A Wonderous Story About St. Nectarios

The following letter was addressed to the Orthodox Christian periodical St. Cyprian (Άγιος Κυπριανός) and appeared in issue No. 235 (March/ April 1990), pp. 165-167.

 

 

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Beloved, rejoice in the Lord always.

At the onset, I would like to offer my warm congratulations for your most edifying and traditional periodical.

I decided to write this letter, after having read, in issue no. 233 of your noteworthy journal, "St. Cyprian," an article on the subject of the sanctity of St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, or, rather, regarding the polemics directed at him by the saint-defiling nun Magdalene of Kozani.

You quite correctly observe, in this instance, that the matter is not simply one of human delusion, but of demonic possession.

In support of this observation and indeed as proof of the magnitude of the delusion and danger posed for those who are swept into such possession, I offer the following story, to which I am a personal witness.

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In 1971, near the village of Chalkeion (26 kilometers northwest of Corinth in the Peloponnesus), an old monk by the name of Theodosios (with the last name of "Karanasios"), built a small, private Hermitage, within which he arranged a little Chapel dedicated to our Father among the Saints, Nectarios of Aegina, Metropolitan of Pentapolis.

With labors and sacrifices, he adorned this Chapel with all of the necessary appointments and after some time called a Priest therefrom the village of Zevgolateion to Liturgize.

In the year 1974, however, the blasphemous books of the nun Magdalene fell into his hands, and through these he came to share her views disputing the sanctity of this wonderworking Saint of our century.

Totally deluded, he began to vilify the Saint, so beloved of the faithful, with inappropriate expressions— this Saint whom the enemies of Truth cease not to slander, as when he was alive, even after his repose.

What is most shocking, however, is the fact that this reached the point—with the inducement and at the instigation of the Saint-defiling Mother Magdalene —that he destroyed the faces of the Icons of the Saint inside the Church (on the Icon screen and on another large Icon in the Church) and called an iconographer, a follower of the delusion of Mother Magdalene, to paint on top of them the face of St. Nectarios the Patriarch of Constantinople (4th century).

From that time on he celebrated this Saint (who is commemorated on October 11), printed and distributed copies of the Icons with the faces painted over, and published, in accordance with a request made to him, the service to St. Nectarios the Patriarch of Constantinople. (Copies of these I have in my possession.) And he changed the name of his Hermitage to "The Sacred Hesychasterion of St. Nectarios the Patriarch of Constantinople."

After four years had gone by, in 1978, the aforementioned monk, his handiwork being the making of incense, went to sell it in the marketplace of Koropion (in Attica). He had also evidently been invited to visit the home of a physician who was an acquaintance of his. (I possess all of the particulars regarding these people.)

Something, however, had taken place at the physician 's house the preceding night. The physician's wife, a few hours after they had gone to sleep, woke up startled by the following disturbing dream. Her husband having calmed her down, she related to him the reason for her upset. She had seen in her dream their family acquaintance, Father Theodosios, who was walking in the direction of another person. This person was dressed like a monastic, wearing a monastic cap, and bore a Cross on his shoulder. Carefully observing him, she was sure that this other person was St. Nectarios of Aegina because of the resemblance to his Icon, which she had many times venerated. Just as the photographs preserved from his own time depict the Saint to us, so he appeared to her.

As one approached the other, she heard the Saint say the following to the monk: "Why, my son, did you erase away my head? What wrong did I do you? Have you no fear of God?" The Saint was obviously referring to the destruction of the Icons and was calling the monk to his senses and to repentance. However, the fact that the monk had destroyed the Icons was unknown to the woman who saw this dream. The words of the Saint were so crushing and the monk was reproached in such a way that it agitated the woman, who thus awoke trembling. Her husband comforted her and agreed that they should tell Father Theodosios of this event when he visited them.

The next morning, the monk came to their home. They told him what had happened. He took this (the dream) to be demonic and began to blaspheme St. Nectarios, calling—decency precludes details, but so that we may know the extent of his delusion —him a heretic and common sinner. The wife, on hearing these things, asked him either to cease saying them or not to visit them again in the future.

Unfortunately, Father Theodosios did not come to his senses; nor was he even concerned by this event. Instead, he continued to supply and distribute the books of the saint-defiling nun Magdalene.

One month later, a truly tragic event occurred which testifies that, indeed, it is "a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" for those who do not hear the word of the Prophet, who says, "touch not my anointed ones and deal not wrongfully with my prophets."

Being in Athens and on his way to Church in the neighborhood of Kypseli (precisely on Ithakes Street), this monk was struck down by an automobile which was going at a dizzying speed and which ran right over him and pulverized his head.

The monk's funeral was performed without his head—a frightful sight to all—and he was buried at the Hesychasterion of St. Mark at Koropion (Attika).

***

The property, buildings, and Chapel of the Hesychasterion of St. Nectarios were bought just two years ago (1988) by the present writer. Immediately, the commemoration of St. Nectarios of Pentapolis was restored, his Feast being celebrated annually with the participation of many faithful. In the humble Chapel, the Icons of the Icon Screen have been replaced, though those which were painted over have also been kept as a sign and testimony of the fearful and splendid miracles of God, Who makes known His Saints, that they might be glorified and not blasphemed.

Sincerely,

Demetrios I. Katsouras

Student of the Theological School of the University of Belgrade

 

Source: Orthodox Tradition, Vol. VIII (1991), No. 1, p. 18.