St. Nicholas and Konstanti

Konstantine, or Konstanti Sotiriou, was the only son of Demetrios and Eleni, residents of Ieroso Koritsa in northern Epiros. He was born in 1880. His father worked on the Holy Mountain. At the age of seven, he was orphaned, losing his mother, and an aunt took care of him from then on. He also had a brother, though he reposed at the age of five.

One day, Konstanti became ill with a high fever. He was a young child, all alone at home. He went to drink water and found the jug was empty. He lay down, and, crying and sobbing, said, “Why don’t I have my dear mother?” Suddenly, the door of the room opened, and he saw a priest with a stole, smiling at him. The priest approached the boy and patted him on the forehead. The boy said to him, “Who are you? You’re not one of our priests. I know them all.”

“What are you saying is right, Konstanti. I am he,” and as he said this, he showed him the icon of St. Nicholas that they had at their home. His mother greatly revered the saint.

The boy said, “That’s St. Nicholas. My mother used to tell me about him.”

“Yes, I am St. Nicholas, and I came to help you. Don’t cry.”

The boy said, “I have a fever, and I’m thirsty, but the jug doesn’t have any water.”

“Get up and see. The jug is full of water,” said the saint.

The child wondered, as he saw it was now full. As he drank the water, the fever immediately broke. “I’m better!”

“Yes, Konstanti, and now your aunt will bring you something to eat, and you will go and play with the other little children who are playing outside. You will light the vigil lamp, and whenever you need me, you will call on me, and I will come to help you.” And as he said this, St. Nicholas disappeared from before him.

In the winter, Konstanti remained alone in the village to go to school, while in the summer his father would take him to the Holy Mountain. However, it was very difficult for him to stay alone in the village for his age, and for this reason Konstanti had to interrupt his schooling. He only attended the first two grades, and then settled permanently in Karakallou Monastery near his father, who was working as a chopper. A chopper, as they are called, are those who make the chestnut logs square by chopping them. His father also had Konstanti with him while he worked. Konstanti learned from his pious mother, but even more so during his stay on the Holy Mountain, to attend church, to confess, to fast, and to receive holy Communion. Morning and night, he prayed ceaselessly, and did many prostrations.

Later on, he came to Ieroso and trained as a barrel-maker. He was good and honest in his work and served the surrounding villages. He was known as Sotiris Varelis, Sotiris the Barrel-Maker. From his surname, Sotiriou, he took the name Sotiri, and the Varelis declared his job. During the six winter months, he worked on the Holy Mountain, both at the sacred monastery of Karakallou and in various cells.

He married Daphne, the daughter of George Pappas. Her father had a hotel in Ieroso, and he was the president of the village. He was faithful and a good family man. From her parents, Daphne learned piety and the spiritual life. She was a good wife, a loving mother, a good Christian, and she rejoiced to serve all. Konstantine and Daphne had six children. Their first two reposed as infants. As a family they were very close and loved each other.

Due to the inadequate transit service, they often offered hospitality in their home to quite a few fathers from the Holy Mountain “for them to rest a bit,” as the abbot of Karakallou Monastery, Elder Paul, and the monastery’s representative in the community, Fr. Basil, would say.

St. Nicholas continued to visit Konstanti, especially in times of danger. Once he appeared and warned Konstanti that one of his sons was in grave danger. Konstanti woke his wife, and the two prayed fervently, and their child was saved.

His wife, Daphne, died at the age of 55, in 1944. She gave up her soul while blessing her whole family. Konstanti married off their three daughters and one son, and lived with his son for the rest of his life. He kept the visitations of St. Nicholas a secret until he was quite old. Then a visitor heard him speaking at night with the saint in his bedroom for hours, and the family forced him to explain his odd behavior. After great pressure was put on him to give an answer, he, with a complaint and difficulty, said, “What should I say? Okay, here you go. At night St. Nicholas appears and speaks to me. What should I do? Should I sit there dumb?”

His daughter-in-law asked him, “What does the saint look like?”

Pappou only timidly smiled as he brought him to his memory and said, “Let’s say he is short. He is not a tall man.” He smiled and stopped the conversation there.

On Holy Monday of 1963, Konstanti felt great weakness and did not come out of his room. It was the same on Holy Tuesday. On Holy Wednesday his family became worried. “Something is being cut off inside of me,” he said. He asked for a little food. His condition was the same.

They called the doctor, who did not find anything wrong with him. “He’s old,” the doctor said. His heartbeats grew weaker. The doctor prepared his relatives, saying that in three days he would be gone. Konstanti was very calm and prayerful.

On Holy Thursday, they asked if he wanted them to put a little oil in his food. He refused. On Holy Friday morning, he asked them to read the Service of the Supplication to the Virgin Mary for him. After noontime, he seemed to lose awareness of his surroundings. He turned to the wall, where it seemed like he saw something or someone, and was whispering. At the time when they were chanting the Lamentations in the church, at around 9:00 p.m., he reposed in the Lord.

It was 1963, and he was 83 years old. As soon as they finished caring for his body, the bell rang for the exit of the sepulcher. In a little while the sepulcher was passing before his house. His funeral took place on Holy Saturday. His relatives informed the fathers of Karakallou Monastery and asked them to serve 40 liturgies for him, which they did. May the memory of Konstanti be eternal. Amen.

This sign was shared with you on Ancient Faith Radio, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that, believing, you may have life in his name.