Niphon went to the monastic state of
Mount Athos sometime after 1335, where he dedicated himself to
asceticism, under the guidance of the monastic Elders, Neilos Erichiotes, Theognostos and
Maximos Kausokalybites. In 1345, Niphon was the
protos of
Mount Athos. At that time Athos came under the protection of the
Serbian Tsar
Stefan Dušan, who accused him for heresy and
Bogomilism, but he was successfully defended by
Gregory Palamas. In 1347-8 Niphon was tried and deposed from his position as protos after being accused by fellow monks of heresy. He was succeeded by the Serbian monk Antonios. His deposition is regarded as either part of the struggles between rival religious factions that predated the Serbian control of the Athonite community or attempts of Stefan Dušan to gain control of Athos by appointing a Serbian official as its head. During 1355-63 he was again accused of heresy when his servant Bardarius revealed before dying that he had joined the
Euchite movement, but was defended by
Patriarch Callistus. It is considered unclear from contemporary accounts whether Niphon was a Euchite or
Hesychast at that time. Niphon lived the rest of his life as a hesychast, until his death in 1411. ==Works==