St. Nicholas of Planas used to go to the homes of Christians who called upon
him for a blessing. One time he was in Kolonaki (with the famous writer
Papadiamantis who was his chanter) and was known to those Kolonakians
who were devout and used to call him. When he came down from a house,
the beggars of the area were talking among themselves: ;”Where is the priest
going? He goes there.” And they were in a queue to get
something. A beggar who was cheeky and very tricky, came up front limping
and said to him, “Priest, give me something” And everything the Saint had in
his pocket, he took out and gave it. Papadiamantis was next to him and said,
– Priest, watch out for him, because I see him in the street.
– Yes, yes, yes, yes, it's all right, it's all right.
Then the same beggar did the same thing for three houses. The Saint
responded the same way all three times. Well, Papadiamantis lost control and
said to the Saint:
– Can’t you see, father? Lift up your head and look at him. He’s the same, he’s
wearing the same clothes, he’s doing the same tricks.
And the Saint said:
– Hush, blessed one, it’s Christ and he’s testing us!!!
Christ, our Lord, said it plainly: “Whatever you have done to one of the least of
my brethren, you have done to me” (Mt 25:40). The word of God is
irrefutable.
From the life of Saint Nicholas Planas
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
