A Brief Life of the Wonderworker Saint Nektarios

Our holy Father Nektarios was born on 1 October 1846 at Selevria in Thrace of Greece. His parents, Dimos and Maria Kephalas, were devout Christians. Their son was baptized Anastasios and, from infancy, showed great piety and love for study. When his mother taught him Psalm 50, he liked to repeat the verse: I shall teach transgressors Thy ways and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee (Psalm 50)

After finishing elementary school, at the age of 14, he was sent by his parents to Constantinople to continue his education, while working in a tobacco shop. He would write out spiritual maxims on the wrapping paper and hand these out to the customers. When he was twenty, he left Constantinople for a teaching post on the island of Chios. The young people and villagers where he taught were encouraged to live in piety and virtue by his words and above all by the example of his ascetic, prayerful life.

On November 7, 1876, he became a monk in Nea Moni, and was ordained deacon after one year. With the support of a rich man from the Island of Chios, he traveled to Athens, to study theology at the University. But suddenly his sponsor died and he was unable to continue his studies. He then journeyed to Alexandria to serve Patriarch Sophronios. Upon hearing of his misfortune, the Patriarch paid all his expenses to return to Athens and finish his studies at the University. In 1885, Nektarios graduated in theology from the University of Athens. On receiving his degree he returned to Alexandria and was ordained priest by Patriarch Sophronios at the sacred Patriarchal Church of St. Savas on 23rd May 1886. In August, he was appointed Priest of St. Nicholas Church at Cairo, Preacher of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and Patriarchal Supervisor. In 1889, he was ordained Bishop of Pentapolis by Patriarch Sophronios. His heart was overflowing with thanksgiving and gladness in his service to God.

Saint Nektarios was popular with the people and alas, some bishops and some higher clergy were filled with malice towards the saint. Perhaps some of the higher clergy had a candidate of their own for Metropolitan of Pentopolis instead of Saint Nektarios, or perhaps some had anger over a loss of control over some aspect of Church life that may have been handed over to the new bishop. We can only speculate what ugly form of ecclesiastical politics spurred them on to seek a pretense against him. These same higher clergy persuaded Patriarch Sophronius, who formerly was a benefactor of the saint, that the humble Nektarios desired to take over his throne. Knowing that they could find no genuine charge against him, they resorted to slander over moral issues.

We know that if a bishop is presented with a moral accusation, or any other type of accusation against a clergyman for that matter, he is obliged to inform the accused of the charge and who the accusers are in writing. A date is set on which the accused has the right to hear the accusation from the mouth of the accuser, personally, and to face him. Following this hearing, the accused has the right to a reasonable period of time to formulate his response to the accusation, which is then judged by his peers.

Instead, all he received from the Patriarchate was a vague letter stating, “For reasons known to the Patriarchate Nektarios Kefalas was suspended from the Metropolis of Pentopolis, but was allowed to remain at the Patriachate.” Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of proper Canonical Church proceedings could see that this was an act of malice, so the people began to rise up to bring the holy Nektarios back to his throne. Seeing that the entire Synod was against him and that they despised canonical order, the saint understood the hopelessness of the situation and departed.

Only those who have gone through a similar betrayal or a divorce can understand what he went through. Yet, the saint did not become embittered and applied himself to prayer and hope in God. He attempted once more to serve God as a simple preacher in Halkida and even there the slanderous letters of the malicious followed him. Once again he departed and this time moved to Athens spending his time in fasting and prayer, seeking the will of God and how he could serve the Church.

We should learn from this to never be scandalized when seemingly spiritual people trample on Church order for the sake of some ulterior motive. Satan is our only true enemy and he works especially hard to trip up seemingly spiritual men that hold positions of influence in the Church. When this happens we must not become confused, but rather calmly look to Church Tradition and the Holy Canons to guide us. Thus also did our holy Saint Nektarios, never despairing and always believing in God’s providence.

Finally, when some friends and acquaintances discovered him in Athens, they, gathered 900 signatures from the faithful in Alexandria in defense of the saint and submitted them to the Metropolis of Athens. Thus, through their influence they helped him find a place at the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens. The holy saint became a spiritual father and confessor to many in the environs of Athens. He was the embodiment of the virtues that Saint Peter spoke of: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:2-4).

There was once an incident when two of the young students at the school got into a fight and he called them into his office and admonished them that such behavior did not become students in a seminary and he told them the situation needed correction. He then turned to his secretary and told her that he was imposing a fast on himself over this and not to supply meals to him over the next thee days.

One of Saint Nektarios’ former students reminisced that in confession, if a person had erred the saint would ask them, what do you think the epitemia should be? And if the person imposed a certain number of prostrations, etc. on themselves they knew the saint would impose the same on himself for the sake of that person’s spiritual healing.

On another occasion the janitor became sick and could not work. There was no workers compensation, etc. in those days, so if he did not work he would not be paid. The saint told him to go home and not worry about losing his job. When the sick man came to the school for a visit, he saw that it was quite clean. Curious as to who was doing the work, he returned that night and to his amazement he saw Saint Nektarios himself cleaning the school.

Yet, in the midst of his labors as a teacher, preacher and confessor, deep within, Saint Nektarios desired to live the life of a monk and in 1904 he established a woman’s monastery on Aegina. In 1908 he retired from Rizarios School in Athens to reside on Aegina and apply himself to the spiritual life.

After 12 years of exalted spiritual life and even more slanders against him, the saint drew near to the end of his earthly sojourn and came down with cancer and was taken to a hospital in Athens. After fifty days of patiently enduring his suffering, he peacefully reposed in God on November 8, 1920.