The Saint's good fame flashed forth like lightning in all quarters. His popularity and genuine admiration among the people aroused the envy of a certain person in the Alexandrian Patriarchate. Rumors then arose that Metropolitan Nektarios wished to possess the Patriarchal throne, an ambition that never entered his mind. Many of his peers, not wishing to acknowledge his genuine virtue, slandered him to the Patriarch, saying that his popularity among the people was reaching such a pitch that Sophronios could easily be dethroned. Although the holy Nektarios discharged all his duties in a godly manner and sincerely showed love and reverence toward the Patriarch, whom he exceedingly honored as his benefactor, the Metropolitan's enemies swayed the Patriarch into thinking that his throne was in danger.

After working at Themistocles' store, Anastasios eventually found employment as a youth instructor at a school, which was a possession under the jurisdiction of the Holy Sepulcher. When Anastasios Kephalas reached twenty years of age, he received a letter of recommendation from the director of the school. He also accepted an appointment from Metropolitan Gregory, as a teacher in the village of Lythion on the island of Chios, Greece.  His family had already moved to the island, so he prepared for his trip and a new post.

The Holy Orthodox Christian Church shall not cease showing forth Saint until the completion of the age. This is undeniable proof that she is the depository of truth and Holy Tradition, which she observes and preserves free from adulteration, as a precious and sacred trust, and as "a fountain of water springing into eternal life" (Saint John 4:14). This water and bedews her pious children. The Holy Church, therefore, rejoices and speaks multitudinous achievements, virtues, and awesome wonders. Together with those Saints, she appeared luminaries who have become manifest in these times, especially committing sin.

Concerning Angels, Saint John of Damascus writes: "God is Himself the Maker and Creator of the Angels; for He brought them out of nothing into being and created them after His own image. They are an incorporeal race, a sort of spirit or immaterial fire, even as the divine David says that 'His Angels are spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire (Psalm 103:6).' By this, he has described their lightness and the ardor, heat, keenness, and sharpness with which they hunger for God and serve Him. He also has disclosed how they are borne to the regions above and are quite delivered from all material thought.

"But God said unto him: 'Thou fool; this night shall thy soul be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"