"Information compiled and respectfully reproduced from the following sources:
Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston, MA and the Synaxarion by Hiermonk Makrios of Simonos Petra of the Holy Mt. Athos."

Saint Nectarios the Wonder-Worker
Metropolitan of Pentapolis

Commemorated on November 9th

This holy Father was born Anastasios Kephalas in October of 1846, in Selyvria of Thrace. Because of the poverty of his parents, at the age of fourteen Anastasios went to Constantinople to find work for their financial assistance. He did not have the fare for the boat but he approached a boat which was ready to sail and asked the captain to take him. The captain, however, seeing him so young, said to him jokingly, "Take a walk, my little one, and when you come back I will take you." The boy understood what the captain was actually telling him, and began to walk away sadly. The captain turned on the engines in order to sail, but, although the engines were working, the ship did not move. He increased the power to the engines, but to no avail. In his helplessness the captain glanced up, and his eyes met the gaze of the boy who was standing on the shore in sorrow. Against his will he was moved and, relenting, he told the boy to get on the boat. Anastasios jumped into the boat, and the captain again became engrossed in how to make the ship move. But he did not have a chance, for it began to move immediately, since it had received its "chosen passenger."

In Constantinople he found a job with a tobacco merchant who did not pay him as he should. Therefore, he went about barefoot in ragged clothes. But he had much faith in God, and prayer was his only consolation. With his childlike mind and guileless heart, when he saw that his employer wrote and received many letters in his business, Anastasios also wanted to write a letter, for he had much to say. But to whom? He had no acquaintances. He could not write to his mother, because mail was not taken to the small villages. And yet he felt the need to write. He wanted to write grievances, how he worked and they would not pay him, that he wanted to eat and be clothed and the money would not suffice. He did not abandon his hope in God, and one day in order to make his prayer more living, he thought of writing a letter to Christ and telling him of his needs. And truly, he lost no time. He took a pencil and paper and wrote:

My Little Christ, I do not have an apron or shoes. You send them to me. You know how much I love You. Anastasios

He closed the letter with confidence and wrote on the envelope: "To the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven." He took his letter and went to mail it right away. On the way, by divine economy, he met the owner of a merchant shop that was opposite where he worked. This man knew him well and, knowing very well of the boy's innocence and diligence, had come to feel great compassion for him. He also was going to the post office. "Anastasios, where are you going?"

Anastasios became troubled and whispered something, holding the letter in his hands. "Give it to me so I can mail it, and you won't have to go all the way." Frightened and unthinking, the little Anastasios gave him the letter. The merchant took the letter with much love, patted him on the head, told him not to worry, and put the letter in his pocket with his own letters, telling Anastasios to go back and he would take care to mail the letter safely. Thereupon, Anastasios cheerfully returned to his work, and the merchant continued his way full of happiness over that good and exceptional boy. But his curiosity overcame him when he took the letter of the boy into his hands to mail it. He read the address. Thunderstruck, he stopped when he saw it, and, conquered by the temptation of curiosity, he opened it and read it. He was overwhelmed with emotion. Taking out money, he put it into an envelope and sent it, anonymously, to the boy. Anastasios was filled with joy when he received it, and gave thanks to God.

Some days after this, when his employer saw him dressed better than usual, he thought that he had stolen money from him. Therefore, he was going to beat him and fire him. But Anastasios cried: "I have never stolen anything in my life! Don't hit me! My little Christ sent them to me!" The merchant across the street heard the commotion. Understanding what was taking place, he hastened over to Anastasios' employer, took him to one side, and explained the matter to him.

While he was still young, the Saint visited the Holy places to worship. During the voyage, however, there was a great storm in which the ship was in danger of sinking, the captain, faced with this impasse, gave orders that the lifesaving equipment be prepared for use, and "may God be our helper." If anyone were able to save himself, well enough, otherwise, the ship would sink with every man aboard.

The Saint (the little Anastasios Kephalas, then) looked at the sea, heard the captain and his despairing commands, and his eyes filled with tears, seeing that truly there was no way out. Then, at a moment when even the last hope of salvation had been lost and all were awaiting the captain's command to abandon ship, the little one spontaneously went up next to the captain, and taking hold of the ship's helm crying and looking to heaven, he prayed, saying, "My God, I do not want to die, I want to preach You. Why do You permit this?" He repeated these words many times. Then he let go of the helm, took out the Cross he wore, which his grandmother had given him, and which contained a piece of the Venerable Cross, tied it to his belt, and went to the side of the ship and dipped it into the water, commanding the sea, as the Lord did, with the words: "Silence! Be still." He repeated this thrice, whereupon, O Thy wonders, Christ God!, after the third immersion and exhortation, the wind ceased and great calm followed to the amazement of all. Having, therefore, glorified God, they continued the voyage with great joy -- except for the little wonderworker, Anastasios, who was saddened even unto death. For the Venerable Cross, which had been a gift of his grandmother, had fallen into the sea.

As they sailed on, there were heard disturbing knocking sounds below the ship's water line. The captain sent some sailors to investigate the cause, but they returned having found nothing. Finally they reached harbor and all began disembarking, the little wonderworker, Anastasios Kephalas, among them. At that moment, however, when the passengers were leaving, knocking sounds were heard once more in the hold of the ship. The captain again ordered a search to find out what was knocking. He also gave command that they take a small boat and examine the hull of the ship. Upon examining the hull of the ship, one sailor discovered that at the place from whence the knocking was heard there was stuck the lost Venerable Cross of little Anastasios.

One can imagine what took place then. The sailor immediately reported his finding, and the captain began calling to the little Anastasios, who had already disembarked from the ship and had gone some way. He shouted to him, "Kephalas, Kephalas! Turn back. Come here!" and waved to him with his hand. The little Anastasios returned and received "his Treasure," and henceforth he wore it always. This Cross is most conspicuous in the picture where the Saint is seen wearing his monastic skoufa.

When he was in his twenties, he went to the Island of Chios, where he entered the great and renowned monastery of Nea Moni. There he became a monk on November 7, 1875, and received the name of Lazarus in his tonsure. After two years of being a monk, he was ordained deacon by Metropolitan Gregory of Chios, because of his great virtues and his piety. It was at his ordination as deacon that he was given the name Nectarios. Truly it was a prophetic name, a 4 name that would give one an intimation of the divine nectar that the holy Father was to become, through his holy sermons, and especially through his holy way of life, to the pious Christian people. Thus it was that the holy Father was ordained deacon and later priest.

Because of the times and the Moslem rule, he left Chios, and went to Egypt. There it was that he was elected Metropolitan of the ancient city of Pentapolis. He then became the bishop of this holy city, and truly the lamp was put upon the lampstand, and it shone to all, far and wide. But because of his holy virtues, because of the spotless life that he had, because of his holy sermons, and because of all those things which made him separate from the rest of them, immediately malice arose among his colleagues who were also Metropolitans of the See of Alexandria, and amongst the bishops and higher clergy. They did not like St. Nectarios because he was different from them. For this reason they slandered him to the Patriarch, Sophronios, saying that the holy Father had his eye upon the Patriarchal Throne, because he had this "false show of piety," as they called it. For they did not want to recognize his true virtue, and that he was a higher person, therefore, they said that all his virtue was only a show so that he would be considered holy by the people. And, they said, because of the popularity that he had with the people, he would be able to have the Patriarch dethroned, and all the Orthodox Christians of Egypt would then rise up and cry out to have Nectarios made Patriarch. Since the holy Father was truly so popular with the people, the Patriarch was easily convinced that he was in danger. For if the people rose up, truly Nectarios would have much power. Little did they know the true worth of the man. Little did they understand that he was not a proud man, and not ambitious, as they were, for positions and for power and glory.

In this way, and for such reasons, they suspended the holy Father as Metropolitan of he throne of Pentapolis. The Patriarch himself, who was a very great "friend" of the Father, wrote that ambiguous letter of suspension, which later became the cause of so much scandal, saying that for "reasons known to the Patriarchate" he was suspended from the Metropoly of Pentapolis, but that he was allowed to remain at the Patriarchate and to eat at the common table so that he became wearied of him and mistreated him, not even would have a means of lodge and shelter. Also, if he was called by individuals to bless marriages or baptisms, he could officiate if canonical permission was granted by the bishops in those places, or by the Patriarchate. Thus, he was not defrocked, nor was he suspended from ecclesiastical functions, but he was only taken away from his throne to be without position. The holy Father very humbly endured these slanders and the suspension from his throne. But because he was popular with the people, there were grumbling and intrigues that arose from the people to demand what was the cause for the holy Father's suspension. As there were many supporters of him, in order that there would not be a disturbance in the Church of Alexandria, he left secretly and went to Greece, an exile. Instead giving him a letter stating clearly and truly the reasons why they suspended him, at least saying that he was blameless in way of life, they gave him only this paper which was so ambiguous. And they, in order to satisfy further their malice and conceal their deceit (for they knew that they would be embarrassed if the truth were known about the matter), they sent letters, both anonymous and signed, to influential people in Greece, slandering the Father as being unethical and immoral, that he was not an upright person, and that for these reasons he was suspended from his position. When the Saint appeared in Athens with this paper of suspension, and these false rumors having been broadcast before he arrived, there was truly cause even for innocent people to believe that there must have been reason for scandal and for him to be suspended. For behold, they saw a paper which said that he was suspended "for reasons known to the Patriarchate," but these other reasons were rumored, and therefore, this great slandering against the Father was believed. As a result, both the state and the Church authorities refused to give him a position in the Church of Greece, and the Father was then left without any means of support whatsoever. He found himself in this strange country, a stranger amongst his own, without lodging, without food, without even the most simple means of subsistence. Every day he would go to the office of the Minister of Religion in order that something might be done for him. After some time they respecting him as a Metropolitan. It happened that one day as he was sadly going down the stairs of the office of the Minister, having been told once more that his case was being looked into, and that they would let him know when something came up, he was met by a friend who had known him in Egypt, and knew his former glory and virtue. He was surprised to see him in such a state, and sad. When he learned the cause of his sadness, he could scarcely believe it. He went and interceded with the Minister of Religion and Education, and they appointed the Saint to be preacher of the diocese of Vitineia and Euboiea. Can one imagine: The former Metropolitan of Pentapolis now becomes a preacher! Something which a simple monk can do. Something which even a layman that has a gift can be given permission by the Synod to do. Yet he did not at all think that this was humiliating for him, or that it was a small thing, but he considered it one of the greatest things to be able to preach the Word of God to the people. He did not consider that it was a crumb from the table that was being thrown down to him as if he were a dog, but he immediately took it up and, putting his heart into it, became earnest in his work of preaching to the people. Thus he arrived on the Island of Euboiea, and there he began to preach from church to church.

But as if it were not enough that the slanders had reached the capital of Athens, they also had reached Euboiea. Sad to say, some on the island were people who rejoiced and delighted in slanderous gossip and rumors about the clergy. Immediately, they began and spread like fire throughout the whole island the slanders that were spoken by those greedy and truly ungodly bishops of Alexandria against the just and blameless one. Many times when he was preaching, people would begin to smirk and laugh and whisper to such a degree that a big commotion was created in some churches of Euboiea when he preached. At the beginning the Saint did not understand, for he was truly a humble and simple man. But later he understood that they were talking about him, and that they were laughing about him because these slanders of being immoral and unethical had reached the people. Thus he saw that instead of fortifying souls, instead of edifying souls, instead of being able to really teach the Word of God, he was doing harm, since these people believed these rumors, and when they heard him preach good things, they were more scandalized than if he did not preach at all. Therefore, even though he had no other means of support except this position which had been given to him, he resigned of his own will in order to not further scandalize the people, and he went back to the capital.

By that time there were a few people who had come to know him and to understand that he was truly a good man that had been slandered. They had come to love him because they did not see in his way of life or in his conversation anything that would evidence the things that he was slandered about in Egypt. These people were influential in having him appointed dean of the Rizarios Seminary in Athens. He would liturgize in the seminary church of St. George, the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer, as a bishop-priest. He would also teach the students, for he was truly a wise man and very learned, as is shown by the many works which he has left us on the state of the souls and the resurrection of bodies, why we have the memorial services, and many other subjects.

Seeing that there was much ado in the capital, many intrigues, many words, much noise spiritually and physically, he, being a quiet person, wished to retire from all this and go to a place where he could be with God and pray according to his heart. Thus he began to look around outside Athens to find a suitable place. He went to the island of Aegina where he heard that there were many small monasteries and churches that were in disuse. There he found, about two hours by foot from the main city down by the sea, a little church which was once a small monastery dedicated in honor of the Most Holy Trinity. With his own hands the Father began to rebuild a few of the cells that were around the little church. A blind nun, Xenia, at that time came to know the Father, and he respected her very much. He made her mother superior of the first little community. A few other souls came, and thus the holy Father Nectarios with the blind mother and these few souls began their little convent. Because the Father was truly a gifted man, especially in the matter of confession, and had 8 much discretion in spiritual matters,many would flock to him even from the capital. Thus he truly became a light on the island of Aegina and the foremost confessor and spiritual father of the of Greece. Through the help of his spiritual children and donations of the other people who came to understand their godly way of life, they were able to expand their little convent so that little by little a community of thirty nuns and more was gathered. The Saint used to tell them: "I am building a lighthouse for you, and God will put a light in it that shall shine unto the breadth and length of the whole world. Many shall see the light and come here to Aegina." But the nuns could not understand what he was trying to tell them. It was only after the recovery of his holy relics and miracles that he began working in such abundance that they understood. He meant that his way of life, his very holy body, were the lighthouse, and if God pleased He would send his light, and it would shine throughout the And so those words which the Saint used to say to them have been fulfilled.

When he went to Aegina the first time, there was a boy of the island who used to fall into trances and see prophetic things. He would go and sleep before the holy Royal Gates and then wake up and tell many things which would come true. The people thought that these revelations were from God, but in fact he had a spirit of divination as recorded in the New Testament of those who prophesied through demons. When the Father was coming to the island for the first time, the boy began to cry out, "A Saint is coming. Go down to the seashore to meet the man of God." He even told his name, from where he was coming, and for what purpose. So they all went down to the seashore to meet him. He was amazed at all the people that had gathered at the port and asked what was wrong. They told him about the boy, and the Saint immediately understood that it was a demon speaking and not from God. The Father asked to see the boy. He blessed him and commanded the demon to come out. The demon came out, and the boy no longer spoke of visions or uttered prophecies.

One afternoon of September 20, 1920, a nun by the name of Euphemia brought a little rassa-clad old man, who was convulsed with pain, to the Aretaieion Hospital of Athens, a state hospital for the poor. The intern of the hospital asked the nun for information about the little old man to enter into the hospital register. "He is a monk?"

"No. A bishop."

The intern laughed sarcastically. "Leave off the joking, Mother. Tell me his name so I can put it in the register."

"He is a bishop, my child. He is the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Pentapolis."

"For the first time in my life I see a bishop," muttered the intern to himself, "without Panagia, gold cross, and -- most significant of all -- without money!" "Indeed he is a bishop," repeated the nun. "The Metropolitan of Pentapolis. This metropoly belongs to the Patriarchate of Alexandria. He is the Most Reverend Nectarios Kephalas. Some time ago he left Egypt and came here, close to you, as a matter of fact, because he directed Rizarios School. For some years now, however, he has lived as a monk in the convent of the Holy Trinity on Aegina. There he became gravely ill and in spite of his protests, we brought him here." She then showed the intern his credentials which proved him to be the Metropolitan.

The intern of the hospital, amazed by everything he had heard and seen, shrugged his shoulders and told the nurses to place the sick man in a third-class room where there were several beds for the destitute. The doctors diagnosed that the sick little old man was suffering from severe systitis, a disease of the bladder. For two months the Hierarch Nectarios Kephalas lived in the midst of terrible pains, and at ten thirty in the evening of the eighth of November, 1920, in peace and at prayer he gave up his spirit unto God at the age of seventy-four.

In the final days of his life, the Saint was kept in the ward of the incurable in the midst of many poor, sick people who were about to die. Next to his bed there was a man who had been paralyzed for many years. As soon as the Saint gave up his spirit, a nurse of the hospital and the nun who had accompanied him prepared his sacred tabernacle for the transfer to Aegina for burial. For this purpose they dressed the Saint in clean clothing. When they took off the Saint's sweater, they placed it on the bed of the paralytic to get it out of their way and continued preparing the Saint's body. And O, strange wonder!, the paralytic immediately began to gain strength and arose from his bed healthy, glorifying God.

The day he reposed, the whole hospital was filled with such a fragrance that all the patients, nurses, and doctors would come out in the halls to ask where such a fragrance was coming from. For some days after, they could not use the room where they placed his relics because of the fragrance, even though they kept the windows opened, so strong was the fragrance. This room is now a chapel dedicated to the Saint.

They took his relics to Piraeus and put them in the Church of the Holy Trinity while they prepared a small, wooden coffin. From there they took him to Aegina where they gave him a simple burial at the Convent of the Holy Trinity.

Some years later, as is the custom in Greece, his grave was opened to take the relics out. When they opened the grave, what should they see but that the Saint was whole and fragrant. Not even his vestments had changed in any way. It was just as if he had fallen asleep and been buried that very day. They had not told the people of Aegina, because he had already worked many miracles and become very beloved, and a very large crowd would have gathered -- even from Athens and other places where he was known -- for the opening of his grave. So, early in the morning, as soon as they were finished with the Divine Liturgy, as it was dawning they went and began to open the grave. At the same time there was a taxi coming by on the road below the convent. Inside was a woman who had been to some resort place. She was not a woman of good repute, but of ill repute and many sins. As soon as they approached the Holy Trinity Convent, there was such a fragrance in the air that she told the driver, "Stop. What is that fragrance?" So he stopped and looked around. "Oh," he replied, "here is the convent of the Holy Nectarios. What else could such a fragrance be but that they are opening his grave today, and the fragrance is coming from the grave. For many times a fragrance came from his body before they buried him. And even from the grave it comes sometimes." Immediately she opened the door of the taxi and ran to go and see. She went up to the convent at the moment that they had opened the coffin and found the relics whole. She was very moved by this and by the fragrance, especially. She began to weep and publicly confess her sins. Thus she was corrected and became a prudent and Christian woman in her way of life. His body remained marvellously incorrupt for more than twenty years, continually distilling a delicate, heavenly scent.

But whether for our sins or some other reasons, some years later the relics of the Saint dissolved, and what we have now are his holy bones. They encased his holy head in a bishop's mitre and opened the top so one can kiss the crown of his head. The other parts of his relics, which have much fragrance, they put in a silver box. This fragrance has continued ever since to rejoice the faithful who come to venerate his precious relics with the assurance that Saint Nectarios has been received by God into the abode of the righteous. His veneration was formally recognized in 1961. The list of his miracles grows longer every day, and his shrine in Aegina has become the most popular place of pilgrimage in Greece.