habit of long and zealous vigils.

People who have received such a shoe always live a dual life. One side of it is an inexpressible consolation from the Lord, the other is an equally inexpressible torment from the devil's attacks. A turn in this direction occurred when one of the benefactors of Chios introduced the thirsty hierodeacon to Patriarch Sophronius of Alexandria. The latter liked Nectarius, and he advised the young monk to continue his education in Athens, and the aforementioned benefactor contributed in every possible way to this.

Higher rank - more humility

After graduating from the theological faculty of the University of Athens in 1885, Hierodeacon Nektarios went to Alexandria. There he was awaited by a flock seeking the word of God, an interesting job, a dizzying career rise (in 1886 priestly consecration, and in 1889 bishopric) and - slander, exile, alienation for life.

Soon after being ordained as a bishop, Vladyka Nectarios said: “Lord, why did You raise me to such a high dignity? I asked You to make me just a theologian, not a metropolitan. From an early age, I prayed to You to be worthy to become a simple worker in the field of Your Divine word, and now You are testing me in such things. Lord, I humble myself before Your will and pray to You: grow in me humility and the seed of other virtues as soon as You know it. Deign me to live my whole earthly life according to the words of the blessed apostle Paul, who said: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

And here is what else he wrote to one monk in response to a congratulatory letter: “... Your humility inspires you with a sense of inequality between yourself and me because of my episcopal rank. This dignity is truly great, but in itself and for itself. He exalts the wearer by virtue of his objective value, but he in no way changes the relationship between the one invested with this dignity and his brothers, brothers in Christ. This relationship always remains the same. That is why there is no inequality between us. In addition, the bearer of the episcopal rank should serve as an example of humility. If a bishop is called to be the first, then it is precisely in humility, and if he is the first among the humble, then, therefore, he must be the last of all. And if he is the last of all, then what is his superiority? (...) Among the brothers in Christ, regardless of their rank, only those who imitate Christ are distinguished, for they bear in themselves the image of the Antitype and the grace of the Holy Spirit, decorating and elevating to the heights of glory and honor. Only such an honor brings distinction and inequality (...)

I assure you that I envy daily those who have consecrated themselves to God, who live, advance and exist in Him. What could be truly more honorable and brighter than such a life? It is she who skillfully works to recreate the image in order to give it its original beauty. This is what leads to bliss. It sanctifies the one who possesses it. It adorns the one who owns it. She guides in truth. It makes the Divine Word resound in the heart. She confidently leads a person to heaven. It turns the breath into a continuous melody. It connects man with angels. It makes a person like God. It elevates us to the Divine and makes Him close. Behold, my beloved brother, what are my convictions that compel me to consider the ascetic above the bishop, and I confess this with all humility.

Let's pay attention to some very important points. First, the bishop still strives for the life of a hermit. Secondly, he sincerely puts an equal sign between himself and a simple monk, that is, he does not identify himself with his rank. Fourthly, his words are full of true spiritual poetry, testifying to sincere love for God. And, most importantly, he has an unhypocritical confidence that the main virtue of a bishop should be humility with a capital letter and, thus, imitation of Christ.

It can be assumed that to a certain extent the Lord showed Saint Nektarios the merits of this gift. That is, he experienced the real grace of humility. Not in words, as is usually the case with us, but in reality, in the Holy Spirit, Vladyka Nectarios tasted this virtue. His further life gave him the opportunity to establish himself in this dignity.

Blessed are you when they reproach you

The devil constantly, until the last day of the life of the saint, raised slanders against him, one more monstrous than the other. The most insulting thing here was that the vile slander was composed and believed by fellow clergymen or those whom the bishop favored.

All of this resulted in humiliation, poverty and many other “charms” of the life of an innocently slandered person for the “traveling bishop” (as Vladyka Nectarios signed from then on).

Of course, the Lord punished his slanderers, but the saint received no consolation from this. It would be better if they were silent, did not poison their lives and would die to themselves as righteous. But the bishop also understood something else: all these intrigues of the devil are a test of loyalty to Christ, a hardening of virtue. Therefore, we will not render special honors to the devil, describing in detail his deeds, but will focus on the works of Vladyka Nectarios.

After the first portion of slander, he was expelled from Alexandria with a wolf's ticket - a cover letter so vague that at first the saint could not settle down anywhere in Greece. As soon as he found a place for himself, the Alexandrian slander overtook him.

The saint again sank into the abyss of poverty. However, the hostess, who sheltered him in Athens, did not take money from him for housing and food, seeing his ascetic life. The Lord raised up good people who refuted the slander of ill-wishers.

After a certain period of deprivation, the Metropolitan of Pentapolis becomes a clergyman on Euboea and Phthiotis, travels around these regions, diligently sowing the word of God. Of course, his sermons immediately attracted attention, because he was the most learned (which was then a rarity among preachers in Greece) and, at the same time, an incredibly simple, childishly Christ-following person. They believed him because St. Nektarios spoke about his real experience of life in God.

The intrigues of the devil continued, moreover, these were not only attacks through people, but also direct demonic battles. Vladyka responded with humility and prayer. “Once, when St. Nektarios, emaciated by poverty, shocked by the betrayal and distrust of his friends and relatives, prayed in contrition, an amazing peace descended on his heart. It seemed to him that he heard harmonious singing. Guessing what was happening, he raised his eyes and saw the Most Holy Theotokos accompanied by a host of angels singing in a special tune. He wrote down the words and melody, (later adding other words - approx. A.M.). This most beautiful hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos, known as “Agni Parthene”, is known to the entire Orthodox world.”

Sweep, Nectarios!

In 1894, the disgraced bishop found relative stability in life - he was appointed director of the Rizari school, which trained mainly clergy. In addition, he had the opportunity to serve in the school church (he had previously been forbidden to serve as a priest).

Vladyka Nektary was a kind of director. All his activities are accurately characterized by the words of the late M.E. Kirilova: "He was not only a clergyman, but also a Christian," which - alas! - it was impossible to say about the many opponents of the Metropolitan of Pentapolis.

“When the director received a denunciation of the bad behavior of a student, he called him and accepted his excuses, trusting the accused more than the accusers. Another of his students, speaking about the pedagogical features of his mentor, argued that instead of punishing violators of discipline and school regulations, he punished himself with a hunger strike. The same student saw him punish himself three times in a row for causing a disturbance caused by students' misbehavior. Saint Nektarios was a loving father, both for the students and for the staff of the school.

One of the Aegina nuns, who had known Vladyka for a long time, says that when he was the director of the school, an employee who was engaged in cleaning and housekeeping suddenly fell seriously ill and was sent to the hospital. At that time in Greece there was no social insurance, as in other countries, and the poor fellow was afraid that he would be replaced by another person, and he would lose his job.

And so, barely recovering from his illness, he came to the school and found it in perfect order and cleanliness. When he returned home, he told his wife that someone else had been appointed to take his place. Wanting to console her husband, she advised him to go to school early in the morning and try to talk to the one who replaced him. The husband came to school at five o'clock in the morning and met his "deputy", who turned out to be ... a saint who was sweeping the latrine, while saying: "Sweep, Nectarios, this is the only thing you are worthy to do."

Seeing his colleague, Vladyka called him and said: “Come here and don’t be surprised, but rather listen to me carefully. You're amazed to see me cleaning the school. Do not be afraid, I am not encroaching on your place, on the contrary, I am doing everything to keep it for you until your final recovery. You just left the hospital and won't be able to work for at least two more months. What are you to do? If you get fired, how will you live? That's why I came to help you. But be careful: as long as I live in this world, no one should know about what you saw...”

Another time a visitor came to him. Saint Nektarios received him as an old friend and asked him what he wanted. “Holy Father,” said the stranger, “I owe twenty-five drachmas. I need to return them tomorrow, and I don't have a dime. I do not know what to do. I beg you, help me."

Vladyka called Bones, who was his treasurer. However, Bones, who was present at the conversation, pretended not to have heard anything. There were at most thirty drachmas in the cash register, and the end of the month was still a long way off. The saint called him again. This time Bones reacted. “Give this man twenty-five drachmas,” the lord said. “He really needs them.” “I have nothing, holy father,” Bones replied. "Look hard, Bones, he really needs them." “There are only twenty-five drachmas in the cash register, and it’s only the beginning of the month.” "Give them back, Bones, God is great!"

Bones handed over the money, and the stranger left. On the same day, a note was received from the archdiocese with a request to the saint to replace the ill archbishop, who was to perform the wedding ceremony. After the wedding, Vladyka Nectarios received an envelope containing one hundred drachmas. He handed it to Bones with the words: "We humans have nothing, but God has everything, and He takes care of us."

Bishop-laborer

Many people came to Metropolitan Nektarios for confession and divine services. From time to time, several pious girls confessed to him, one of whom was blind. They asked Vladyka to be their guide on the path to monasticism. Thus was born the famous Holy Trinity Convent on the island of Aegina, where the saint lived during the last years of his life (about 12 years).

He helped the sisters acquire the ruins of the monastery on Aegina, and the girls began to restore them. Metropolitan Nektarios supervised the monastery under construction not only remotely, but often came and participated in the construction of the temple from 1906 to 1908, and at the age of 62 he filed a letter of resignation from the post of director of the school and finally moved to Aegina.

The inhabitants of the island already knew Vladyka as a man of prayer and a miracle worker: there was a known case of the expulsion of a demon from a young man and the metropolitan's fruitful prayer for rain after a three-year drought.

Having moved to the monastery, the bishop still preached and worked hard on the construction of the monastery as a simple laborer. Apparently, the monastery was very worthy, so the devil directed another flurry of slander at her and the old metropolitan. She quickly managed to refute, but this trace stretched for the lord even after death.

“One ascetic who lived on Aegina said that the saint was seen praying with tears in his eyes in the temple in front of the holy icons for three days and three nights without any food and without water. No one knows what kind of trial he then underwent. Only after the appearance of the Angel of the Lord did he leave the temple and, having overcome the temptation, returned to his ordinary daily life.

In the last months of his life, the saint suffered from severe pain associated with a severe oncological disease. Shortly before his death, he was placed in an Athens hospital, in a ward for the poorest. The doctor on duty was shocked by Vladyka's simple monastic appearance: "For the first time I see a bishop without a panagia, a golden cross, and, most importantly, without money."

Immediately after the death of Saint Nektarios (November 8/22, 1920), numerous posthumous miracles began. When the deceased Metropolitan was being redressed for the position in the coffin, his shirt was accidentally attached to the edge of the bed of a paralyzed man for many years - and he was immediately healed; and the body of the deceased became myrrh-streaming. A marvelous unearthly aroma was felt in the hospital for several more days.

Three years after the burial, the relics of the saint were found incorrupt and fragrant. On April 20, 1961, Metropolitan Nectarios was canonized by the Ecumenical Church.

The flesh is risen

When during World War II the Nazis tried to bomb Aegina, in clear sunny weather, through the prayers of St. Nektarios, they never managed to find an island in the sea, while they saw other islands perfectly.

It is impossible not to tell about another miracle of St. Nektarios, quite recent. “A few years ago, the inhabitants of one of the mountain villages of Aegina were left without a priest. Time passed, but no new priest was appointed. Finally, Great Lent came, and the peasants became agitated. To remain at this time without a priest for the parish is an unthinkable thing. After consulting, they decided to write a letter to the ruling bishop of the diocese. “Holy Vladyka,” the inhabitants of the village pleaded, “send us a priest at least for the time of Holy Week and Easter. So that we can adequately prepare, repent, pray and joyfully meet the Bright Resurrection of Christ with the whole world.”

The bishop read the letter and at the next diocesan meeting, in a series of other questions, announced the request of the laity of the Aegina village: "Who can go, fathers, to this village?" But each of those present explained his employment and gave the reason why he would not be able to go. Then the meeting moved on to other issues, and the mountaineers' letter was covered with a heap of papers. And then they simply forgot about him due to many troubles and preparations for the approaching Easter.

Finally, the Great Day of the Resurrection of Christ has come, which in Greece is extremely festive and solemnly met by the whole world. The first festive week passed, the diocesan employees went to work, and soon the bishop found a new letter from the mountain village on his desk.

“Holy Vladyka!” the peasants wrote, “There are no words to express all our gratitude and heartfelt gratitude for your pastoral participation and help to our parish. We will forever thank God and you, Holy Vladyka, for the reverent priest whom you sent us to meet Easter. Never before have we had to pray with such a grace-filled and humble servant of God..."

The bishop began the next diocesan meeting with the question: "Which of the priests went to the village from which the letter was last read?" Everyone was silent, no one answered. Great bewilderment and ardent curiosity seized the bishop.

A few days later, the rocky mountain roads of the island of Aegina swirled with dust: a bishop's motorcade rushed to the mysterious village. For the first time in his life, a lord with a magnificent retinue came to this forgotten village. With Easter cakes, kulurakia, krashenka and flowers, they were met by the inhabitants in full force, from the old to the young, and solemnly escorted to a small old church.

All Greek priests are considered civil servants, and everyone is required to leave an entry in a special church journal, even if he served in the temple once. The archbishop kissed the revered temple icon and immediately went to the altar. Through the open royal gates, everyone saw how he took the magazine and went to the high narrow window. Hastily flipping through the pages, he traced the last line with his finger. "Nectarius, Metropolitan of Pentapolis" was drawn there in beautiful ink. Vladyka dropped the magazine and fell to his knees where he stood.

The news of the great miracle struck all who stood in the temple like thunder from heaven. A long ringing silence was broken by a flurry of overwhelming feelings. People fell on their knees, raised their hands to grief, embraced, sobbed, loudly thanked God and Saint Nektarios.

For a whole week, Saint Nektarios, who reposed in 1920, was in the flesh with the simple-hearted shepherds and their families, served in the church, led them in religious processions, led solemn funeral processions-epitaphs with the Holy Sepulcher at night, sang hymns and prayers with them, consoled, instructed . They had never heard such words about God from anyone. It seemed that this old geronda with a soft voice knew Him personally.

Only later did the people understand why all this time unearthly joy overwhelmed their hearts, why tears of repentance and tenderness flowed like a river, and no one held them back and was not embarrassed. Why didn’t they want to eat, didn’t want to sleep, but only to pray with this marvelous kind father.”

2 strong prayers to St. Nektarios of Aegina the miracle worker

Prayer to the miracle worker Nectarius of Aegina for healing

“Oh, myrrh-streaming head, to Saint Nectarios, Bishop of God! In times of great apostasy, who captivated the world with wickedness, you shone with piety and crushed the head of the proud Dennitsa, who stung us. For the sake of granting you, Christ heals the ulcers that are incurable, for our iniquities that struck us. We believe: love the righteous God, that for the sake of us sinners, have mercy on you, resolve from the oath, deliver from the disease, and throughout the whole universe His name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, will be fearful and glorious, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen."

Prayer to St. Nectarios of Aegina for oncology

“Oh, Saint Nectarios, God-wise Father!
Accept, guardian of the Orthodox faith, the confession of the lips of the people of Christ-named, gathered today in the temple by the grace of God that lives in you. The message is more reachable to the limit of Russia, as you, great in the saints of the saint of Christ, at all ends of the universe calling on your name are and you grant healing from cancer. I heard about the priest, your namesake and the temple in your name, who built with great sorrow. You were struck by a cancerous ulcer of the chest, blood for every day, sharpening, and suffering fiercely, but you did not leave your holy work. All of a sudden, you, mercifully to the Hierarch, having descended from heaven, appeared to him in the temple in a visible image. He, who does not pray to you, is one from mortal being, asking for your prayers and saying: afterward, I am ready to die, for death does not frighten me. But you, father, are incorporeal, your face is watered with tears! and the volume of the sufferer, kissing and saying: “Do not grieve, my child, as if you have been tested by illness, you will be healthy. All ubo know about this miracle.” He, having been healed, had no understanding, with whom you spoke, you were invisible to the former. Oh, the great saint of Christ Nectarios! This temple is now complete, and your miracles are like a surging sea multiplying! We will know that the prayer of the righteous should be hastened by our zeal for the service of God and the determination to die for Christ, may we be blessed. They pray to you, righteous father, your sick child: may the will of God be done with us, good, pleasing and perfect, not wanting the sinner to die, but to turn and live to be him. But you, proclaimer of the will of God, heal us with your grace-filled appearance, may God be great in heaven and on earth forever and ever!
Amen."

(Σηλυβρία της Θράκης), not far from Constantinople, in the family of pious parents Dimos (Demosthenes) Kefalas, a sailor by profession, and Vasiliki (Balu) from the Triandaphyllides family, who besides him had six more children. On January 15, a three-month-old baby was baptized. From childhood, I fell in love with the temple, the Holy Scriptures, and learned to pray. The poverty of his parents did not allow him to study in his homeland, and at the age of 14 he left for Constantinople in order to take a job and pay for his studies.

Life in Constantinople was not easy. The boy first got a job at a tobacco factory, but there were not enough funds, and one day, in despair, realizing that there was no one to wait for help, Anastasy decided to ask the One whom he loved so much and whose help he relied on all his life. He wrote a letter to the Lord: “My Christ, I have no apron, no shoes. I ask You to send them to me, You know how much I love You.” On the envelope he wrote the address: “To the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven” and asked him to take the letter to the post office of his neighbor merchant. He, surprised by the unusual signature on the envelope, opened the letter and, seeing such a request and the power of faith, sent money to the boy on behalf of God.

Then he managed to get a job as a caretaker at a school at the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where he had the opportunity to continue his education and immerse himself even more deeply in church life.

At the age of 22, Anastasius moved to the island of Chios and began working as a school teacher in the village of Lifi. Here he not only teaches, but also preaches. His influence on his students was such that they, and through them all the adults, were soon imbued with love and deep respect for him. He created an excellent choir from his students and sang with them in the village church, but his soul was drawn to monasticism.

On August 6 of the same year, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in the Cairo church of St. Nicholas. Appointed preacher and patriarchal secretary, and then patriarchal vicar in the city of Cairo. With zeal and selflessness, he accepted a new obedience and appointment, and for his zeal received the title of Supreme Archimandrite of the Alexandrian Church.

The episcopal dignity did not change the way of life and behavior of Nectarios in any way. However, the rapid rise, the love of the patriarch and the people, and the even more virtuous and pure life of the saint aroused envy and hatred in many. Influential people of the patriarchal court feared that universal love for the saint would lead him to the number of contenders for the place of Patriarch of Alexandria, since Sophrony was already in advanced years. They slandered the saint, accusing him not only of encroaching on the patriarchate, but also of immoral life.

By this time, his spiritual children began to gather around Nectarios, many went to him for advice and blessings. At the same time, the gifts of God's grace began to appear in the elder-hierarch: clairvoyance, the gift of healing.

Among the numerous spiritual children, several girls gathered near Vladyka, who wanted to devote themselves to monastic life, but did not dare to go to any monastery, so as not to lose the spiritual guidance of their mentor. As a good shepherd, taking care of them, Nectarios began to look for a suitable place and stops his search on the island of Aegina, which he visited on September 2-10, 1904. Having found the ruins of an ancient monastery here, he buys this land at his own expense. Here come the first inhabitants. This is how the female Trinity Monastery on Aegina arose.

The saint predicted to his novices that their monastery would be rich if they worked hard. The whole life of the new monastery passed under the guidance of St. Nektarios, with whom the sisters kept in constant correspondence. What paternal love, care and tenderness are filled with his letters. For some time the saint at the same time directed the school, staying in Athens, and his newly built monastery.

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Nectarios suffered a serious illness, after which he decided to leave his post and on February 7, wrote a letter of resignation from the post of headmaster, which was accepted on April 16, 1908 ..

On April 20, he moved to the island of Aegina. On June 23 of the same year, he consecrated the monastery of the Holy Trinity, in the reconstruction of which he took an active part. From that moment on, for twelve years, he constantly lived in a one-story house outside the monastery walls, built by his efforts " in this harsh and waterless place", and worked, physically and spiritually helping the formation and further activities of the monastery.

He spent the last twelve years of his life with his nuns, raising them for the Kingdom of Heaven. They had to endure many sorrows and temptations, but these were also years of grace. During this time, the monastery was put in order, the economy was adjusted.

Towards the end of his life, another blow fell upon the Saint. 18-year-old Maria Kuda came to the monastery, having run away from the despotic candle-mother. Saint Nektarios accepted her into the monastery. Then the girl's mother filed a complaint against the saint, accusing him of seducing the girls and killing the babies they supposedly give birth to. The investigator, who arrived at the monastery, called the saint a centaur and dragged the elder by the beard, and he humbly answered him and himself prepared food for the offender, forbidding the nuns to cry and grumble. The girl was examined by a doctor and confirmed her cleanliness; “Killed” babies, too, of course, were not found. After that, the girl's mother went crazy, and the investigator fell seriously ill and came to ask for forgiveness from the saint.

Feeling the approach of death, he prayed that the Lord would extend the measured period for completing all the affairs in the monastery, but, like all his life, he humbly added: “Thy will be done!” The long-hidden disease finally took its toll. In September of the year, accompanied by two nuns, he was sent to the Athens hospital "Areteion (Areteo)". Looking at the little old man, dressed in a cassock, who was suffering from terrible pain, the officer on duty asked: “Is he a monk?” “No,” the nun replied, “he is a bishop.” “For the first time I see a bishop without a panagia, a golden cross, and, most importantly, without money,” the official remarked.

He did not stay long in the hospital, he turned out to have prostate cancer. The saint was placed in a third-rate ward for incurable patients. He spent two months in torment, never ceasing to give praise to God and give thanks to Him.

Miracles also happened in the hospital, the nurses noticed that the bandages with which they tied the wounds of the Saint were fragrant. Together with the saint, a paralyzed man lay in the ward, and when the saint's soul left this world, he received complete healing through the shirt of Saint Nectarios.

He died on November 8 of the year, on Sunday, at 22:30, on the day of the celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael of God and other incorporeal Heavenly Powers, having communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Relics and veneration

After his death, his body began to stream myrrh. When the coffin was brought to Aegina, the whole island came out to see off their saint with tears. People carried the coffin in their arms and then noticed that the clothes in which they were during the funeral of the saint were fragrant. The hands and face of the saint of God abundantly streamed myrrh, and the nuns collected myrrh wool.

The monastic crypt in which St. Nektarios was buried was opened several times for various reasons, and each time they were convinced that the body was incorruptible. Even the violets placed in the coffin by the girl were not touched by smoldering.

On April 20, by the patriarchal and synodal decree of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Nectarios was canonized, and his holy relics were raised. It turned out that only the bones remained. As confessors said, the relics decayed so that they could be carried around the world for a blessing from St. Nectarios.

In Greece, he is revered everywhere as a famous miracle worker. Through the prayers of St. Nectarios, innumerable signs of God's mercy were performed. There is a popular saying: "There is nothing incurable for Saint Nectarios." Many temples and chapels are dedicated to him.

In the same year, the Holy Synod of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church issued a decision on the complete ecclesiastical rehabilitation of St. Nektarios of Pentapolis. On the occasion of this event, a large conference was convened in Alexandria, numerous official festive events were held with the participation of all Orthodox Local Churches, and the year 1999 was declared the year of St. Nectarios

On November 9/22, we commemorate St. Nektarios of Aegina, a contemporary ascetic and miracle worker. His life is amazing: the Lord showed care for His saint in a visible and tangible way.

Saint Nektarios (in the world Anastasios Kefalas) was born into a poor, large family in the village of Silivria in Thrace, not far from Constantinople. During his life, he endured many sorrows, he had to face envy, hatred, slander and to know that truly everywhere and at all times "those who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

When he served the Divine Liturgy, his face radiated a light visible to those around him.

The saint acquired the gifts of the Holy Spirit: unceasing prayer and spiritual reasoning, healing, insight and prophecy. When he served the Divine Liturgy, being in a state of prayer, his face radiated a light that was visible to those around him.

He was a man of exceptional kindness and gave away everything he had. When he did not have money to distribute alms, he gave his clothes and shoes to those in need. Once, during the service of the Liturgy in one of the Athenian temples, some poor priest entered the altar. His cassock was shabby, all in patches. The saint gave him his only cassock.

Every time the saint gave away everything he had, and his purse became empty, he went to the temple and, holding out his hand in front of the icon of the Savior or the Mother of God, said: “You see, Christ God, there is no money ... But You know ... "And The Lord sent him His blessing.

When St. Nektarios was director of a theological school in the center of Athens, the school janitor suddenly fell seriously ill. He was very afraid of losing his job. Still not fully recovered from his illness, the janitor went to school and found her in perfect order. Deciding that another person had already been taken in his place, the poor man was terribly upset. His wife, also very upset, advised him to go to work early in the morning and try to talk to the new manager. The janitor came to the school at 5 o'clock in the morning and saw his "deputy": it turned out to be the saint himself. He swept the restroom, while saying: "Sweep, Nectarius, this is the only thing you are worthy to do." The saint said to the patient: “Do not be afraid, I am not encroaching on your place, on the contrary, I am doing everything to keep it for you until your final recovery ... But be careful: while I live in this world, no one should know that you've seen".

In the monastery he founded on Aegina, Saint Nektarios was engaged in physical labor, sometimes very hard. He himself dug the beds and looked after the garden, carried water for irrigation, dragged huge stones to build cells, and even repaired and made shoes.

“Outside the monastery wall, I saw a white-bearded old man: he was loading earth and stones into a wheelbarrow with a shovel”

Abbot from the island of Paros, recalled:

“In August 1910, I sailed to Aegina to receive the blessing of the saint. By noon I reached the monastery. The sun beat down mercilessly. Outside the monastery wall, I saw a white-bearded old man, whose head was covered with a straw hat, and the skirts of his cassock were gathered up and tucked into his belt. He loaded earth and stones with a shovel into a wheelbarrow and drove it sixty meters away. Not recognizing him as Vladyka Nectarios, my spiritual mentor, mistaking him either for a worker who put on a cassock so as not to dust his clothes, or for a novice, I went up to him, greeted him and asked: “Is Vladyka Nectarios here?” “Yes,” was the answer, “he is here. What do you want from him? - "Go tell him that a deacon, one of his spiritual children, wants to see him." - “This second. May it be pleasing to God, ”he said ... A few minutes later he returned in a klobuk and in a cassock with wide sleeves. Then I realized that the man I took for a worker was a saint. It would never have occurred to me that the metropolitan could do such work at an hour when everyone was indulging in daytime sleep.

Accompanied by two gendarmes, the enraged judge went to Aegina

Even on Aegina, in this blessed place, many trials and temptations awaited the saint, with which his whole much-sorrowful life was full. There lived a widow named Lazurya who sold candles. She had a very beautiful and chaste daughter, Maria, whom she, nevertheless, constantly scolded and accused of debauchery. The girl found shelter in the monastery, and in the person of the saint - an intercessor and spiritual father. Then Azure went to the judge in Piraeus and accused the saint of immoral sins she had invented. Accompanied by two gendarmes, the enraged judge went to Aegina the very next day, in a rage he rudely accused the saint, boldly insulted him and even threatened that he would tear out the holy elder's beard. The saint did not respond to the insane insults and accusations, but only prayed to himself. The nuns wept in horror and shouted, “Lord, have mercy!” The unfortunate girl was summoned to court and sent for a humiliating examination to a gynecologist, who stated her chastity. The judge became seriously ill and immediately realized that he was being punished for his actions against the holy man. He ardently repented of his behavior and asked to be taken to Aegina in order to beg forgiveness from the saint. forgave him, prayed for him, and the judge recovered.

There was a well near the monastery, and the nuns drew water from it for work on restoring the monastery. A lot of water was required, and its level dropped sharply. Then the owner of the well forbade the nuns to use it. Saint Nektarios prayed, and right during his prayer a strong sound of water was heard - a stream of pure and fresh water filled the well to the top. Then the owner, filled with the fear of God and gratitude, presented this well to the monastery.

Abbess Nectarios of Chrysoleontis Monastery, a spiritual child of the saint, told how one day a group of pilgrims came to their monastery. In the refectory the table for the sisters had already been laid, the food was on the plates, and the pots were empty. The nuns, in confusion, turned to their spiritual father. The saint ordered the food to be put back into the pans, and then he blessed them. When the same food was again laid out on plates in the same quantity, it turned out that there was enough for both the sisters and the guests of the convent, and there were still three full plates left.

“Look,” said the saint, “your angel is in front of you.” And she really saw her angel

The mother of Nektaria also recalled that the spiritual world was opened to the saint: “Once I was walking with my spiritual father, when he unexpectedly asked: “Nektaria, would you like to see your angel?” “Oh yes,” I replied, “I want to see him.” “Look,” said the saint, “your angel is in front of you.” And she really saw her angel, but his appearance was so dazzling that she was frightened.

The inhabitants of Aegina witnessed numerous miracles performed through the prayers of St. Nektarios. Once there was a severe drought, the animals and people of Aegina were threatened with starvation. In the evening one of the peasants knocked on the gates of the monastery and asked the saint to pray for rain. The saint said: “Let us pray to God that He hear the peasant’s prayer and do it according to his faith.” Then he raised his hands to the sky and began to pray. An hour later, a terrible thunderstorm broke out over the island, which continued throughout the night. The threat of drought has passed.

Thanks to the prayers of St. Nektarios, robbery and robbery stopped on the island, and even the climate changed - it became more favorable for agriculture.

During the war, soldiers from Aegina, before going to the front, went to the saint for a blessing. The sisters of the monastery wrote down their names. The list was then placed on the throne in the altar, and the saint prayed for them. All who received the blessing of the holy elder returned from the war safe and sound, without a single exception.

The pilots who flew to bomb Crete, flying past Aegina, did not see the island

After the war, the former German commandant of Athens admitted that the military pilots who flew to bomb Crete, flying past the island of Aegina, despite good visibility and lack of clouds, simply did not see the island.

One day, when St. Nektarios prayed in contrition, an amazing peace descended on his heart. The Most Holy Theotokos Herself appeared to him, accompanied by a host of angels singing in a special tune:

Most Pure Lady, Queen, Mother of God,
The Holy Virgin is pure, the fleece that received the dew,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
The brightest heaven is the highest, the brightest rays themselves,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Maiden faces joy, bodiless forces of the Holy One,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Heavenly heights Light, the Most High village,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Mary of All-Praise, All-Praised Lady,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!

Giver of meek hope and cover,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Drawing ever-virgin, kivote of God the Word,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
The quiet girl, the culprit of salvation,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Fragrant flower of the purest virginity,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Oh, Most Glorious Seraphim and Most Honorable Cherubim,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
The premier faces of angelic delight and surprise,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!

You stand before the Son at the Throne itself,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
I seek your mercy, Mother of the Word,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
O tree of eternal life, O Virgin, Mother of Glory,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
I pray to You warmly, Pure, Right Reverend Temple,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Cleanse me, deliver me from sinful depths,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!
Commit me to the mercy of the Divine Son,
Rejoice, unbrided bride!

Rejoice, unbrided bride!

Subsequently, this prayer became a well-known hymn "Agni Parthena". It can also be heard at services in Russia, and in Greece it is generally difficult to find a person who would not sing it.

A blessed death followed on Sunday, November 8/21, on the day of celebration. Having partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, Saint Nektarios of Aegina departed in peace to the Lord. He was barely 74 years old.

After the death of the saint, his clothes were laid on the patient lying next to him. The paralyzed man immediately got up and went, giving praise to God

The body of the saint remained in the hospital ward for eleven hours and emitted a fragrance from the very first minutes. There was also a bed on which a paralyzed local resident was lying. When the saint began to be dressed as a mortal, his clothes were laid on the bed of the paralyzed. And the paralyzed man immediately got up and went, giving praise to God and the holy elder. Thus the Lord glorified the saint with the first miracle.

Many miraculous healings are performed through the prayers of St. Nektarios even after his blessed death. He died from a severe and painful oncological disease, and, after his death, he intercedes for those who no longer have anyone and nothing to hope for on earth - hopeless patients doomed to a quick death.

In 1961, St. Nektarios of Aegina was canonized by the Greek Orthodox Church.

Instructions of St. Nektarios of Aegina

About sorrows

“Any sorrow, endured with patient expectation, becomes a step closer to perfection.”

Happiness is in ourselves

“How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside themselves: in foreign countries and travels, in wealth and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in pleasures and abundance, and in empty things that end in bitterness!”

"Building a tower of happiness outside our heart is like building a house in a place that is subject to constant earthquakes."

"Happiness is in ourselves, and blessed is he who understands this."

He who has a pure heart is a beloved child of God

“A good conscience is the greatest of all blessings. She is the price of peace of mind and peace of mind.”

“He who has a pure heart, who does not experience accusations from his heart, who does good and what is pleasing and perfect in the eyes of God, who carefully keeps the commandments of God, he has the courage to stand before God. Everything he asks for, he receives from God.”

“He who has a pure heart is a beloved child of God. The Spirit of the Son lives in his heart, he receives whatever he asks, finds whatever he seeks, and doors are opened to him when he knocks.”

Not an end but a means

“Fasting, vigilance and prayer by themselves do not bring the desired results, because they are not the goal of our life, but constitute a means to an end.”

Be attentive to your minor falls.

“Be attentive to your minor falls. If, due to carelessness, some kind of sin happens to you, do not despair, but immediately pull yourself together and fall down to God, who has the power to lift you up.

“Inside we have deep-rooted infirmities, passions, flaws, many of which are hereditary. All this is not interrupted by a single sharp movement, nor by anxiety and hard feelings, but by patience and perseverance.

Don't be cowardly and don't be afraid

“Remember that temptation is followed by spiritual joy and that the Lord watches over those who endure temptation and suffering for the sake of His love. So don't be cowardly and don't be afraid."

"Trust the Lord with all your cares: He provides for you."

“You ask God and do not lose courage. Do not think that because your aspiration is holy, you have the right to complain when your prayers are not answered. God will fulfill your wishes in a way you don't know about. So, calm down and cry out to God.”

Ask God daily for love

“Ask daily for love from God. Together with love comes all the many blessings and virtues.

Sanctification leaves a confused and irritated heart

“Sanctification leaves a confused and irritated heart, darkened by enmity towards one’s neighbor. So let’s quickly make peace with our brother, so as not to deprive ourselves of the grace of God, which sanctifies our hearts.”

“He who is at peace with himself and at peace with his neighbor is at peace with God. Such a person is filled with holiness because God Himself dwells in him.”

Don't impose more on yourself than you can bear.

“Do not impose on yourself more than you can bear. Remember that God does not give His gifts under compulsion, but when He Himself wants it. Whatever He gives you, you receive undeservedly, [solely] by His mercy.”

Grace is sent as a gift to those who have been cleansed of passions

“The one who seeks divine gifts and insights, while being immersed in passions, is in a stupid and proud delusion. First of all, you need to work on purifying yourself.”

“Grace is sent as a gift to those who have cleansed themselves of passions. And they receive it quietly and at an hour they did not know about.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us!

Saint Nektarios of Aegina is one of the most famous Greek saints of modern times, famous for many miracles. He was born in 1846, became a monk in his youth, and later became Bishop of Pentapolis in the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Due to intrigues and false accusations from enemies, the saint was sent to rest and expelled. Having moved to Greece, he took the place of a simple preacher in the province of Euboea, later founded a convent on the island of Aegina. The elder bishop reposed in 1920 and was canonized by the Greek Orthodox Church in 1961.

1. “How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside themselves - in foreign countries and travels, in wealth and fame, in great possessions and pleasures, in pleasures and in empty things that end in bitterness! Building a tower of happiness outside of our heart is like building a house in a place that is subject to constant earthquakes. Happiness is within ourselves, and blessed is he who understands this... Happiness is a pure heart, because such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says the Lord to those who have a pure heart: "I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16). What else might they be missing? Nothing, really nothing! Because they have in their hearts the greatest good – God Himself!” (St. Nektarios of Aegina. The Way to Happiness, 1).

2. Reach for love. Ask God for love every day. Along with love comes all the many blessings and virtues. Love to be loved by you too. Give God all your heart so that you can abide in love. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).

3. Brothers and sisters! The merciful God wants happiness for all of us in this life and the next. To do this, He founded His holy Church to cleanse us from sin, to sanctify us, reconcile us with Him and give us a heavenly blessing. The Church always has open arms for us. Let us hasten in them rather, all of us, whose conscience is weighed down. Let us hasten, and the Church will lift the weight of our burden, give us boldness towards God, fill our hearts with happiness and bliss” (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Way to Happiness, 1).

4. Our prayers and petitions by themselves do not lead us to perfection. The Lord leads to perfection, who comes and dwells in us when we fulfill His commandments. And one of the first commandments is that in our life, not our will, but God's will be done. And so that it happens with the accuracy with which it happens in heaven with the angels. So that we can also say: “Lord, not as I want, but as You, may Your will be done both in heaven and on earth.”

5. “A Christian should be polite to everyone. His words and deeds must breathe with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in his soul, so that in this way the name of God is glorified. He who verifies every word, he verifies every deed. He who examines the words he is about to say, examines the deeds he intends to do, and will never cross the boundaries of good and virtuous conduct. The gracious speeches of a Christian are characterized by delicacy and politeness. This is what gives birth to love, brings peace and joy. On the contrary, rudeness gives rise to hatred, enmity, sorrow, the desire to win [in disputes], unrest and wars ”(St. Nektarios of Aegina. The Way to Happiness, 7).

6. Inside we have deep-rooted infirmities, passions, flaws. All this is not interrupted by one sharp movement, but by patience and perseverance, care and attention. The path leading to perfection is long. Pray to God to strengthen you. Patiently accept your falls and immediately, getting up, run to God, do not stop at the place where you fell. Don't despair if you keep falling into old sins. Many of them are strong from the acquired skill, but over time and through diligence they are defeated. Let nothing deprive you of hope” (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Way to Happiness, 3).

7. Temptations are sent so that hidden passions come to light and it is possible to fight them, and so that the soul is healed. And they are also a sign of God's mercy, therefore, commit yourself with confidence into the hands of God and ask Him for help, so that He will strengthen you in your struggle. God knows how much each of us can endure and allows temptations to the best of our ability. Remember that temptation is followed by spiritual joy, and that the Lord is watching over those who endure temptation and suffering for the sake of His love” (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Way to Happiness, 4).

8. Christians, have we realized the great duties that we have assumed before God through baptism? Have we realized that we must behave as children of God, that we must identify our will with the will of God, that we must remain free from sin, that we must love God with all our hearts, and look forward to being united with Him forever? Have we thought that our heart should be filled with love so that it will be poured out on our neighbor? Do we feel that we are obliged to become holy and perfect, children of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven? For the sake of all this, we must fight so as not to be unworthy and rejected. Let none of us lose his courage, let him not neglect his duty, let him not be afraid of the difficulties of the spiritual struggle. Because we have God as our helper, Who strengthens us on the difficult path of virtue” (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Path to Happiness, 2).

9. “Those who deny the immortality of the soul undermine both the moral laws and the fundamental foundations of society, which they wish to see crumbling and turning into ruins, in order to prove that man is an ape, from which they proudly claim that they are descended”
(St. Nektarios of Aegina. "Study on the immortality of the soul and memorial services" 1901)

10. “Darwinian theories are supposed to have emerged as a solution to the anthropological question through the adoption of an evolutionary model. These theories, lacking a solid foundation, instead of solving the problem, made it even more intricate, since they rejected the significance of the truth revealed to us, considering man as a being of the same order as non-rational animals; rejected his spirituality, assigning him a very low origin. The main reason for their error is the denial of the high origin of man and his spiritual nature, which in general is foreign to matter and the physical world. In general, without accepting the truth revealed to us, the question of man will remain an unresolved problem. Acceptance of it is a solid and reliable foundation on which everyone who studies man must establish himself. This is where it is necessary to begin in order to correctly resolve the many parts of this complex issue and find the truth using true science.
(St. Nektarios of Aegina. "A Note on a Man", 1893)

Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a saint glorified by the Greek Church, lived at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries.
The future saint was born into a family of pious parents in 1846 in Thracian Selivria, not far from Constantinople, in Baptism he was named Anastasius. As a true chosen one of God, the boy from childhood fell in love with the temple, the Holy Scriptures, and learned to pray. The poverty of his parents did not allow him to study at home, and at the age of 14 he left for Constantinople to go to work and pay for his studies.

Life in the big city was not easy. The boy got a job at a tobacco factory, but there was not enough money, and one day, in despair, realizing that there was no one to wait for help, Anastasy decided to ask the One whom he loved so much and whose help he relied on all his life. He wrote a letter to the Lord: "My Christ, I have no apron, no shoes. I ask You to send them to me, You know how much I love You." On the envelope he wrote the address: "To the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven" and asked him to take the letter to the post office of his neighbor merchant. He, surprised by the unusual signature on the envelope, opened the letter and, seeing such a request and the power of faith, sent money to the boy on behalf of God. So providentially the Lord did not leave his chosen one.
Years passed, but the temptations of the big city did not touch the young boy. As before, he devoted all his free time to prayer and the study of the holy fathers. His dream was to preach the word of God.

At the age of 22, Anastasy moved to about. Chios began to work as a school teacher, here he not only teaches, but also preaches. His influence on his students was such that they, and through them all the adults, were soon imbued with love and deep respect for him. He created an excellent choir from his students and sang with them in the village church, but his soul was drawn to monasticism. Anastassy visited Athos and talked with the elders, and eventually went to the monastery, where he received tonsure and the rank of deacon with the name Nectarios, which is now known in many countries.
With all his heart disposed towards monastic life, the young man often visits the monastery of Neo Moni. In it, he takes monastic vows with the name Lazarus, and after three years spent there, he is honored with tonsure in the mantle and ordination to the deacon with the new name Nectarios (the name Nectarios means immortal).

Having received the opportunity to continue his education, Nectarios graduated from the theological faculty in Athens, and at the same time he was brought closer to himself by Patriarch Saphronius of Alexandria. At the age of forty, the Patriarch ordained Nectarios to the priesthood. With zeal and selflessness, he accepted a new obedience and appointment to St. Nicholas Church in Cairo. A few years later, in this church, he was consecrated Bishop of Pentapolis. The episcopal dignity did not change the way of life and behavior of Nectarios in any way. He still sought only to acquire humility.

In one of the letters of that time, the Saint tells about a remarkable dream in which Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared to him. It should be added that at that time Nectarios was restoring a temple in Cairo in honor of this great saint. In a dream, Nectarios saw the tomb of Nicholas the Wonderworker, and in it the Pleasant of God himself, alive, as if sleeping. Then Nicholas the Wonderworker got up from the shrine and, smiling affectionately, asked Nektarios to decorate his throne in the temple with gold, and then hugged him and kissed him. This kiss of the great Bishop Nicholas, apparently, had the meaning of a special favor to St. Nektarios and, perhaps, symbolized the succession of the gift and the kinship of souls in Christ.

The rapid rise, the love of the Patriarch and the people, and the even more virtuous and pure life of the saint aroused envy and hatred in many.
Influential people of the patriarchal court feared that universal love for the saint would lead him to the number of contenders for the position of His Holiness Patriarch of Alexandria, since Saphrony was already in advanced years. They slandered the saint, accusing him not only of encroaching on the patriarchate, but also of immoral life. The Metropolitan of Pentapolis was dismissed and had to leave the Egyptian land. He didn't try to justify or defend himself. “A good conscience is the greatest of all blessings. It is the price of peace of mind and peace of mind,” the saint said in his sermons, leaving his pulpit forever. A hostile mood followed him like a shadow in Athens, where he moved. In vain he went to the authorities, they did not want to accept him anywhere. By the grace of God, the bishop, dragging out a miserable existence, was deprived not only of consolation, but sometimes of his daily bread. But the Lord rewarded him for his patience.

Once, having once again accepted a refusal from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the saint descended the ministerial stairs with tears in his eyes. Seeing him in this state, the mayor of the city spoke to him. Having learned about the plight in which Nectarios was, the mayor secured a position for him as a preacher.
The love of the people accompanied Nectarios. But until the end of his life, he had to bear the cross of exile and the name of the disgraced metropolitan, who did not belong to any autocephalous Church. For some time, he had the hope of changing this situation, when the throne in Alexandria was taken by the new Patriarch Photius. The saint addressed him with a letter about reconsidering the case and recognizing his bishopric. But hopes were in vain. The new Patriarch did not even answer his request. Until the end of his days, the Metropolitan of Pentapolis was forced to be in an incomprehensible canonical position, signing all his papers as a "traveling bishop."

Gradually, the darkness of slander receded from the name of the disgraced saint. People, seeing his pure and virtuous life, listening to inspired sermons, aspired to him. The glory of the Metropolitan of Pentapolis from the province soon reached the capital and the Greek royal palace. Queen Olga, having met him, soon became his spiritual daughter. Thanks to her, he is appointed director of the Rizari theological school in Athens.
Towards the end of his life, another blow fell upon the Saint. 18-year-old Maria Kuda came to the monastery, having run away from the despotic candle-mother. Saint Nektarios accepted her into the monastery. Then the girl's mother filed a complaint against the saint, accusing him of seducing the girls and killing the babies they supposedly give birth to. The investigator, who arrived at the monastery, called the saint a centaur and dragged the elder by the beard, and he humbly answered him and himself prepared food for the offender, forbidding the nuns to cry and grumble. The girl was examined by a doctor and confirmed her cleanliness; Of course, the "killed" babies were not found either. After that, the girl's mother went crazy, and the investigator fell seriously ill and came to ask for forgiveness from the saint.

The years of the saint's earthly life meanwhile were drawing to a close. Feeling this, he prayed that the Lord would extend the measured period for completing all the affairs in the monastery, but, like all his life, he humbly added: "Thy Will be done!"

The long-hidden disease finally took its toll. Accompanied by two nuns, he was sent to the hospital. Looking at the little old man, dressed in a cassock, who was suffering from terrible pain, the officer on duty asked: "Is he a monk?" "No," the nun replied, "he is a bishop." "For the first time I see a bishop without a panagia, a golden cross, and most importantly - without money," the official noted.

The saint was placed in a third-rate ward for incurable patients. He spent two more months in agony. On the day of the celebration of the Archangel of God Michael and all the Heavenly Powers, the Lord called to himself the soul of St. Nectarios.

He did not stay long in the hospital, he turned out to have cancer. Miracles also happened in the hospital, the nurses noticed that the bandages with which they tied the wounds of the Saint were fragrant. Together with the saint, a paralyzed man lay in the ward, and when the saint's soul left this world, he received complete healing through the shirt of Saint Nectarios.

Immediately after his death, the body of the saint began to stream myrrh. When the coffin was brought to Aegina, the whole island came out to see off their saint with tears. People carried the coffin of the saint in their arms and then noticed that the clothes they were wearing during the funeral of the saint were fragrant. The hands and face of the saint of God abundantly streamed myrrh, and the nuns collected myrrh wool.

Saint Nektarios was buried in the crypt of the monastery, several times the crypt was opened for various reasons, and each time they were convinced that the body was incorruptible. Even the violets placed in the coffin by the girl were not touched by smoldering.

The righteous death of the saint followed on November 9, old style. 1920. In 1961, the saint was canonized, and his holy relics were raised. It turned out that only the bones remained. As confessors said, the relics decayed so that they could be carried around the world for a blessing from St. Nectarios.