15th–16th century
Venerable Theophilos the Athonite
Athonite monk from Zichna (c. 1460–1548) and copyist of manuscripts at Iviron who declined to become Metropolitan of Thessaloniki; he is called the Myrrh-streaming because his relics exuded myrrh.
Biography
Theophilos was born in Zichna, Macedonia, around 1460, and became a monk and priest, travelling to teach the word of God. He formed a spiritual bond with Saint Nephon, a former Patriarch of Constantinople, and in 1511 settled at the Iviron monastery on Mount Athos, where he became a noted copyist of manuscripts; around thirty of his works are still kept in the monastery's library.
When the Patriarch of Constantinople, Theokletos, wished to ordain him Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Theophilos declined the honour, feigned illness, and withdrew in 1522 to a life of asceticism at Karyes and later at Kapsala, devoted to inner prayer. After his death his relics began to exude myrrh, which is why he became known as the Myrrh-streaming; his hand is still kept at the Pantokrator monastery.