St. Nektarios
Greek Orthodox Church
/ Community / Our Patron Saint / The Relics of St. Nektarios
The Relics of St. Nektarios

St. Nektarios Shrine
St. Nektarios Shrine
St. Nektarios Shrine

Our parish is blessed to have a portion of the relics of our patron saint, Nektarios of Aegina the Wonderworker. We extend an open invitation to all those who would like to come and venerate them. To plan a pilgrimage to the shrine, please contact our church office.

What are relics?
Relics are the remains of the body of a saint, or a saint's possessions, such as clothes, vestments, and other artifacts. Relics are honored and venerated by all Orthodox Christians. Upon the consecration of a new church, the consecrating bishop embeds holy relics in the Holy Table, following the ancient traditions of the church in performing the Eucharist on the tombs of Martyrs. (Adapted from www.goarch.org;  visit this page for more information.)

Why do we venerate relics?
In the Orthodox Church the worship (latreia) given to God is completely different from the honor (timē) of love (agapē) and respect, or even veneration (proskynēsis), "paid to all those endowed with some dignity" (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. III, 40). The Orthodox honor the saints to express their love and gratitude to God, who has "perfected" the saints… To this day the Orthodox have maintained the liturgical custom of meeting on the day of the saint's death, of building churches honoring their names, and of paying special respect to their relics and icons. The Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 A.D.), in summarizing this practice of the Church, declares that "we adore and respect God our Lord; and those who have been genuine servants of our common Lord we honor and venerate because they have the power to make us friends with God the King of all." (Adapted from www.goarch.org)

Apolytikion (Dismissal Hymn)
for St. Nektarios

Mode 1

This hymn was adapted into English from the original Greek text for the purposes of our parish.

As we joyfully commemorate the welcome arrival 
of your sacred Relics, holy Hierarch Nektarios, 
we call upon the grace of God in you, 
which sanctifies our bodies and our souls. 
You alleviate our suffering and you cure
the illnesses afflicting us. 
Glory to Christ, who glorified you! 
Glory to Him for your miracles! 
Glory to Him for all the cures
that He works through you.



St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church — 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte NC 28270
tel: 704-708-4669 | fax: 704-846-6094 | office@stnektarios.org | @stnektarioscharlotte