Venerable Nicephorus, abbot of Katabad
Commemorated April 19
The Monk Nicephoros was born at Constantinople into a rich and illustrious family. His parents, Andrew and Theodora, raised their son in the Christian faith. After their death, young Nicephoros distributed all his wealth to the poor and set off to Chalcedon. The strict manner of monastic life at the monastery of Saint Andrew appealed to Nicephoros, and he remained amidst the brethren there.
From the very start the monk displayed an unusual fervour in prayer and at work. He had such strength of endurance at asceticism, that soon the hegumen sent the saint to a Phoenician island for preaching faith in Christ, and he was made hegumen of a monastery in honour of the MostHoly Mother of God.
The Monk Nicephoros dwelt on the island for thirty-three years and he brought many pagans to Christ. On the place of a pagan-temple on the island was built a church of God.
Sensing the approach of death, the monk gave orders to carry him to a ship and said to the ship-captain: "Take care, since I do expire to the Lord, but carry off my body to Chalcedon to the monastery of Saint Andrew". With these words he died. The ship made fine voyage to Chalcedon, and the brethren of the monastery of Saint Andrew reverently buried the body of the holy ascetic.
Troparion
In thee, O father, was manifestly preserved what is in the image of God, for having taken up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thine own example hast taught that the flesh is to be despised as transient, but that particular care should be bestowed on the soul, as a thing immortal; wherefore, together with the angels, rejoiceth also thine, O holy Nicephorus, spirit.
Kontakion
Having divinely armed thyself with the purity of thy soul and unceasing prayers firmly grasping as a spear, thou, our father Nicephorus, hast pierced the armies of the demon; supplicate unceasingly for us all.
Source: Crkveni Kalendar
