"Dimitria 2026" – 18th day with Elder Nektarios: "Spiritual exercise as a source of spiritual experience"translated

The "DIMITRIA 2026" festivities continued on the evening of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, for the 18th day, at the Holy Church of Agios Dimitrios, Municipality of Agios Dimitrios. After the celebration of Vespers and the Holy Prayer to Saint John the Chrysostom and Saint Demetrius the Myroblytis, according to the program, the speaker was Elder Nektarios, Righteous of the Holy Skete of Saint Andrew (Serai) Mount Athos, on the topic: "Spiritual exercise as a source of spiritual experience".

The speaker began by emphasizing the timeless necessity of spiritual struggle: "Since the beginning of the Church, everyone has found that exercise is necessary in the life of a Christian" and clarified: "Exercise usually refers to the solitary life, but it concerns all Christians, because we will all be judged by the same Judge based on the same law." Through the words of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, he emphasized that the purpose of our life is to obtain the grace of the Holy Spirit, which all baptized Christians have.

Afterwards, Elder Nektarios analyzed the means of asceticism, distinguishing them between physical labor and fasting and prayer. Specifically, he added: "Fasting is...