Saint Nilus 4th C. Follower of Saint John Chrysostom

Saint Nilus was born in the fourth century and died on November 12, 451. He was a native of Constantinople. Saint Nilus was a layman, married, with two children. As a relatively young man, he was appointed eparch of Constantinople. He was a disciple of the patriarch, John Chrysostom. Chrysostom had a profound Influence on Saint Nilus and his wife, and sometime between 390 and 404, the couple decided to part and each pursue the monastic life. Saint Nilus left with his son, Theodulos, and went to Mount Sinai to be a monk. His wife and daughter went to a women’s monastery in Egypt. Can you imagine parting with your spouse to be a hermit?

Saint Nilus Biography

Saint Nilus and his son were in Sinai until about the year 410, when Saracen raiders captured Theodulos, the son, and took him prisoner. They eventually sold him as a slave, and he came into the possession of the Bishop of Elusa in Palestine. The Bishop received Theodulos among his clergy and made him door-keeper of the church, an unusual job. Meanwhile, Saint Nilus left to find his son and met him at Elusa.

The bishop then ordained them both priests and allowed them to return to Sinai. For forty years, they lived in a cave. Saint Nilus was a well-known person during his lifetime in the Eastern Church; by his writings and correspondence, he played an important part in the history of his time, and one can read his letters to understand the early fourth century in Sinai. Saint Nilus was known as a theologian, Biblical scholar, and ascetic writer, and people of all kinds sought his counsel.

In his letters, Saint Nilus warns and threatens people in high places, abbots and bishops, governors and princes, even the emperor himself, without fear. He kept up a correspondence with Gainas, a leader of the Goths, endeavouring to convert him from Arianism. Saint Nilus denounced vigorously the persecution of his mentor, Saint John Chrysostom, both to the Emperor Arcadius and to his courtiers. It is shocking what he was allowed to write.

Saint Nilus died at Ancyra, Galatia, in the year 451. His remains were brought to Constantinople in the reign of Justin the Younger and deposited in the church of the apostles there. He had a bit of a Nostrodomus streak. The Posthumous predictions of St. Nilus the Myrrh-streaming were published in 1912, and attributed to a monk of Mount Athos now known as St. Nilus the Myrrh-streamer, who died in 1651. They were Apocalyptic, and it has been interpreted depending on individual perspectives.

The 1903 Catholic Encyclopedia describes Saint Nilus as “one of the leading ascetic writers of the 5th century.” His works can be classified into four types:

1. Works about virtues and vices in general: “Of the vice opposed to virtues, “On the word of the Gospel of Luke,” In his treatise ‘On Prayer,’ he recommends one ask of God, in the first place, the gift of prayer.
2. Works about the monastic life:  Deals with the slaughter of monks on Mount Sinai, in seven parts.
3. “Admonitions” (Gnomai) or “Chapters” (kephalaia), about 200 precepts drawn up in short maxims.
4. Letters: — Published 355, they contain 1061 letters, divided into four books. Many are not complete, several overlap, or are not letters but excerpts from Saint Nilus’ works.

Conclusion

This is yet another example of a saint who lived long ago, who we know from the writings that survive. We do not know when Saint Nilus was born or died, but we know what he thought. His pointed dialogue with people in leadership positions is shocking. He is an example of devotion that is worth emulation. The fact that he left his wife to live as a hermit is amazing.