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Orthodox prayer to St. Nektarios of Aegina wonderworker. Easter miracle of Hellas. How the great Saint Nektarios served the Liturgy in one village
Sunday
Having venerably lived, like a wise hierarch, / glorified the Lord with a virtuous life, Nectarios reverend. / The same, the Comforter is glorified by strength, / by your divine relics, / drive away the demons and heal the sick, / by the faith of those who come.
Troparion, ch. four
Divine thunder, spiritual trumpet, faith to the planter and cutter of heresies, pleasing to the Trinity, great saint Nectarios, with the Angels coming ever, pray unceasingly for all of us
Kondak, ch. 2
Dear brothers and sisters!
On November 9 (22), the Orthodox world honors the memory of St. Nektarios of Aegina, Metropolitan of Pentapolis (in the world - Anastasius Kefalas), who was born near Constantinople in 1846. The veneration of the saint in the Eastern Churches is comparable to the veneration in Russia of our reverend and God-bearing father Seraphim of Sarov.
The heart of Archbishop John of Shanghai burned with special love for the saint. San Francisco miracle worker. A few months before his blessed death, Vladyka John asked that the life of Saint Nektarios be published in English in the edition of the Orthodox Word. Orthodox Word"). The icon of St. Nektarios was kept by Bishop John in the red corner. According to one Greek priest, he placed it on the altar during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
From a very early age, the future Saint Nectarios was forced to earn his living by hard work. However, funds for life and study were sorely lacking. But one day, in a miraculous way, material help came from a pious merchant neighbor. As a teenager, Anastasius moves to one of the Greek islands and gets a job as a school teacher. Teaching is combined with the preaching of Orthodoxy, he turns the souls of his students to Christ. However, his soul was drawn to monasticism. And after reflection, he goes to the monastery, takes tonsure and the rank of deacon with the name Nektary.
In 1886, Patriarch Sofroniy ordained Nectarios to the priesthood at the Alexandria Savva Monastery, and then to the rank of archimandrite. In 1889, he was consecrated Bishop of Pentapol with elevation to the rank of Metropolitan. The high position did not affect the way of life of the saint. However, the enemy of the human race raised persecution and the most disgusting slander against the lord, as a result of which the saint was sent to rest and he left Egypt. At the same time, Bishop Nektary does not try to defend himself or justify himself. After many trials, thanks to the efforts of a pious mayor, he takes the place of a simple preacher in the province of Euboea, while continuing to live in very cramped material conditions.
Over time, the exiled metropolitan gains love and respect from his new flock and, with the support of Queen Olga (granddaughter of Emperor Nicholas I), receives the post of director of the theological school in Athens. He writes several works: The Priest's Handbook (Athens, 1907), Historical Study of the Causes of the Schism of 1054, on the Causes of the Continued Separation of the Eastern and Western Churches and the Problems of a Possible Union (two editions, Athens 1912/13), "Historical Study on priceless cross" (Athens 1914) and "Study of the Divine Mysteries" (Athens 1915).
God's grace also begins to manifest itself clearly on the saint: the people celebrate his clairvoyance, the gift of healing. With the blessing of the lord, the women's Trinity Monastery on Aegina is founded, the inhabitants of which are its spiritual children. The whole life of the new monastery passed under the guidance of St. Nektarios, with whom the sisters kept in constant correspondence. Twelve recent years he spent his life with his nuns, raising them for the Kingdom of Heaven. During this time, the monastery was put in order, the economy was adjusted.
In the meantime, the years of the saint's earthly life were coming to an end: he fell ill with cancer and spent two months in severe suffering, while, however, not ceasing to thank the Lord. Exhausted and exhausted, on Sunday, November 8, 1920, at 10:30 pm, Vladyka went to the Lord. The compiler of the life of the saint, Archimandrite Ambrose (Fontrier), in the book “St. Nektarios of Aegina. Biography" (M.: Izd-vo Sretensky Monastery, 2015) writes:
“The body of the Saint remained in the hospital ward for eleven hours and from the very first minutes exuded a fragrant smell of holiness. There was also a bed on which a paralyzed local resident was lying. The nuns began to prepare the body for transportation to Aegina. They took off the old T-shirt from the Saint to put on a clean one, and laid it on the bed of the paralyzed... And immediately the paralyzed got up and went, giving praise to God, who had granted him healing. Thus the Lord revealed the holiness of His servant and glorified him with the first miracle.”
The hands and face of the saint of God abundantly streamed myrrh, and the nuns collected myrrh wool. On April 20, 1961, 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. According to the elders, the relics decayed so that they could be carried around the world for a blessing from St. Nectarios.
The whole life of the saint was full of sorrows and hard trials. From early childhood, he earned his livelihood by hard work. Having risen high up the church ladder, because of the slanderers he was expelled from the pulpit and for a long time lived in complete poverty. The death of the saint followed after a severe painful illness in an ordinary ward, along with ordinary people. But the humility of the saint overcame death, both bodily and spiritual - after his death, numerous miracles and healings appeared, which continue to this day. So the Lord glorified his servant for his fidelity and kind, merciful heart.
It is customary for Saint Nectarius to pray for healing from cancer and headaches. So, in Russia, in the Children's Oncological Center on Kashirskoye Shosse, there is a chapel in which miraculous icon Saint Nectarios, consecrated on his relics. In Moscow, there is also a particle of the relics of St. Nektarios in the church of the icon Mother of God « life-giving spring» in Tsaritsyno in the left limit. In the Church of All Saints in Krasnoye Selo, a part of the tomb of St. Nektarios of Aegina is kept in a reliquary.
Saint's instructions:
(Based on the book: St. Nektarios of Aegina. The Way to Happiness. M .: Orthodox Missionary Society named after St. Serapion Kozheozersky, 2011. Translation from Greek: nun Dionisia, deacon Georgy Maximov)
“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. Very soon such a building will collapse ... "
"Brothers and sisters! Happiness lies within ourselves, and blessed is he who understands this. Test your heart and observe its spiritual state. Perhaps boldness before the Lord has been lost? Perhaps the conscience convicts for the transgression of His commandments? Maybe she rebukes you for injustice, for lying, for not fulfilling our obligations to God and neighbor? Feel, maybe evil and passions have filled your heart, maybe it has deviated on the crooked and impassable path ... "
"Brothers and sisters! The most merciful God wants happiness for all of us in this life and the next. To do this, He founded His holy Church, so that she would cleanse us from sin, so that she would sanctify us, reconcile with Him, and give us a heavenly blessing.
“The purpose of our life is to become perfect and holy, to become children of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us be vigilant - so as not to lose the future for the sake of the present life, so as not to neglect the purpose of our life from worldly worries and troubles.
“Decorate your lamps with virtues. Strive to cut off spiritual passions. Cleanse your heart from all filthiness and keep it clean, so that the Lord descends and dwells in you, so that He fills you with the Holy Spirit with divine gifts.
“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, when I wait with endurance, 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, like children, at the place where you fell, weeping and sobbing inconsolably.
“Trust in the Good, Strong, Living God and He will lead you to a place of rest. 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."
“Take care to guard the heart to protect the joy of the Holy Spirit and not allow the evil one to pour his poison into us. Be careful that the paradise that is within you does not turn into hell.
“The most important work of man is prayer. Man was created to glorify God. This is the work that deserves it. Only this can reveal its spiritual essence. That alone justifies it state of emergency in the whole universe. Man was created to honor God and be a partaker of His divine goodness and bliss.”
“Trust the Lord with all your cares, He provides for you. Don't be discouraged and don't worry. He who explores the hidden depths of the human soul knows about your desires and has the power to fulfill them in the way that [only] He can do it. 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 heard. God will fulfill your wishes in a way you don't know about. So calm down and cry out to God."
“Peace [of the soul] is a divine gift that is generously given to those who have reconciled with God and fulfill the divine commandments. The world is light, and it moves away from sin, which is darkness. That is why the sinner never calms down, [does not find peace in the soul] ”
“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.”
“Achieve 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” (John 4:16)”
“Christians must, according to the commandment of God, become holy and perfect. Perfection and holiness are first traced deep in the soul of a Christian, and only then are imprinted in his wishes, in his speeches, in his deeds. Thus, the grace of God, which exists in the soul, is poured out on the whole external character.
Holy Hierarch Father Nectarios, pray to God for us
Troshchinsky Pavel
The glory of Orthodoxy is the saints of God, like new stars flashing in the sky of Christ's Church. Russia shone in end times thousands of new martyrs and confessors, and more and more our believers know the names of these righteous men of God who stood for the Truth.
However, we must not forget that we believe in the Universal Church, that there are no national differences in Christ, and that saints appear in other countries as well. Glorifying God the Marvelous in His saints, I would like to tell about the holy saint who shone in Greece and recently became famous in our Fatherland. This is St. Nektarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis of Aegina wonderworker.
Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a saint glorified by the Greek Church, lived at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. Several of his biographies have been published in Russia, but you cannot call him widely known. In Greece, he is revered everywhere as a famous miracle worker. Many temples and chapels are dedicated to him. Through the prayers of the saint, people receive help and healing, and in particular he helps those suffering from oncological diseases.
Rejoice, young eagle, having clever prayers!
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 fell in love with the temple from childhood, Holy Bible 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. Of this time, one case is remarkable. One day the future saint went home for a feast. The ship he was on was caught in a storm. All the passengers in horror began to grumble at God. Anastassy, grasping the sagging sails, cried out from the bottom of his heart: “My God, save me. I will teach theology to silence those who blaspheme Your Holy Name.” Suddenly the storm stopped and the ship made it safely to shore.
Rejoice, good soldier of Jesus Christ...
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. Morality in the village and the school was at its lowest level at the beginning of his teaching and gradually rose to the proper level thanks to the work of Anastasia the teacher.
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 the 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. Nectarios means immortal. This name suited him perfectly, for truly the Nectar of Life flowed in his soul, and from him, like a stream, a fragrant stream flowed, filling everyone and everything with joy.
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 Saphrony 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. “Sign does not exalt its owner, only virtue has the power of exaltation,” he wrote during these years.
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.
Rejoice, persecuted for the sake of truth ...
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. As the saint himself said about this: “A virtuous person is subject to temptations and trials in this world,” but in the depths of his heart he rejoices, for his conscience is calm. The world hates and despises virtuous people, at the same time, however, envying them, for our ancestors said: the enemy himself also admires virtue.
It can be added to what has been said that he not only admires, but also takes revenge. 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 glorious Metropolitan of Pentapolis took the place of a simple preacher in the province of Euboea, but even here he was met with hostility, believing slanderous rumors. Every Sunday, Vladyka Nektary ascended to the pulpit to preach the Word of God, to comfort and admonish, meeting distrust and silent condemnation of those who listened. Desperate to reach their hearts, he decided, “One last time, I will rise to preach, and if they don’t hear me, I will leave.” And again the Lord, out of His love, performed a miracle. In one week, the news spread around the city that what the townspeople had previously believed about the saint was false. The next Sunday his sermon was received with enthusiasm.
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.”
Rejoice, for thou hast become a prisoner of the love of God. Rejoice, for thou hast captivated thy children with love...
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. Glory 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. It trained clergy and secular church personnel. During the reign of the saint, the school experienced years of growth. With inexhaustible love and patience, Nectarius treated his wards. There are cases when, for the fault of his students, he imposed a strict fast on himself.
By this time, his spiritual children began to gather around Nectarios, many go to him for advice and blessings. At the same time, the Gifts of God's grace begin to appear in the elder-priest: clairvoyance, the gift of healing. When he served the Divine Liturgy, being in a state of prayer, his face radiated a light that was visible to those around him. But as before, his main ornament was true humility. When another bishop came to the school church to concelebrate with him, he never occupied the main seat, even if it was his by right of seniority. He always stood to the right of the throne, dressed only in a small omophorion, and instead of a miter, he wore a black monastic hood.
One day, a cleaning worker at the school fell ill and was very worried that he would be fired from his job. A few weeks later, when he returned, he found that someone had been doing his job all this time. Very surprised, he decided to find out who this merciful benefactor was. Arriving at school early in the morning, he was amazed to see his “substitute.” It was the Metropolitan of Pentapolis, director of the theological school, Vladyka Nektary. When he finished sweeping the restroom, he said, “Don't be surprised, I'm not going to take your place, I just want to help you keep this job. While you are sick, I will work for you. Just don't talk about it at school."
Rejoice, innocent shepherd of innocent sheep, rejoice, wise collector of virgin pearls!
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 Fr. Aegina. Having found the ruins of an ancient monastery here, he buys this land at his own expense. Here come the first inhabitants.
In his monastery, the Saint, by the revelation of God, introduced the institution of deaconesses, which had long disappeared from the practice of the Orthodox Church. But, we repeat, it was done by him by revelation.
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.
The saint predicted to his novices that their monastery would be rich if they worked hard (what kind of wealth did the saint speak about? Probably, first of all, about the spiritual, although now the monastery is not poor financially either).
Once, while walking with a novice in nature, the Saint asked her: “Do you want to see your Guardian Angel?” The novice, of course, expressed a great desire. “Here he is in front of you,” the saint replied. And then the girl fell unconscious, unable to bear what she saw. The saint later regretted what had happened, saying that the girl was not yet ready.
On another occasion, the sisters of the monastery asked the Saint to explain to them how to understand the words “every breath praises the Lord,” and how nature glorifies the Creator. The saint did not answer this, only the next evening he said to the sisters: “Have you asked me about how nature glorifies the Lord? Here, listen for yourself.” Through the prayers of the Saint, the sisters heard something that cannot be explained to us.
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 simultaneously supervised the school, staying in Athens, and his newly built monastery, but the Lord ordered that Vladyka retire from the school and permanently move to Aegina. 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. Every day St. Nektarios held classes with the sisters on dogmatics, ethics, and asceticism, and in the evenings they gathered around and listened to stories about the inscrutable mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Nobody noticed how time passed. “It’s already late,” the saint sometimes said. “Let’s go to the temple for prayer.” And after the end of the service, he added: “What if you read a few prayers to the Mother of God?” Time continued to run, and the morning crowing of the roosters found the entire community in the temple during prayer.
Rejoice, dead and alive, rejoice, earthly and heavenly!
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 remarked.
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, st. Art. 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.
The veneration of the saint in the Churches of the East (Constantinople, Hellas, Jerusalem, etc.) is comparable to the veneration in Russia Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky. Unfortunately, the name of this saint has not yet been included in the calendar of our Church, and so far there is no service for him. There is an akathist to Saint Nectarius in Russian. Until recently, this akathist was served in Moscow, in the Church of All Saints in Krasnoye Selo (rector Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov). In the same temple there was an icon of the Saint, which, as they said, streamed myrrh, and several healings took place. At present, for some reason, the akathist is not performed in this temple, but there you can buy icons and an akathist to St. Nectarios. The Saint became especially famous for his grace-filled help to oncological (cancer) patients suffering from paralysis and other serious illnesses, possessed by demons. It is also known that Saint Nektarios helps people in financial difficulties.
With the blessing of His Grace Filaret, Bishop of Penza and Kuznetsk, on the day of memory of St. Nektarios on November 22 (9), 2002, a solemn service was celebrated in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Staraya Stepanovka, Luninsky District, Penza Region, pilgrims arrived from Penza and districts of the region. After the service, a letter was written to His Eminence Juvenaly, Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Chairman Synodal Commission on the canonization of the saints, with a request to include the name of St. Nektarios in the calendar of our Russian Church.
In the Ascension Church there is an icon of the saint and an akathist is performed with the consecration of oil. Akathist is performed on Sunday evenings.
Let us also resort to the help of this marvelous saint, thanks to the Lord, with the words of the troparion dedicated to St. Nectarios: Glory to Christ who glorified you, glory to God who gave you miracles of grace, glory to the healing of all who act by you.
According to the book of the biography of the archimandrite
Ambrose (Fontrier).
The material was prepared by Victoria Mekhanikova.
Miracles of St. Nektarios
Countless miracles performed by St. Nectarios and not ceasing from the moment of his assumption. For only listing them, we would not have enough time or paper. And yet we will talk about a few of them - from among the old and recent ones.
In January 1925, a pious young woman was suddenly attacked by an incredibly tormenting spirit of malice. At the mention of the name of the Saint, the enemy raged, insulted and tormented the poor creation of God. Unable to bear the suffering of their daughter, the parents decided to take the unfortunate woman on the day of Pentecost to the grave of the Saint in the hope that she would receive deliverance there.
By the time they got to Aegina, the demon was completely raging. In the monastery, the nuns were forced to tie the girl to one of the pine trees that grew near the grave. There, thanks to the intercession of the Saint, the demon emerged from the sufferer, who then accepted monasticism under the name of Mitrodora.
In 1931, a young couple came to the monastery to baptize a child who was dedicated to St. Nectarios. These parents already had two children who were born paralyzed. The first was still alive, and the second died. The third, who was brought to be baptized, was also born paralyzed. Discouraged and heartbroken, the parents went to fetch oil from the Saint's lamp, with which they anointed the youngest child, promising St. Nectarios to baptize him in the monastery and name him in honor of the Saint. How to tell about the miraculous power of Christ? Immediately after the third dive, the child was recovered from the water in perfect health. He is still in perfect and perfect health.
Another child, a lunatic from birth, who endured up to ten seizures a day, was healed by the Saint in 1933. His parents, who had reached complete despair, came to Aegina for oil from the saint's lamp, anointed him, and when they showed him the icon bought in the monastery, he exclaimed: "Father" and venerated the image. Since then, he lives in good health to the great joy of his parents and to the glory of God, “Wonderful in His saints.”
In 1934, an educated girl from Thessalonica, who practiced reading the Holy Scriptures and praying, one day fell into melancholy, losing the ability to utter anything other than the word “Woe! Woe! Woe!”
The mother was dismayed at the unexpected change in her daughter's condition. She blessed her with holy icons, but the girl refused to kiss them, shouting: “This is fire! It's fire!" and did not want to overshadow herself with the sign of the cross. She was brought by force to the church, but even there she did not find peace for herself, continuing to whisper: “Woe! Woe! It's fire! Let's go, let's get out of here!"
By the time the cup was taken out, she was trembling and trembling. It was impossible for her to open her mouth, she turned away her face. With great difficulty, they still managed to take communion, but... she rejected the Holy Gifts.
Desperate, deciding that their daughter was suffering from some kind of nervous illness, the parents put her in psychiatric clinic. However, her health condition not only did not improve, but worsened. The girl was taken to Athens in the hope of finding more qualified doctors there. On the way to the capital, the parents met people who felt that their daughter was suffering from a mental illness and that she needed not medical, but God's help. They told their mother:
Your daughter is not sick with nerves, as it seems to you, but is possessed by the spirit of malice, she needs proofreading and consecrated oil. On Aegina there is a nunnery containing the relics of St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, the founder of the monastery. He works miracles all the time. Take her there. The saint will surely take pity on her and you and heal her.
Believing them, the parents brought their daughter to Aegina on April 29 of the same year. The matter turned out to be not so simple. Arriving at the monastery, the girl refused to bow to the relics. She was anointed with oil from a lamp. With great difficulty, the priest managed to subtract the prayer. The patient raged all night. In the morning, six nuns, barely restraining her, took the sufferer to the church, where she began to shout the same words: “Woe! Woe! Woe! Fire!" At the moment of communion, new efforts were needed. For a whole month, the priest daily read a prayer over it. Truly the ways of the Lord are inscrutable. On May 28, on the day of the Holy Trinity and the patronal feast of the monastery, the girl got up in the morning on her own and, completely calm and collected, went to church and took communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. She was perfectly healthy.
In a dream, the Saint appeared to her, serving the Liturgy. He called her to him, blessed her and said:
You are healed.
Until the first of July, she lived in a monastery and left free from her illness, thanking God and His glorious saint.
Sponge catchers on Aegina once, before leaving for the sea, prayed to their patron saint and promised to present him with the first sponge they caught in exchange for his blessing. All the sponges caught that day were marked with the sign of the Cross. We saw these sponges donated to the monastery and displayed in the window of the cells of the Saint.
Father Nectarios from Paros told us the story of a bus driver who lost his sight during an accident. Passing once past the Holy Trinity Monastery, the gallant driver crossed himself and prayerfully said:
My hierarch Nectarius, give me back the light and I will give you everything that I have with me!
The unfortunate man immediately regained his sight. How could the Saint, say the nuns, not heal him when he daily helped the monastery to transport parcels!
“I told about this miracle,” Father Nektary continues, “to the owner of the Afeya cafe in Aegina.” He reacted like this:
Dear brother, we have ceased to be surprised here, because miracles happen every day!”
Yes, St. Nectarios works miracles every day, and not only in Aegina, but all over the world, in France, in America...
“In 1949,” writes M.K., “in Greece, I underwent an operation for cancer at the Saint Sabbas Cancer Hospital in Athens.” I had my uterus removed. At the end of the treatment, the doctor happily announced to me that I was out of danger. “Don't be afraid of anything,” he said. “But if you ever see bleeding, know that your end is near, as this will mean a relapse of the disease.”
Eight years have passed. In May 1957, I felt new pains in my stomach. One evening the bleeding started. The end was approaching, I sat on the bed and did not sleep all night, crying in despair.
In the morning my sister and her husband came to visit me. She had just returned from Aegina, where she had gone for Easter. Seeing me unhappy, my sister began to elicit the reason for my condition, her husband also insisted that I tell everything. I explained to them the reason for my despair, but the sister did not show any surprise and embarrassment, on the contrary, she told me with great faith and courage that she was confident in the intercession of St. Nektarios:
Fear nothing, sister, because you believe in God and know about the many miracles that St. Nectary.
At the same time, she took out from her bag a bottle of oil from the Saint's lamp, which she had brought from Aegina, and, handing it over to me, she said:
Take the oil, pray to the Saint, and he will heal you. For my part, I will also pray to him. Rub oil on your belly and be sure that you will get better.
I followed my sister's advice, asking for help from the Saint, and - oh, a miracle! From that moment on, the pain subsided, and the bleeding stopped. From then until today (1962) I am absolutely healthy.
May the name of St. be blessed. Nectaria! May these undeniable facts help to return to God for many, many people, strengthening in them an unshakable faith in His omnipotence, in His Love and Providence, and in the intercession of His saints, through whom He sends us healing of soul and body...”
K. S., a resident of the island of Lesbos, relates that in January 1963 the disease in her right eye was getting worse every day. In a short time, she completely stopped seeing them. “Imagine my misfortune,” she says. “I cried like a baby at the thought that I might no longer be able to care for my paralyzed daughter. I went to Athens, where friends took me for an examination at the Frederica Eye Clinic. X-ray showed hemorrhage. The eye was incurable. I was taken to another clinic, the name of which I do not remember. Six doctors and the professor examined me again and said that they could not help me. Sad and hopeless, I returned to Lesbos, terrified of losing even my left eye. In October, I decided to go to Mytilini (the capital of the island of Lesvos) in the hope of seeing other doctors, maybe ...
On Sunday I went to church, where, after the Liturgy, I came across the Sainte Marine newspaper (this little newspaper often tells about the miracles of St. Nektarios), which my paralyzed daughter and I constantly read. That day we read it with great concentration. Whether because I was going to go to Mytilene the next day, or because of my deep faith in St. Nectarios, in any case, I knelt down in front of the holy icons and began to pray to him with hot tears:
Saint Nektarios, I revere you and believe that if you want, you can heal me, even though I am a poor sinner. I will thank you...
I fell asleep in peace, confident that the Saint had heard my prayer. Waking up early in the morning, I opened my eyes and, lo and behold, I saw with both eyes. I got up and, giving thanks, anointed my eye crosswise with oil from the lamp three times. Some very cold liquid, like water, flowed out of it. It flowed for a very long time, then I felt that my eye seemed to be “defrosting.” Since then, I can sew, knit again and I can’t get enough of it.
I thank St. Nectarios and glorify the Lord, who commanded the Saint to heal me...”
The Bishop of Gorty and Arcadia from the island of Crete talks about the miracle performed by St. Nectarios in his diocese in May 1965.
“The deepest excitement,” he writes, “swept all of Massara after the undeniable and authentic miracle performed by St. Nectarios. Many, upon hearing of him, will begin to frown their brows, expressing doubt and lack of faith. Others, perhaps, will smile and talk skeptically about miracles, saints, about God. Some will argue that all this is “a fabrication of priests deceiving ordinary people.”
Doctors speak of cases in which, as a result of the intervention of a certain force, health is restored. There are, however, many organic diseases that cannot be cured. Science here admits its impotence and is silent. True, the worm of doubt gnaws at human thought, for it lacks living, sincere faith. It is then that a miracle occurs that goes beyond the limits of feelings and empirical data and makes us recognize the existence of an invisible spiritual world, which, in this way, becomes tangible and real.
The kind mother of the family, Maria R., lives with her husband K., an intelligent and courageous person who earns bread for the children with hard work.
Maria is here whole year suffers from some terrible disease of the head. Wild pains torment her to such an extent that her cries are heard in neighboring houses. The disease took over the lungs. Science has confirmed these facts. The doctor sent the patient to his brethren in Heraklion (the capital of Crete), and they, in turn, sent her to the Athens Cancer Clinic “Saint Sabbes.” According to the examination and analyzes, there was no hope for a cure: the disease was too advanced. On the advice of doctors, the husband brought his wife home and prepared for the worst. Maria came down with unbearable pain.
On the evening of May 18, someone knocked on the door of the Metropolis. I opened to see who came. Maria and her husband stood in front of me. Shocked, she told me that she was healed. She ran towards me as if she had never been sick at all. Sitting down and crossing herself, she told me the story of her healing:
Kostya left the house for shopping. I told him not to linger, because it seemed to me from the terrible pain that the end was approaching. I kept praying to St. Nectarios to heal me or take my life because I was going crazy with pain.
Suddenly I saw a shadow coming through the door. I thought it was my husband. The shadow approached me, but I could not distinguish who it was, because my vision was blurred. Then I heard a voice telling me, “Get up, go to church and ring the bell. Anyone who asks you why you are calling, answer: St. Nectarius healed you.”
The pain suddenly subsided, I felt a huge surge of strength. Without any difficulty, getting out of bed, I began to walk and, as you can see, I walk perfectly ...
We all went to the church where the icon of the Saint is located, and served a thanksgiving service there, glorifying the Lord and His saint.”
During the time of the Saint, an atheist gendarme lived on Aegina. St. Nektarios admonished him, persuading him to believe in God, to repent, confess, come to church and take communion. But the gendarme remained unshakable in his unbelief.
Once he was sent by his ministry to Macedonia for twelve years. Returning to Aegina, he met the saint at the port, who renewed his exhortations, in vain as before.
Once in a cafe with friends, the gendarme said to them:
Surprisingly, the abbot of the Trinity Monastery is still alive!
What abbot? they asked him.
Hegumen of the Holy Trinity Monastery...
So he died three years ago.
Why are you telling me, - the shocked gendarme answered, - I just saw him in the port and talked with him ...
Everyone was seized with a holy fear. Needless to say, the unbelieving gendarme immediately hurried to the monastery...
In Paris, the wife of one of our priests, who for many years suffered from incurable headaches, received relief from a single anointing with oil from the Saint's lamp, and later the disease weakened and disappeared.
The wife of one of our deacons was healed of a fibroma, thus avoiding surgery. It only took a few anointings to heal.
A certain person was healed twice by St. Nectarius, who appeared to him in a dream, which caused great surprise among the doctor who was going to operate on the patient.
One of our nuns, living in constant communion with the Heavenly Bridegroom in unceasing prayer, once asked St. Nectaria help her find a way out of a difficult situation. At dawn, she dreamed of him, passing her a piece of bread with the words:
Take it, it's joy!
The next day, all her difficulties were resolved much easier than she could have expected. Another time she prayed all night for the whole world and for many suffering souls, begging St. Nectarios to cover with his blessing all the unfortunate. She dreamed of him again, dressed in episcopal robes. In a very soft voice he said to her:
I have a burning desire to help people... for I see Christ... He is still crucified.
I am present in the world with my relics... let the priest who knows me bless everyone who comes for relief, cleansing, forgiveness... My relics are my stole.
And there are many, many more cases which, for lack of space, we cannot relate in this book.
Every day during every year, overcoming a variety of obstacles, pilgrims come to Aegina. Simple people, intellectuals, officials... There are a lot of patients with nervous diseases, epileptics, hysterics... They also come here to find peace of their conscience, to find solutions to complex problems, a way out of material difficulties. And no one leaves without a result. Some pilgrims crawl on their knees, come barefoot and spend whole days fasting and nights in prayer, and crying. Quite often the silence here is broken by badly restrained sobs...
The saint said to his spiritual daughters:
The day will come when many will come here. Some to glorify God, others for consolation and healing, others out of curiosity...
“Nectarius became a saint,” writes the abbot from Paros, “out of so many thousands of people, bishops, priests, hieromonks, monks, and laity. Why does God, who loves all people and desires that all be saved, that all be saints and gods by grace, not give His grace to others, so that they also become saints? My dear ones, God offers His blessings to everyone, gives them free of charge to everyone. But since He is just, He does not give them to those who are not worthy of them, but only to those who deserve them. He gives them to those who struggle to obtain them, and not to indifferent and arrogant people. He gives them to godly people who fear Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, and not to the godless, the proud, the unfaithful, and those who deviate from His Divine commandments. He gives them to those who fast, who are temperate, who pray: “The gifts of heaven are obtained by fasting, vigil and prayer.” The Lord gives His gifts to those who possess the three great virtues: humility, faith, love.”
These three virtues adorned Nectarios and revealed him to the saints. On whom I will look: the one who is humble and contrite in the Spirit, and who trembles at my word, says the Lord (Isaiah 66:2). And Solomon says that God resists the proud and is merciful to the humble. The Lord turned His gaze to the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary. He looked upon the humility of His servant... (Luke 1:48). The Lord looked upon the humility of the holy prophets, apostles, and all saints, and made them the chosen vessels and instruments of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord saw the humility of Nectarios. And made him holy. He also saw his true, strong and unshakable faith, which pervaded all his writings in defense of Orthodox Faith. This faith made him a miracle worker. Those who believe, says the Lord, will be accompanied by these signs: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take snakes; and if they drink something deadly, it will not harm them; lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:17-18).
On September 2, 1953, at the direction of the Saint, the grave was opened. Only one skeleton remained. The Lord wanted the bones, the relics of His saint to be distributed all over the world as a sign of blessing. May the name of the Lord be blessed, for we have received, thanks to Mother Magdalene, our share of this blessing. A silver miter was put on the skull, and the bones were folded into a large reliquary. The fragrance spread that day to the whole monastery and the whole district.
When we arrived at Aegina on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, we felt the fragrance coming from the already empty grave. The nun accompanying us explained to us that this was a sign of the good reception that the Saint gave to those who came to him with faith and piety. It was an amazing smell of incense combined with the smell of vanilla, white iris - a whole rainbow of scents.
According to St. Simeon the New Theologian, the soul, having become worthy to participate in God's grace, sanctifies its entire body, for it is she who preserves it, being present in all its members. Just as the grace of the Holy Spirit takes possession of the soul, so the soul takes possession of the body. But as long as the soul is united with the body, the Holy Spirit does not exalt the whole body in the name of its own glory, for it is necessary that the soul manifest its will until the very end of earthly life. When death comes, and the soul is separated from its body and, victorious, receives a crown of glory as a reward, then the grace of the Holy Spirit takes possession of the whole body, as well as the soul. Then the remains of the saints work miracles and heal diseases.
When the soul separates from the body at the moment of death, it remains completely in the Divine, that is, in the grace of God. As for the body, it remains without a soul, but with God, and shows miracles to people - divine energy. The soul and body, after being freed from all needs, from all the fuss associated with their union, completely become God's, and the grace of God acts both in one and in the other, without encountering any obstacles. God makes them His own during their lives, worthy of the God who lived in this world when they were united.
That is why everything that comes into contact with the relics receives a certain power, the grace of God, as is clear from the Acts of the Apostles: God worked many miracles with the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs and aprons were placed on the sick from his body, and their illnesses stopped, and evil spirits came out of them (Acts 19:11-12).
Recognized by the Orthodox people during the life of St. Nektarios, his holiness was soon recognized by the hierarchy. Forty years after his assumption, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras confirmed the holiness of Metropolitan Pentapolis by a decree of April 20, 1961, signed by the entire Synod of the Church of Constantinople.
On November 5 of the same year, Aegina wrote a new glorious page in her golden book. The one whom he accepted dead on November 10, 1920, was transferred with glory to the Aegina Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Monastery for the official act of proclaiming his holiness.
Thousands of believers poured onto the island. On that day there was a strong storm, and the fragile ships plying between Piraeus and Aegina were in serious danger. But the Saint appeared to many and said:
Calm down, no one will die today.
The cortege set off from the monastery. The schoolchildren walked forward, followed by the male and female choirs. Then banners, standards, banners, a detachment of the royal fleet, representatives of the Rizari school moved. Nuns with a huge icon of the Saint, his miter, staff and other things walked in front of four priests who carried on their shoulders a silver miter with the skull of the Saint. Other priests carried the reliquary.
From the writings of St. Nektarios of Aegina.
1. About the One, Holy, Cathedral and Apostolic Church.
In accordance with the Orthodox teaching, the Church has a double meaning, one expresses its dogmatic and religious character, in other words, sacred and spiritual; the other is its external character in the true sense of the word. According to the Orthodox spirit and confession, the Church defines itself as a religious institution and as a religious society.
The definition of the Church as a religious institution can be formulated as follows: The Church is the religious institution of the New Testament. Our Savior Jesus Christ created it by the economy of His Incarnation. It is based on faith in Him, on true confession of Him.
It was established on the day of Pentecost at the moment of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the holy disciples and apostles of Christ the Savior. He made them instruments of divine grace to perpetuate the redemptive work of the Savior. In this institution was invested the fullness of revealed truths; the grace of God works in him through the sacraments; in it, through faith in Christ the Savior, those who flow to it are reborn; it contains the apostolic teaching and tradition, both written and oral.
The definition of the Church as a religious society boils down to the following: The Church is a society of people united in the unity of the Spirit and in the union of the world (Eph. 4:3).
Her apostolic ministry can be formulated as follows: the Church is the instrument of God's grace, which brings about God's communion with people through faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.
Having ascended to heaven, our Lord sent His Holy Spirit in the form of fiery tongues to His holy disciples and apostles. On these His apostles, he created the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church - the community of God and people. He gave her the grace of redemption to save the human race by bringing it back from error and regenerating it through the sacraments, and to make it worthy future life feeds him with the bread of heaven.
In Holy Scripture, the word "Church" has two meanings. Most often - in the sense of a human society united by a religious union, or - the Temple of God, in which believers gather for joint worship. Cyril of Jerusalem says that the Church is called so because she calls all people and because she gathers them.
The word "Church" comes from the ancient Greek language. It means a gathering of people called for a specific purpose, as well as the place in which they gather. It is both containing and content.
In a broad and Christian sense, the Church is the society of all free and rational beings, all who believe in the Savior, including angels. The Apostle Paul says: and made (God the Father) Him (Jesus Christ) above all things, the head of the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Eph. 1: 22-23). Thus, it unites all those who believed in Christ before His coming into the world, who formed the Church Old Testament, which in the time of the Patriarchs was governed by promises and faith given in revelation, that is, orally. Then, in the time of Moses and the Prophets, it was governed by the Law and the Prophecies, that is, by writing.
In the ordinary and narrow sense of the word, the Church of Christ is the Church of the New Testament, the Church of the Grace of Christ. It includes all those who believe in Him Orthodoxally. It is also called the House of God, because God dwells in it predominantly and because he is worshiped there.
The foundation of the Church is the Prophets and Apostles. The cornerstone is the Savior. Its pillars are the Holy Fathers, who have preserved the unity of faith. Her stones are believers. You are no longer strangers and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints... and established on the basis of the apostles and prophets, having Jesus Christ Himself as the cornerstone... (Eph. 2:19-20).
Finally, the Church is called “the bride of Christ” in the inspired and divine Scripture: I have betrothed you to one husband in order to present you to Christ as a pure virgin (2 Cor. 11:2). And also the House of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth, as well as the Body of Christ: And you are the body of Christ, and individually members (1 Cor. 12:27).
St. Methodius, Bishop of Patara, who lived at the end of the 3rd century, calls the Church in the “Feast of Ten Virgins” a receptacle of divine powers, an eternally youthful Bride of the Word. She is God's creation, surpassing all human. In the end, he presents it as “a gathering, a multitude of all those who believe,” where the old teach the young, and the perfect teach the weak.
Saint Hippolyte, famous father Roman Church, disciple of St. Irenaeus, in his work of the beginning of the III century "Christ and Antichrist" speaks a lot about the Church and calls her a ship in a stormy sea. On it are the captain, sailors, sails, anchors and all the gear, symbolizing Christ, angels and believers.
By believing in the Holy Spirit who inspired these Fathers of the Church, we inevitably believe in the Holy Church, which is the object of all these names given by the Holy Spirit.
About the Kingdom of God or the Church
As King, our Lord Jesus Christ created the Kingdom of Heaven on earth immediately after His Ascension, when He sat at the right hand of God the Father and when He received from His Eternal Father all the fullness of power in heaven and on earth.
His Kingdom on earth is His Church. As King, Jesus cares for him, gives rules, seals visions and prophecies, and stops sacrifice and offering (Dan. 9:24ff.).
He governs, directs and guides it eternally through his sacred servants. Richly and ceaselessly He distributes the gifts of His Holy Spirit in order to strengthen, grow and expand it. The Savior King sanctifies, comforts, preserves, exalts and glorifies His people (John 15:26; Acts 2:33-36).
As King, the Lord establishes order in His kingdom by giving the Church its servants. As King, Jesus gave His people the Laws.
As King, He calls the nations to believe in Him. As King, He asks His followers to sacrifice even their lives for Him and His kingdom. As King, He declared war on evil and through grace granted peace. As King, Jesus reigns in the hearts of believers who are united to Him through His Holy Church.
Anyone who is not a member of the Church is outside the kingdom of Christ and is deprived of the honor of being His son.
The Holy Church of Christ is a divine ecclesiastical institution founded by our Savior Jesus Christ for the salvation of the human race. The Church was given by the Savior as an instrument of His divine love and mercy towards man. She is the eternal bearer of divine grace and the trustee of human salvation, being God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, always identical with Himself, saves all those who believe in Him in all ages.
For this purpose He created His eternal Church. It includes all believers, from the first to the last. He is its Head and keeps it alive and active and strengthens it for ages. The Head of the Church in Eden, Jesus Christ was the Head of the Church of the Patriarchs, established on the Law of Moses, anticipating the New Testament Church through images and symbols.
The Church of Christ is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, from the very foundation of the world, destined for the salvation of people and an institution for eternal existence.
In his letter to Panarios, St. Epiphanius of Cyprus discusses the Church and at the end says: “The Church was created from Adam; it was preached to the Patriarchs before Abraham; it was believed after Abraham; it was opened by Moses; Isaiah prophesied about her; she was revealed by Christ and exists with him; and now it is celebrated by us.” And in paragraph 78 of his treatise on the Catholic Church, he says: “The character of the Church is determined by the Law, the Prophets, the Apostles, and the Evangelists.”
Cyril of Jerusalem notes that the Church includes all those who believed in Christ before His coming; they constituted the Church of the Old Testament; he also says that in the time of the Patriarchs, the Church was governed by promises and faith received from revelation, that is, not in writing - orally. From the time of Moses and the Prophets, the Church has been governed by Law and Prophecy, that is, written Tradition.
Thus, the Church is the Kingdom of Christ founded on earth, and St. Chrysostom says that she is “the place of residence of angels, the place of residence of archangels, the Kingdom of God, heaven itself.” The Holy Spirit descended upon her dwells in her at all times, as the Savior spoke of this to His disciples: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever, the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him and does not know Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).
The Holy Spirit abundantly supplies the Church with all the divine charisms. She received the right to bind and loose sins, to preach the gospel, to call nations to salvation. She received the power to revive the morally fallen, making them in the image of God, endowing them with the image and likeness. She acquired the right to reconcile them with God and make them participants in the grace of God, unite them with the Savior, communicate the Holy Spirit to all those who resort to her, and make them sons of God. She received the power to defeat all her opponents, to remain impregnable forever, to bring down her enemies, to remain invulnerable.
According to John Chrysostom, smitten - the Church remains victorious, humiliated - she becomes even more radiant. She is wounded, but she is not slain; it is shaken, but it does not go to the bottom; it is taken by storm, but it does not suffer a crash. She is not passive, she fights without being defeated.
The Church of the Savior is truly the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Love, joy, peace reign in it. It has faith in God; through religious feeling and inner knowledge of the heart, we come to the knowledge of God, to the knowledge of hidden mysteries, to the knowledge of the revealed Truth. In it, aspirations are reliable and confident; in it salvation is realized; in it the Holy Spirit expands Himself and abundantly pours out the fruits of His divine grace. It blossoms divine zeal for God, perfect love and consecration to Him, as well as an unceasing desire for an endless union with God.
In the Church of God, moral virtues reach the pinnacle of perfection accessible to man. With a purified spirit and with a heart transformed by the sacrament of holy baptism, a person with a once darkened and hardened soul develops completely new virtues in himself and advances along the steps of virtue with diligence and zeal. The Church has truly renewed, recreated man, made him the image of God. The Holy See of the Church is the true Meal that nourishes the faithful for eternal life; he distributes to believers the bread of heaven, the body of heaven, and those who eat it never die. The Holy Altar, established in the center of Christ's Church, is the Heavenly Supper; he receives earthly gifts and raises them to heaven, he receives heavenly gifts and distributes them on earth. The Holy Throne of the Church touches the earth and at the same time the Heavenly Throne. The throne is terrible for the angels themselves, hovering under the vaults of heaven.
The Church is the hope, the refuge, the consolation of all who believe in Christ. Divine Chrysostom says that the Church planted by God in the world is like a harbor in the ocean. Moving away from the bustle of life, we find refuge in it and enjoy the world.” And further: “Do not depart from the Church; there is nothing stronger than the Church, there is nothing stronger than the rock, higher than the sky, wider than the earth. She never gets old, but endlessly blooms. Why does Scripture call it a mountain? - Because of her steadfastness. Why does it also call it a rock? - Because of her incorruptibility. Through her were tamed by the divine charms, which is the hearing of Holy Scripture, wild animals. It penetrates the ear of every person, invades the soul and lulls the raging passions in it.”
According to St. Ignatius, the true Church is one: “There is only one Jesus Christ and there is nothing more precious than Him. Come to the Church, which is the one Temple of God, the one throne of the one Lord Jesus Christ, born of the one Father...”
St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, disciple of St. Polycarp and listener of the Evangelist John, says the following about the Church in his book “Against Heresies”: “It is impossible to enumerate the charisms that the Church received from God throughout the world in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, crucified under Pontius Pilate for the good of the nations. Without deceiving or misleading them, she unselfishly gives what she has unselfishly received from God.”
Speaking about the mission of Christ's Church, St. Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch (2nd century), compares the Church in the 14th paragraph of his second book with “islands of the sea.” Some of them are inhabited, they have water, fruits, raids and harbors to give shelter to those threatened by sea storms. In the same way, God gave to the world, raging and torn apart by sins, temples, called holy churches, in which, as in safe island harbors, the dogma of the Church is kept. They are resorted to by those who want to be saved; they become lovers of Truth and thus escape the wrath and judgment of God.
Other islands are rocky, have neither water nor fruits, they are wild and uninhabited. They pose a danger to travelers and shipwrecked. Ships crash on them and passengers die. These are the vicious creeds that I call heresies. Not guided by the Word of Truth, they mislead those who adjoin them. They are like pirates who, having loaded their ships and wandering on the waves, will break the ships on these islands and lose them forever. It is the same with those who stray from the truth and perish in error.”
The Divine Gregory the Theologian, in his first speech against Julian the Apostate, says this about the Church: “You (Julian) oppose the great heritage of Christ, great and never passing away, which He created as God and which He inherited as a man. It was proclaimed by law, filled with grace, Christ revived it, the prophets planted it, the apostles bound it, the evangelists raised it...”
In a speech on the conciliar faith, St. Epiphanius of Cyprus testifies: “The Church is our mother. She is a bride who came from Lebanon, beautiful and pure; paradise of a great artist; village of the Holy King; bride of the chaste Christ; an innocent maiden, betrothed to one Bridegroom, transparent as the dawn, beautiful as the moon, chosen as the sun. Proclaimed blessed by the Law, she is at the right hand of the King.”
The Church is a revelation continually taking place in the world. In it, God reveals Himself in various and many ways and confirms His presence by His Divine powers. In the Epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul speaks of the Church founded by Christ: And God set some in the Church, firstly, Apostles, secondly, prophets, thirdly, teachers; further, he gave miraculous powers to others, also gifts of healings, help, management, different languages. (1 Corinthians 12:28).
The Case of the Church
The Apostle Paul defines the work of the Church in the following words: And He appointed some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as Evangelists, others as shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the Body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. (Eph. 4:11-13).
Thus, the Church created by Christ the Savior has a perfect organization; she is an organic body. Her head is Christ, her guide is the Holy Spirit, who instructs her and abundantly communicates to her the gifts of God.
The Church is an organic body; it is visible, it gathers into a single whole all its members, both holy and weak. Sick members of the Church never cease to be part of her body. Reborn in the Holy Mysteries and becoming children of grace, they can no longer be separated from it, even if they are under the influence of church punishment; for for them, who have been freed from original sin, there is no other dwelling place than the Church. In the world there is only one place of residence for man: paradise, there is the Church, in which the salvation of man.
After the fall of the forefathers and the rise of sin, those who departed from God created another place - the place of sin. The Church of God included only those who turned their eyes to God and waited for the coming of the Savior. The Church carried the faith and hope for the promised salvation of mankind in Christ the Savior. Those who had this faith and this hope were in the Church of God, waiting for the redemption of mankind by the Savior, and received it. Those who did not have this faith and this hope were outside the Church. The reason for the existence of a place outside the Church was Adam's sin. Therefore, in this world, since the fall of Adam, there have been two places - the place of the Church and the place outside the Church.
Those who come from a place of sin and through faith and sacraments enter into the place of Christ's Church become its members forever; it is impossible for them themselves to return to the place of sin after being reborn in baptism and cleansing from original sin. And since there is no other place, those who enter the Church remain in it, even sinners. The Church separates them as a shepherd separates sick sheep from healthy ones, but the sick sheep, nevertheless, do not cease to be the sheep of the whole flock. When sick sheep get better, they reconnect with healthy ones. If, however, they are incurable, they perish in sin and will be judged according to their sins. But as long as they are still in this world, they are regarded as sheep of the common flock, in other words, as children of Christ's Church.
According to Orthodox teaching, there is only one Church, the visible Church of Christ. In it a person is reborn, coming from a place of sin, in it he remains to abide, regardless of whether he is a saint or a sinner. As a member of the Church, the sinner does not infect the rest of it, because the members of the Church are moral beings, free and not deprived of freedom, as in the case of the body of animals, where the disease of one is transmitted to all others.
Protestants who believe in an “invisible” earthly Church, consisting of the elect, led by God alone, are mistaken. The invisible earthly Church cannot exist. Since people are not blameless and there is no sinless person, where can the chosen ones come from? The invisible Church of the elect would suffer from constant change, from the eternal substitution of its members, if only because of the tendency of man to stumble and fall on the one hand, and on the other hand, because of the compassion of God and His love for man, for God accepts everyone who returns to Him.
The true essence of the Church is that she simultaneously fights and triumphs. She fights when she fights against evil for the kingdom of good; it triumphs in heaven and in the hearts of the righteous, who in the struggle perfected themselves in faith in God and in virtues.
Whoever believes in the invisible Church of the elect comes into conflict with the true spirit of the Church, which does not separate those who are on the path of perfection from those who have already become perfect. Such a distinction is the work of God; He alone will separate the righteous from the sinners after death. Christ does not turn away from those whom He freed by His own blood, just as He did not turn away from sinners during His earthly life. Jesus Christ regards them as members of His Church and awaits their conversion until the last moment.
Those who divide the militant Church into visible and invisible: 1) divide the indivisible; and 2) sin against the very meaning of the name of the Church.
First, they divide the Church. The Church of Christ is the Church of the saints, otherwise it is not the Church of Christ at all. The church of sinners cannot be the church of saints. Thus, the Church of Christ is the Church of the saints.
If the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is the Church of the saints, then why is the invisible Church of the elect needed? Who are these chosen ones? Who can call saints those who have not yet left the arena victorious and crowned with glory? Who can be called blessed until the end?
Secondly, they sin against the very meaning of the name of the Church, dividing it in two, into visible and invisible, while the concept of the Church means only the visible.
If they believe that the Church remains indivisible because the members of the invisible Church are at the same time members of the visible Church and because the visible Church is included in the invisible one, then the question arises of how the Church of the imperfect, that is, sinners, can contain the Church of the perfect in her bosom? If the visible Church of the imperfect, of those who are not holy, begets holy children, then how is she deprived of holiness? If the members of the Protestant "community of saints" are not descended from the children of the visible Church, then what is the visible Church for? To avoid controversy and be consistent, those who believe in the "community of saints" would have to stop believing in the visible Church, stop using the term "Church." Then they would not sin against the concept of the Church and would not utter paradoxical things, in one case believing in the Church, and in the other denying it.
For if the members of the invisible Church do not come from the visible Church, but are mysteriously united in God by faith in Christ alone, then in whom does the Savior act and upon whom does the Holy Spirit descend, who becomes holy and perfect, why then, the question arises, visible The Church, since it in no way contributes to unity and perfection in Christ the Savior? Why then the name “Church,” if its members are isolated from each other and do not know each other, if they do not constitute a single organic whole, an inseparable union in the full sense of the word?
The truth is that those who admit the existence of some kind of invisible Church completely reject the concept of a visible Church. And in order to avoid the final dismemberment, they allow some form of the Church, like a meeting that unites their followers to glorify God and listen to the sermon. But all this is by no means the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which we profess in sacred symbol Faith. They constitute an assembly of the followers of the Lord who believe in Him without a preliminary and truly regenerating bath in the font, without a true attainment of holiness and perfection. Unless, of course, their visible Church is the Church of the imperfect, while the other, invisible, is the Church of the perfect, existing only in their imagination.
It is contradictory to call the Assembly of Saints the invisible Church - a collection of the elect who do not know each other and who are not united by an organic connection into a single whole. For:
1. How can those who have never met together constitute a meeting?
2. How can the Church, which is made up of individuals, be invisible?
The Church and the invisible are two contradictory or rather opposite concepts.
In the first case, they consider as the Assembly, the Church, which means something visible, something that has not yet been united, and in the second, they contradict themselves, calling it visible.
The "community of saints" does not exist and cannot exist. It does not exist, because the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, indivisible and visible, constituted by those who are reborn in it. Nothing that is both visible and invisible does not exist.
Those who have not been regenerated by the grace of God, acting in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, do not constitute any Church, either visible or invisible.
So-called Protestant Church is a purely abstract concept. It is devoid of divine principle, divine and historical authority. It is fully correlated only with human ideas and actions and does not have an invariable, stable character. If Protestants regard the visible Church they compose as the Holy Congregation, why then does the invisible Church exist? And again the question arises, how do those who compose it turn out to be saints when, by their own definition, a person after the fall was completely perverted? Who confirmed to them their rebirth, their holiness, their reconciliation and communion with God? Who proved to them that the grace of Christ works in them? Who testified to them about the descent of the Holy Spirit on them, about the abundance of divine gifts?
All this is not false, without a doubt, it is given only in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The one who is reborn in it receives full confidence in his fellowship with God.
The Credibility and Authority of the Church
As a divine institution, the Church is directed by the Holy Spirit; He dwells in it and makes it an immutable dogmatic rule, "the pillar and ground of the Truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). It is the Church that keeps the apostolic teaching pure and unchanged. Only she alone can lead to the truth, be the only indisputable judge, able to speak out about the saving truths of the teaching revealed to us by God. One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, represented by all her ministers on Ecumenical Councils, is the only true judge, the only and natural guardian, standing guard over the divinely inspired teaching. The Church alone decides the question of the authenticity and authority of Holy Scripture. She alone guarantees and carefully guards Tradition and the apostolic teaching in her bosom pure and unchanging. She alone can confirm, explain, and formulate truths, guided by the Holy Spirit. Only the Church leads to Christ those who believe in him and gives them a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures. She alone guards her children on their way to salvation. She alone leads them with confidence to salvation. Only in it alone do believers find firm confidence in the truths they believe in and in the salvation of their souls. Outside the Church, this Noah's ark, there is no salvation. The Confession of St. Dositheus says that we believe that the Holy Spirit enlightens the Church, for He is the true Paraclete whom Christ sends from the Father to teach the Truth and expel darkness from the souls of believers.
Without the authority of the Church, there is nothing stable, undeniable, reliable for salvation. Only the authority of the Church keeps the apostolic heritage pure and unsullied; it is only through him that the truths of the apostolic preaching are transmitted pure and undefiled. Without the authority of the Church, the content of the faith may be subject to distortion, and the apostolic preaching will turn into slander. Without a God-visible, created Church, there can be no connection between the members of any community that would not be the Body of Christ, for the Body of Christ is His Church, of which He is the Head. Without the Church, no one can be united with the Body of Christ; no one can become a member of Christ unless he is regenerated and becomes a sharer in the grace that is in the Church.
Protestants, who define the Church as an invisible society, an assembly of the elect, saints, a society of faith and the Holy Spirit, in which* the Savior allegedly acts, excommunicate themselves from the grace of God distributed by the Church, to which they do not belong.
Those who deny the visible Church of Christ also deny the nature of the Church, that is, its concrete character, which makes it a divine institution on earth, in which the redemptive work of the Savior continues uninterruptedly.
Those who like to call themselves members of the invisible society of saints, consisting of the saints of all the earth, known only to God, who believe that through a purely theoretical faith in the Savior they become participants in the Holy Spirit, who think that the Savior works their salvation without the mediation of the created by Him Church, he is mistaken, for "extra ecclesiam nulla salus" 1. Outside the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church there is no salvation. This Church is visible, it is not just a collection of people who believe in Christ. She is a divine institution. She was entrusted guarding the truths revealed to us by God In it the redemption of man is realized In it man communes with God and becomes a Child of God 1 Outside the Church there is no salvation (lat.).
Protestants who have left the visible Church of Christ and formed their own "communities of saints" are sinning against the fundamental character of the Church. They consider faith self-sufficient for salvation. They interpret the work of redemption as a theological theory capable of saving the one who studies it or accepts it. However, the work of redemption is not just a theological theory. This is a mystical act performed in the visible Church of Christ. This is the work that brings salvation, that makes believers partakers of the Holy Spirit. Outside the Church there is no theoretical faith, no society leading to communion with God. The Savior said: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” It was the Lord who erected the visible altar of the Church. That is why, along with the theory, He requires an act, an act in accordance with the truth that He communicated to His Holy Church, the only one that leads into Life, the Head of which is Christ Himself. We must obey her, it is from her that we must learn the Truth and receive salvation. She alone is the pillar and affirmation of the Truth, for the Spirit, the Paraclete, abides eternally in her. The Monk Dositheus says the following about the Church: “We must unshakably believe in Scripture, but not otherwise than in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church.” Heretics, of course, accept Holy Scripture, but they distort it with metaphors, homonymy, sophisms of human sophistication, confusing the uncomplicated and playing on what cannot be played off. If we were to daily accept the opinions of one or the other, the Catholic Church would not be what she, by the grace of Christ, has remained until today, keeping a single point of view regarding faith and believing unshakably in the same thing. In this case, it would be torn apart by many heresies and would no longer be the Holy Church, the pillar and affirmation of the Truth, unstained and pure. It would become the Church of the deceitful, the Church of heretics, who, having formed in it, would then reject it without any remorse. Therefore, we believe that the testimony of the Catholic Church is not inferior to the authority of Holy Scripture. They are both the work of the same Spirit. A person who speaks from himself can sin, err, and err. The Catholic Church never speaks from herself, but speaks by the Spirit of God, the Teacher, who enriches her eternally. She can neither sin, nor err, nor err. It is equal to Holy Scripture and has an immutable and permanent authority.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem bequeaths: love to learn and learn from the Church which books of the Old and New Testaments are accepted by all. For why waste time on those books that are doubtful. One should read, according to him, twenty-two books of the Old Testament, translated by seventy teachers.”
Behind the words of St. Cyril is worth the authority of the Church. At the Council of Constantinople in 1672, Patriarch Dionysios said about the infallibility of the Church: “We say that it is infallible, guided by its own Head, Christ, and enlightened by the Spirit of Truth. Therefore, she cannot be mistaken; that is why it is called by the apostle the Pillar and Affirmation of the Truth. It is visible and will never leave the Orthodox until the end of time.”
Introduction to the Song of Divine Love
Since God is by nature infinite and inaccessible, the desire of the saints to unite with God is never fully fulfilled. He who seeks God is in constant motion, in growth, constantly ascending to heaven. This great desire for God was characteristic of the Apostle Paul, who wrote: stretching forward, I strive for the goal, for the honor of the high calling of God... (Phil. 3:13-14).
The same desire of God possessed the mentor of the monastics - the Monk Anthony the Great; every day his desire and love increased so much that he could say about himself: “I no longer fear God, because I love Him.”
The more a saintly person is seized with desire and love for God, the stronger is his feeling that he possesses nothing. The higher he rises to the heights of love, the stronger his feeling that his love for God is weaker than anyone else's. The infinite and desirable beauty of God is inaccessible to human understanding, the Infinite does not fit into the finite. Therefore, God reveals Himself in the human soul gradually and teaches it to seek Him, desire Him and enjoy Him. Then the soul rushes up, to the divine beauty, in order to completely embrace it and contain it. Not reaching it, the soul believes that what it seeks is somewhere much further, much higher, that it is much more desirable than what it has achieved and what it has contained within itself. The soul is surprised, amazed, it is filled with divine desire.
In the language of the saints, the word "desire" refers to objects or persons that are absent, and the word "zeal" refers to those that are present. Being invisible and immaterial by nature, God is Desirable and Desired, but at the same time, being Omnipresent, revealing Himself in His energies, He is Contempt for those who are worthy of Him.
Song of Divine Love
Gratitude is God's gift. It is given to an innocent soul by the grace of God, visiting her and revealing herself to her.
Divine zeal does not arise in anyone without divine revelation. The unrevealed soul is not affected by grace and remains insensitive to divine love.
Those who love God are moved to divine love by the grace of God, which is revealed to the soul and acts in the purified heart. It is grace that draws them to God.
The one who is embraced by the love of God was first loved by God. Only then did he love God. He who loved God was first a son of love, and then he loved the Heavenly Father.
The heart of a loving God never slumbers; it keeps awake because of its great love...
When a person sleeps out of natural necessity, his heart is awake, sending praise to God.
A heart wounded by divine zeal does not seek anything beyond the limits of the Highest Good; it turns away from everything, feels complete indifference to everything.
The soul, seized with love for God, enjoys the words of God and is blessed in His tabernacles. She lifts up her voice to tell the wonders of God and proclaim the glory of God and His greatness.
She sings of God and constantly praises Him.
She diligently serves Him.
Divine zeal completely takes possession of such a soul, changes it and appropriates it to Himself. The soul that loves God comprehends God, and this comprehension kindles its divine zeal.
The soul that loves God is blessed, for it has met the Divine Judge, who has fulfilled its desires.
It completely rejects every desire, every feeling, every impulse that is alien to the love of God, as something contemptible and unworthy of it.
Oh, how strongly the soul that loves God ascends into heaven with divine love, carried by the love of God! Like a light cloud, this love takes possession of the soul and carries it to the eternal source of love, to inexhaustible love, filling it with inextinguishable light.
The soul wounded by divine zeal rejoices incessantly. She exults, she shudders with joy, she plays before God, for she is in the peace of the Lord's love, as on the surface of calm waters.
No sadness of this world can disturb her peace and rest, no sadness can deprive her of joy and exultation.
Love lifts up to heaven the soul that loves God. Astonished, she feels detached from her bodily feelings, from her very body.
Completely surrendering herself to God, she forgets herself.
Divine zeal conveys an unconstrained nearness to God; ease conveys boldness, boldness conveys taste, and taste conveys hunger.
The soul, wounded by divine zeal, is no longer able to think about anything else or want something.
She constantly sighs and says, “Lord, when will I come to You and when will I see Your face? My soul longs to come to You, O God, like a deer yearning for a spring.”
Such is the divine zeal that captivates the soul.
Oh, love, true and constant!
Oh, love, the likeness of the image of God!
Oh, love, quiet delight of my soul!
Oh love, divine fullness of my heart!
O love, unceasing contemplation of my spirit!
You always possess my soul, you surround it with care and warmth.
You revive her and elevate her to divine love.
You fill my heart and inflame it with divine love, you revive my desire for the Supreme Judge.
With your life-giving power you strengthen the strength of my soul; you make it capable of rendering divine love its proper service.
You take possession of my spirit and deliver it from earthly fetters.
You release him so that he can freely ascend into heaven to divine love.
You are the most precious treasure of believers, the most desired gift of divine charisms.
You are the god-like radiance of my soul and heart.
You are the one who makes believers children of God.
You are the adornment of the faithful and you honor your friends.
You are the only truly permanent, for you are eternal.
You are the luxurious garment of those who love God, who, in these garments, appear before divine love.
You are a sweet delight, for you are the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
You bring sanctified believers into the kingdom of heaven.
You are the captivating fragrance of believers.
Through you, believers partake of heavenly bliss.
Through you the light of the spiritual sun rises in the soul.
Through you the spiritual eyes of believers are opened.
Through you, believers share in divine glory and eternal life.
Through you, the thirst for heaven is born in us.
It is you who restore the Kingdom of God on earth.
It is you who spread peace among the people.
It is you who make the earth like the sky.
It is you who connects people with angels.
It is you who raise our singing to God.
You are the winner in everything.
It is you who are above everything.
It is you who truly controls the universe.
It is you who wisely rules the world.
It is you who carry and store everything.
Oh love, the fullness of my heart!
Oh love, the sweetest image of the sweetest Jesus.
Oh love, sacred seal of the disciples of the Lord.
Oh love, symbol of the sweetest Jesus.
Break my heart with your desire.
Fill him with blessings, kindness and rejoicing.
Make it the habitation of the Holy Spirit.
Ignite it with a divine flame, so that its miserable passions will burn out and it will be lit up, singing unceasing praise to you.
Fill my heart with the tenderness of your love, so that I love only the sweetest Jesus, Christ my Lord, and that I sing to Him an endless song with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my strength, with all my spirit. Amen!
Topar, voice 1.
Silivria is the branch and Aegina of the guardian, who appeared in the last years, the virtues of a sincere friend, Nectarios, we honor the faithful, as a divine servant of Christ: he sharpens the goals of the many different ones crying out the gospel. Glory to the Christ who glorifies you, glory to the grace that gave you miracles, glory to the healing that acts by you.
Akathist
Kondak 1
Chosen Metropolitan Nektarios of Pentapolis and the wonderworker of Aegina, we bring you petitions for our sick relatives: thou art a healer of cancerous ulcers and other ailments, and bestowed grace on the whole universe, for the sake of this, with one mouth and one heart, we sing to you incessantly: Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Ikos 1
Finding a guardian angel in holy baptism, from young nails you desired an equal life of an angel, our father Nektarios; now, with the Angels, enjoy the sight of the Glory of God, pray to all the Lord Angels for those who sing: Rejoice, blessed fruit of the married parents; Rejoice, sanctified by God from the womb of the mother. Rejoice, childish obedience; Rejoice, having studied the Scriptures from youth. Rejoice, animated book of God's words; Rejoice, living tablet of the love of God. Rejoice, chosen by God for meekness and humility; Rejoice, leaving the spiritual house for the sake of teaching. Rejoice, for for the sake of you the storm is green on the sea, calm down; Rejoice, for the broken mast is strengthened by your belt. Rejoice, young eagle, possessing the krill of clever prayer; Rejoice, Elena, seeking the sources of repentance. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 2
Seeing you in the air, praying, some blueberry was terrible, God-loving; you, hiding the gift of prayer, sealed the lips of the virgin with an oath to the Lord in your heart, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
You acquired the mind of Christ with prayer, holy Nectarios, in which you understand that there is the will of God, good, pleasing and perfect; teach us in every place to raise our hands to God without anger and doubt, and receive from us laudable: Rejoice, in the vale of deplorable ascents; Rejoice, fruit of the Spirit growing. Rejoice, child of Mount Athos; Rejoice, Key of the Jesus Prayer. Rejoice, shone of ancient piety; Rejoice, city of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, overshadowed by grace; Rejoice, fiery Cherubim. Rejoice, salt of the promised land; Rejoice, sowing with tears, reaping with joy. Rejoice, on the same flourishing is the relic of Christ; Rejoice, for God has been good to you. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 3
Clothed with the power of the Most High, Father Nectarios, you have affirmed the power of the words of Christ: in My Kingdom, - That speech, - they don’t marry, they encroach below, but like Angels in heaven, I will sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having the Most Pure Theotokos in service, all the host of heaven, you, saint, like an Angel in the flesh, a chanter of Your miracles, set up: we, Mary's omophorion over you, see, with fear and love fall down to you: Rejoice, secret chosen one of the Mother of God; Rejoice, executor of Her commandments. Rejoice, having received the spirit of meekness from Pure Dove; Rejoice, glorifying Ever-Virgin in spiritual songs. Rejoice, teach to please the Queen of heaven and earth; Rejoice, having found mercy from the Son with the prayers of the Mother. Rejoice, chamber of righteousness and wisdom; Rejoice, height of reasoning and depth of humility. Rejoice, Aegina krine, the nectar of repentance that saps; Rejoice, bee of Eden, supplying us with the honey of theology. Rejoice, world-maker, pouring out myrrh; Rejoice, cup of spiritual ablution. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 4
Having a cancerous ulcer bleeding on my chest, the priest of your temple, Nectarios, be confused when you appear to kiss him, as if in the flesh; He, having received healing, was invisible to you, cry out to God with tears: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing many about the miraculous healing that you did during your lifetime, always in the country of Canada, Holy Liturgy we serve, you appeared in Dus, miracle worker Nectarios, and you raised a certain man relaxed, calling him to the Chalice; The same health was, the village of Aegina reached and, having seen thee in the flesh, loudly crying out: Rejoice, hospitable doctor, praise to Greece; Rejoice, having acquired glory for Nicholas the Wonderworker. Rejoice, well of blessings; Rejoice, merciful Samaritan. Rejoice, enriched with the gift of miracles; Rejoice, visiting humble people. Rejoice, console us with true miracles; Rejoice, for what is impossible for others is possible for you. Rejoice, for you turn our sorrows into joy; rejoice, for you wipe away tears from our eyes. Rejoice, demon-possessed liberator; Rejoice, healer of cancerous ulcers. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 5
Thou hast ascended with the divine star of repentance, father, above the universe, emitting rays of contrition about human iniquities; illumine our minds to see our sins, let us propitiate the Lord with singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the maidens of her pure Bishop, in the beauty of soul and body, she is coming to God, and recognizing in him a great prayer book and miracle worker, according to exclaiming to you, Saint Nektarios: Rejoice, Christ's eternal dwelling; Rejoice, wonderful treasure of the Spirit. Rejoice, royal ordination of the Great Hierarch; Rejoice, called to the Throne of the Eternal King. Rejoice, Flesh of Christ with the body; Rejoice, partaker of the Holy Blood. Rejoice, herald of repentance; Rejoice, I intercede for us before God. Rejoice, Nectarios, rejoicing angels; Rejoice, flame, burn the demons. Rejoice, abyss of bounty; Rejoice, sea of glorious miracles. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 6
Preacher of the One Good One, blessed Nectarios, thee, having humbled yourself under the strong hand of God, exalt thee; in the passionate sea of those who float, do not forget your children, but put me on the beam of humility, let them magnify your God, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Having shone with the light of the beatitudes of Christ, thou hast risen from degree to degree, God-wise Nektarios: with meekness and peace, abstinence and love thou hast enlightened thy soul, but now hear from us the siphon: Rejoice, wearing the robe of humility; Rejoice, offences covered with forgiveness. Rejoice, rejoice in the multitude of the world; Rejoice, inherit the land of the meek. Rejoice, phiale of repentant weeping; Rejoice, mirror of the purity of the heart. Rejoice, filled with the name of Jesus; Rejoice, thou who art drunk with the waters of the Scriptures. Rejoice, proclaiming mercy and judgment; Rejoice, thou who abolished enmity with love. Rejoice, pious life; rejoice, persecuted for the sake of truth. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 7
Although the man of God is perfect to be, Nectarios is righteous, you have chosen the path of the immaculate: on the island of Eginstem the sea of \u200b\u200blife, like in an ark, swimming, triumphantly sang to the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The teacher of the New Testament appeared pretty well, preaching the word of God with his life: as if our battle is against flesh and blood, but the ruler of the darkness of this world. We, being able to do anything about the Lord, cry out to you, sovereign Nectarios: Rejoice, good soldier of Jesus Christ; Rejoice, spirit of malice in the heavenly places. Rejoice, having received all the weapons of God; Rejoice, girding your loins with truth. Rejoice, for your feet are red with the good news of the world; Rejoice, for the helmet of salvation is fixed on your versa. Rejoice, shield of faith, whereby faiths are protected: Rejoice, double-edged sword, encroach on heresy. Rejoice, conqueror, eat from the tree of life; Rejoice, man of God, stranger of the second death. Rejoice, true witness of the faith; rejoice, heavenly branch of salvation. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 8
Strange finding perfection in you, just perfect in love is accessible; perfect the love of our souls, loving Nectarios, and having reached a perfect husband, we sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You were all in the lower ones, following the humble, in the highest with God, that is, with Love, staying; Grant us, oh, non-Botanian Nectarios, love knowledge, in the hedgehog of singing: Rejoice, for thou hast become a prisoner of the love of God; Rejoice, for thou hast captivated thy children with love. Rejoice, bending you under the yoke of the Savior; Rejoice, carrying the burdens of your neighbors. Rejoice, rooted in love; rejoice, approved in mercy. Rejoice, understanding the breadth and longitude of the Cross; Rejoice, comprehend the height and depth of the Tree. Rejoice, wiser love, superior reason; Rejoice, receptacle of the fullness of God. Rejoice, keep in mind the Christmas tree is true, righteous and honest; Rejoice, love with your heart the Christmas tree is pure, praiseworthy and most lovable. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 9
All angelic and human nature marveled at the image, great Nectarios, revealed in you: as if in Christ there is neither a Jew, nor a Greek, nor a slave, nor freedom, nor a male, nor a female, but a new creature, singing to the Redeemer of the creature: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The Vetia of the multi-talked silence, to your life, holy father Nektarios, marveling at how holy you were, calling yourself a sinner; You were spiritual, taken from the earth of dust: after death you were exalted, while living with your mind down to hell; but we have opened our mouths, like children we cry: Rejoice, head, who exalted the faith; Rejoice, lips that shame godlessness. Rejoice, eye enlightened by the knowledge of God; Rejoice, right hand, strengthened by His might. Rejoice, humble arrogant minds; rejoice, crushing proud hearts. Rejoice, showing strength in weakness; Rejoice, you found joy in tears. Rejoice, dead and alive; rejoice, earthly and heavenly. Rejoice, pea seed of the belly; Rejoice, mature class of the Resurrection. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 10
At least save your soul, like a virgin, you betrothed that one Bridegroom; now, having entered the messenger of Christ from the faces of the virgins, glorious Nectarios, sing the song: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Thou art a wall to all who resort to you, venerable Nectarios, pray for the grace of the weak to heal and raise to the heavenly heritage: heal us, your children, and raise us to the Kingdom of Christ, but with all our hearts we say to you: Rejoice, elder of grace; Rejoice, youthful guide. Rejoice, innocent shepherd of innocent sheep; Rejoice, wise collector of virgin pearls. Rejoice, spiritual nurturer of the universe; Rejoice, ardent servant of the Eucharist. Rejoice, voice of the humble Christ; Rejoice, word of the building Spirit. Rejoice, experienced in patience; rejoice, cleansed by sorrow. Rejoice, champion of God's truth; Rejoice, heir of Christ's glory. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 11
Thou brought the singing of the Mother of God, servant of God, calling the Mother of Light the Virgin, now thou hast been perfectly enlightened with the understanding of the mystery of the incarnation, raising a voice to the mountain: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
With the light of Divine glory, we enlighten you, Nectarios, in the devil of glory: enlighten the attire of our souls with the Trinity radiance, let us sing unceasingly to you: Rejoice, stone of the Tsar's diadems; Rejoice, Lightning Nosimago on Seraphimex. Rejoice, for the commandment is bright, enlightening your eyes; rejoice, for thou hast loved me more than gold and topaz. Rejoice, silver is kindled, cleansed by the septenary; Rejoice, spiritual harp, Savior's harp. Rejoice, having written the name of God in the hearts; Rejoice, love justifies the feat of faith. Rejoice, carrying the shrine of the Spirit; Rejoice, sanctifying souls corrupted by passions. Rejoice, righteousness, whitened like fine linen; Rejoice, enlightened by the knowledge of the Trinity. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 12
Grace, given by God to you, multiplying you, servant of God, good and faithful Nektarios, the same I will buy spiritual deeds, create us, and gain more, let us sing to Christ: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your miracles, wonderful Nectarios, vems, as if Christ richly settled in you, for this sake bring down His miraculous right hand on us, saying to the sit: Rejoice, successor of the ancient fathers; Rejoice, new saint of Christ. Rejoice, beauty of the Great Church; rejoice, universal hope. Rejoice, humiliating yourself, glorified by God; Rejoice, walking in the last, first set. Rejoice, thou who knows the affairs of the monastery exactly, as the universe knows it; Rejoice, alien to the valley of glory, honored with heavenly reward. Rejoice, even after death lie motionless, rise up unwell; Rejoice, having appeared to many, tired of crying about the death. Rejoice, two golden women, monasticism and priesthood, received from God; Rejoice, having more than returned the gold to Christ with healing and miracles. Rejoice, Nectarios, Bishop of God.
Kondak 13
Oh, sacred head, wondrous doctor Bishop of God Nectarios! Accept now a small, both warm prayer of your children, the grace of those who believe in you. Grant us healing of ailments and deliver us from eternal perdition, so that we cry out to Christ our Savior with joy: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Prayers to St. Nektarios
Prayer one
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 the oath, save you from ailments, and throughout the 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 two
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 brother from mortal being, asking 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.
Saint Nektarios of Aegina
From 1904 to 1908, when Saint Nektarios himself settled in Aegina, as will be said, he corresponded with people living in the Aegina Monastery. Most of the letters are addressed to Abbess Xenia. At the beginning, when they were not yet cassocks, and their names did not change, he addressed everyone in general with the well-known phrase: "Beloved children in the Lord." In the first letters, along with current affairs, he also wrote about the sermons that he did in the Athenian temples. Of course, he wrote from memory. He delivered sermons in the Athenian metropolis, in the churches of St. Demetrius, St. Luke and the Virgin. Sermons of his extremely spiritual content, and the language in which he writes is a simple kafarevusa with words and expressions of the ancient Greek language. As was his custom, he used this language in his sermons, and here he uses it, for he spoke to more educated persons. There are 135 letters in total. The nuns keep them as something sacred. We offer a choice of some, so that the reader gets an idea about this side, since through them the Saint performed his pastoral work.
Letters
Beloved children in the Lord, rejoice in the Lord.
With thanksgiving, I announce to you that God has revealed to us His divine will for the foundation of the Holy Abode and is pleased that this Holy Abode be re-erected and shine. His Grace Metropolitan Mr. Theoclitus not only blessed the cause, but also took under his protection and agreed with all my thoughts and commandments that I presented to him, and told me that he would take care of her, and by the Holy Synod she would be recognized as a Holy of the Kolomanskaya Convent, and that after the restoration of the Convent he intends to send several reverend maidens from Sparta and even agreed, at my suggestion, to visit the Convent for both of us.
I informed him of Alexandra's desire to build a church and told him that I would go on Holy Pascha to lay the foundation for it, and he accepted this word with satisfaction. From all this it is clear that God was pleased, and your prayers have been heard.
Accept my fatherly prayers and blessings and rejoice in the Lord.
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved children in the Lord, rejoice. I have received your letter of December 8 and rejoice in your health. Before that, I wrote you a letter and in it I added the sermon that I spoke in Kαπνικαραραίαν. In the last letter I wrote you two sermons, I believe that you were satisfied. These sermons were carefully copied by Mrs. Filio or Katina in a notebook, so that you can have it as a book, for ease of use, while the letters are preserved.
Yesterday Mrs. Helena came, accompanied by your friend Panagis, who asked me what was my opinion about the planned vigil on Kαπνικαραίαν, the day of the feast of the Nativity of Christ. My opinion, as I told him - do not go, but stay vigilant in psalms, songs and spiritual songs, singing and glorifying the Lord, Who will fill your heart with spiritual joy.
Try to call on a priest the day before to come to the Convent, celebrate the Liturgy, and you take communion. In this regard, about Divine Communion, I inform you that the desire for frequent communion is good and holy, but, nevertheless, it must be filled with peace and equanimity and free from sorrow and narrowness.
Know the following about this issue. Frequent communion is a consequence of constant liturgies, and not constant liturgies is a consequence of the desire for frequent communion. For there are liturgies about divine gifts, divine grace, about salvation, about mercy, about blessing, oh..., oh..., and so on, and about the communion of those who are ready for communion, but the communion of those worthy is a consequence and one of many gifts, provided to the person. Thus, the liturgy is not for us simply to take communion, but for the universe to be sanctified, and we become participants in the sanctification. Therefore, when there is a liturgy and we are ready for communion, we commune; when we are not ready, we do not partake.
Therefore, the desire for frequent communion is righteous under (condition) the celebration of Divine Liturgies; therefore it brings joy and joy. But when, due to reasons independent of the will of someone, this righteous desire cannot be fulfilled, but tightness and sorrow are born, then let the one suffering from these accuse himself, and it is possible that this desire is skillfully aroused by the adversary to leave the desert.
Know, then, that he who has received Communion properly and has come into the wilderness has in his heart Christ who lives and speaks to him incessantly. No time is enough to alienate him from the Lord. No ascetic of the desert left the desert to go to the city to take communion, at least once a year. Those who take communion have Christ continually: those who partake frequently during the liturgy, not as needy, not as alienated, partake, but as keeping the commandment, as expressing the desire to be always with Him, as seeking sanctification and grace, not as being not with Him or not sanctified, but as pardoned, they want to be participants and partakers of the Body and Blood of Christ during the performance of the Sacraments.
I tell you this briefly, so that you do not be embarrassed and do not grieve because of the rare communion. Christ lives in your heart. God has mercy on you, you enjoy His mercy and rejoice in the wilderness. Cast your care on the Lord, knowing that God is looking after you. Do not be cowardly and do not be embarrassed by anything, even from the deprivation of Divine Communion. He who knows hearts and wombs knows the desire of your hearts and is able to fulfill them, as He knows. You ask Him, and do not be cowardly, do not think that since your desire is holy, you, having the right to complain, remain unheard. God fulfills them in a mysterious way. Have mercy and call on God.
Your life is Christian wisdom. The wise never hesitate. Wise thought is the main sign of your life. I do not want you to mourn and be embarrassed because of what happens against your will, no matter how righteous it may be, for grief testifies to a certain selfishness. Beware of selfishness hidden under the image of the righteous. Beware, then, of untimely and excessive repentance because of righteous reproof, even if by judgment, which is considered righteous by your judgment. Excessive grief through this is from the tempter. One is grief - from the truth, from the knowledge of the wretched state of our soul. All other sorrows, when they are excessive, are alien to Grace.
This is for your understanding. Let Chrysanthia take communion, and I want to write to you about a dream that I had on the last day of my illness. There were pains and I did not sleep, the doctor gave me medicine to reduce the pain. I accepted and fell asleep a little. As soon as I fell asleep, I saw that I was on some kind of roof of a village house, and that I was completely healthy, next to me were two young men, of whom one sang: “You have invariably perceived the image of man ...” and so on and so on. , as it seemed to me, very melodious, but it seemed to me that he sang, not quite well, so I told him: “Listen to how I sing this,” and I sang with all my strength and, as it seemed to me, very melodically.
But when I looked around, for I heard the voices of women singing, I saw a multitude of virgins standing around me and singing a hymn with great boldness. Their voices covered my voice, and, embarrassed at the sight of so many virgins, I bowed my head and listened to them until they had finished singing a hymn, which I repeated after them in a weak voice.
At the end I woke up and was so joyful that I forgot about my illness. The next day there was a complete cleansing of the intestinal system, and a stone larger than a grain of rice came out, and since then I have been free from pain.
Thank God! The dream brought me a change in my mood.
Write to me when you feel grief.
I remain your prayer book to the Lord
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved child in the Lord, Katina, rejoice. I received your letter and am replying. Today I am sending you fifty (50) drachmas by mail through Mr. Dimarch for the repair of the cell. The rest (50) will be sent to you in a few days.
As for laughter, I mean that it can be hysterical and irreproachable. Try, however, not to laugh for the sake of jokes and do not strive for them. Truly, laughter is often evoked from character and habit. Laughter is reprehensible when it is caused by something. I do not believe that you cause laughter like laughers, but that you laugh automatically (spontaneously). Therefore, I want you to be attentive when laughing and do not interrupt it abruptly, for it is harmful. The laughter of women is often hysterical and the result or phenomenon is pathological, so it is harmful to speak out against it before studying this phenomenon.
Therefore, I advise you, take care, as much as it depends on you, because he involuntarily flies out, do not call him.
Automatic laughter is irreproachable, the gifts of God are impeccable, and do not grieve, and do not try to abruptly interrupt laughter, but with gentleness and modesty. The chapter on laughter is important and leads to the study of Hygiene and Pathology. The moral character of laughter is given by the morality of the one who calls or desires laughter. The natural laughter that comes automatically is immaculate. The laughter of fornicators is worthless, such is condemned by Holy Scripture.
The reason for the laughter, I think, is a kind of hysterical state, exacerbated by lack of sleep. I believe that Angelica's sleep is not enough, so I wish you to walk with reason, do not exhaust the body with excessive work. First exercise the soul through self-knowledge so that you can safely walk in moral perfection, and it will teach you how to strengthen the body to serve the needs of the soul. Moral perfection is the good sought through life, and life, first of all, is the study of oneself and then bodily asceticism.
The study of these exercises the soul for moral education and perfection, while bodily asceticism trains the body to endure pain for the sake of virtue; but the soul also aspires to the virtues first, and then the body, by the impulse of the soul, endures fatigue for the sake of virtue. Often bodily pains contribute to the protection and protection of the virtues given to the soul by Divine Grace: so strive with reason and remember that bodily asceticism helps the soul to come to moral perfection, while moral perfection is achieved through mental exercise.
About thoughts in prayer, I tell you, when they come - read aloud and do not pay any attention to them, for as much as someone listens to them, so much they take root: change thoughts by reading aloud.
I pray that God's Grace will protect your mind and heart.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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to Aegina
Children, beloved in the Lord, rejoice in the Lord, Christ is Risen.
God willing, on Tuesday, the 25th of the expiring month of April, I am going to Aegina. I informed Mr. Dimarch and the Abbot of the Monastery about this. Ask him to send me two animals, as I will come with the deacon. I would very much like you to tell Lady Christa, whom I bless, to receive a deacon for one night. I want to take a deacon to the monastery to celebrate the Liturgy in sacred temple Saint Dionysius and call for the intercession of Saint Dionysius.
Herr Dimarchus telegraphed me his satisfaction on learning of my arrival in Aegina, coinciding with the day of remembrance of his mother.
I wish you all the best and in the highest perception.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved daughter in the Lord Xenia,
I received your letter of the 25th of last month, and I rejoice in your health. I am saddened by the restlessness of Akaki, for whom you also pray. But since it probably comes from the excitation of the nervous system, which is the focus of the brain, from the brain, but the movement and sex hormones, therefore, look for some medicine to calm the nervous excitement. In addition, since it is possible that some microbes cause movement, keep clean, rinse with water with potassium chloride.
I am very happy with the results of my studies. When I find time, I will write to you. Today he ordered Kostya to buy three phials and give them to Madame Argyro. I found out that she had lost her handkerchiefs, and asked me to pass it on to Europia so that she would bring them, and I would pay. I wish you no longer be sad.
I remind you, confess your thoughts to each other, so as not to fall into secret temptation. If possible, let the sisters write to me about important things, if they do not calm down from confession.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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my fatherly blessing to you.
I received your letter and rejoiced at your health, for which I pray unceasingly. Give the peacock, if you like, to Andronicus, but if he doesn't want to, give it back.
Since you wrote that the theme of the world has benefited you, I wanted to write you a second theme. He took the Holy Gospel, which also contains the Epistles of the Holy Apostles, and opened it in order to find some topic. On the open page, my eyes fell on the following: (1 Corinthians 7:34)
The saying made a great impression on me, and I immediately began to write to you, although little and without any preparation at all. Called only Holy Mother of God to enlighten me with the light of the knowledge of God, in order to write for your benefit, so I begin.
“An unmarried woman cares about the Lord, how to please the Lord, in order to be a saint both in body and spirit”, truly inspired words. In a small way, he presented the whole life of the virgin, showed the nature of the desire and the goal, and the end of virginity. So, he showed the first deed of the virgin that it is take care of the Lord and secondly, that the care of the Lord is the desired goal, that is, that the virgin should become holy both in body and spirit. Hence, every concern of the virgin consists in becoming holy in body and soul, testing what is pleasing to the Lord, for this is caring for the Lord: do what is pleasing to the Lord unceasingly to please the Lord, for what is pleasing to the Lord sanctifies the soul and body, while the virgin is pleasing to the Lord.
A virgin is holy when she honors her body as a holy tabernacle into which God has dwelt, and keeps it undefiled and undefiled, but her soul, that is, the spirit, which she also keeps clean from moral passions, that is, moral evils.
The body is kept blameless when the sense organs remain virgin, for when the body is virgin, eyes and ears, or smell, or taste, or touch, are far from the state of virginity, then the body is not virgin, for virginity is mainly a moral virtue. and not bodily. Bodily virginity has grace and price, it is observed by moral virginity, without this it has no price, for what is its price if feelings corrupt it? Where is the holiness of a virgin when a grave sin defiles the body through the senses? So, a virgin, who cares how to please the Lord and wants to keep her body holy, must keep her senses immaculate. The preservation of the holiness of the body includes the tongue, and the mouth, and the hands, and the very feet. For when the tongue is unclean through slander and the like, the whole body is unclean. When the hands do wrong, they are vile and defile the whole body. When the legs of a maiden are not, “like feet that bring good news” beautiful, that is, holy, they do not preserve bodily purity. Through keeping all our members holy, we keep bodily holiness.
The soul is kept holy when the mind and heart, that is, the rational, strong-willed and motivating soul, all this seek what is good, and pleasing, and perfect. When the rational seeks knowledge of divine truths, the strong-willed desires the fulfillment of divine commandments, the motivating strives for God and does not care about anything else, then the virgin truly cares about the Lord and is holy in body and spirit.
May this not seem impossible to you. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you;(Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-11).
The grace of the Lord be with you. Amen.
Father's blessing to all of you
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved daughter in the Lord, Reverend Xenia,
fatherly blessing to you.
Today, by mail, I am sending five thousand trees to Mr. Dimarchus of Aegina ... for distribution as a gift to the inhabitants of Aegina, I am writing to send to you too, for planting near the monastery. However, I would like him to give Eutychia as much as she wants. Tell Eutychia about my order and about sending trees so that she takes care and ask Dimarch for them. Write to me how much you spent on landing.
I wish you all the best and a good Lent and a good Easter.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved daughter in the Lord, Reverend Xenia, fatherly blessing to you.
I pray for your health, may Divine Grace heal you. I want to know more about your health. Make a water blessing, and let the priest overshadow you with a cross and take a little great agiasma. Don't worry about your health. On the occasion, give my blessing to Elena, and I want to know how she is.
I tell you about Holy Communion, refrain whenever your stomach is upset and there is a tendency to vomit, but those who partake of the Passion are not in the mind, we will be negligent in relation to possible consequences and we sin.
In your cell, when construction is over, kindle a fire for several days, make a consecration and then move in, cover it with a woolen blanket.
I want to know if they brought you a flower pot, candles and trees.
Let Cassiania take care to write to her brother to come, and I will give him money to repair the toilet. I really want it to be done by Easter. I said that I would do it elsewhere, but since it requires a lot of money, which I don’t have now, therefore, let it be where it is. And don't worry about it.
Father Andronik I told him to make a fence to protect the trees. I want you to sow corn seeds.
I remain your prayer book to God
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved daughter in the Lord, Reverend Xenia,
wish you the best.
Yesterday I wrote to you that I intend to tell you the good news. God has been pleased to communicate this message to you through your prayers in this letter today.
At that moment I finished the Psalter, helping God. I mastered all her psalms to the ancient measure according to the model that I sent you, with short explanatory notes. I can already say that I know the Psalmist. I have already understood the height of its meanings. I already felt the greatness of the Psalter. I already felt the spirit of divine service breathing in the psalms. I already felt the lust of raising myself to God. I have already realized what kind of fire of divine love is poured in the psalms. I already understood the creative power of the psalms for the soul and heart. I already understood how necessary they are in prayer and for expressing a feeling of worship to God. I already understood why they were established by the Holy Fathers as daily reading in prayer sequences.
From now on, when with God the Holy One, who has granted me and enlightened me to master this most difficult book to an ancient measure, to interpret and make it understandable and pleasant reading, when I speak, I will print it, I will have it in my pocket book and carry it with me wherever I go. With her I will sing and praise and bless God.
Praise God all of you for having strengthened me to bring this amazing work to the end. Thank Him for everything and pray to Him that He will honor me to print it and present it to you as a sacred gift for prayer and service to God.
Rejoice and be glad in the Lord.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved daughter in the Lord, Reverend Xenia,
fatherly blessing to you.
I received your letter of May 10 and rejoiced at your health, and I am healthy by the Grace of God. Take two hundred drachmas for the well and for the expenses of bringing lime and slaking it. You didn't write if the lime came. I paid Stilian to bring 50 cantars of lime. Ask if you came, or why you didn't.
I will come back in 10-12 days to lay the foundation of the church, but the lime must be ready. Waiting for your reply.
You wrote that you gave Father Adronikos 100 drachmas, which I told Argyro about; you still ask about the rest of my debt to her: let that (money) remain. I told Kostya to send three vials of syrup for Marika by mail. I pray for the perfect restoration of her health, I wish to know if she has grown stronger.
I learned that Philothea was not in a good state of mind and (allegedly) was praying against the sisterhood. Please ask her if this is true. If not, then all right, if it’s true, and she continues to partake of the Most Pure Mysteries, then let her know that she eats and drinks in judgment, not discussing the Body and Blood of the Lord and is close to danger, for something worse can happen to her. I consider it my duty that you read to her, but I will not be guilty. I wash my hands.
Argyro give my blessing, also to all the sisters for whom I pray, may God bless them with peace.
Let the following be read before all.
I rejoice a lot about the much love that reigns between the sisters, which Philothea is deprived of, as I found out. But I consider it my duty to tell you that you must be very careful in your communication and revere one another, as sacred persons, as divine initiations, as images of God, and never look with hope at the body or health, but at the soul, : and let not your thought tarry in the study of the character and the various members of the body. Listen to the development of the feeling of love, for the soul is in danger when the heart is not strengthened by pure prayer that warms it up, and becomes carnal, unnatural and darkens the thought, about what exactly I pray, so that it does not happen.
Cherish the feeling of love. Love one another as holy sisters, and let the one common love for the Lord bind you. Avoid shaking hands and kissing, for you are fighting against the most evil spirit.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Beloved daughter in the Lord Xenia the Reverend.
Peace to you from God and our Savior Jesus Christ and health, and to all of you, and a good state of soul and body.
I am writing to you today to inform you of what I have read. An English physician experimented with onions on those suffering from chest diseases, giving them a daily drink from it, and for those who could, use onions. He gave them every morning to eat onions with bread and, if possible, in the afternoon as much as possible. He experimented for ten years and saw that the development of chest diseases stops, and health is fully restored.
I observed onion therapy, as far as I remember, as a teenager, at a doctor in Bulgaria. I remember that he said that tuberculosis does not find soil in Bulgaria, because Bulgarians eat onions and bread. I am writing this for Mariana mainly because I believe that her health will improve day by day. If he wants and can, let him eat any onion in the morning with a piece of bread for the sake of his health.
I want to know how the nuns feel - are they all healthy?
I pray that everyone is healthy in body and soul. Give my blessing to Argyro and the rest of the sisters.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
* * *
fatherly blessing to you.
I don't have to write you anything new or that I'm doing well. I haven't seen Elena and Margarita for a long time. Kostya told me that he had seen Elena and she was doing well.
Andronicus was accused by the monks of his monastery because he did not commemorate the metropolitan and the tsar either in his monastery or in ours, and they brought him to account. Answering, he called three nuns to witness, and summons were issued for them to come and testify for him. He told me this when he came to the School and showed me the challenges that I took and, since I noticed that this was reckless, he called the metropolitan deacon and gave him the challenges, saying to give them to His Grace and suspend their invitation, and that I am sure that he always remembers him at my command. So the calls were canceled and your question ended.
However, Andronicus finally announced to me that he would not come to serve in the future, and I inform you.
Accept my blessing, which you pass on to the sisters. I prayerfully wish you all health of soul and body.
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
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Rev. in the Lord daughter Xenia.
I prayerfully wish you and all the sisters health and patience in temptations.
Euphemia's mother told me that you are suffering and suffering from the cold. If the weather allowed, I would come to bring you a little consolation, but, unfortunately, it is very cold. It's minus eight in Athens, so I can't come.
I wanted to come especially for Akaki to console her and baptize her with the Honest Tree and the Holy Relics that I left for you. I want you to baptize her with holy relics with my blessing and call on the grace of the saints together with the sisters, so that they heal her. Unfortunately, I cannot come to pray for her. I pray for her perfect health and release from this ordeal. Her condition is the result of cold and humidity. May the Grace of the Mother of God heal her completely.
I learned that Maria is coughing because of a cold, today I will send to buy four phials of Koronilos medicine, give two to Mary, whom I pray for complete relief from cough. The cold, when she is well dressed, will not hurt her, let her go out for a while to breathe clean air, it is very useful. I learned that Margarita is also very weak, give her the other two phials, let her dress and eat eggs and milk, and other food, just like Maria. And I pray to Margarita to strengthen her body. I want you all to eat chickpeas (mutton chickpeas), garlic and onions and drink some wine and in the morning, after Church, some raki?, now in winter to warm the body. I found out that Amalia has a cold sore throat, I advise her to wet a piece of white cloth cold water, squeeze and put on the throat and tie with a scarf. Let him do it in the evening to sleep and fall asleep, and so let him not go out until the morning, but only when the day comes. When she gets up in the morning, her throat will be gone. I advise the chanters not to leave the temple immediately before the vocal organs come to their natural temperature and, leaving the church, do not talk and go straight to their cells, and after a quarter of an hour or more drink a cup of lukewarm water. Let the choristers do this in winter and summer, when they rise in the morning to follow; but since the neck of the singers has a certain sensitivity and sweats at night, let them moisten their hands and refresh it. Let them do this two or three times and then thoroughly clean it, and after the excess heat has gone, let them go out. Can do rinsing with water room temperature. This will protect them from colds, from time to time let them rinse with either boric acid or sea water. I do all this too. I will send her a box of kozinaki, they are good for the throat.
I wish her a speedy recovery.
I found out that you also suffer from a headache, write to me, how do you feel? I pray for your speedy recovery, and may the Lady Mother of God put Her hand on your head and take away your headache. I learned that your mother also caught a cold, and that Gerontissa Anastasia was also unwell. I prayerfully wish them good health and a perfect recovery.
I also learned that the rest are healthy, but they sympathize with the sick sisters and are upset because of their illnesses ... For this reason, I again wish you health and patience. I asked the Lady Theotokos to heal you all, and promised from this day to print Θεotoκάριоν as a token of my gratitude.
I remain your prayer book to God
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
* * *
Beloved in the Lord daughter Xenia,
fatherly blessings to you.
On March 8, I received your letter under number 8 and read it with attention, but did not recognize one thing, what is your health. I want to know about your health.
How is Irina and what is she doing, and has she recovered? Also, how did Maria and Margarita spend the winter? Did Margarita get stronger, maybe she needs medicine? Write, I will send. And how does Akaki feel? You don't write anything to me, and you don't write anything about yourself. I want to know how is your health? And did you get stronger, and did the headaches go away, and did you begin to feel exhausted and anxious.
I wrote to you, wisely pass the Holy Forty Day. My commandment imposes on you the teaching and reading of prayers and what concerns the diet, but apply all this, first of all, to yourself. I tell you this because I understand that you first of all need a good diet and what you need and what others tell you. For I do not know how it happens that you are deluded about yourself and do not know your state, and therefore you have a need for teaching and instruction. So, I want to say the following. Ask, with my blessing, all the sisters how they find your health and how they think about your diet (nutrition). Whether you have a need for a special diet prescribed by you to the sick or not, and if the sisters who see and understand the need for quality nutrition say that you need to adhere to a diet for the sick, then submit to the court of the sisters, with whom I also agree. If, however, there is no need, then again, with my blessing, eat like a healthy person. It is fitting to know that when you are well, your sisters and even the sick themselves are well. And when you are sick, then healthy people also get sick. I ask you to carefully chop this into your nose and not only that, know that your complacency pleases the faces of the sisters and makes the Abode a paradise, while your irritation and gloom are transmitted to the sisters, and joy flees from paradise. Know that the joy and gladness of the sisters depend on you, and you are obliged to keep both of these in their hearts. So do it, sometimes forcing yourself. I advise you not to indulge in unnecessary grief, for this greatly hurts the hearts of the sisters; your reward will be great if you become a cause for joy to the sisters. I advise you this, because I also have this as the beginning of my life.
I want my students to have this as a beginning. When you gladden the heart of your neighbor, especially a sister who is deprived of everything and expects only spiritual joy from you, then how likely is it that you will please God much more than if you pray long and fast a lot. Know that your place is already the place of the Spiritual Mother. This is no longer Chrysanthia, which could do whatever it wanted. Already, if you accurately fulfill your moral duties in relation to the sisters, you also fulfill them in relation to God. If you miss this, supposedly for the sake of those, then know that they will not be acceptable by God. The Primate of the Convent lives not for herself, but for the sisterhood, and she who lives for the sisterhood lives for God, while God accepts her life as a favorable sacrifice. It seems that I am writing this to you because of some mysterious voice that moved my hand, for I intended to write you a couple of words about something else, but I have already filled four pages.
Having finished writing from dictation, it seems to me, I now proceed to answer your letter. Follow-ups are good and I pray that God will clothe you with strength. But maybe the sisters get tired? Maybe exhausted? If you see that you are weakening, cut something. If any of the young in the evening wants to eat, can take a little bread and water, since they are in development (of the body), then it is not fitting for them to be deprived of the necessary food and help experienced in the development of the body, so as not to be damaged. When the development time has passed, then they can fast and eat once a day. female body created so as to be in need of many things, for it is intended for the greatest exhaustion. Therefore, women who want to imitate men in nutrition are depleted faster. A woman has a physiological need for both more food and more sleep. Remember that you are women and do not compete with men. Always have an example of women, and their whole life is not all at once: for this must be reasoned in asceticism and in moral perfection. When you see many austerities, know that there is a great moral virtue that supports the austerity of the body, for it is fitting for us to know well that the strength of the soul strengthens and supports the body in ascetic feats.
Without spiritual power, great austerities are impossible, and if someone brave takes on great austerities before he heals his soul with moral virtues, this one will be deceived and fall away. Therefore, I think, I wish, I insist: follow a reasonable path in everything, spending your life according to the needs of your residence and the need to preserve your body and health, and seek moral perfection. I fervently wish you to be strong in this virtue, so that you can say and feel: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”. When you achieve this, then look to acquire other virtues, but above all that one, because without it you will not do anything. And let no one be deceived, believing that prayers and supplications will lead her to perfection: such a one is mistaken, for the Lord who dwells in us leads to perfection, Whose will we do, Who says that will move in and walk in us when we do His commandments. The first commandment is also one, let it be in us not our will, but God's, let it be with such perfection as it happens in heaven with the Holy Angels, and we can say: “Lord! Not as I want, but as You: Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth". Without Christ in us, prayers and supplications lead astray.
I say this to show you where to turn and what to look for in order to safely reach the desired end.
Strive first of all to humble your egoism. It is the beginning of self-denial and the reign of the divine will in us (...)
Wish you all the best.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
* * *
Rev. in the Lord daughter Xenia,
fatherly blessings to you.
I received your unnumbered letter dated the 7th of the current month and prayerfully wish you all the best. By the grace of God, I am healthy in the house of Messrs. Nicholas Papaionnis and Fokion Vamvis. Their home is with God: they received me with service, and I stayed with them for five and a half hours: from 10 o'clock in the morning to 3 and a half in the afternoon. Zoya was also given shelter in this house, who showed me your letter and asked permission to come, which I gave her.
From her you will learn about my visit. This pious family wants to come and build a house outside the Convent in order to complete the rest of their lives in reverend, but they asked my permission for this. They will live outside the Monastery, but they want to attend services in the monastery’s temple and eat at the monastery, providing the monastery with funds for their maintenance and all their property, which after death will be the estate of the monastery. I approved their request, because I consider this family fit and useful from all points of view of the Abode. First, for their virtues and for respect for their old age. Secondly, for the moral strength and courage that will be given to you. Thirdly, for their society. Fourthly, for both elders love the Church and are excellent musicians, they can help the choristers. Fifthly, for over time, one of them, who was pleased with God, I will ordain as a priest. Sixth, because they rejoice at the respect of all, and their very respect will be reflected in the Abode. Seventhly, because economically the Abode after that acquires one dwelling, in which we will be able to take care of the guests. And the last thing: their property will help the Monastery, and they will be useful in agricultural, light work near the monastery, and as watchmen with God they will guard the garden of the Monastery. By this I express my consent. I wish you to read my letter to the sisters and write your opinion, or if you do not have time now, then when I arrive on the third day of Easter, then tell me how you understand it.
Bring my congratulations to Amalia for the beautiful Cross, I prayerfully wish her all the best.
I believe that my arrival will be successful, so my premonition tells me, and that I will be satisfied.
I wish you to spend the holy days of the Passion of the Lord in spiritual communion with the Lord and celebrate with spiritual joy His holy three-day Resurrection. Amen.
If Stylian (Στηλιανоς I write through η “and”, because there is ε (e) in pronunciation - Stelius τελιоς, ε and η give ώ; υ does not happen ε, but υ, I think it should be written like that) arrived, then I will send something for the Church, to start the work. I want Elena to tell Dimarch that I am taking the plasterer he recommended, and that when I arrive I will talk to him. Let him only tell him to come to the Monastery to install the Cross on the dome so that now on the holidays and on Easter day he would be standing in radiance on the dome.
I am sending you candles and books with the gendarme.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
* * *
Reverend daughter Xenia in the Lord, fatherly blessing to you.
We received a letter from the 26th of the outgoing month, and we were grateful and glorified God. I want you to sing praises for such a good disposition of His Grace and thank God from the bottom of your heart for His influence on the soul of the Metropolitan, for this does not happen without God, but God is the Performer, and grace, and glory and praise are due to Him.
I have not yet seen His Grace, but I learned from his people that he was very pleased. God grant that he retains such inspiration to the end. This is divine favor and depends on how much you live according to God, and Christ lives in you, for which I pray with all my heart.
The visit of the Most Enlightened One taught us not to be cowardly, and that faith and hope in God make the impossible, but absolute faith, which would have conviction. Force yourself with reason in everything, so that faith, hope and love for God will bring you daily closer to perfection.
Seek love. Perfect love leads to the perfection of faith and hope. Ask God for love every day: many good virtues follow it. Love and be loved. Give love to receive love. Give God all your heart abide in love, and whoever abides in love abides in God and God in him.
So far, the board has not given me money, but I hope to receive it in a few days on account of my salary and send it to you for socks.
Panagius sent me some bills that I don't understand: he took on 140 or more than 130 drachmas to do the job. What kind of bills is he already giving me? I sent them to you without consideration. Write how much he asks and, if more, ask why it has become more. If it exceeds the salary of November, how much it exceeds, I will send, and you will pay.
Elena arrived, and I saw her on the day of arrival and was delighted to learn about everyone, especially Kyriakia. I pray that God will keep her healthy.
Elena said that Synclitikia told you that I did not think to come to the Abode, and that I was thinking of moving with Kostya to another place, and that I would see you from time to time. Synclitikia did not understand what I wanted to tell her. I want to found a theological school and I do not exclude Aegina as a place. I want to leave this, because if God blesses and a lighthouse appears, enlightening the whole of Hellas, then it will take care of your Abode. The wisest and oldest will take patronage over the Abode, so that the Abode, even after my Assumption, would have a representative and supporter of my principles, and so on. That's what it's all about.
Until the work at the School is completed, when it is completed I will come, and, with God's grace, I think to make you a perfect nun.
Bless you and pass the blessing to all the sisters.
Spiritual your Father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
* * *
Beloved daughters in the Lord,
I prayerfully wish you all the best.
I received your letter of the 30th of last month, I saw your compassion for Synclitia and I accept your prayer. My soul has cooled off towards Synclitia so much that it remains indifferent to it, the reason being its state of mind.
I, beloved, do not love you because you love me, but because you love our Lord Jesus Christ. Love for the Lord, like common love, warms my heart for you too. When one of you takes your heart from the Lord and
betrays him to the vanity of the world and spiritual lusts, then my love for her ceases, for this sister, who took her heart from Christ, cut off the love relationship between us, since the ring, our bond was our common love for Christ. This means that my coldness was the result of her removal from Christ.
Her love for me, like a human, does not Warm my heart, for it is alien to the love of Christ, and it is impossible for me to have two loves in my heart, divine and human, for no one can work for two masters, that is, love, for love is work for a loved one. but the one who works is not free, so as to work for another, therefore, since the union of love is the Lord ruling over our hearts, then each of the sisters who has Christ in her heart is also my beloved: and do not let anyone who has torn Christ from the heart This God, and even if he loves me and serves me, I do not love her at all.
My love for you has the love of the Lord, the more you love the Lord, the more I love. The less you love Him, the less I love you. It means that the one who wants my love about one thing and only, let her take care how to love the Lord, and love for the Lord attracts my love to her, for we are connected with the Lord.
They do not care about me and do not think humanly that they should have love for me. Love for me will not only be the result of the thought and the cause of my love for you, but the overflowing love of the Lord: it must flow precisely from the common union of love. Love itself is love pure in spirit, which the evil one is unable to process and cunningly seek to turn it little by little into human and ordinary love. Such love, when it develops in only one person, gives rise to hatred in another beloved. When it develops in both, it gives rise to erotic love. Therefore, in love for one another, or for fellow tribesmen, or especially for persons inclined to erotic love, we must daily examine whether our love flows from the union of love, that is, Christ's, or does not flow from the fullness of love.
The one who watches over his love and keeps it immaculate, not mixed with human, is also preserved from the networks of the evil one, who tries to inspire human love for loved ones and turn it into eros, deceiving in a dream those who love human love, and in which, the beloved face, connected with love of the Lord, hates a loving human face: then the evil one imagines him tormented by the heart from erotic love. Hence, great attention is needed in love for one another and also in your love for me and for everyone else, so that you do not fall into the snares of the evil one.
From this you may understand the purpose for which I wrote the Synclitiki so strictly. I wanted to bring her to her senses, for I felt that her heart had grown cold towards the Lord, that human love had begun to develop in her heart, which could turn into eros if I condoned her or made her pleasant. The evil one began to seduce her in a dream.
Through the letter, I wanted to bring her out of delusion, draw her attention and bring her back to the love of the Lord. Don’t give my letter to Synclitica, Lady Gerontissa Xenia, read part of my letter about love to the other sisters, if you decide. Tell Synclitica that I have received her letter, and that the composition of this letter of mine came from the text of her letter, and that my soul cools towards her when I hear that she wants worldly things and when I feel that her heart is moving away from Christ, and when I see pride and exaltation and lack of humility and hatred developed towards sisters and the like.
If she wants me to love her as the bride of Christ, let her take care to love the Lord, as before, as the Bridegroom. Since her small fortune gives her the courage to think that she can live in peace with her parents, so that she gives up any hope of returning to her family, let her write about the sale of her part (heritage) and sending her money to build her cell, so that her spirit would calm down. and her heart, and she would be delivered from the temptation that inspires her to leave the Abode. All the more time to build her a cell (...)
Blessings to you and I remain a prayer book to God.
My blessing to all sisters
your spiritual father
+ Pentapolis Nectarius
* * *
Beloved daughter in the Lord Xenia,
fatherly blessing to you.
I have received your letter and I rejoice in your health. God bless and I'm healthy.
I inform you that the Council of the School has decided to give me a pension of three hundred (300) drachmas a month, for I informed them that I could no longer run the School due to overwork. While I remain in the leadership until my successor is in the leadership.
This is the news about which I wrote, which surprised you.
If a rector is found before Easter, I will come and stay until September. I’m talking until September, firstly, because the Metropolitan told me to stay in Piraeus for polemics against all kinds of heresies, and secondly, because the craft of Kostya, who cannot live anywhere without me, but also next to me, has not yet become clear. he can't be with you. Pray God enlighten me what I should do with him.
By the way, I tell you that Kostya does not want our things to be sent to Aegina, because he thinks that before we send them to Aegina, we will be invited to Egypt. With this dream, he lies down and gets up. We dreamed about it for many years, but Kostya sees it every day and night. When I arrive, we will think about this issue of our living with Kostya and how I can be with you at the same time.
Name the dog Iva.
I am pleased with the news that the well has been cleared. I want that every time you write to me, write to me about the amount of water in the well and reservoir.
He gave Elena two packets of seeds, one of sorrel, the other of trees (...). The seed of trees is like leaves with a sprout in the middle. Sow them near the road to St. Harlampy, starting from the threshing floor and continuing on both sides. Its sowing is light, slightly loosened earth - both sown and buried. Requires no watering, nothing. Sorrel, where you want, sow.
Spiritual your Father + Pentapolis Nectarius
Source: Published in the book: Archim. Nectarius Ziombolas. "The Life and Work of St. Nektarios". Translation. Hegumen Elijah (Zhukov). 2006.
(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 once despairing, 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. Exists folk saying: "There is nothing incurable for Saint Nektarios." Many temples and chapels are dedicated to him.
In the 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
When hope remains only for a miracle, it is important to know which of the saints can support you. Nectarios of Aegina is a helper for those suffering from cancer. The image of an Orthodox miracle worker helps people in the most terrible moments of their lives.
There is nothing more painful than the realization that or your loved ones. The holy image of Nectarios of Aegina was written in honor of the Greek elder, who became famous for his miraculous deeds. Legends about them have reached our country. The martyr gained the love of believers thanks to his miraculous gift of healing deadly diseases. He has helped many people achieve full recovery. Those who need a real miracle fall to his icon.
The history of the icon of Nektarios of Aegina
The saint of the Greek land Nectarius of Aegina is one of the most revered saints in Orthodox Church Greece. The martyr is little known in our country, but His miraculous merits and deeds cannot be ignored.
The life of Nectarios of Aegina dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He devoted his life to the Lord: he prayed earnestly, kept fasts, helped the poor, built churches and temples. The Greek saint received fame during his lifetime. He had the miraculous ability to rid the sick of their ailments. During his lifetime, Saint Nectarios helped many people overcome cancer, for which he was numbered among the holy martyrs of the Greek Church.
Although the righteous man is not among the saints in the Russian Orthodox Church, many Orthodox believers are aware of the miraculous properties of the icon of God's saint Nectarius of Aegina and pay homage to the Greek saint. Today, the miracle worker is gaining more and more fame in Russia every day.
Where is the miraculous image
Since the saint is one of the most revered martyrs in the Greek Church, the miraculous image of Nectarios adorns almost every temple in Greece. As for Russia, at present, not everyone manages to meet the icon of the miracle worker. The face of a martyr is a rarity for the Orthodox Church. But God is merciful to those who need him. Therefore, it is still possible to find the icon of Nectarios. One of the revered images of Nectarios of Aegina is located in the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Arbat.
Description of the icon of Nektarios of Aegina
On the icon, the miracle worker is dressed in the beautiful robe of a monk. Many crosses are depicted on His cassock, and a black hood covers His head. In the hand of the righteous Holy Book. The other hand is folded in a three-fingered gesture, symbolizing the blessing of the Lord.
What helps the miraculous image
Orthodox believers pray before the face of the saint for healing from various kinds of ailments. It is believed that the saint helps to overcome diseases and get rid of oncological diseases even at the very last stage of their development. Also, the Greek miracle worker is prayed for help in identifying the exact diagnosis of the sick person and in establishing the correct method of treatment. But that's not all: Christians also ask the saint to improve weather conditions and climate.
Days of celebration
Prayer before the icon of Nektarios of Aegina
“Oh, great miracle worker! Holy martyr of the Lord! Our prayers are directed to You. We pray for your help and support. Do not leave us in difficult moments, become our support and protect us from evil. Drive away illnesses and give recovery. Only in You is our hope and ecstasy. We will sing and praise Your righteous name! From now on and forever and ever. Amen".
In the age of technology, the most common and perhaps the most terrible diseases are oncological. There are many things and foods in the world that provoke cancer. While scientists are looking for a cure, believers turn to the help of saints. At the beginning of every recovery lies the acquisition of willpower and fortitude through faith in the Lord. Your own faith can work real miracles. We wish you happiness. take care of yourself and don't forget to press the buttons and
21.11.2017 05:07
Matrona of Moscow is one of the saints beloved and revered by Orthodox believers. Since birth, she...
