Introduction
St Nektarios of Aegina (Anastasios Kephalas, 1846-1920), is one the most beloved saints of Greece, known for countless miracles in his lifetime and after his death. Some years ago in Lavrio, Attica, a priest undertook to build a church in the saint’s honour; but he had cancer, and the pain was so intolerable that he tore his own clothes, and often hid from visitors.
THE Church of St Nektarios in Lavrio, Greece was slow in the building.* The priest responsible for the church, Fr Nektarios Vitalis, suffered painfully from cancer, and had made funeral arrangements. Much of the time he hid behind a curtain, to spare others the sight of his distress.
On March 26th, 1980, an elderly clergyman entered the church basement, where Fr Nektarios had his office. He lit some candles (unpaid for), kissed the icons and venerated the relics kept there, but passed by anything to do with St Nektarios. He also asked the caretaker, Sophia, if the priest was around. She replied protectively that he was out, so the old man wished her a happy Easter and left.
Sophia told Fr Vitalis what had happened, adding that their visitor had reminded her of St Nektarios himself. Perhaps, she said brightly, he had come to make Fr Vitalis well. The priest thanked her abstractedly, but was feeling guilty, and sent Sophia to fetch the visitor back. He came, and introduced himself as Fr Anastasios.
For more information on St Nektarios (Anastasios Kephalas, 1846-1920), famous for healing miracles even during his own lifetime, see St Nektarios, the Wonderworker of Aegina at the website of the church where he is buried.
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