Once Saint Nicholas Planas was using his censer during the ninth ode, when
the chanters sang “the Timiotera of Cherubin …” and he passed a lady
standing in the chair and didn’t use his censer on her. He just walked past her.
After two chairs, there was an empty one. He stood there, used his censer
five or six times and moved on. When the Liturgy was over, this lady went up
to him and said:
– “Father Nicholas, on the ninth you didn’t use your censer on me, but you did
so on an empty chair!
– Um, dear Georgia, he said, you weren’t there! But the empty chair is the
chair of Maria, who is ill. She is sick at home, but her heart and mind are here.
You are here in body, but in mind you are at the goats!
St. Nicholas Planas Memorial Day: 2/3
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
