When we think of Saints, we think of
them as God-loving people who lived a
ST NEKTARIOS
November 9th
APOLYTIKION
"The offspring of Silyvria and the guardian of Aegina,
the true friend of virtue who didst appear
in the last years, O Nektarios, we faithfully honor thee
as a Godly servant of Christ,
for thou pour forthest healing of every kind
for those who piously cry out:
Glory to Christ Who hath glorified thee,
Glory to Him Who hath made thee wonderous,
Glory to Him who worketh healing for all thee
Σηλυβρίας τὸν γόνον καὶ Αἰγίνης τὸν ἔφορον, τὸν
ἐσχάτοις χρόνοις φανέντα ἀρετῆς φίλον γνήσιον,
Νεκτάριον τιμήσωμεν πιστοί,
ὡς ἔνθεον θεράποντα Χριστοῦ.
Ἀναβλύζει γὰρ ἰάσεις παντοδαπὰς τοῖς εὐλαβῶς
κραυγάζουσι :
Δόξα τῷ σὲ δοξάσαντι Χριστῷ,
δόξα τῷ σὲ θαυμαστώσαντι,
δόξα τῷ ἐνεργούντι διὰ σοῦ πᾶσιν ἰάματα.
long time ago but St. Nektarios lived and
died in the earlier part of the 20th
century. He was born on October 1, 1846
in Silyvria, Thrace (part of present day
Turkey) with the name Anastasios
Kephalas. He left his village and found
work in a tobacco shop where he
packaged and delivered the boxes in
Constantinople at age 14. His boss was
not very nice to him. One time, when he
needed new shoes he wrote a letter to
God and sent it to be mailed with other
letters. A kind neighbor saw the letter
and provided help for the boy! While
alone in the tobacco shop at night,
Anastasios would choose Bible passages
to write on the packages because he
believed the message of Christ would
truly help people.
One time he dipped the cross his Yiayia
gave him into the sea, and the real piece
of the Cross of Christ inside calmed the
storm! Then it was miraculously found!
Six years later he traveled to the island of
Chios and entered a monastery where he
was ordained with the name Nektarios.
From there, he went to serve under
Patriarch Sophronios, of Alexandria,
Egypt. Other priests were jealous and
successfully removed Nektarios, sending
him back to Greece without a Church to
serve. Rumors spread all around about
him, and it was a true test of his patience
and love not to get angry at others.
Through much prayer and faith in Christ,
Saint Nektarios continued teaching the
people. When he died sick in a hospital,
his sweater even healed a paralyzed man!
WRITTEN BY THE SAINT

Ἁγνὴ Παρθένε Δέσποινα,

ἄχραντε Θεοτόκε,
Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε

Παρθὲνε μὴτηρ ἄνασσα,

πανένδροσέ τε πόκε.
Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε

Ὑψηλοτέρα οὐρανῶν
ἀκτίνων λαμπροτέρα,
Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε
____________________
O Virgin pure, immaculate
O Lady Theotokos
O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.
O Virgin Mother, Queen of all
and fleece which is all dewy
O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.

More radiant than

the rays of sun
and higher than the heavens
O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.