Homilies During Great Lent

Saint Nektarios the Wonderworker (1846-1920) has become one of the most well-known and much beloved Orthodox Christian saints of the contemporary age since his saintly glorification in 1961. Born in Selymbria in the Ottoman Empire he was educated in Constantinople and in Athens. At the age of 30 he was tonsured a monk and given the name 'Nektarios' on the island of Chios and then ordained as a deacon three years later. It was during his years as a deacon and student of theology in Athens that Saint Nektarios first honed his skills as a preacher for which he would later be renowned. The ten homilies compiled in the present book were delivered towards the end of this period during and around Saint Nektarios's final Great Lent as a deacon. With topics ranging from the free will of man repentance confession and the Holy Eucharist these sermons bring to light the emerging brilliance of the saint as a young man. Not only do they demonstrate his deep knowledge for the Holy Scriptures and an understanding of the human person which can only come from a grace-filled spiritual life and devotion to God but his sharp intellect and familiarity with subjects outside of scripture and patristics as he draws examples from history literature and the Greek and Latin philosophers with great ease bringing everything together to craft practical pastoral exhortations. These sermons were without a doubt immeasurably beneficial to the souls who heard him in person as they will be to anyone who reads these words today.