Metropolitan Bishop
Saint Nectarios of Aegina, glorified by the Greek Church, lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He was born in 1846 in Selivria of Thrace, and in baptism was named Anastasios. From childhood, he loved the church and the Holy Scriptures. At the age of 14, he moved to Constantinople, where he found work and paid for his studies.
Life in the big city was not easy. One day, Anastasios, in despair, wrote a letter to the Lord asking for help, and received money from a merchant who was astonished by his faith. He became a teacher on the island of Chios, where he preached and created a choir.
At 22, he moved to Chios, where he became a teacher. His morality and virtuous life attracted students and adults alike. Later, he entered a monastery, where he took monastic vows with the name Nectarios.
Nectarios graduated from the theological faculty in Athens and was ordained a priest. He later became the Bishop of Pentapolis. His virtuous life caused envy, and he was dismissed, but he did not seek justification.
After his dismissal, Nectarios lived in Athens, where he was ordained a preacher. He preached the Word of God, and over time, he was received with enthusiasm. Soon he became the director of the theological school in Athens, where his life was full of grace and healings.
Saint Nectarios founded a monastery on the island of Aegina, where he introduced the institution of deaconesses. His life was full of sorrows and temptations, but he remained humble and devoted to God. He died on November 9, 1920, his body began to emit myrrh, and he was glorified in 1961.
The veneration of this holy servant in the Eastern Churches is comparable to the veneration of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov. Saint Nectarios helps those suffering from cancer and serious illnesses.
