Święty Nektariusz lub Nektariusz z Pentapolis lub Nektariusz z Eginy, znany również jako Anastasios Kefalas (Silyvria w Tracji Wschodniej, 1 października 1846 – Ateny, 8 listopada 1920), was greckim trackim biskupem i teologiem, współczesnym cudownym świętym Wschodniego Kościoła Prawosławnego. Był popularnym hierarchą, duszpasterzem i pedagogiem na przełomie XIX i XX wieku.

Life
Childhood
Anastasios Kefalas born 1 października 1846 roku w Silyvrii w Tracji Wschodniej. Jego rodzicami byli Demos (Demosthenes) i Balou (Vasiliki) Kefalas, a on sam był piątym z sześciorga children a poor family. He quickly clashed with the harsh reality of the time, as his family was unable to support itself and there was no high school in his hometown, so he left for Istanbul at the age of 13.

In Istanbul
Życie w Konstantynopolu dla Anastasiosa było ciężkie i trudne w pierwszych latach pobytu. Najpierw pracował w pakowni tytoniu, gdzie właściciel traktował go brutalnie. Pracował długie godziny dziennie, nie otrzymywał wynagrodzenia i często był bity. Anastasios znosił to wszystko, ale smucił go fakt, że nie był w stanie utrzymać finansowo swojej rodziny i nie mógł uczęszczać do szkoły. Jednak już od najmłodszych lat wykazywał powołanie do Boga i Ewangelii. Tak więc w pakowalni, wraz z tytoniem, który sprzedawał, zawsze dawał małą kartkę papieru z napisanym na niej wersetem z Ewangelii.

The situation changed when a merchant who had a store next to the packing house saw his boss beating him up one day and took him in to work. He started working at the merchant's cabinet store, now having time to church and school, and soon his family followed him to Istanbul. He stayed in Constantinople for a total of seven years, and left at the age of 20, though he did not complete his education, to work as a teacher in Lithi on Chios.

In Chios
At the age of 20, he arrived in Chios. Now possessing grammatical and theological knowledge, he took a teaching position, remaining on the island for 10 years, until 1877. There he would first meet his great benefactor Ioannis Choremis, a wealthy local ruler who, because of an incident that had location While transporting the Saint from Silyvria to Constantinople (his nephew Choremis helped him board the ship, since he had no money), he put him under his protection. But Saint Nectarios now decided to devote himself to monastic life. In 1876 he became a monk with the name Lazarus, and a year later he was ordained a deacon, receiving the name Nectarios. St. Nectarios had an inclination toward monasticism, which he longed to serve. However, the pressures placed on him because of his gifts of reason and education eventually steered him toward the secular clergy, but he never forgot monasticism.

Higher theological studies
W 1877 roku, za namową Ioannisa Choremisa, Nektarios wyjechał do Aten, aby ukończyć naukę w szkole średniej. Po ukończeniu ich w Varvakeio został wysłany przez znajomość, którą miał z patriarchą Aleksandrii, Sophroniosem, do Aleksandrii. Sofroniusz był pod wrażeniem Nektariusza i w oparciu o jego bardzo dobre rekomendacje odesłał go do Aten, aby studiował w Szkole Teologicznej w Atenach. Nektarios wyróżniał się tam, zajął nawet pierwsze miejsce w konkursie na dziekanat szkoły przy Papadakeio Endowment, w wyniku czego zdobył stypendium na studia w Szkole Teologicznej, co było dla niego wielką ulgą, gdyż jego dobroczyńca Jan Horemis zmarł, pozostawiając go w fatalnej sytuacji finansowej. Po otrzymaniu dyplomu (1885) wyjechał ponownie do Aleksandrii.

In Alexandria
Upon his return to Alexandria, he was ordained a priest, and five months later was appointed secretary of the patriarchate. Within two months, using his rhetorical skills, he was promoted to preacher, also assuming the position of Patriarchal Commissioner in Cairo. In a short time, Nectarios rose in the Patriarchate's hierarchy, becoming a very trusted man at the Patriarch's side. On January 15, 1889, he was proclaimed Bishop of Pentapolis Libya, following the death of the Bishop of the Nile region. The record of his consecration survives to this day (Record of the Electoral Code 66, p. 394).

Szybki wzrost Nektariusza nie pozostał niezauważony przez innych biskupów. Sophronius zbliżał się do 90 roku życia i rozpoczęły się procedury związane z jego sukcesją. Lud, który korzystał z różnorodnej działalności Nektariusza (głównie charytatywnej, ale także duszpasterskiej i antydewocyjnej), pragnął jego wstąpienia na tron patriarchalny, a w połączeniu z przychylnością Sofroniusza, Nektariusz stał się pierwszym wyborem. Jego przeciwnicy, wiedząc o tym wszystkim, postanowili odsunąć go na bok, oskarżając go o podżeganie do obalenia patriarchy Sofroniusza, ale także z niejasnymi zarzutami natury moralnej. Również część duchowieństwa uważała, że taktyka oszczędności i surowości Kościoła stosowana przez Nektariusza jako biskupa odbije się na sytuacji finansowej patriarchatu, który bez dobrej kondycji finansowej stanie się zdany na łaskę politycznych czy narodowych względów.

Persecution and return to Athens
Informed of the allegations, Sophronius was convinced of their truthfulness, which resulted in Nectarios being immediately stripped of his priestly status. This was ecclesiastically illegal, since according to church law, Nectarios had to appear before a synod, which after a hearing would consider the charges against him. Nectarios refused to go to extremes and left Alexandria, unlike his opponents who wanted to harm him financially and morally, taking care to tarnish his name in Athens and Constantinople and withholding his salary. As a result, Nectarios was unable to work anywhere.

Nektarios was confronted with another very difficult situation that he had been in repeatedly since he was young. He rented a small room on the outskirts of Athens, but was unable to pay the rent and had no money for food. His parallel embarrassment, even at government levels, made it difficult for him to find work. He tried through Archbishop Germanos to find a preaching position. He, despite his sympathy for him, was unable to help him due to pressure from the Synod. He reached out to the Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs, but the latter made it clear to him that due to the law (Nektarios had no Greek citizenship) he could not help.

Finally, after some time, with the help of a certain Melas, who was a member of the government and knew him in Alexandria, he was appointed preacher in Chalcis. However, the reputation that followed him persisted because there was great suspicion given the accusations against him, and as a result he was disapproved of and stigmatized.

Restoring the truth
In 1891, two years after his indictment and removal from Alexandria, efforts continued in the government to remove him from office. It was then that the plan and conspiracy that had been hatched against him was fully revealed. It all began with the revelation that he had not been paid his due and had worked without pay during his episcopacy. Also, although he remained the legitimate bishop of Pentapolis, after his unlawful expulsion, he received no money. Subsequently, his name was cleared of any involvement in a scandal of a moral nature and of any intrigue against the Patriarch. This, especially after the strict behavior of the flock, made him favorable before the people in Chalcis. He then began preaching with great ease. His fame soon spread further than Chalcis, and the people proved him great sympathy when the position of local bishop became vacant, almost demanding his ascension to the throne.

At the Rizarios School
In 1892 and 1893 he was appointed preacher in the prefectures of Laconia and Fthiotobiotia (Fthiotida prefecture, Boeotia prefecture), respectively. Nectarios constantly went around the villages and towns preaching, while his friends tried to transfer him to the Athenian church school of Rizarios. When this was noticed, some whispering began again, which eventually failed to prevent Nectarios from becoming director of the then Athenian theological school, which enjoyed great glory during his time.

Wiosną 1894 roku został mianowany dyrektorem Szkoły Rizarios. Wątpliwości, które teraz istniały w stosunku do Nektariusza, dotyczyły nie tyle oskarżeń z przeszłości, choć one nie zniknęły, ale tego, czy będzie możliwy ten tak zwany i „despotokalogos”, z jego starymi i religijnymi poglądami, mógł odnieść sukces w powierzonym mu zadaniu, gdyż szkoła Rizareiosa miała charakter teologiczny, ale była to szkoła, do której uczęszczało wiele dzieci zamożnych Ateńczyków i innych ówczesnych władców i polityków, które niekoniecznie zostałyby księżmi czy teologami, ale naukowcami. Wkrótce jednak wszystkie zastrzeżenia zostały przezwyciężone przez radykalny i liberalny sposób edukacji Nektariusza.

His work in Rizarioio
Jego praca u Rizariosa miała charakter organizacyjny, wychowawczy, literacki i pedagogiczny. Wkrótce zorganizował szkołę z normami, które odnosiły się do kościelnego ortodoksyjnego sposobu myślenia. Ale to, w czym był niedościgniony, to jego myśl pedagogiczna. Pewnego razu, gdy studenci Rizariusza doszli do rękoczynów, zamiast ich ukarać, ukarał siebie, uznając się za winnego, trzydniową głodówką. Wkrótce jego przykład stał się wyznacznikiem wśród osadzonych, a szkoła w jego czasach nabrała wielkiego prestiżu. Przy innej okazji znalazł się boso przed studentami, przemawiając, bo wchodząc do sali zobaczył biednego człowieka, który błagał go, czy mógłby mu pomóc zdobyć buty, bo sam ich nie miał. Nektariusz immediately He took out his own and handed them over to the amazement of everyone. On another occasion, in a dispute between stewards as to who was responsible for cleaning the latrines, he settled their dispute by cleaning them. Such and many other examples brought him fame and soon made him heard and loved in the then small Athens.

At the same time, he engaged in great literary work. He made many works available to the people and theologians free of charge, as they could not buy them due to poverty. Profitless, driven only by spiritual benefit, failing from a young age, an ascetic and oligarch, he was never interested in self-promotion and profit. When he was accused, he never objected, was quiet and always said that he God avenge what is just and true. Modest, solitary and none the less mundane, the now venerable old man Nectarios became an example of selfless giving and love for suffering neighbors in difficult times for them. The humility and sense of responsibility he possessed for the work he carried out became apparent at the death of Patriarch Sophronius, when he was asked to replace him, and he refused.

Poverty at the time when Nektarios was director of Rizareion was the norm, and at the same time the morale of the Greeks, especially after the defeat, in 1897, of the Greco-Turkish war, was on the nadir. But he himself, with alms as a weapon and the word of the Gospel, energized Athenian society at the time, which often turned to his sermons for advice. He served as director of the Rizarios School for 14 consecutive years until 1908, when he left his post for health reasons.

In Egina
In 1908, he settled in Aegina. Nectarios never in his life dismissed his strong desire to live alone. This desire was yet strengthened more during a visit to Mount Athos and his association in 1898 with Elder Daniel Smyrnaion (Elder of the Danilaion Brotherhood), with whom he maintained correspondence. From then on, he searched for a site for a monastery for the rest of his life, "an ecclesiastical Parthenon," as he put it. The need became sharper and perhaps more urgent when four women, who were single with him and connected by a relationship of spiritual guidance, wished to become monks under his supervision. So he finally found an old abandoned monastery on Aegina in Xantos, where he decided to house the 4 nuns and 3 others who were already monastic on the island. The monastery began to reopen in 1904 under his direction, although he continued to stay at the Rizarios school.

His presence in Aegina was linked to two events that made him an instantly popular figure. Nektarios initially healed a young man possessed by a demon, a fact that was quickly assimilated. The villagers then visited him, asking him to minister and associate with the By God, because the island had not received rain for 3 years, causing widespread drought and economic losses. With the presence of the islanders, he operated and rain began to fall the same day, events that the Aeginians took as divine signs.

In 1908, due to his health and old age, he resigned from the seminary and devoted himself to the monastery. His grace and fame continued to grow, so that a large part of the donations were directed to the monastery, and within 4 years it had grown so much, reaching a number of 15 nuns, thanks to pilgrims who began arriving from all over Greece, supporting the construction of the monastery and its charitable activities with their donations.

His work in Egina
Chociaż był stary, gdy przeszedł na emeryturę w Eginie, nie przestał pracować ani duchowo na rzecz Kościoła, ani manualnie na rzecz rozbudowy klasztoru. Dzieło to miało teraz charakter duszpasterski, liturgiczny, dewocyjny, konfesyjny i pocieszający. Stał dla mieszkańców wyspy jako brat, pomocnik, towarzysz, przewodnik i towarzysz życia. Lata do końca jego życia miały być bardzo burzliwe. Po wojnach bałkańskich, które przyniosły moralne podniesienie i pewną ekonomiczną i duchową euforię, I wojna światowa położyła się cieniem na Grecji. Ale zawsze był pomocnikiem, pocieszycielem, znając od najmłodszych lat trudności świata, głosił nadzieję i Boga na lepszą przyszłość. Dlatego święty Nektariusz był dla Eginian czymś więcej niż tylko mnichem, który osiadł na ich wyspie.

The pastoral care of the flock, beyond the narrow confines of the island, was always his concern. In this way, he continued his writing, which was now recognized both by the press of the day as scientifically sound and by the major intellectual institutions of the time. He also had more time for prayer, which he loved, especially in front of the Blessed Mother, whom he said he considered his mother. But he never stopped giving even by hand despite his declining health. In fact, he contributed to the construction of new dormitories for the monastery, the opening of roads to the monastery, gardening and other manual work, which he always considered an honor. He always mentioned that no work is a cause for shame, on the contrary, it is a blessing from God.

Difficulties and bitterness were never in short supply. Although more than 10 years had passed since the reopening of the monastery, the Metropolitan Theokletos of Athens, despite his initial agreement, refused to recognize it. The problem grew because the monastery did not obtain legal personality, making it unable to retain inheritances and any other financial benefits it had from the faithful, which hampered charitable activities. In other words, some people left bequests to the monastery, which the monastery could not accept due to its legal non existence. The metropolitan was unhappy with the turn the monastery had taken and was therefore adamant. Nectarios tried to dissuade him in various ways, but for the rest of his life he did not live to see his request fulfilled.

Over the past few years
Nektarios initially, after the end of World War I and the dismissal of Theokletos due to his assignment to Eleftherios Venizelos along with other bishops, believed that things could be smoothed out. However, his initial optimism was cut short when he was accused of immorality by his religious mother in 1918. However, the Athens prosecutor's research and investigation quickly proved the falsity of the daughter's mother, who had voluntarily entered the convent. Because of this, but also because of the clergy on the island, who envied him, believing that he was taking all their "clientele" and accused him behind his back, he actually failed to realize his dream of recognizing the monastery. But always faithful to the Gospel, the example Christ, writings of St. Nicodemus the Athonite, believed completely in God's justice. He was quiet, calm and patient in the face of all the accusations and humiliations to which he was subjected from time to time.

The end of his life was painful. Chronic prostate disease, along with the passing years and the pains of life affected him. Even then he had plans. He wanted to establish a training school. In the end, he didn't make it. In 1920, he was admitted to Aretaio Hospital in Athens, where he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. On November 9 of the same year, Saint Nectarios died at the age of 74. The room where he fell asleep has today been transformed into a small shrine on the second floor of Areteion Hospital, decorated with icons of the Saint and vows by the faithful for the recovery of their loved ones hospitalized at the clinic.

Order and rehabilitation of the saint
On September 2, 1953, the saint's relics were reburied in Aegina, by Hydra's Bishop Prokopios and the reluctant Bishop Elis Antonios.

In 1960, Metropolitan Panteleimon I of Thessaloniki, with a detailed recommendation to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, endorsed the sainthood of Nektarios Kefalas.

Forty years after Nectarios' death, he was proclaimed a saint on April 20, 1961, by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, as he assessed miracles, as well as great pastoral and ecclesiastical work. The official process of his proclamation took place on November 5, 1961. With the proclamation of Nectarios Kefalas as a saint, Athenagoras also decided that men and women bearing the names Nectarios and Nectaria would be celebrated on November 9, instead of July 11, as had been the case until then.

It was not until 1998, a year after his election to the patriarchal throne, that Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria conciliatorily restored the canonical order concerning the person of Saint Nectarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis. The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria issued a Synodal Declaration "to ask forgiveness of Saint Nectarios for the injustice done to him by his predecessors - the fathers and brothers of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria."

Miracles after death
Saint Nectarios was considered a living saint by the residents of the island of Aegina. But the events described by nuns, Kostis Sakkopoulos, friends, priests and islanders are truly remarkable, justifying his current popularity. It is said that a paraplegic who could not walk was also hospitalized in the bed next to where the saint was staying. But when he touched the dead Saint's shirt on him, he was healed. When he was carried, he is said to have been weightless, and myrrh gushed from his forehead. But the biggest mystery is that despite 3 burials and exhumations, the saint's relic remained unchanged for more than 30 years. His relic was examined for the first time 3 years after his death and is now in the saint's new church in Aegina.

Patronage
Saint Nectarios, at the request of a committee of physical education professors, was declared the patron saint of gymnasts, as he blessed the founding of the Gymnastic Society as an "excellent oion," and the goal of such societies is physical gymnastics and spiritual development, the two poles around which excellent education and perfect education revolve. Later, as director of the Rizarius School, he took special care of the students' physical exercise and improving their diet. He also introduced soccer as a sport for students of the same school at the request of the students themselves. Thus, he was the first to introduce soccer as a sport on school grounds... St. Nectarios is also the patron saint of the Barbican School, as he was a graduate of the school.

His writing work
Saint Nectarios was a prolific writer and scholar of his time, hence his many and varied works on all sorts of topics: Theological, social, pedagogical, moral, etc. His works were recognized for their importance, style and spirituality while he was still alive by the press and university community of the time.

1885-1890 Egyptian period
Ten discourses for the Great Post. Alexandria 1885.
Church discourse delivered at St. Nicholas Church in Cairo on the first Sunday of Lent. Alexandria 1886.
Two ecclesiastical speeches ("On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, on faith" and "On the revelation of God in the world, that is, on miracles") Cairo 1887
Discourses on Confession. Cairo 1887.
About the sacred councils, especially the importance of the first two ecumenical councils. Alexandria 1888.
On our duties to the Holy Altar. Cairo 1888.
On the manifestation of God in the world. Alexandria 1889.
Speech delivered in Achillopouleio Parthenagogue on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs. Alexandria 1889.
A discourse on prayer to the Holy Altar. Alexandria
On the initiative and with the editorship of the Saint, Eugene Voulgareos' book "Sketch on Tolerance" was published. 1890
Between 1892 and 1894, the period during which the Saint was a preacher
Ecumenical Councils of the Church of Christ. 1892, second edition supplemented.
Holy ceremonies celebrated in my country. 1892
On the manifestation of God in the world. 1892, second edition, complete.
The human hypothesis. 1893
On the diligence of the soul (Eleven discourses). 1894
A study of the effects of true and false education. 1894
Edited edition of Neophytos Vamba's book "Natural Theology and Christian Ethics", Alexandria 1893
Between 1894 and 1908 - the period during which the Saint was director at the "Rizario
Homilies on the Divine Character and Work of our Savior Jesus Christ. 1895
A treasury of saints and philosophical scholars. Volume A 1895, Volume B 1896
Epic and elegiac knowledge of the minor Greek poets. 1896
A lesson in Christian ethics. 1897
A course in pastoral care. 1898
Orthodox Holy Catechism. 1899
Christology. 1901, cover 1990.
A study of the immortality of the soul and of sacred monuments. 1901
Evangelical History in harmony with the pastorals of the holy evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 1903
Catharine's prayer book. 1904
Knowledge of him. 1904, republished: with translation into modern Greek by Evanthia Hatzi, Athos Publishing House, Athens, 2012.
A study of the Mother of the Lord the Theotokos and the Immaculate Mary. 1904
A study of the saints of God. 1904
A study of penance and confession. 1904
A study on the sacrament of the Eucharist. 1904
A historical study on prescribed fasts. 1905
Theotokaryon, or little prayer book. 1905
Priestly Epistle. 1907
Theotokaryon. 1907, second edition, enlarged.
Psalter of the prophet David. 1908
Editor of the 1906 edition of the work of the Antiochian monk of St. Sava Lavra, "Pandictus of the Divine Scriptures."
He also periodically published, among other things.

Meletius Pigas, "Two Letters," Byzantine Chronicles, Petroupolis, I/1894
"Pastoral Homilies. A On the State of the Sacred Clergy according to the Fathers of the Church". Holy Link, 1895-96.
"Educating Children and Mothers. Sacred Link, 1895.
"On Medieval and Byzantine Hellenism." Sacred Link.
"Tinos - speeches of the West against Photius". Thracian Yearbook, 1897.
"On the true interpretation of the Apostle Paul's saying 'a woman should not fear a man'." Anaplasis, 1902.
"A Study of Sacred Icons. Anamorphosis, 1902.
"Religion. Anamorphosis, 1903-4
"On Oath. Sacred Society, 1906.
He also wrote 136 letters to nuns published under the title "Catechetical Letters to the Nuns of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Egina", 1984.
From 1908 to 1920. the period during which the Saint stayed at the monastery in Egina
Triadic. 1908
Kekragarion of Divine and Saint Augustine.
A historical study on the causes of the schism. On the causes of its perpetuation and on the strength or weakness of the union of the two Churches, Eastern and Western (vol. A 1911, vol. B 1912)
Second Studies. A On the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. B On Sacred Tradition (1913)
Prayer book for tomorrow (second edition, 1913)
A Study of the Divine Sacraments (1915)
Historical Study of Holy Cross (1914)
Christian Ethics of the Eastern Orthodox Church (second edition, enlarged, 1920)
On the Church ("Seventy-five Years of the Rizarios School of Preaching 1844-1919," 1920)
Publications after the fall of St.
Divine Liturgy of the Holy and Glorious Apostle and Evangelist Mark (1955)
Religious Studies (1986)
Unpublished works of the Saint
A study of holy relics
On the consecration of holy virgins to God and on monasteries and monastic life
Vegetology of the Eastern Orthodox Church (On the Sundays of All Unity; On the True and Movable Feasts)
Sacred Liturgy
Fifth chapters on liturgical books
On worship in spirit and in truth
Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles
About Hellenism
Encyclopedia of philosophy
History of the Church's mystical theory
Christology
New Passover eternal
Hymnology - Hymnography
St. Nectarios' multidimensionality is also revealed in his hymnological and hymnographic works. St. Nectarios had a special affection for the Most Holy Theotokos and for this reason in particular composed the Theotokaryon. He also pointed out the difference between a type of prayer and worship.

Hymnology
Kekragarion is the four books of St. Augustine's Confessions, translated by Eugene Voulgareos, which the saint anagenated "from prose to rhyme."
The Psalter is all the Psalms of David, which the Holy One "inspired in various measures, pleasing to God and inspiring, according to the tonal basis."
Hymnography
The Theotokaryon and Trinitarian are troparia of the Paraclete, Triodion or other liturgical books, respectively, set in single or varied measures.
Iconography
The figure of Saint Nectarios in hagiography appears in two phases. Standing and sitting on a bishop's throne. In the first circumstance, he wears simple attire, holds the Gospel in his left hand, and blesses with his right hand. In the second circumstance, he wears resurrection vestments, and in his right hand he has a gospel open for some reading. St. Nectarios is a contemporary saint, and as such, there are photographs depicting him in his form.

Holy Day of Remembrance
Assumption - November 8
Assumption of the relics - September 3
Saint Nectarios is additionally commemorated on All Saints Sunday, when the remembrance of all Thracian saints is celebrated, and on October 12, when the Synaxis of Saints in Athens is held.

Hymnology
Apolytikio (Echo 1)
Son of Silibria and son of Egina,

a true friend of virtue, who in these latter days,

Nectarios, we honor the faithful, as the healer of Christ,

For he lets out his voice to all the pious crying out.

Glory to Christ who glorified You, glory to You who wonderfully glorified You,

Glory to Him who made everything for you.

Relics
After 33 years, while St. Nectarios' body remained intact, it began to decay. Today, the venerable Kara and the holy relics of Saint Nectarios are kept in the Holy Trinity Monastery, which he founded in Aegina.

The cube of St. Nectarios of Aegina is in the homonymous pilgrimage of Kamariza in Lavrio, and also the circle of St. Nectarios of Aegina is in the homonymous pilgrimage of Chania in Crete.

Video
In 1969, the film "Saint Nectarios, Defender of the Poor" was made, starring Christos Politis as Saint Nectarios.

The life of Saint Nektarios of Aegina is the subject of the film Man of God, which hits theaters in August 2021. The role of the Saint in the film is played by actor Aris Servetalis.