SAINTS NEKTARIOS and THEOPHANES of Ioannina, Builders of the Varlaam Monastery at Meteora

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

On the 17th of May, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
Saints NEKTARIOS and THEOPHANES of Ioannina,
Builders of the Varlaam Monastery at METEORA.

Saints Nektarios and Theophanes of Ioannina, our Venerable holy Fathers, were builders of the prodigious Monastery of Varlaam, the rock forest at Meteora, Epiros, Greece. They were brothers according to the flesh, who were born during the second half of the 15th century. They were the scions of a distinguished and prominent family, the Apsarades (Apsaras) of Ioannina, who held positions in Ioannina from Byzantine times. The parents and three sisters of the Saints followed the Monastic life and dedicated both their lives and wealth to God.

Nektarios and Theophanes were the first members of the family to renounce the world. This took place in 1495. Due to their wisdom, prudence and education, they did not embark thoughtlessly upon a Monastic Life. They CHOSE TO SUBMIT, with all their soul and thoughts, to the commands of the discreet and holy Geronda (Elder) Savvas who came from a noble family Ioannina and who taught the brothers all the facets of the Monastic Life. Nektarios and Theophanes remained hemits on the island in the midst of Lake Ioannina (also known as Pamvotis), in what is now known as the Isle of Kyra Frosinis. They dwelt and struggled in ASCETICISM with Geronda Savvas for ten years till his translation to the Lord 1505.

The holy brothers Nektarios and Theophanes repaired to the Monastery of Dionysiou, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. At this Monastery, they found the former Patriarch of Sontantinople, Niphon II. The holy Niphon joyfully welcomed the brothers, after bearing their difficulties. In the year 1511 they departed Leke Ioannina and set off for Meteora of Thessaly. With the blessing of the KATHEGOUMENOS (Leader) of the respected and imperial Monastery, they dwelt as eagles parched ato one of the most precipitous rock formations. The holy brothers strove seven harsh years in that HESYCHASTERION (Hermitage), all the while guided by God.

Until the end of their earthly sojourn, the holy fathers never relented in their labors and struggles; thus, God counted them worthy of many gifts. However, the time of Saint Theophanes’ earthly sojourn came to a close when he departed on Saturday, the 17th of May, in the year 1544. His brother; Saint Nektarios, reposed in Christ on the 7th of April, in the year of our Lord 1550. These holy fathers are honored by our Mother, the Holy Church.

Through their holy intercessions, O Christ God, have mercy on us and save our souls. Amen. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in Our Risen Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George