Saint Nilus the Younger

Life story

Nilus was born around 910 at Rossano, in Calabria, then under Byzantine rule, into a Greek family. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia he had a daughter. An illness changed his life: he became a monk and promoted the Rule of Saint Basil in southern Italy. He also lived for a time as a hermit before founding or restoring several monasteries.

When it was proposed to make him bishop of Rossano he fled to Capua. In later years he stayed at Benedictine houses such as Monte Cassino and the monastery of Saint Alexis in Rome, and kept good relations with them. Late in life he also lived for a time at Valleluce, near Gaeta.

In 998 he went to Rome to plead for Philagathos (John), a fellow native of Rossano who had backed Crescentius in his attempt to oust Pope Gregory V and had been set up as a rival pope. After Philagathos was tortured and mutilated, Nilus rebuked Gregory V and the emperor Otto III for the deed. The sources report that he warned them they would face judgment.

In 1004, at the invitation of Count Gregory of Tusculum, he began the Greek monastery of Grottaferrata near Frascati and is counted as its first abbot. He died in late December 1005 (the sources give 26, 27 or 29 December) in the Tusculum area, before the buildings at Grottaferrata were finished. The abbey still keeps the Byzantine rite today. He is honoured by both Catholic and Orthodox churches, with a feast on 26 September.

Works and witness

• Left family life to become a monk following the Rule of Saint Basil in southern Italy
• Kept good relations with Benedictines at Monte Cassino and Saint Alexis in Rome
• In 998 pleaded for Philagathos and rebuked Pope Gregory V and Emperor Otto III
• Began the abbey of Grottaferrata in 1004, counted as its first abbot
• Died at the end of 1005; honoured by Catholic and Orthodox churches

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia, entry Nilus the Younger (New Advent, cathen/11080a)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.