St. Nikephoros the Leper - Commemorated January 4 (source)
Selected miracles of St. Nikephoros the Leper (amateur translation)
Fr. Eumenios said that, one night,
having helped Fr. Nikephoros get ready to sleep, he then went to his
cell to rest. He did not fall asleep immediately, however. He had an
unsettled feeling, like he had perhaps not closed the stove properly.
Many thoughts ran through his mind. He got up, therefore, and went
to the cell of the Elder. In order to not bother him, in case he had
fallen asleep, he thought not to knock on the door, nor the customary
monastic practice to say “Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers,
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us”, and wait for the
reply: “Amen”. Slowly, he opened the door, and what did he see?
He saw Fr. Nikephoros floating a meter above the ground, with his
hands lifted up in prayer. His face shone like the sun. As soon as
Fr. Eumenios saw this awesome sight, without speaking he slowly
closed the door and ran back to his cell. His face fell to the floor,
and he began to cry with groans, thinking that he might have saddened
the Elder by his not having knocked, and by his seeing this wondrous
sight. But he also cried with joy, for he saw with his own eyes how
great and virtuous was his spiritual father, Fr. Nikephoros. In the
morning, when he went as usual to help him, he made a prostration,
and asked forgiveness for his offense. He, with a light smile,
forgave him immediately, and told him not to tell anyone what he saw
while he was alive.
Fr. Eumenios further related that, one
night, many years the dormition of Fr. Nikephoros, because there were
many mosquitos and other insects in his cell, he thought it good to
close up the doors and windows, and to empty a whole bottle of strong
pesticide inside. After this, he fell asleep. He would not have
awakened, however, if Fr. Nikephoros had not appeared to him to wake
him, to take his hand and bring him out of the cell. And, before Fr.
Eugenios came to his senses regarding what happened, he told him: “My
child, don't go back into your cell until you first open the doors
and windows, to air it out well.” And immediately, he disappeared.
After a while, Fr. Eugenios realized that a miracle had occurred, and
he thanked Fr. Nikephoros, his beloved Elder, with all his heart, for
he saved him from a certain death.
Fr. Amphilochios, a hieromonk from the
Holy Monastery of St. Paraskevi, Megara, confirmed that, one day, he
was sitting in his cell, when he sensed a fragrance. He looked right
and left, but did not find where this fragrance was coming from,
which grew stronger wherever he went. Then in an instant, his eye
fell upon a large mailing envelope. He opened it, and within found a
portion of a Holy Relic which was unspeakably fragrant, and on one
portion he read: “Fr. Nikephoros Tzanakakes, January 4th
1964”. This Holy Relic was in the possession of another hieromonk,
who sent it to the Monastery for temporary care, as he would be out
of town. When Fr. Amphilochios removed it from the envelope and
placed it with reverence in a place where he had other Holy Relics,
then the fragrance lessened slightly.
Monk Kallinikos from the Holy Mountain
said: “When I was given a small portion from the Holy Relics of Fr.
Nikephoros, it was fragrant. After a time, however, it stopped. One
day, when I opened it to venerate, I said to the Elder: “My Saint,
I am unworthy, but I entreat you, do me a favor and do not disdain
me, the sinner.” And—O the wonder!--it once again was fragrant.
After several days, I went again to venerate, and as soon as I opened
the small container in which was the Holy Relic, an unspeakable
fragrance again poured forth throughout my cell. Immediately I wrote
the following megalynarion to the Saint: “You are a spiritual icon
of virtue, and you resembled, O Father, the patience of Job, and you
endured trials, pleasing God, therefore after death you were made
fragrant.”
Hieromonk Matthias related that, after
the dormition of Fr. Eumenios, Fr. Epiphanios, the hieromonk who
became the Priest at the Church of the Leper Station, found in a
container some of the Holy Relics of Fr. Nikephoros. Therefore, Fr.
Matthias told him: “I want you to give me a portion from the Holy
Relics.” Fr. Epiphanios said: “I will bring it to you myself, as
soon as I travel to Thessaloniki.” And in reality, a short time
later, he went. He opened and placed the portion in a small container
on the table. He lit a candle. After a short time, another priest
came to visit Fr. Matthias. When he saw the Holy Relic, he venerated
it, and said: “To whom does this Holy Relic belong, that is
fragrant?” Fr. Matthias said: “I didn't believe it, but we got up
and went to venerate. In reality, it was fragrant, and however much
time passed, it was all the more fragrant. This lasted for several
days. I have venerated many Holy Relics of many Saints, but this is
the first time that this has happened to me..."
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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