SAINT NICHOLAS PLANAS, PRIEST IN ATHENS, GREECE 9246Home » Shop » Icons » SAINT NICHOLAS PLANAS, PRIEST IN ATHENS, GREECE 9246

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SAINT NICHOLAS PLANAS, PRIEST IN ATHENS, GREECE 9246 St. Nicholas Planas (1851-1932) was born on the Island of Naxos in Greece. As a young boy would secretly go to the local church and chant as much as he knew. At 14 his father died, and his mother moved the family to Athens where he was married at 17, had a child, and after his wife died a few years later was ordained a deacon in 1879 and priest in 1884, even though he was quite simple and unlettered. 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 which 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. Numerous stories are told of his being lifted in prayer and of the devotees seeing 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. He was not an educated man but was considered immensely enlightened, an example of great holiness and humility. He reposed in February 1932 and was officially glorified as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1992.

Feast Day: 17th February and 2nd March