On Saturday, December 6, 2025, the feast day of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker, His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxoi, and Diapontia Islands, officiated and delivered a sermon at the celebratory Holy Church of Saint Nicholas Geronton, located in the historic city center of Corfu.
A Tireless Servant: Protopresbyter Georgios Vlachos
The aforementioned Holy Church is presided over by Protopresbyter Georgios Vlachos, who has tirelessly dedicated many years to the spiritual development of the parish with love and devotion.
The Saints: God’s Great Gift to Humanity
During his sermon, addressing the large congregation, His Eminence referred to the great gift of God to humanity, which is none other than the Saints. Through the Saints, the glory of God is revealed, according to the psalm, “God is wonderful in His saints” (Psalm 67:36). The Saints remind us of the human nature in its pre-fall state, as through their struggle, repentance, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church, they restored the communion of love with God. This state of grace, we, modern people, have squandered and erased.
Understanding Humanity’s Purpose
The Saints strived as they understood this natural state of man, that man is created in the image of God and sought after His likeness, that is, the possibility for man to approach God, to become like Him, and to be deified. They understood all this because they had an experience of faith, they glorified God, and He glorified them in return. Living in this state of love, the Saints also experienced humanity, which was reflected in all aspects of their earthly lives.
Unfortunately, today, amidst the distractions of our secularized era and immersed in the spirit of utilitarianism, we have lost our humanity. We have forgotten the purpose of man’s existence. Our life is now limited only to earthly matters. Have we ever considered the prospect of eternity? Our Saints, like Saint Nicholas, transcended the earthly and the perishable nature of man and put into practice God’s command, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Unfortunately, man today is consumed by trivialities, yet he has this ability to seek humanity, something the Saints show us.
The Voice of Conscience and the Danger of Spiritual Coldness
However, due to his weakness, man falls into actions of which he himself is ashamed. And then the voice of conscience stops him and reminds him of the purpose of his existence. It reminds him of what is good and what is evil. But if a man’s heart becomes so cold that he loses his conscience, then man, despite his honor and value as God’s creation, confirms what the psalm says, that man far from God, who has lost his humanity, “is compared to the thoughtless beasts and has become like them” (Psalm 48:13). That is, he becomes like irrational animals.
Saint Nicholas: A Source of Inspiration
On the other hand, the examples of the Saints, like Saint Nicholas, serve as a driving force and a source of inspiration to avoid such a state. Saint Nicholas was sanctified. He did not look to his ego, but only to the glory of God. How much this great Saint did! He sacrificed his life, was merciful, overflowing with love, and was even unjustly imprisoned. However, God Himself released him from there and reinstated him to continue leading people to the unwavering faith.
Not to alien beliefs that people often seek today, as man feels that faith is something heavy to bear and believes that something different from the teaching of the Church suits him. Thus, people go astray. But the Saints were unwavering. We ask the Saints to intercede with God, because we are not full of divine grace as a result of the attitude we have adopted towards life and God, and thus we have not found boldness.
Saint Nicholas: A Rule of Faith
Saint Nicholas also participated in the First Ecumenical Council because he lived the faith, and today we say that he is a rule of faith. Thus, he comes to protect us from the modern scourge of heresies, various doctrines, apostasy, and even at the political level, which gives zero space to the spiritual dimension of life, with the result that today, in society, great confusion prevails.
A Call to Humanity and Love
In conclusion, Mr. Nektarios wished many years to all those celebrating and that Saint Nicholas, in the Holy Spirit, may become a lamp of humanity. We must keep this in mind regardless of our social stratum or our current situation, so that we may gradually be led, through struggle and within the Church, to the path of love and communion with God.
Source: https://www.ekklisiaonline.gr/nea/kerkyras-nektarios-o-agios-nikolaos-den-prosevlepe-sto-ego-tou-alla-sti-doxa-tou-theou/
