St. Nifont of Pechersk, Bishop of Novgorod

During the study of the archives of the Pechersk Monastery, the researchers restored the details of the biography of the Novgorod bishop Nifont, whose activity occurred during the period of acute political and church crisis. The key episode characterizing this hierarch was his refusal to obey the decision of the Kiev ruler Izyaslav Mstislavich on the independent appointment of the metropolitan.

Being a native of the Chernorists of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery of the time of Abbot Timothy, Nifont took the pulpit after twenty years of service of Bishop John, who retired to retirement. He was ordained in Kiev by Metropolitan Michael II. Having taken office, the new head of the diocese immediately began construction: he initiated the construction of a stone church of the Virgin and the overhaul of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, including a full painting of the phantoms and the installation of a tin roof. His peacekeeping mission deserves special mention: at the threat of a battle between Kievans and Chernihivites, he personally arrived with Novgorod nobles and achieved a cessation of hostilities. The principle of the hierarch was manifested in the refusal to marry Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich — the union was recognized as non-canonical, the local clergy was forbidden to participate in the ceremony.

The central conflict broke out after Izyaslav Mstislavich nominated Klim Smolyatich, a schemist, to the post, bypassing the approval of the Ecumenical Patriarch. At the Council, Nyphon declared the inadmissibility of separation from Constantinople. Five bishops agreed with him, but the majority, led by Chernigov Bishop Onufry, gave way to the prince. The delivery took place using a relic — the head of Pope Clement. For refusing to serve Klim Nifont was detained in Kiev and placed back in the Pechersk Monastery, where he perceived isolation as a return to monastic silence. Liberation came with the victory of Georgy Monomakhovich, after which the bishop received a message of thanks from Constantinople and was ranked by the patriarch among the host of ancient defenders of Orthodoxy.

Later, waiting for the arrival of the legitimate Metropolitan Constantine in the Pechersk monastery, Nifont died shortly before the meeting. The dream he retold about a wonderful meeting with the Monk Theodosius, who predicted an imminent outcome, was preserved. The identification of the burial allows us to specify the resting place of one of the key figures of Russian Orthodoxy of the pre-Mongol period.