He is most famous for his work with Macarius of Corinth on the anthology of monastic spiritual writings known as The Philokalia, as well as for his compilation of canons known as the Pedalion (or The Rudder) which he co-wrote with a hieromonk named Agapios Monachos.

Assembling, collecting, and editing a number of manuscripts scattered among the libraries of Mount Athos, the Holy Mountain.

Persecution from the Turks, who ruled most of the Greek world at the time, cut his schooling short, and he returned to Naxos in 1770.

[1] Nicholas made the acquaintance of Macarius of Corinth a few years after returning home, beginning a lifelong friendship.

This handbook on the religious life, aimed at clergy and lay Christians alike, continues to be influential on Greek spirituality to this day.