Day 69 -- Saint Nilus the Elder

Saint Nilus the Elder was a Byzantine imperial official and may have been a Praetorian Prefect in the 4th century. He was married and had two children and when his children were grown he and his wife agreed to have separate lives devoted to God. He was a monk on Mount Sinai with his son Theodulus. After a few years on Mount Sinai, his son was kidnapped by Arab raiders and Nilus went in search of him. The bishop in Palestine had ransomed him out of slavery and made him the door-keeper of his church. The bishop ordained them both and they returned to Sinai. He wrote theological topics and his works influenced the Eastern Church. He was friend, supporter, and spiritual student of Saint John Chrytostom. He died around the year 430 of natural causes.