Saint Nektarios of Aegina (Fiorenzo) Icon - S636

This icon by American iconographer Mark Fiorenzo depicts the great 20th century luminary Saint Nektarios in his black monastic habit. He holds the Gospel and raises his hand in a gesture of blessing, proper to his role in the Church as a bishop.

Saint Nektarios (also spelled Nectarios or Nectarius) was from Thrace (in modern northern Turkey). He was born in 1846 and entered the monastic life in 1876. He was blessed to study theology in Athens, before his ordination to the priesthood in Cairo, Egypt, in 1886. As a priest, and later an archimandrite (high ranking monastic priest), he was a renowned preacher. In 1889 he entered the episcopacy, being consecrated Metropolitan of Pentapolis in Libya.

His quick rise through the ranks of the clergy caused envy among some of the clergy, and both St. Nektarios and Pope Sophronios IV of Alexandria were slandered terribly. Eventually, St. Nektarios was ordered to leave Egypt, his good name tarnished. After returning to Athens, he could not find a position as bishop, and he accepted an assignment to pastor a small parish.

Despite all his struggles, St. Nektarios never lost his patience. He devoted himself to a life of poverty and good deeds, to preaching and teaching, and became a true spiritual guide to many. He lived the last years of his life in a monastery he opened in the Aegian, and reposed in 1920.

He became known as a wonderworker, healing every kind of illness toward the end of his life, but especially cancer. His powerful intercessions continue after his repose to this day. He was glorified in 1961, and his feast is celebrated on November 9. There are more churches dedicated to St. Nektaros than any other modern Orthodox saint, a testament to his holiness that some once doubted during his lifetime.