AGAIN the visitor kissed the icons and relics, and again he passed over anything to do with St Nektarios. Fr Vitalis asked him why, but he just smiled, and pulled out a pair of glasses exactly like a pair among the relics of St Nektarios.

Fr Vitalis asked where he lived. ‘My house’ replied his visitor, waving his hand towards the ceiling ‘isn’t ready yet.’ Fr Vitalis, acutely aware that the church was also unfinished, told him about his failing health. ‘Don’t worry’ said Anastasios. ‘But now I must go to Paros, to visit Philotheos.’* Fr Vitalis burst out, ‘Elder, you look so like St Nektarios!’ At this the man started to weep, and blessed him. Fr Vitalis tried to embrace him in return, but clasped only thin air.

The visitor left absent-mindedly through a closed door. Sophia followed him to a bus stop, where he apparently boarded a bus but was not among the passengers. Not long afterwards the doctors pronounced Fr Vitalis completely cured, and he was able to finish the church.