When in 1961 St. Nektarios of Aegina (+1920) was officially canonized, in one of the monasteries of the Holy Mount Athos the brotherhood was divided in their opinions about his canonization.

Some acknowledged the holiness of the Saint, while others refused flatly to pray to him as a saint of God. The atmosphere in the monastery became tense and heated up from day to day.

Then, the virtuous igumen of this monastery, seeing the turmoil taking place, summoned all the brethren and said:

– Let’s, fathers and brothers, not allow that the question of the holiness of Nektarios became a cause of disputes and spiritual doom in our brotherhood. From today I pronounce in our monastery three days of strict fasting and prayer. Let us fast and ask God to Himself reveal to us – Saint Nektarios or not a saint.

So, the whole monastery began to fast and pray.

On the night of the third day, when the igumen was preparing to go to the church for midnight vigil, a quiet, delicate knock sounded at the door of his cell. When the igumen opened the door, St. Nektarios entered his cell. The igumen immediately recognized him and immediately bowed to his feet.

– Hello, brother Athanasius, – said the saint affectionately to the igumen. – Come up, come up. Go down to the church and tell the brethren not to exhaust themselves in vain. Yes, all this is true: the Lord Jesus Christ made me a saint and gave me the gift of working miracles. Just know also this, the most important thing of all: the Lord sanctified me for one reason only. Because I forgave everyone.  

Excerpt from the “Life of St. Nectarius of Aegina”