B | p in the center of the ifland. Thefe lonely cenobites aflem-
— ,— <:bled regularly on Saturday evening in the church, where
they ¿{lifted in the performance of divine fervice during the
whole night, and the next day until noon, when they retired
to their refpeCtive habitations. This practice was repeated
on certain feftivals; while at other times each reclufe occupied
his cell undifturbed by any mutual intercourfe. Their
food was bread, and fiih which they caught themfelves, or
procured from parts of the contiguous continent.
Such was the fituation which Nicon adopted as congenial
to the gloomy ftate of his own mind; where, brooding in fo~
litude upon the uncertainty erf human life, he was unhappily
led to confider the moil debafing aufterities as acceptable to
the Supreme-Being-; and neceftarily contracted that cToiftered
pride, which gave an alloy to his fublime virtues, and which
proved thegreateft defect in his character, when afterwards
called upon to fulfil the duties of a publick and exalted ftation.
After-a ihort relidence in this iiland, Nicon was chofen
to accompany the chief of the ecdefiaftical eftablifliment to
Mofcow, in order to raife a collection for the building of a
new church. He was fcareely returned from this -expedition,
when, at the inftigation of the chief, whom he had
offended during his-journey, he was compelled by the other
■monks to retire from the iiland: he embarked in an open
•boat, with only-a Angle perfon to aflift him, in an high fea';'
-being overtaken by a violent ftorm, he was tofled about and
in continual danger of periihing, but was at length driven
-upon an iiland near the mouth of the Onega.
From this iiland he repaired to a monaftery upon the
contiguous continent; and being admitted into the fociety,
inftead of inhabiting an apartment in the convent, he, f t
.imitation of his former folitude, conftruCted a feparnte cell
•on
on an adjacent iilapid, where he lived upon the fiih that chap.
he caught with his own hands, and never vifited the mo- >—
nailery but during the time of divine fervice. By this re.-
clufe and rigid way of life he was held, in fuch high efteem
by the brethren, that upon the death of their fuperior. they
unanimouily -railed him to the vacant, dignity.. He continued
in this capacity, for three years, when,-being drawn by fome
family affairs to Mofcow, he was cafually prefented to the
tear Alexey Michaelovitch ; that monarch was fo captivated
with his various talents, extenfive learning, and natural eloquence,
that he- detained him at Mofcow, and took him un.-.
der his immediate protection. Within lefs than the fpace-
of five years he was fucceifively created archimandite or
abbot of the Noyofpatikoi convent, archbiihop of Novogorod,
and patriarch of Ruflia. He deferved thefe rapid promotions
by a rare aifemblage of extraordinary qualities, which
even his enemies, allow him to have. pofielTed, undaunted
courage, irreproachable morals, exalted charity, comprehend
five learning, and commanding eloquence..
W'hile archbiihop of Novogorod, to which dignity he was
raifed in 1.649, he g ave a memorable inftance of his firm-
nefs and difcr.eti.on.. During a tumult in that city, the Imperial
governor, prince Feodor Kilkof,. took, refuge in the
archiepifcopaL palace againft the fury of the infurgents ;
who, hurfting, open the gates, threatened inftant pillage if
the governor was- not delivered, to them, without delay.
Nicon, inftead of acceding to their demand, boldly advanced
into the midft of them, and.exhorted them to peace. The
populace, inflamed to madnefs by the prelate’s appearance,
transferred their, rage from the governor to him ; aflaulted
him with Hones, dragged him by the liair, and offered every
fpecies of violence and indignity to his perfon. Being conveyed.