By Fr. George Dorbarakis
With Saint Nestor, the feast of Saint Demetrios is extended. It is understandable that Demetrios and Nestor are under the same “denominator”, since, beyond any other possible spiritual relationship between them: teacher to student, for example, their last hours functioned in a reflexive manner: the energy of each directly influenced the other. This fact of the common path of the two Saints also makes the hymnographer treat the student Nestor in a similar glorifying manner as the teacher Demetrios: that is, as co-reigning with the Lord. “Clad in purple, dyed with your sacred blood, and holding the cross in your right hand like a scepter, you co-reign with Christ, blessed Nestor."
On the other hand, the poet equally emphasizes for Saint Nestor what was a criterion of holiness for Saint Demetrios, as for every other saint: the permanent choice of the will of God, even if his very life was threatened: “O, God-loving soul, who did not consider temporary death at all, but chose to live according to the will of the Lord." And of course, behind this, there was the great love for the Lord of Saint Nestor, a result of the fervor of His affection for Him: “Strengthened by the fervor of affection for Christ, you entered within the stadium.” As we all know, where there is ardent love for Christ, there even the fear of death is overcome.
However, it is impossible for the hymnographer not to focus his attention on the event that made Nestor famous and holy: his struggle with Lyaios and his victory over him. But what does he do? He opens our spiritual eyes, so that, along with this tangible victory, we may see his parallel spiritual victory against the wicked devil. And it is logical: Nestor could not have overcome the enormous “wall”, Lyaios, if he did not have the spiritual strength from his victories against the Evil One: “You have visibly grappled with Lyaios and destroyed him. And with the invisible grips of the struggle you have subdued and killed the invisible Beliar, the devil.”
But with what powers did he manage to achieve this double victory? The hymnographer is very clear: First, with the alliance of Christ – “the alliance of God invisibly obtained” – as he was clothed in His armor: “Blessed athlete Nestor, the armor of Christ is wrapped around you.” And second, with the strengthening of the teacher and guide, Saint Demetrios, mainly through his strengthening divinely-inspired words and obviously his bold prayers to God on his behalf: “Strengthened by the divinely-inspired words of Demetrios the martyr, was the truly wise Nestor.” Wherever a person has Christ present in his life and his faithful fellow human being as his strengthener, there the omnipotence of God is revealed. Faith in Christ, unity of faith: the invincible weapons of Christians.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
