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Memory of Nicodemus the Righteous of Mount Athos (14 July)

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Saint Nikodemos (Νikόdēmos) of the Holy Mountain was born on the Greek island of Naxos in the year 1748, and was named Nicholas in Holy Baptism. As a child he was well-behaved, avoiding bad company and everything which might harm the inner man. He was zealous in his love for that which is good and beneficial, and he loved sacred and secular learning. His first education on Naxos came from the village priest, who taught him to love Christ and His Church. He also assisted the priest during the Divine Liturgy and other Services.

Later Nicholas attended the school at Naxos, where Archimandrite Chrysanthos, the brother of Saint Cosmas Aitolos (August 24), taught him sacred and secular letters.

At the age of twenty-six, he arrived on Mount Athos and was tonsured at Dionysiou Monastery with the name Nikodemos. As his first obedience, Father Nikodemos served as the monastery’s secretary. Two years after entering Dionysiou Monastery, the Metropolitan of Corinth, Saint Makarios Notaras (April 17), arrived there, and assigned the young monk to edit the manuscript of the Philokalia, which he had found in 1777 at Vatopedi Monastery. Editing this book was the beginning of many years of…

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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ქეთევან კვარაცხელია

I remember how my grandmother used to tell me that when she was a child she served in the church and what she loved most was helping at the evening service. It is exactly the same in the story of this saint - the child Nicholas helped the priest and loved the church. It is good that everything starts from such simple things.

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ვახტანგ ბერიძე

Ketevan, you are right, my grandmother's story reminds me a lot of my childhood - I also served with my father at the evening service in the Batumi Cathedral and I loved cleaning the candles the most. With these simple deeds, everything begins, as in the life of a saint. What else did your grandmother remember about the church service?

Константин Смирнов

Yes, it all starts from childhood. In Nizhny, we also have boys helping at the altar - my eldest, a couple of years ago, served candles and held the censer until he grew up. It is interesting that Nicodemus then began with the manuscript of the Philokalia, and not with something loud. Did grandma Ketevan tell you anything else about the service?