Niphon Kausokalybites
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Niphon of Kafsokalyvia or Niphon Kausokalybites ( el, Όσιος Νήφων Καυσοκαλυβίτης, 1316–1411) was a Greek Christian Orthodox saint and monk. He is celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on June 14.Great Synaxaristes:
Ὁ Ὅσιος Νήφων ὁ Καυσοκαλυβίτης
'' 14 Ιουνίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.


Early life

A Greek, Niphon was born in the village of
Lukovë Lukovë is a village and a former municipality in the Vlorë County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Himarë. The population at the 2011 census was 2,916.__и_innerhalb_der_historisc ...
, Himarë municipality, that time part of the
Despotate of Epirus The Despotate of Epirus ( gkm, Δεσποτᾶτον τῆς Ἠπείρου) was one of the Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire established in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 by a branch of the Angelos dynasty. It claim ...
(modern south Albania). From an early age he went to the monastery of Geromerion (near Filiates) where he became a hesychast. Soon after he moved to the nearby monastery of
Mesopotamon Mesopotam ( sq-definite, Mesopotami; el, Μεσοπόταμος - ''Mesopotamos'') is a village and a former commune in Vlorë County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Finiq. The ...
, where he became a monk.


Monastic life

Niphon went to the monastic state of
Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
sometime after 1335, where he dedicated himself to
asceticism Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...
, under the guidance of the monastic Elders, Neilos Erichiotes, Theognostos and
Maximos Kausokalybites Maximos of Kafsokalyvia or Maximos Kausokalybis ( el, Μάξιμος Καυσοκαλύβης; died 1365 or 1380; also spelled Kafsokalyvis, from "of the burning hut"), also known as St. Maximos the Hut Burner, was a hesychast monk who lived on Mo ...
. In 1345, Niphon was the
protos Protos means "first," derived from the ancient Greek . Protos may also refer to: * Protos (monastic office), a monastic office at the Eastern Orthodox monastic state of Mount Athos * Protos (constructor), a former racing car constructor * Protos ...
of
Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
. At that time Athos came under the protection of the
Serbian Serbian may refer to: * someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe * someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people * Serbian language * Serbian names See also

* * * Old Serbian (disambiguat ...
Tsar Stefan Dušan, who accused him for heresy and Bogomilism, but he was successfully defended by Gregory Palamas. In 1347-8 Niphon was tried and deposed from his position as protos after being accused by fellow monks of heresy. 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. This intervention resulted in serious contradictions between the Greek dignitaries and the Serbs of Hilandar monastery of Athos. During 1355-63 he was again accused of heresy when his servant Bardarius revealed before dying that he had joined the Euchite movement, but was defended by Patriarch Callistus. It is considered unclear from contemporary accounts whether Niphon was a Euchite or Hesychast at that time. Niphon lived the rest of his life as a hesychast, until his death in 1411.


Works

Niphon was also the author of the first biography of
Maximos Kausokalybites Maximos of Kafsokalyvia or Maximos Kausokalybis ( el, Μάξιμος Καυσοκαλύβης; died 1365 or 1380; also spelled Kafsokalyvis, from "of the burning hut"), also known as St. Maximos the Hut Burner, was a hesychast monk who lived on Mo ...
, his spiritual tutor.


Memory

A church decicated to Saint Niphon has been erected in February 2013 at Gjirokaster, southern Albania.


See also

* Kafsokalyvia


References


Further reading

* F. Halkin, «La vie de Saint Niphon», An. Boll. 58 (1940) {{authority control 1316 births 1411 deaths 14th-century Christian saints 14th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops 14th-century Byzantine people 14th-century Christian mystics 15th-century Greek people 15th-century Christian mystics Byzantine saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox mystics Clairvoyants Eastern Orthodox theologians Greek Christian monks Hesychasts Medieval Athos Medieval Epirus Miracle workers People from Himara People of the Despotate of Epirus Medieval occultists Athonite Fathers