Difference between revisions of "Papa-Nicholas (Planas) of Athens"

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St. Nicholas (Planas) (1851-1932), was officially recognized as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1992. His feast day is celebrated on [[March 2]]. He is often referred to as ''Papa Nicholas (Planas)''.
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[[Image:NicholasPlanas.JPG|thumb|right|Icon of Papa Nicholas Planas in the church of Panagitsa, Paleo Faliro, Athens]]
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The holy saint '''Papa-Nicholas (Planas)''' of Athens (1851-1932) was officially [[glorification|glorified]] as a [[saint]] by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of [[Constantinople]] in 1992. He was born in 1851 on the island of Naxos in Greece. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[March 2]], except when it falls during [[Great Lent]] period; then it is celebrated on the first Sunday following March 2. As a local saint of [[Metropolis of Paronaxia|Paronaxia]], he is also celebrated on the first Sunday of September, as part of the celebration of the island's five key saints at the Church of St. [[Nikodemus of the Holy Mountain]] on the island of Naxos in Greece.
  
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
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Born in 1851 on the island of Naxos, even in his youth he was marked by simplicity and generosity. He gave away anything that came into his hands. He married at 17, but his wife died only a few years later. From that point on, his only aspiration was to serve in the Church. In [[July 28]], 1879, he was ordained a deacon in the Church of the Transfiguration, Plaka. Five years later on [[March 2]], 1884 he was ordained a priest at the Church of the Holy Prophet Elisha. He served a Liturgy, vigils and other services every day for over 52 years. He spent most of that time in a very small church, St. John the Hunter, located in a working class neighborhood in Athens. When he arrived there, the parish contained only eight families, and he was paid virtually nothing. Nonetheless, he never refused to commemorate and pray for anyone when he served, and carried in his pockets slips of paper containing thousands of names that he would pray for during the proskomedia and the Liturgy. Numerous stories are told of his being so lifted in prayer during the liturgy that his altar servers would see him raised off the ground in front of the altar. While he would begin Liturgy at eight in the morning, he typically would not finish until two or three in the afternoon. When, for whatever reason, he was not able to serve at St. John’s, he would serve elsewhere, even in country chapels which lay half in ruins.
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Papa Nicholas was married and the father of one child. He was married at 17, but his wife died only a few years later, and so he spent the rest of his life in celibacy, his only aspiration being to serve the Church. He was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] on [[July 28]], 1879, at the [[Church of the Transfiguration (Plaka, Greece)|Church of the Transfiguration]] in Plaka, Greece, and a [[priest]] on [[March 2]], 1884, at the Church of the Holy Prophet Elisha.
  
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When not serving, Papa Nicholas was always found attending to his flock: taking confessions, giving counsel, visiting the poor and sick. He was famously absent minded, engrossed in heavenly things, and was also well known for giving to the poor anything that anyone might give him. He was not an educated man by any stretch of the imagination, but was immensely holy, a humble righteous man who shows us by his example the way to theosis. He reposed, his face wreathed in a smile, in 1932, and thousands came to honor him.
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His focus for over 50 years was to serve daily the [[Divine Liturgy]], vigils, and other services. He never missed a Liturgy and spent most of his time in the very small church of [[Church of St. John the Hunter (Athens, Greece)|Church of St. John the Hunter]] in Athens, Greece. The [[parish]] initially contained only eight families. He never refused to commemorate and pray for anyone when he served, and he carried in his pockets slips of paper containing thousands of names whom he would pray for during the [[proskomedia]] and the Liturgy.
  
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When we were in Athens, we were fortunate enough to visit St. John the Hunter. A new church has been built, and his relics are contained there. Arising from his reliquary, we noticed a sweet, indescribable scent. Afterwards, we visited the old altar area of the original church, which has been preserved. Like most such shrines in Greece, people leave flowers, icons and small mementos when they come to light a candle and pray before the altar where God, through his servant Nicholas, performed so many miracles. <ref> Blog Spot on Evlogeite.com <ref/>
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[[Image:Planas5h.JPG|thumb|right|Holy relics of Papa Nicholas Planas in Athens]]
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Numerous stories are told of his being lifted in [[prayer]] and of the [[acolyte]]s seing him raised off the ground in front of the altar during the Liturgy. While he would begin Liturgy at eight in the morning, he typically would not finish until two or three in the afternoon. When he was not able to serve at the church of St. John, he would always serve elsewhere.
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He was famously absent-minded and was also well known for giving to the poor anything that anyone might give him. He was not an educated man but was considered immensely enlightened, an example of great holiness and humility.
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Papa-Nicholas is recognized as a saint by the official Orthodox Church, as well as by many Old Calendarists. While he blessed the headquarters of the newly-founded Old Calendarist “Religious Community of Genuine Orthodox Christians” in Athens in 1926 and never personally accepted the liturgical calendar reform, he also never ceased commemorating his bishop over the issue. When notified of his non-compliance, his humility and simplicity prevented any action being taken against him.
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He reposed in February 1932. A new St. John the Hunter Church, which contains his [[relics]], has now been built.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*St. [[Nektarios of Aegina]]
 
*St. [[Nektarios of Aegina]]
  
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==Troparia==
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==Hymns==
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'''[[Kontakion]]''' in the 3rd Tone.
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[[Kontakion]] ([[Tone]] 3) [http://www.serfes.org/lives/stnicholas.htm]
 
:Humble of spirit and pure of heart, illustrious in life and dispassionate of a truth, wast thou, O wise one. Thou didst illumine all by the virtues and dost grant grace unto them that draw nigh unto thee; and by thine intercessions, thou dost heal them that call upon thee, O Father Nicholas.
 
:Humble of spirit and pure of heart, illustrious in life and dispassionate of a truth, wast thou, O wise one. Thou didst illumine all by the virtues and dost grant grace unto them that draw nigh unto thee; and by thine intercessions, thou dost heal them that call upon thee, O Father Nicholas.
  
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'''[[Megalinaro]]'''
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[[Megalynarion]] [http://www.serfes.org/lives/stnicholas.htm]
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:As a simple shepherd of Christ God's lambs, thou didst tend thy flock well on the pasture of piety,
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:As a simple shepherd of Christ God's lambs, thou didst tend thy flock well on the pasture of piety, nourishing their spirits with ceaseless supplications and leading them to Christ, O wise Father Nicholas.
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nourishing their spirits with ceaseless supplications and leading them to Christ, O wise Father Nicholas.
 
  
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==References==
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==Further reading==
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<references/>
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''Papa-Nicholas Planas'', by the ''Nun Martha''; translated from Greek and published by [[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Transfiguration Monastery]], 1981.
  
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==External Sources==
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==External links==
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*[http://www.i-m-paronaxias.gr/byzantine-monasteries/nikolaos_planas.html Official Biography of St Nicholas Planas] in Greek by the ([[Metropolis of Paronaxia]], [[Church of Greece]])
 
*[http://fr-d-serfes.org/lives/stnicholas.htm Biography of Nicholas (Planas)] by Father Nektarios Serfes
 
*[http://fr-d-serfes.org/lives/stnicholas.htm Biography of Nicholas (Planas)] by Father Nektarios Serfes
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*[http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/planas.html Fr. Jacob Meyes announcement of Canonisation]
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*[http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/planas.html Canonisation Announcement] by Fr. Jacob Meyes
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*[http://evlogeite.com/?p=74 Another Modern Saint] Published March 2, 2005
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*[http://www.roca.org/OA/56/56e.htm The Simple Shepherd - Papa Nicholas Planas] by Fr. Alexey Young (''Orthodox America'')
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*[http://evlogeite.com/?p=74 Papa Nicholas Planas: Another Modern Saint]
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[[Category:Saints]]
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[[Category:Greek Saints]]
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[[Category:Priests]]
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[[Category:20th-century saints]]
  
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[[Category: Saints]]
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[[fr:Nicolas Planas]]
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[[Category: Greek Saints]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:40, April 30, 2019

Icon of Papa Nicholas Planas in the church of Panagitsa, Paleo Faliro, Athens

The holy saint Papa-Nicholas (Planas) of Athens (1851-1932) was officially glorified as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1992. He was born in 1851 on the island of Naxos in Greece. His feast day is celebrated on March 2, except when it falls during Great Lent period; then it is celebrated on the first Sunday following March 2. As a local saint of Paronaxia, he is also celebrated on the first Sunday of September, as part of the celebration of the island's five key saints at the Church of St. Nikodemus of the Holy Mountain on the island of Naxos in Greece.

Life

Papa Nicholas was married and the father of one child. He was married at 17, but his wife died only a few years later, and so he spent the rest of his life in celibacy, his only aspiration being to serve the Church. He was ordained a deacon on July 28, 1879, at the Church of the Transfiguration in Plaka, Greece, and a priest on March 2, 1884, at the Church of the Holy Prophet Elisha.

His focus for over 50 years was to serve daily the Divine Liturgy, vigils, and other services. He never missed a Liturgy and spent most of his time in the very small church of Church of St. John the Hunter in Athens, Greece. The parish initially contained only eight families. He never refused to commemorate and pray for anyone when he served, and he carried in his pockets slips of paper containing thousands of names whom he would pray for during the proskomedia and the Liturgy.

Holy relics of Papa Nicholas Planas in Athens

Numerous stories are told of his being lifted in prayer and of the acolytes seing him raised off the ground in front of the altar during the Liturgy. While he would begin Liturgy at eight in the morning, he typically would not finish until two or three in the afternoon. When he was not able to serve at the church of St. John, he would always serve elsewhere.

He was famously absent-minded and was also well known for giving to the poor anything that anyone might give him. He was not an educated man but was considered immensely enlightened, an example of great holiness and humility.

Papa-Nicholas is recognized as a saint by the official Orthodox Church, as well as by many Old Calendarists. While he blessed the headquarters of the newly-founded Old Calendarist “Religious Community of Genuine Orthodox Christians” in Athens in 1926 and never personally accepted the liturgical calendar reform, he also never ceased commemorating his bishop over the issue. When notified of his non-compliance, his humility and simplicity prevented any action being taken against him.

He reposed in February 1932. A new St. John the Hunter Church, which contains his relics, has now been built.

See also

Hymns

Kontakion (Tone 3) [1]

Humble of spirit and pure of heart, illustrious in life and dispassionate of a truth, wast thou, O wise one. Thou didst illumine all by the virtues and dost grant grace unto them that draw nigh unto thee; and by thine intercessions, thou dost heal them that call upon thee, O Father Nicholas.

Megalynarion [2]

As a simple shepherd of Christ God's lambs, thou didst tend thy flock well on the pasture of piety, nourishing their spirits with ceaseless supplications and leading them to Christ, O wise Father Nicholas.

Further reading

Papa-Nicholas Planas, by the Nun Martha; translated from Greek and published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1981.

External links

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