Pious Nicodemus was of Macedo-Romanian Orthodox origin. He was born in Prilep, in the South of Serbia, about 1320, being related to the ruler prince of Wallachia Nicolae Alexandru Basarab (1352-1364) and to Saint knyaz Lazarus of Serbia (1371-1389).
He learned to read the Holy Scriptures ever since he was a child and loved to serve Christ. When his parents wanted to see him holding high positions according to their rank, he gave up all his parents’ fortune and the fame of the world.
Dressed in poor clothes he fled his parents’ house and went to the Holy Mount Athos where he entered Hilandar Monastery.
After three years of discipleship he was tonsured into monasticism and then ordained deacon and after a while priest.
Later on he went back to Serbia where he set up two monasteries and a parish church. About 1369 Saint Nicodemus arrived in Wallachia miraculously crossing the River Danube.
With the blessing of Saint Hyacinth, the then metropolitan of Wallachia, he settled here and set up Motru and Vodiţa Monasteries.
