Niphon Kausokalybites Όσιος Νήφων Καυσοκαλυβίτης | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1316 Lukovë,Himarë municipality, Albania |
| Died | 1411 |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 14 June |
| Major works | biography ofMaximos Kausokalybites |
Niphon Kausokalybites (Greek:Όσιος Νήφων Καυσοκαλυβίτης, 1316–1411) was aGreek Orthodox Christian saint and monk. He is celebrated by theEastern Orthodox Church onJune 14.[1]
AGreek, Niphon was born in the village ofLukovë,Himarë municipality,[2][3][1] that time part of theDespotate of Epirus (modern southAlbania). From an early age he went to the monastery of Geromerion (nearFiliates) where he became ahesychast. Soon after he moved to the nearby monastery ofMesopotam, where he became a monk.[4]
Niphon went to the monastic state ofMount Athos sometime after 1335,[5] where he dedicated himself toasceticism, under the guidance of the monastic Elders, Neilos Erichiotes, Theognostos andMaximos Kausokalybites.[1][6] In 1345, Niphon was theprotos ofMount Athos. At that time Athos came under the protection of theSerbian TsarStefan Dušan, who accused him for heresy andBogomilism, but he was successfully defended byGregory Palamas.[7] In 1347-8 Niphon was tried and deposed from his position as protos after being accused by fellow monks of heresy.[8] He was succeeded by the Serbian monk Antonios. His deposition is regarded as either part of the struggles between rival religious factions that predated the Serbian control of the Athonite community or attempts of Stefan Dušan to gain control of Athos by appointing a Serbian official as its head.[7][8] This intervention resulted in serious contradictions between the Greek dignitaries and the Serbs ofHilandar monastery of Athos.[9]
During 1355-63 he was again accused of heresy when his servant Bardarius revealed before dying that he had joined theEuchite movement, but was defended byPatriarch Callistus. It is considered unclear from contemporary accounts whether Niphon was a Euchite orHesychast at that time.[10] Niphon lived the rest of his life as a hesychast, until his death in 1411.[1]
Niphon was also the author of the first biography ofMaximos Kausokalybites, his spiritual tutor.[11]
A church dedicated to Saint Niphon was erected in February 2013 atGjirokastër, southern Albania.[2]
Αργυρόκαστρο: Ο νέος ναός του Οσίου Νήφωνα από το Λουκόβο
Saint Niphon of Lukovo near Cheimarra
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)