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Thursday, November 12
Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite
Sinaxarion

Venerable

Nicodemus of Vatopedi

Venerable monk of Vatopedi, Mount Athos, venerated in the Orthodox calendar.

Feast
July 11old style July 24
Era
unknown
Place
Vatopedi, Mount Athos
Order
Venerables

Life

Holy Venerable Nicodemus of Vatopedi was a monk on Mount Athos and the spiritual father of Saint Gregory Palamas.

Very little is known of him. Until 1316 he was a monk on the mountain of Saint Auxentius, and between 1316 and 1319 a hesychast monk at Vatopedi. In that time he was the guide of Saint Gregory Palamas, who spent more than two years under the venerable one's direction in fasting, vigil and unceasing prayer and received the monastic tonsure from him. The saint ended his earthly life in deep old age; it is said that he supported Andronikos II against Andronikos III.

The few reports about Nicodemus come from the Encomium of Saint Gregory Palamas, written by his friend and disciple Philotheos Kokkinos, patriarch of Constantinople. His memory is kept on 4 July (a movable day), in the Synaxis of the Athonite Saints, in the new style.

Commemorated the same day July 11