Nikephoros of Chios
Encyclopedia
Father Nikephoros of Chios (1750-1821; also Nicephoros, Nicephorus, Nikephorus) is the spiritual son and disciple of Macarius of Corinth
who was known for his holy life and character, being known as a saint
even during his lifetime. His feast day is celebrated on May 1.
born around 1750 in the town of Kardamyla, in the northeastern part of the famous Aegean island of Chios. As a child he fell seriously ill with a contagious disease. His parents vowed that if he survived he would be given as a monk to the monastery of Nea Moni
. He recovered from his illness and became a monk, studying at the famous Chiote school.
His mentors included Fr. Neophytus Kafsokalyvitis, Fr. Athanasius of Paros and St. Macarius of Corinth
. He was ordained and elected an abbot of Nea Moni.
Although St Nicephorus probably reposed in the summer of 1821, his Feast Day is designated as May 1. He died in a home near the church of St Paraskeve, where he sometimes stayed overnight when he was unable to get back to Resta. His body was brought back to Resta, and was placed in a grave where both St Athanasius Parius
and the monk Nilus had once been buried. The holy relics of St Nicephorus were uncovered in 1845 and brought to the metropolitan church of Chios. Many years later, the Guild of Tanners asked for the relics and placed them in the church of St George. In 1907, an icon
of St Nicephorus was painted, and a church service was composed in his honor.
He taught and wrote in Chios, led a life of spiritual endeavor there. He loved Chios as his fatherland, and as a place where piety and learning were flourishing. For this reason, and because no occasion arose for him to leave the island, he remained within its confines throughout his lifetime.
He reposed in 1821, and before his death foretold the devastation of Chios the following year by the Turks. His relics now remain in the Church of St. George in Resta.
Macarius of Corinth
Macarius of Corinth Macarius of Corinth Macarius of Corinth (birth name: Macarius Notaras was born in Corinth in 1731 and died in Chios in April 1805. St Macarius as Bishop and later Metropolitan of Corinth, was a mystic and spiritual writer who worked to revive and mostly sustain the Orthodox...
who was known for his holy life and character, being known as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
even during his lifetime. His feast day is celebrated on May 1.
Life
St. Nikephoros was a hieromonkHieromonk
Hieromonk , also called a Priestmonk, is a monk who is also a priest in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholicism....
born around 1750 in the town of Kardamyla, in the northeastern part of the famous Aegean island of Chios. As a child he fell seriously ill with a contagious disease. His parents vowed that if he survived he would be given as a monk to the monastery of Nea Moni
Nea Moni of Chios
Nea Moni is an 11th century monastery on the island of Chios that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on the Provateio Oros Mt. in the island's interior, about 15 km from Chios town...
. He recovered from his illness and became a monk, studying at the famous Chiote school.
His mentors included Fr. Neophytus Kafsokalyvitis, Fr. Athanasius of Paros and St. Macarius of Corinth
Macarius of Corinth
Macarius of Corinth Macarius of Corinth Macarius of Corinth (birth name: Macarius Notaras was born in Corinth in 1731 and died in Chios in April 1805. St Macarius as Bishop and later Metropolitan of Corinth, was a mystic and spiritual writer who worked to revive and mostly sustain the Orthodox...
. He was ordained and elected an abbot of Nea Moni.
Although St Nicephorus probably reposed in the summer of 1821, his Feast Day is designated as May 1. He died in a home near the church of St Paraskeve, where he sometimes stayed overnight when he was unable to get back to Resta. His body was brought back to Resta, and was placed in a grave where both St Athanasius Parius
Athanasius Parios
Father Athanasios Parios was a Greek hieromonk who was a great and eminent theologian, philosopher, educator, and hymnographer of his time, and one of the "Teachers of the Nation" during the Modern Greek Enlightenment. He was the second leader of the Kollyvades movement, succeeding Neophytos...
and the monk Nilus had once been buried. The holy relics of St Nicephorus were uncovered in 1845 and brought to the metropolitan church of Chios. Many years later, the Guild of Tanners asked for the relics and placed them in the church of St George. In 1907, an icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
of St Nicephorus was painted, and a church service was composed in his honor.
He taught and wrote in Chios, led a life of spiritual endeavor there. He loved Chios as his fatherland, and as a place where piety and learning were flourishing. For this reason, and because no occasion arose for him to leave the island, he remained within its confines throughout his lifetime.
He reposed in 1821, and before his death foretold the devastation of Chios the following year by the Turks. His relics now remain in the Church of St. George in Resta.
The New Leimonarion
- In 1805, on his deathbed, St. MacariusMacarius of CorinthMacarius of Corinth Macarius of Corinth Macarius of Corinth (birth name: Macarius Notaras was born in Corinth in 1731 and died in Chios in April 1805. St Macarius as Bishop and later Metropolitan of Corinth, was a mystic and spiritual writer who worked to revive and mostly sustain the Orthodox...
asked St. Nikephoros to finish his book The New Leimonarion and see that it be published. This book contains the livesHagiographyHagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
and church services of various martyrMartyrA martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s, ascetics, and other saints. Three saints collaborated to compile this book: St. Macarius, St. Nikephoros, and St. Athanasius Parios.
Relationships
- The greatest influence on his life was St. Macarius of Corinth (April 17), whom he met even before he met St. Athanasius. Macarius was at Chios in 1780, left for a time, then returned in 1790. Nikephoros saw St. Macarius frequently, and learned much from him.
- He also met St. Athanasius Parios (June 24), who was the director of the school in the city of Chios.
Source
Further reading
- Saint Nikephoros of Chios (Modern Orthodox Saints, vol. 4) by Constantine Cavarnos. ISBN 0-914744-74-7 Paperbound.
- An account of the life, character, and message of St. Nikephoros of Chios (1750-1821) — outstanding writer of liturgical poetry and lives of saints, educator, spiritual striver, and trainer of martyrs—together with a comprehensive list of his publications, selections from them, and brief biographies of eleven neo-martyrs and other Orthodox saints who are treated in his works. - 1976. 2nd, augmented edition, 1986. 124 pp., 2 illus.
- St. Nikephoros of Chios, outstanding writer of litrugical poetry and lives of saints, educator, spiritual striver, and traner of martyrs by Constantine Cavarnos. Publisher: Belmont, Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, c. 1976. ISBN 0914744321. pp. 111–114.