Nicodemus the Hagiorite facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain
Icon of Saint Nicodemus from the Great Synaxarion, published in Venice in 1819.
Born	1749 Naxos
Died	July 14, 1809 (age 60) Mount Athos
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	May 31, 1955 by The Patriarchate of Constantinople
Major shrine	Mount Athos; Church of the Naxian Saints, Naxos.
Feast	July 14; First Sunday of September (with the other Saints of Paros and Naxos)
Attributes	Long white beard, monastic garb, often writing on a scroll, or in a book.

Nicodemus the Hagiorite (meaning "of the Holy Mountain") was a very important Greek monk and writer. He lived from 1749 to 1809. He was also a deep thinker and a theologian, someone who studies God and religious beliefs. He is honored as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

His life's work was to bring back old Christian practices and ancient religious writings. He wrote many books about prayer and helped people rediscover a special way of praying called hesychasm. This is a method of quiet, contemplative prayer from the Byzantine period.

Nicodemus is most famous for his work with Macarius of Corinth. Together, they created a large collection of spiritual writings called The Philokalia. He also helped write The Rudder (or Pedalion), a book about church rules. He was made a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in 1955.

Early Life and Education

Nicodemus was born in 1749 on the island of Naxos, which is part of Greece. His birth name was Nicholas Kallivourtsis. He studied in Naxos and later in Smyrna, a city now called Izmir in Turkey.

At that time, the Turks ruled most of the Greek world. Because of this, Nicholas had to stop his schooling early. He returned to Naxos in 1770.

Becoming a Monk

A few years after returning home, Nicholas met Macarius of Corinth. They became lifelong friends. Soon after, Nicholas decided to become a monk. He was inspired by three monks he met who came from Mount Athos. Mount Athos had been an important center for monks for over 700 years.

These monks convinced Nicholas to go to Mount Athos. He arrived there in 1775 when he was 26 years old.

Life on Mount Athos

When Nicholas became a monk, his name was changed to Nicodemus. This is a common tradition for those who choose a monastic life. He learned about hesychia, a special way of praying. This method involves inner stillness, controlled breathing, and repeating the "Jesus Prayer". The prayer is: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Nicodemus joined a group of monks called the Kollyvades. They wanted to bring back traditional Orthodox practices and ancient Christian writings. Nicodemus spent the rest of his life translating and publishing these important works. He also wrote many original books of his own. He reached the highest rank for Orthodox monks, called megaloskhemos ("Great Schema").

Important Books and Writings

One of Nicodemus's well-known books is the Enchiridion of Counsels. This book is also known as "Handbook of Spiritual Counsel." He wrote it after his cousin, Hierotheos, who had become a bishop, suggested it.

This handbook gives advice on religious life. It was written for both clergy (church leaders) and everyday Christians. It is still important for Greek spirituality today. The book shows deep understanding of human thoughts and a sharp, scientific mind.

Nicodemus also knew about Western spiritual writers. He even published his own versions of famous books. These included the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola and The Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli.

See also

• Theosis
• Theoria
• Ritual purification
• Praxis
• Sacred Heart as a Catholic doctrine
• Peter of Damascus