Niphon Kausokalybites

Who is Niphon Kausokalybites?

Niphon Kausokalybites was a Christian Orthodox Saint and monk. He is celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on June 14.

A Greek, Niphon was born in the village of Lukovë, Sarandë region, that time part of the Despotate of Epirus. From an early age he went to the monastery of Geromerion where he became a hesichast. Soon after he moved to the nearby monastery of Mesopotamon, where he became a monk.

Niphon went to the monastic state of Mount Athos sometime after 1335, where he dedicated himself to ascetism, under the guidance of the monastic Elders, Neilos Erichiotes, Theognostos and Maximos Kausokalybites. In 1345, Niphon was the protos of Mount Athos. At that time Athos came under the protection of the Serbian Tsar Stefan Dusan, 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.