St. Nilus the Elder

St. Nilus the Elder – November 12th

Nilus was an important official in the great city of Constantinople. From St. John Chrysostom, he learned to love God so much that he wanted to serve Him. Nilus was married and had two children, yet he felt that God wanted him to become a monk. His good wife agreed that they should separate so as to serve the Lord with their whole hearts. Nilus took his son Theodulus and went to live with the monks of Mt. Sinai.

A few years passed in peace and happiness. Then a troupe of cruel raiders swept down upon the monastery and killed many of the monks. When they rode off, they carried Theodulus with them. His poor father, St. Nilus, followed them, hoping to be able to buy his son back from the raiders. He had many terrible experiences trying to find his son, but at last he found him living with a bishop. This bishop had bought the boy from the raiders in order to save him and Theodulus was working in the service of the Church. Before Nilus and his son left, the good bishop ordained them priests, since they were both ready.

St. Nilus was so wise that many people asked his advice. He wrote many, many letters in reply to priests, monks and high officials, and from these letters we know how holy St. Nilus was.

To a man who had decided to live on a pillar just to make people think he was holy, St. Nilus wrote: “Every man who exalts himself will be humbled!”

This Saint had to undergo many troubles and temptations in his life, but with prayer, he was always victorious. That is why he knew how to help so many other people overcome temptations and live good lives.

Even though people of the world can become saints, they have many dangers to overcome. If God calls me closer to Him, I will leave all my dear ones to follow Him generously.