ELDER NIKODIM OF MOUNT ATHOS

Elder Nikodim of Mount Athos, 2024, 18x24”, Graphite Pencil

Elder Nikodim of Karoulia lived a quiet and austere life on the cliffs of Athos, following the ancient tradition of the desert fathers. He spent years in prayer, fasting, and silence, shaping his whole life around humility and obedience. As a disciple of Elder Theodosius, he learned the deep inner discipline of the Karoulian hermits and remained faithful to it until the end. Nikodim cared for the tiny cell and cave where he lived, surviving on little and asking nothing from the world. He guarded the memory of his abba with reverence and kept the relics of his elder as a reminder of the holy life he had witnessed. Those who met Nikodim remembered his calm presence, his gentle counsel, and his steady devotion to God. His life stands as a simple but powerful example of the quiet holiness that flourished in the remote desert of Athos.