November 12, 2021

St. Nilus the Elder (d. ~430) was the bishop and friend of St. John Chrysostom. He was reputedly a member of the imperial court at Constantinople, modern Istanbul, who gave up his family and with his son, Theodulus, took up the life of a monk on Mount Sinai. Theodulus was kidnapped by Arab raiders, and Nilus set out to find him. They were reunited, and both were ordained by a bishop at Eleusa. They then returned to Sinai. Nilus also became the bishop of Ancyra and was the reputed author of ascetical treatises and many letters.

St. Nilus please pray for good father and son relationships across the world like you had with your son.