Hierarch · 1846–1920
Nektarios of Aegina
Saint Nectarius Kephalas, Metropolitan of Pentapolis
New Calendar November 9 Old Calendar November 22
Why they are a saint
Nektarios of Aegina was known as metropolitan of Pentapolis, unjustly slandered, later founder of a convent on Aegina. Widely asked for healing, especially cancer, after many reported wonders at his tomb. The years given for this life are 1846–1920.
Life
Saint Nectarius was born Anastasius Kephalas in Selebria in Thrace on October 1, 1846. Because his family was poor, he went to Constantinople at fourteen to find work. On November 7, 1875, he was tonsured at the Nea Moni Monastery on Chios with the name Lazarus, and two years later, when ordained deacon, received the name Nectarius.
As a priest he went to Egypt, where he was elected Metropolitan of Pentapolis. Jealous colleagues accused him of making a show of piety to win favour, and the patriarch and synod removed him from his see. He bore this with great patience and went to Greece, where on March 8, 1894, he was appointed Director of the Rizarios Seminary in Athens, serving there until December 1908, teaching and writing.
Seeking quiet, he restored an abandoned Holy Trinity monastery on Aegina with his own hands and gathered a community of nuns, serving as their confessor. He died in peace at the Aretaieion Hospital, a hospital for the poor in Athens, on November 8, 1920, at seventy-four. When his sweater was laid on the bed of a paralysed man beside him, the man rose up glorifying God. He was buried at the Holy Trinity Monastery on Aegina.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
He has worked thousands of miracles, especially for those suffering from cancer, and more churches are dedicated to him than to any other modern Orthodox saint.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Traditionally asked to pray for cancer and lingering illness (popular), Aegina. The reason for this custom is not recorded here.
Prayer
O holy Nektarios of Aegina, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.
Do not confuse with Nectarius of Optina; Nectarius of the Kiev Caves; other Nectariuses.