Niphon Patriarch of Constantinople, Saint († 1508)
Patriarch Niphon II was raised to the Ecumenical Throne three times: 1486–1488, 1497–1498 and 1498–1502. He originated from Peloponnisos and became a monk at Epidaurus with the name Niphon. He met the virtuous Vatopaidi monk Zacharias, with whom he settled at the Monastery of the Theotokos in Ochrid. When Zacharias was elected Archbishop of Ochrid, Niphon departed for Mount Athos, where, at the urging of his elder, he settled for a while at Vatopaidi Monastery. Having visited Megisti Lavra, the Monastery of Pantokratoros and Karyes, he ended up at the Monastery of Dionysiou, where he was ordained a deacon and then a priest. In 1482 he was elected Metropolitan of Thessaloniki and then, in 1486, he assumed the Ecumenical Throne. Twice he was removed from the Patriarchate, taking refuge in Wallachia. From there he went to the Holy Mountain, to Vatopaidi Monastery. During this second stay at the Monastery – at which time Saint Maximos the Greek also lived there – He sent forth his disciple Makarios towards his martyrdom. The saint was informed through the Holy Spirit of the martyrdom of his disciple, which occurred on 14 September 1507. One example of his great humility is shown in his departure for Dionysiou Monastery. He approached the Monastery as an unknown pilgrim and, having been received as a novice, he fulfilled the monastic task of herdsman and stable keep. Later, through divine intervention, his identity was made known to the abbot and the fathers. A few months later, in 1508, he reposed. He is commemorated on 11 August.
