[1] A Greek, Niphon was born in the village of Lukovë, Himarë municipality,[2][3][1] that time part of the Despotate of Epirus (modern south Albania).
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.
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.
[9] 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.
[11] A church dedicated to Saint Niphon was erected in February 2013 at Gjirokastër, southern Albania.