Nicholas of New Skete

Nicholas of New Skete, with the secular name Photios Tripilas, son of Panagiotis, "the new much-⁠suffering Job," was born in 1883 in the village of Greka in Elis in the Peloponnese. In 1910 he came to the hut of Saint Nicholas in the New Skete, under the obedience of his brother in the flesh, Elder Chrysostomos. He was tonsured a monk in 1911. For decades he struggled humbly, enduring hard trials, demonic temptations, thoughts, difficulties and problems.

In old age he fell gravely ill and suffered strong pains. His elder and other brother-⁠loving fellow ascetics cared for him. Bedridden, he bore the illness with self-⁠denial, with Job-⁠like patience and endurance. Worms even took hold of his body and ate his flesh. To punish himself still more, he told no one anything. It came to the point that they ate away his waist, belly and thighs. There were many worms and he was in terrible pain. For the love of Christ he bore it bravely, thinking of eternal hell and deliverance from it. It is said that before the end younger monks visited him and he told them: "I do not put my hope in my fasts, my vigils, my prostrations, my prayer rope, but only in the blood of Christ shed on the cross." Before giving up his soul into the hands of his Maker, with the Jesus Prayer on his lips, he said to his brothers: "Fathers and brothers, forgive me and may God forgive you and have mercy on his world." His face shone at his departure. He reposed on 24 December 1964. The Lord who was born received him to himself in the heavenly manger, for eternal rest. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.