Saint Nektarios Metropolitan of Pentapolis (Libya) and the Vatopedi Monastery (1st nocturn)

The previously unpublished letters which Saint Nektarios had sent to the Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopedi

by Andri Hatzikosta-Tofalidou

At the archives of Vatopedi monastery eleven previously unknown letters were discovered, written by Saint Nektarios Kefalas, Metropolitan of Pentapoleos, and popular Saint of Aigina.
In this article we will publish these letters. I would like to extend my warm thanks and gratitude to
a)    The most reverent Abbot of Vatopedi, Archimandrite Efrem,
b)    The blessed elder of Vatopedi, Joseph monk, who has given me the blessing to publish the letters read more…
c)    Fr. Theodoros Zisis, professor at the School of Theology of the Aristoteleian University of Thessaloniki for his help and guidance.
During the four year period in which Saint Nektarios was the Principal of the Rizarios Seminary, ( 1894-19070), he wrote and published a large number of notable works. In order to do this, Saint Nektarios had to find a huge amount of monies which he didn’t possess.
He turns to the monasteries
At this point we must stress the fact that the Saint sought recourse to the monasteries for financial help in order to publish his works for the benefit of the Church and its people. ( 9th Letter)
Apart from Vatopedi, Saint Nektarios also had written communication with other monasteries of the Holy Mount Athos. This is not accidental.
Being fond of monastic life, he became a monk at 27 . Even though three years later he abandoned monastic life and the uninterrupted enjoyment of the life in Christ in order to work for the Church, he remained a true devotee of monasticism, and was conveying devoutness to others through his teaching and his personal example. This is how his turn towards the monasteries for help is explained.
The eleven letters which we are publishing are dated 3 July 1900 ( 1st Letter) until 30 June 1906 ( 11th the last letter) and are addressed to the Vatopedi vestry men.
The Saint is asking for financial help from the monastery initially for the publication of his work “Christologia” and later for the publication of his work “On the immortality of the soul and the holy memorial services”.
It seems that the Vatopedi monastery had the means to help. That’s the reason why it soon responded positively to the Saint’s petition for the publication of his two works.
The Saint incessantly thanks the monastery for its help, which he said it indicated not only its friendship towards him and the high esteem it held for the Saint, but also its kindness and love for music, often expressed in various ways with its support of Theology and Greek education.( 3rd Letter)

source: Άντρης Χατζηκώστα-Τοφαλίδου, Άγνωστες επιστολές του Αγίου Νεκταρίου προς την Ιερά Μονή Βατοπεδίου, Περιοδικόν Ορθόδοξη Μαρτυρία, Έκδοσις Παγκυπρίου Συλλόγου Ορθοδόξου Παραδόσεως «Οι Φίλοι του Αγίου Όρους», τεύχος αριθμός 41, Λευκωσία, Φθινόπωρο 1993

Translated from Greek by: Olga Konnaris Kokkinos, journalist