ON S. NICEPHORUS THE CONFESSOR
HEGUMEN OF MEDICIUM IN BITHYNIA.
A.D. DCCCXIV
CommentaryNicephorus, Confessor, Hegumen of Medicium in Bithynia (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
[1] The monastery of Medicium by S. Nicephorus, of whom here we treat, constructed was in the century of Christ eighth, in Bithynia's part maritime at the Propontis, not far from Prusa a city most known, as on the Life of S. Nicetas III April we said: from which a few things I excerpt. He admits S. Nicetas, And first number 8. Came Nicetas to this of Medicium monastery, infrequent still, and under the rule of the most holy our Father Nicephorus, who it had founded, constituted. By him when to be received he had asked, seeing the most discreet Pastor, and from the habit and gesture knowing, him to himself useful to be, gladly received and into his own flock inserted. Then number 10, 11 and 12. and ordained, a Presbyter sets over the monastery, So diligent Nicetas and prompt to all things the Prelate Nicephorus beholding, although not yet the fifth in the monastery year he had completed, to the Presbyterate's grade to be promoted he judged. To this moreover he was ordained by the hands of great that Tarasius, who the Patriarchal of the city of Constantinople throne with many adorned virtues: and soon the administration of the monastery, although unwilling, committed by S. Nicephorus was …
[2] What moreover as to virtue was our Father most holy Nicetas, such also, who the place after him second should hold to him to subject the Lord of all took care. Athanasius, I say, he joins to him, Athanasius, a man reverend and admirable.. Such moreover when he was by the holy Fathers our to this our monastery was invited, and by the renowned Nicephorus persuaded, to the most holy our Father Nicetas second to be joined. There were therefore both heart one and soul one in diverse bodies, in a tranquil state holding all things: and they by S. Nicephorus directed ruled the whole brotherhood, and in both as much among themselves mutually as of their own with the President by charity were bound indissoluble, under his direction, so that no ever among them contention, none existed disputation. Moreover number 23 the death of Athanasius is indicated, and is added n. 24. Our Father indeed Nicetas by this kind of separation not a little afflicted, doubled thenceforth the burden labored, watching for the Brethren's utility. Then not much after died also the common Father Nicephorus: who all his possessions to God consecrating, this monastery, Divine grace co-operating, had founded: whom God and men had honored and loved, on account of his notable mind's moderation.
[3] The end moreover of life obtained also he himself on the day fourth of May: whose festivity, that solemnly yearly should be kept, the holy Father our Nicetas, his own disciple, by a decree sanctioned. We were asking moreover him all that the name likewise and consecration of Hegumen he should receive: for as long as in life Nicephorus had been, it to receive he had refused … But by a force a certain applied as much by us as by friends and other Fathers, to be compelled he was the ordination and appellation of Hegumen to accept: that moreover to him by the imposition of hands conferred S. Nicephorus, who then the Patriarchal seat at Constantinople held. Thus far excerpted from the Life of S. Nicetas the successor, written by Theosterictus the disciple, nor do we doubt but that also the Life of S. Nicephorus by the same or another was written; Add the Synaxaria, from which only hitherto we have obtained some Eulogies, such as that which on this day has the Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor, and is of this kind.
[4] On the same day the memory of S. Nicephorus the Hegumen of the monastery of Medicium. The holy Nicephorus lived in the times of the iconomachs. Still moreover a boy when with Christ's love he burned, and the heresy greatly increased he saw; the world left and all which of the world are, a monk made he withdrew into the mountains, and led a life tranquil, to prayers and fasts daily giving himself, and to God for the public of the world's quiet and concord his prayers offering. under Leo the Armenian shut in prison in it to have died: Then the heresy a little stilled, by the unanimous of the monks suffrage elected he was Hegumen of the monastery of Medicium. But this again plague growing fresh, and the heresy resuscitated under Leo the impious Emperor, from his flock expelled he was, as the sacred images' veneration and of the holy Fathers the precepts adhering; and to bitter hardships subjected, into the most bitter prison thrust he was: where as the most brave athlete, whatever to the soul brought pernicious error he overthrew, and to Christ, whom always he loved, he emigrated. These things in the said Menology, which on this day are read in the MS. Menaea of Chifflet, and the following day V of May in the MS. Synaxarion of Clermont.
[5] From which all is clear the time, in which flourished and departed S. Nicephorus, namely under the iconomachs the prior, not so much under Leo the Isaurian, as his son Constantine Copronymus. Then under their son Leo the Chazar, and he dead under Irene the widow and son Constantine: under whom when had begun to flourish again the orthodox religion, was held a Synod Oecumenical Nicene the second in the year DCCLXXXVII, and restored the cult of images, and peace to the Church given. which with a death before the year 815 undergone But this enduring in the monastery of Medicium by him founded was made Hegumen, he admitted S. Nicetas, and him took care a Presbyter to be ordained by S. Tarasius Patriarch of Constantinople, dead in the year DCCCVI on the day XXV of February, on which his Life we gave. To Tarasius succeeded in the same year S. Nicephorus, whose Acts we illustrated on the day XIII of March: this one moreover S. Nicetas from the death of Nicephorus Hegumen constituted. Moreover from the adjoined eulogies it is certain that Nicephorus the Hegumen survived even to the Empire of Leo the Armenian, crowned by S. Nicephorus the Patriarch on XXI of July in the year DCCCXIII, to whom he hateful seems to have been; and ejected into exile, with difficulty is reconciled. in prison to have died in the year DCCCXIV; so that could Nicetas in that year be constituted Hegumen, before S. Nicephorus the Patriarch was ejected into exile, which was done on the day XIV of February of the year DCCCXV. But against these last things, from the eulogies taken, a scruple some moves to us Theosterictus, so accurately
describing the death of S. Nicephorus, and his day, and the festivity begun to be celebrated, without any mention of such an exile. The scruple moreover is augmented from that, that Leo the Armenian at once from his coronation did not move a persecution, but in the year only of the Empire the second, just as is shown March 12 before the Acts of S. Theophanes the Confessor number 12; whence a vehement arises fear lest the exile, for the cause of the images endured, and the death in it undergone, from Nicephorus the Patriarch to Nicephorus the Hegumen, by the compilers of the Synaxaria rashly transferred was: which more certainly could be defined, if the greater Hegumen Nicephorus's Acts at some time were drawn forth into light.