Father Philotheos Zervakos remembers:

Father Philotheos Zervakos remembers: “During the days when I was with St. Nektarios of Aegina, before the Matins were called, entering the Holy Altar through the door of the Sanctuary, I would wait in a corner until the church bell was sounded, so that Midnight Mass could begin.  As soon as the bell rang, the Saint entered the sanctuary through the door

of the sanctuary and first made three penances in front of the Holy Altar, embraced the Holy Gospel, the Holy Altar and then "ran" to the Savior

and Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ hanging on a tree behind the Holy Altar and, bending the knees of soul and body, embraced the Cross and with silent sighs, with sobs and tears of contrition, embraced the Holy

Cross and as if he were seeing Christ Himself, the King of all, he conversed with prayer"

Bibliography Archimandrite John Kostof.

 The Semantra of the Word.

Publications of the Holy Monastery of Saint John of Damascus, Oropos, Attica.