transl.) ; Basnage, History of the Jews, p. 685 (Taylor's translation); Griltz, Gesch. d. Juden. (Leips. 1873), vii, 253 sq. ; Jost, Gesch. d. Judenth. u. s. Sekten, ii, 300, 329, 362; Fiirst, Gesch. d. Karderthums, ii, 261 sq. ; Rule, IHstory of the Karaite Jews, p. 200 sq. ; Zeiger, Jiidische Zeitschrift, 1869, p. 199 sq.; Ueberweg, History of Phi- losophy "(New York, 1872), i, 428 ; Delitzsch, L. b\d. Or. 1840, Nos. 13, 32, 34, 39, 40, 48, 52; but above all his pro- legomena to the c^f n yv. (B. P.)
Nikon, St., sumamed Metaxoite (from his fre- quent introduction of the word peravotlri, repent, in his sermons), an Eastern ascetic, flourished in the 10th cen- tury. He had lived in a monastery on the borders of Poutus and Paphlagonia, and in 961 went as a mission- ary into Armenia. He went also as a missionary to Crete. He afterwards labored in Lacedemon and Cor- inth. He died in 998. His life, which was written by a Lacedemonian abbot, father Sirmond translated into Latin, and Baronius has freeh^ made use of it in the tenth volume of his Anncds, under the years 961-998. To Nikon is attributed a curious and interesting little treatise in the Greek language. On the impious Religion of the most icicked A rmenians, which wiU be found of use in illustrating the state of manners, as well as the eccle- siastical history of that country. It is inserted in Latin in the 25th volume of the Bibl. Patr., and is also given in Cotelerius, Patr. Apostol. vol. ii, in a note to Const, Ajwstol. (lib. ii, cap. 24, p. 235, 236). See also Nicox.
Nikon OF Russia, a prelate noted in ecclesiastical history as a most extraordinary character, and frequent- ly denominated the Luther (though perhaps more accu- rately the AVolsey, or better still the Chr\-sostom) of the Russo-Greek Church, was born in May, 1605, in a village near Nishnei Novgorod, of parents in humble life, and received his education from a pious monk in the monastery of St. Macarius. He afterwards became a priest at Moscow ; but the taste which he had acquired while in the convent of St. Macarius for monastic life and discipline was so strong that, although he was now married, having taken that step at the urgent solicita- tions of his friends, he determined to separate from his wife, who had proved a faithful companion for nearly ten years, and, persuading her to enter the convent of St. Alexis at Moscow, he himself set out for the hermit- age of Anserche, on the island of Solowetz, in the White Sea, and was, in 1643, made hegumen of the Nische- oserschian hermitage. The desolation of the place and the severity of the discipline served rather to increase than to abate the ardor of the new recluse ; but the zeal of the brethren led to dissensions, and Nikon was em- broiled in bitter strife. Being desirous of replacing their wooden church by a stone edifice, Nikon and Elizar, the founder and head of the community, were despatched to Moscow to collect contributions for the purpose ; but on their return Elizar took the money into his own keeping, and manifested no intention of apply- ing it to the intended purpose. This led to remon- strances and altercations, and to such persecution on the part of Elizar that Nikon pushed off from the island in a small boat ; and, after incurring great danger, was driven to the island Kj, at the mouth of the Onega, where he set up a wooilen cross. At the same time he made a vow to erect a monastery on that spot, in fulfil- ment of which may now be seen the magnificent cloister of the Holy Cross. Associating himself with a com- munity called the Kosheoser hermits, he so distin- guished himself by his superior sanctity and severity of life that on the death of their abbot or principal he was elected in his place, about 1644. Having occasion some two years afterwards to take a journey to ]Mosco«-, to arrange some affairs of this community, he was there brought to the notice of the czar Alexis Mikailovich, who was so struck with the greatness of Nikon's intel- lectual strength, his rare ability in many other direc- tions, his elot|uence and understanding, and his strict and virtuous life, that he caused him to be appointed
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