On August 11th, the Orthodox world celebrates the sanctification of Saint Niphon II, one of the most remarkable clerics in Eastern Orthodoxy — often referred to as a “new Saint John Chrysostom” for his eloquence and spiritual wisdom.
.jpg "Saint Niphon II: The Orphan Patriarch, the Spiritual Brother of Skanderbeg, and the Patriarch Who Worked as a Stableman")
His life reads like the journey of the apostles chosen by the Creator to spread the divine spirit. Born Nikola, the son of an Arvanite (Albanian) father from the Peloponnese, he left his home while still a child, following the call of his apostolic light with unwavering ascetic discipline and devotion. His path took him across the Balkans — to Arta, Vlora, Kruja, Ohrid, Constantinople, and Wallachia — before ending his earthly life in the Monastery of Dionysiou on Mount Athos, in the same humility with which it began.
Origins: The Arvanite Roots of a Saint
Saint Niphon’s father, Manoli, was an educated Arvanite noble who had fled persecution in Dalmatia. While some Romanian or Greek authors have tried to portray him as Slavic, authoritative Orthodox encyclopedias in Greek confirm his Albanian origin, describing him as the “son of an Arvanite nobleman”. His mother Maria came from a wealthy Greek family, though some Romanian scholars claim Vlach descent.
Nikola, the future saint, lost his father young. Under his mother’s care, he immersed himself in studies, especially religious texts, showing from an early age the traits of an ascetic. Around the age of twelve, he secretly left home to become a monk, taking the name Niphon — “the peaceful one” — and began his spiritual journey under the guidance of the famed monk Zacharias, who would later also become the spiritual father of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.
Niphon and the Court of Skanderbeg
One of the most intriguing episodes in Niphon’s life — and one often overlooked outside Albanian narratives — is his extended stay in the court of Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero. Historical records from his disciple, the monk Gabriel, describe how Niphon and Zacharias were warmly received in Kruja:
“The lord of the place, George Skanderbeg, welcomed them with all honor and reverence, having already heard of their good name. With great joy, he embraced them and kept them in his palace.”
Here, the spiritual brotherhood between Niphon and Skanderbeg was sealed, both being disciples of Zacharias. For Albanians, this connection is symbolic — a meeting between the sword that defended the nation and the spirit that preserved the faith.
The timing of this meeting likely falls between 1445 and shortly after 1453, a period when Skanderbeg’s fame against the Ottomans was spreading across Europe. Niphon and Zacharias were known opponents of the union between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, as decided at the Council of Florence (1438–39), and were traveling to strengthen Orthodox resistance in the Balkans.
Their presence in Kruja was not merely a courtesy call. Surviving Albanian and Romanian accounts suggest they stayed for years, with Niphon even producing liturgical manuscripts while in Skanderbeg’s service — a sign of active spiritual collaboration.
A Defender of Orthodoxy Across the Balkans
After leaving Albania, Niphon’s career rose quickly. He became Metropolitan of Thessaloniki (1482–1487) and was elected three times as Patriarch of Constantinople (1488–1489, 1497–1498, and offered the throne again in 1502, which he refused). His tenure was marked by confrontations with Sultan Bayezid II and corrupt church officials, leading to his deposition and eventual exile.
Invited to Wallachia by Prince Radu, Niphon reformed the Orthodox Church there, earning deep veneration among the Vlach and Bulgarian faithful. Yet, when Radu violated religious principles, Niphon publicly excommunicated him, resigned, and returned on foot to Mount Athos.
The Humility of a True Saint
In Dionysiou Monastery, Niphon concealed his identity, accepting the humblest duties — including serving as a stableman and sleeping in a cave with the animals. Only later did the monks realize that the quiet elder among them was the former Patriarch of Constantinople. He passed away in 1508, and in 1517, under Prince Neagoe Basarab, he was officially canonized as the first Orthodox saint in Romania.
Why Niphon’s Connection to Skanderbeg Matters
The relationship between Niphon and Skanderbeg holds deep meaning for Albanian history. It demonstrates that Skanderbeg’s resistance was not solely military but also spiritual, with Orthodox clergy — many of them Albanian — playing a key role in strengthening the moral resolve of his people.
It also reveals a lesser-told truth: that 15th-century Albania was a religiously complex land where Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Islam intersected, and where leaders like Skanderbeg navigated all three spheres to safeguard national unity. By welcoming and honoring Niphon, Skanderbeg reinforced ties with the Orthodox world — a vital alliance in a time when the Ottoman threat loomed over all Christian lands.
Legacy
Saint Niphon II remains a figure of shared heritage between Albanians, Greeks, and Romanians — yet his Arvanite-Albanian origin and his years in Skanderbeg’s court are often downplayed outside Albanian narratives. For Albanians, he stands as a symbol that the nation’s history is not only written with the sword but also with the quill, the sermon, and the steadfast defense of faith.
In remembering Niphon, we remember that Albania’s resistance to the Ottoman Empire was both a battle for land and a battle for the soul of its people — one in which saints and warriors stood side by side.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a shorter, punchier version of this article for media or online publication, keeping the pro-Albanian tone sharp and engaging.