Saint Nicholaos was born in Naxos in 1851, to John and Augustine, of the Melissourgou family. His devout parents raised him with education and the teachings of the Lord. From childhood, he expressed his affinity and love for sacred things. He was a devout follower and always served in the church of his grandfather, priest Georgios Melissourgou. Destined by God to become a minister of His Holy Mysteries, he participated unceasingly in the liturgical life of the Church through fasting, prayer, and vigil. After his father’s death, he moved with his mother and sister to Athens, where he became their guardian. He married, but was widowed early on. His wife died shortly after giving birth to their child, Giannakis, whom he raised alone.
The Lord did not delay in appointing him a minister of His Church and made him upright and useful to the Gospel of Christ. He was ordained a deacon on July 28, 1879, at the Church of the Transfiguration in Plaka, and five years later, on March 2, 1884, he was ordained a presbyter in the humble church of Saint Elissaios in Monastiraki.
He served at the holy altar for about 50 years (1884-1932 AD), in the churches of Saint Panteleimon, near the Ilissos River, and the even poorer and more remote Church of Saint John the Baptist, known as “Kynigos,” on what is now Vouliagmenis Street. He distinguished himself as the most functional priest, a man of prayer, whose life was and became a continuous ministry of the Altar. From “early morning until nightfall” he remained in the temple. He was unpretentious in his manner and full of good deeds and charity. He was content with a little bread and some greens, which he gathered himself, and sometimes a little milk offered to him by shepherds in the then deserted area of his parish. The vigils he held at the church of Saint Elissaios in Athens remain unforgettable. There are also testimonies from children who saw him during the Divine Liturgy, transformed, standing above the earth. Testimonies from distinguished scholars, such as Alexandros Papadiamantis and Alexandros Moraitidis, who sang at the vigils he held, praise his rare and holy priestly personality.
Father Nicholas, known as “the simple one,” lived in the joy of the Divine Eucharist, which he celebrated every day without fail, as prescribed by the liturgical rules, and prolonged for many hours in order to enjoy its spiritual delight. He always responded to the genuine Orthodox spirit and solemnly celebrated the Mystery of the coming and presence of the Risen Lord, who reveals Himself, as He did then at the Last Supper. The joy of the Resurrection, which lies at the heart of the Eucharist, became ontological refreshment and exultation for the Elder, who was inflamed with divine Love. His participation in the joy of Easter carried him away. For him, it was not a simple ephemeral duty. The pretext was the hours-long memorial service for the living and the dead, from the volume of notes he always kept in a small bag. In fact, he never wanted to interrupt the joy of the Bank of Thanksgiving, the sight of the Risen Body and Blood of Christ.
The late Elder, having reached the age of 82 and given unprecedented testimony in our century of heavenly gifts, holiness, humility, simplicity, discernment, charity, asceticism, and godly wisdom, having stood as the sole protector of thousands of orphans and the poor and having reached the height of divine perfection, He fell asleep in peace in 1932 and was buried in front of the Church of St. John the Hunter.
On August 29, 1992, the sacred and miraculous relics of Saint Nicholas of Plana were placed in a silver reliquary, which is now located in the right aisle of this Holy Temple.
Our Holy Church officially proclaimed Saint Nicholaos Planas a saint during the 135th Synodal Period (1991-1992 AD) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, upon the recommendation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikodemos of Patras, and, of course, with the care of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Ambrose. The memory of Saint Nicholaos Planas is honored on the first Sunday of March, following a decision by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece to transfer it from its original date. However, according to the website of the Holy Metropolis of Paronaxia, Saint Nicholaos Planas is celebrated on the established feast day of March 2. If, however, the day of the feast coincides with the period of Great Lent, then his memory is celebrated on the following Sunday.
saints’ lives
