AGIORITA, Nicodemo I'. — A celebrated modern Greek writer (1748–1809) whose fame rests largely on his extensive use of the vernacular in most of his works. Born on the island of Naxos, he spent nearly his entire literary career as a monk on Mount Athos from 1775 until his death. Hence his better-known name, A. His writings are not polemical in character, though he did take part in contemporary disputes over frequent communion and the so-called *χάλυβα* offerings. He also defended and promoted the Palamite doctrine (v. PALAMISM). His works contributed significantly to a more accurate understanding of the Greek East in many respects. His literary output is very extensive. Lampros (in *Νέος Έλληνογνώμων*, 1913, p. 315) lists 18 published works and 58 unpublished ones. More recently, V. Grumel enumerates 32 printed works. The principal ones are:
1. *Πηγάλιος τής νοητής νηός* (*Pilgrim of the Intelligible Ship*), Leipzig 1800 (other editions in Zante and Athens). This is A.’s best-known work; in it, with numerous notes and commentaries, he elucidates the collection of canons of the Greek Church. He compiled this repertory in collaboration with Agapios, and it is evident that the author was not favorably disposed toward the Roman Church. Some attribute this animosity, at least in part, to the monk Theodoritos, who was entrusted with proofreading and allegedly made many interpolations. While such interpolations certainly exist, they are not necessary to explain A.’s evident antipathy toward Latin institutions, as is clear from more reliable evidence (cf. the letter he addressed to Patriarch Gregory V, published in the journal *Γρηγόριος ό Παλαμάς*, 2 [1918], p. 435). Nevertheless, in the field of ascetical literature, he had no qualms about adapting Catholic writings for Greek readers, as seen in his works *Ἀθάατος πόλεμος* (*Invisible Warfare*), Venice 1796, and *Γυμνάσματα νεωματικά* (*Spiritual Exercises*), Venice 1800—adaptations, the first of Scupoli’s *Combattimento spirituale*, and the second of Pinamonti’s explanation of St. Ignatius’ *Spiritual Exercises* (cf. M. Viller, *Nicodème l’Agiorite et ses emprunts à la littérature occidentale*, in *Rev. d'Arc. et Myst.*, 5 [1924], pp. 174–77).
2. *Φιλοκαλία τῶν ἱερῶν νηστικῶν* (*Philokalia of the Sacred Ascetics*), Venice 1782. A collection of ascetical writings on *νήφεσθαι* (sobriety of mind), highly valuable for understanding Byzantine spiritual doctrine. It includes some exoticist elements.
3. *Ἐγχειρίδιον συμβουλευτικόν* (*Handbook of Counsels*), Venice 1801, perhaps A.’s principal ascetical work. It expounds the doctrine of guarding the five external senses, the imagination, the mind, and the heart.