NICODEMUS OF MAMMOLA, Saint. - Calabrian-Greek ascetic, b. at Cirò ca. 900, d. near Mammola on 25 March 990. As a young man he embraced the Basilian monastic institute in the famous monastic eparchy of Mercurion (northern Calabria), under the spiritual guidance of St. Fantino, who was also the teacher of St. Nilus of Rossano.

He lived a life of great austerity, together with St. Anthony of Gerace, in a wood on Monte Celerano, where he slept on the bare ground and fed on chestnuts and lupins. Many monks went to place themselves under his direction, so that Celerano was transformed into a monastic laura.

But N., desirous of solitude, withdrew first near Gerace and then to four miles from Mammola, where he founded a famous monastery, which after his death took his name. His liturgical feast falls on 12 March. Mammola has acclaimed him its patron since 1630.

Bibliography5 works

BIBL.: A. Agresta, Vita di s. N. abbate dell'Ordine di s. Basilia, Rome 1677; G. Fiore, Calabria illustrata, II, Naples 1743, pp. 62-66; D. Martire, Calabria sacra e profana, I, Cosenza 1878, pp. 271-78; Aromolo, Vita di s. N. di Cirò, Cirò 1901; anon., S. N. abate protettore di Mammola (900-990), Grottaferrata 1935.

Francesco Russo

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Nicodemus of Mammola, Saint

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