St. Nektarios is considered one of the "modern" saints. He lived in the early twentieth century. He was born in Selyvria, Thrace, in October of 1846 as Anastasios Kephalas. Nektarios is the name he took at his ordaination to the Diakonate. His formative years as a teenager were spent working and studying in Constantinople, afterwhich he took a teaching post on the Island of Chios, and later entered the Monastery of Nea Moni. At age 30, he was tontured a monk. From there, he was called to serve under Patriarch Sophronios of Alexandria, Egypt.
Realizing his potential, Patriarch Sophronios grew fond of Nektarios and sent him to study theology at the University of Athens. Upon completion of his studies, the patriarch ordained him a priest and assigned him to a parish in Cairo. Later, Patriarch Sophronios ordained him a bishop and assigned him to Pentapolis (in what is now Libya). He later served as a bishop in Cairo for one year.
It seemed as though Bishop Nektarios had one success after another, but people do not become saints without challenges and stuggle. Perhaps out of jealousy of his success, some made up lies about the good bishop and convinced the Patriarch that he sought after his office. Patriarch Sophronios was unfortunately swayed and removed Bishop Nektarios. Nektarios returned to Athens as an itinerant preacher (ierokyrikas). In Athens his great wisdom was realized and he became Dean of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School there in 1894.
Bishop Nektarios’ spiritual callings were perhaps more fulfilled when he started a convent for nuns on a small island not too far from the seaport of Piraeus. On Aegina, Bishop Nektarios founded the Convent of the Holy Trinity. It was here at his convent that Nektarios would make his greatest contributions to the Orthodox Church. In 1910 Nektarios retired to the Convent of the Holy Trinity to spend his last years. People flocked to Aegina to worship with the bishop, to listen to his sermons, and to be healed from different illnesses.
St. Nektarios died on November 9, 1920 and was buried in a special chapel which he had built. People continued to flock to the Convent of the Holy Trinity to venerate at the Shrine of St. Nektarios. Miracles continue to take place at his grave site year after year. Eventually, the Patriarchate of Constantinople proclaimed Nektarios a Saint in 1961. St. Nektarios is considered the Patron Saint for people who have cancer, heart trouble, arthritis, epilepsy and other sicknesses. Visitors to this shrine leave filled with the love and peace that St. Nektarios gave to all when he lived.
St. Nektarios is a true icon of Christian love and patience. We are all called to love all people and to encourage them. As people of faith, we offer prayers as a means of help for all. St. Nektarios encouraged others by being with them at difficult times. He prayed to God to give them peace and courage to face their problems. We take him as our example.
St. Nektarios is honored and remembered annually on November 9. After the Divine Liturgy on his feast day, the faithful will be anointed with oil from the Shrine of St. Nektarios.