Venerable
Nikephoros the Calabrian
of the Great Lavra
Disciple of St Athanasios the Athonite, who died before him; his bones exuded myrrh; venerated by the faithful, not formally canonized.
- Era
- 10th century
- Place
- Great Lavra, Mount Athos
- Order
- Venerables
Life
Nikephoros the Calabrian, called the Naked, was an ascetic from Calabria and a disciple of St Athanasios the Athonite at the Great Lavra in the tenth century. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.
According to the Life of St Athanasios, he came to Athanasios through a special divine revelation and was called the Naked after his manner of asceticism. He departed to the Lord during Athanasios's lifetime, and after his death his bones exuded fragrant myrrh.
Nikephoros is also remembered in connection with another disciple of Athanasios, Mark the Cook: a Serbian manuscript of the Life says that Mark, who had undertaken to stand for forty-five days, fell gravely ill, and was healed after praying to Nikephoros.