17th century
Saint Nilus the Myrrh-streamer
Ascetic from Agios Petros in Kynouria who lived as a hermit in a cave on Mount Athos near the Great Lavra and died in 1651; 7 May commemorates the finding of his relics.
Biography
Nilus came from Agios Petros in Kynouria and lived in the first half of the 17th century. Orphaned young, he was taken in by his uncle, Hieromonk Macarius, at the monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Malevi, where he was educated and ordained deacon.
The two of them sought a stricter ascetic life on Mount Athos, first near the cave of Saint Peter the Athonite and then in a deserted area near the Great Lavra. Nilus later withdrew alone to a cave on a steep cliff, where he lived as a hermit until his death on 12 November 1651.
According to tradition, fragrant myrrh flowed from his grave, healing the sick. The grave was lost for years because of shifts in the terrain and was rediscovered in 1815; his relics are kept today at the Great Lavra.