Venerable Nikitas of Midiki, abbot

The Monk Nikita the Confessor, abbot of the Midice monastery, was born in Caesarea Bithynia (northwest Asia Minor) into a pious family. His mother died on the 8th day after his birth, and his father, named Philaret, became a monk. The child remained in the care of his grandmother, who raised him in a true Christian spirit. From his youth, Saint Nikita served in the church and was in obedience to the hermit Stephen. With his blessing, Saint Nikita went to the Midice monastery, where Saint Nikephoros was the abbot (March 13).

After seven years of virtuous life in a monastery famous for the strictness of its rules, the Monk Nikita was ordained a presbyter. The Monk Nicephorus, knowing the holy life of the young monk, entrusted him with the management of the monastery, since he himself was seriously ill.

Sparing no effort, the Monk Nikita began to take care of the prosperity and improvement of the monastery. He taught the brethren by his personal example of strict monastic life. Soon the fame of the high life of the inhabitants of the monastery attracted many people there seeking salvation. A few years later the number of monks increased to 100 people.

When the Monk Nicephorus departed to the Lord in old age, the brethren unanimously elected the Monk Nikita as abbot.

The Lord honored Saint Nikita with the gift of miracles. Through his prayer, the deaf-mute youth regained the gift of speech; two demon-possessed women were healed; those deprived of reason were restored to reason, and many other sick people were healed of their ailments.

In those years, under Emperor Leo the Armenian (813–820), the iconoclastic heresy resumed and the persecution of holy icons intensified. Orthodox bishops were expelled and exiled. In Constantinople in 815, a council of heretics was convened, at which they overthrew the holy Patriarch Nicephorus (806–815; † 828) from the throne, and in his place they elected a lay heretic, Theodotus. Heretics were also installed in place of the exiled and imprisoned Orthodox bishops. The emperor summoned the abbots of all the monasteries and tried to attract them to the iconoclastic heresy. Among those called was the Monk Nikita, who firmly stood for the Orthodox confession. Following his example, all abbots remained faithful to the veneration of holy icons. For this they were put in prison. The Monk Nikita bravely endured all the trials and supported the strength of spirit in other prisoners.

Then the emperor and the false patriarch Theodotus decided to use cunning to catch the stubborn ones. They were told that the emperor would grant everyone freedom and allow the worship of icons on one condition: if they accepted Communion from the false patriarch Theodotus. The monk doubted for a long time whether he could enter into church communion with the heretic, but other prisoners begged him to take communion with them. Yielding to their pleas, the Monk Nikita went to the temple, where icons were displayed to deceive confessors, and received Communion. But when he returned to his monastery and saw that the persecution of icons was continuing, he repented of his action, returned to Constantinople and began to fearlessly denounce the iconoclastic heresy. All the emperor's entreaties were rejected by him.

The Monk Nikita was again imprisoned, where he remained for six years, until the death of Emperor Leo the Armenian. There, enduring hunger and sorrow, the Monk Nikita performed miracles with the power of his prayers: through his prayer, the Phrygian king released two captives without ransom; three shipwrecked people for whom the Monk Nikita prayed were thrown ashore by the waves.

In 824, under the new emperor Michael (820–829), the Monk Nikita departed to the Lord. His body was transported by ship to the Midice monastery by Bishop Theophilus of Ephesus and Archbishop Joseph of Thessalonica. On the way to the monastery, the funeral procession was met by Bishop Paul of Plusiada with many monks and laity. Many healings were performed from the tomb of St. Nikita. He was buried in the tomb of his mentor, the Monk Nicephorus. After the burial, miracles were also performed at the saint’s tomb.

Orthodox calendar April 16. Venerable Nikita the Confessor.

The Monk Nikita the Confessor lived at the turn of the eighth and ninth centuries. He was born in the north-west of Asia Minor, in the city of Caesarea Bethinskaya. Nikita's mother died when he was not yet eight days old. His father soon took monastic vows. The child was raised by his grandmother. From his youth, Nikita served in the temple and was in obedience to the hermit Stefan. With the blessing of the elder, the young man went to the Midik monastery, and over time became a monk. When the former abbot of the monastery departed to the Lord, the brethren unanimously asked Nikita to lead the monastery. Under the new emperor Leo, the iconoboric heresy resumed. The authorities persecuted those who kept and honored holy icons. Laymen, priests, and bishops were sent into exile, detained, tortured and executed. In eight hundred and fifteen, a heretical council was convened. Hegumen Nikita was also invited to attend. At the cathedral, the majority were behind the iconoclasts. They overthrew and exiled Patriarch Nicephorus, a supporter of icon veneration. Nikita and other clergy who did not betray their patriarch ended up in jail. The abbot received his freedom only after the death of the emperor, in the year eight hundred and twenty. The Monk Nikita became famous for the miracles that were performed through his prayer, even when he was in captivity.

Nikita the Confessor is a defender of the veneration of icons.

The Monk Nikita the Confessor lived at the turn of the eighth and ninth centuries. His homeland was the city of Caesarea Bithynia in Asia Minor. The boy was orphaned early. Nikita was raised in a true Christian spirit by his grandmother. The young man decided to devote his life to the Lord and spent seven years in the Midikian monastery. The founder of the monastery was the Monk Nikifor. This authoritative abbot was in the past a participant in the Seventh Ecumenical Council and enjoyed the respect of Emperor Constantine the Sixth. The Monk Nikifor appreciated the work of the young monk and entrusted him with the management of the monastery, since he himself was seriously ill. When the former abbot died, the monks unanimously chose Nikita as the new abbot. In eight hundred and fifteen, the new emperor Leo the Armenian began to persecute admirers of icons. They were considered idolaters. Then Abbot Nikita and many other priests and monks were arrested. The new iconoclast patriarch Theodotus decided to deceive those who persisted. The prisoners were told that they would be given freedom and allowed to venerate icons if they took communion from the new patriarch. Nikita was tormented by doubts, but he agreed. When he saw that the persecution continued, he repented that he had compromised. He again fearlessly denounced Leo the Armenian, for which he was imprisoned. The Monk Nikita was released only under the new emperor.

Folk traditions on April 16

On April 16, the ancient Slavs celebrated the holiday of Vodopol. Its other names are also known. These are the Vodyanoi Treat, the Awakening of the Vodyanoy, the Fishermen's Festival, Nikita the Spring, Nikita Vodopol, Nikita the Confessor, Agafya and Nikita.

They believed that on this day the merman and mermaids woke up from hibernation. At Vodopol, the water man appeared to the common people as a naked old man, entangled in mud, with bulging eyes, a green mustache and beard, and a fish tail instead of legs. It was believed that water creatures lived in pools, springs, and under water mills. The inhabitants of Gremyachiy Springs were considered the most revered water creatures. These keys appeared as a result of a lightning strike by Perun. The vodyanoy destroyed dams, tore nets and harmed fishermen in every possible way. They tried to appease the merman with bread, porridge and boiled offal. The fishermen, who poured oil into the water, took special part in the treat. In return they asked the waterman for a rich catch. Those who were especially superstitious on the eve of the holiday fattened their horses with cake and bread, wove ribbons into their manes, coated their skin with honey and drowned them in ponds.

Canon to the Holy Venerable Niketas of Midice

Song a҃.

Irmos:

In the depths of the post and sometimes the Pharaonic all-army is a supreme power, embodied by the word of universal sin, consumed its power, glorified where, weak beyond fame.

With light bzhⷭ҇tvennagѡ shine, ѻ҆́ch҃e, ѡ҆azarѧ́em, your life bg҃ꙋ ѡ҆свѧти́л є҆сѝ, цздѣ́тська иѡзрѣвъ свсвь ст This is a similar lightness, which is similar to the bodiless purity.

He was a blessed and honest mentor, anointed by God, a monastic with the image of purity, and he was blessed with much light. Let us dawn, bgonose, and live in the purest spirit.

We have strengthened with all the power of the body, passions have enlightened everything carnal and enlightened everyone! We diligently diligently bring wealth to fruition.

As a whole, blessed, enlightened and pure, all the authorities were elevated to the sacred: the priesthood of the brightest ᲂbeautiful We know the hope of the holy sacraments, Holy Father, the intercessor.

Bgorodichen:

Exceeding all the visible and invisible, ever-present creatures: the creator gave birth to the blessed one I will be incarnated in your soul. Likewise, we pray with boldness to save those who sing.

Song of the city.

Irmos:

The paganism of the Christians, where the pagan barren church flourished, by your coming, in which mine was established heart.

Nbⷭ҇noe stѧzhav residence, prpⷣbne, luminous and luminary of goodness, and nїkito, was є҆sѝlamp, given many gifts Come on.

By killing the wood of your flesh, by virtue, by virtue, you have given life to your whole life, and your life is imperishable. ѧ favored є҆sѝ.

I am glad that your life has passed on, more gloriously, replete with kindnesses and rich gifts, in which your heart is strengthened.

The sun has risen with monastic rites, virtues, beauty, and nothing else! We are so happy and blessed.

Bgorodichen:

Enlightening ends, presta, gave birth to the flesh of the uncreated, and, first of all, the unmeaning: also the same btsⷣꙋ in the faith of honor m.

Sedalen, voice d.

He settled in the silent mountains, he was brought up in the cities of abstinence, he exalted him, he established This is a long-lasting sweetness, life has reached us, the slayer of everything, in our prayers.

Glory, and now, is great:

The two all-blameless, born of the most holy God, with the incorporeal of that unceasing prayer, for the removal of sins and for the correction of life on Before the end, by faith and love we sing to those in duty, the same one sings everything.

Krⷭ҇tobgorodichen:

Two most immaculate, mt҃i хрⷭ҇ta bgаа, ѻ҆рꙋ їhe will pass thy pres҃ꙋ́yu dꙋүшꙋ, є҆҆дя crucifixion saw є҆ѝѝ by the will of the dream and your god: O blessed one, do not cease to pray, grant us forgiveness of sins.

Song of the day.

Irmos:

He came, not an intercessor, nor an aggl, but himself, where he was incarnated, and he saved all mankind. That's the call: glory to your power, where.

Root-bearer of passions, bggonose, show, dꙋshѝ purity of the divine history, є҆сѝ all the way to ꙋ step ꙋбнꙋyu charm, sacred secret nothing more honorable.

May you be victorious, rich, crown, in the villages of these now you rest, blessedly, passions are gone, and in passionlessness, here, where ѧeverything.

Sacrifice is immaculate, and your life has brought you love, fulfillment, and fasting. We adorn ourselves with kindness, most blessed one.

Vitі̑ystva dꙋshetlѣ̑nnyѧ, bg҃omꙋ́dre, є҆́RESі ꙗ҆́снѡ и҆з̾ѡѡ at the same time, hrⷭ҇tóvꙋ chtꙋ́sch bzhⷭ҇tvennꙋyu і҆k I am blessed, and I am the most holy.

Bgorodichen:

Ꙗ҆́кѡ praiseꙋ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ the state of peace and҆ ᲂaffirmation, ꙗ҆́кѡ haven goodꙋquietly, ꙗ҆́кѡ cheerful guiltyꙋ ѧ̀, pre Why, we glorify you, you beautiful ones, all in your glory.

Song є҃.

Irmos:

The intercessor of the god and the person was є҆сѝ, хрⷭ҇тѐ bzh҃e: for you, vlⷣko, to the chief of light, yours, and the night is unknown Nїѧ, given by my mother.

The Meek One, in the land of the meek, there dwells one, no one, a champion of the truth, the ever-present, and the end of the gospel let's paint it lightly.

To the holy world has now passed away, Holy Father, the holy son was beloved, in joy and beauty with the faces of angelic joy ѡ fun.

The indescribable sweets of paradise were still partakers: the shelter of the all-good and quiet seemed to them, and the alch To my wife, the teacher was here.

Bgorodichen:

Your verbs remember, now we bless you: by you, most immaculate, unspeakable bliss and life is ageless and truly perceived.

Song of ѕ҃.

Irmos:

In the abyss of sin, I call upon the abyss, inexhaustibly, with your mercy: I will raise you up.

The blessed hopes of the blessed one, the blessed one, the blessedness of the former heir, and the blessed one.

The light-filled saints and their blessings, based on your confession and fasting, are contained in the nbsa, but you will not be rich in any way.

Enjoy the endless and precious sweets in these days, and the skins, and we pray to all of us.

Bgorodichen:

Now I come running to you, first of all, save me with your prayers, and observe: whatever you want, you can, whatever you want, you can do everything you can.

Kontakion, voice v҃.

Nbⷭ҇й ᲂу҆́мь и҆ стѧжавъ, сїѧ́еші ꙗ҆́́нѡ, ꙗ҆́sun on the skin with the brightness of business, enlightening the people in your life Stay true, no matter what, and bring everyone to God, the constant prayer of all of us.

Song z҃.

Irmos:

The godly command of the lawless teachers ascended high on the flame: the gods also spread the godly growth of the three I am blessed and glorified.

Your meekness is great in the hand of humility of the faithful, with frequent prayers of this, we have forgotten: the message is to create the will of those who are afraid of this place.

The thunder of your dogmas, and the light-bearing light of your life, your world is ᲂу҆ѧснѝ, faithful illuminating words. If you and the world are bright, you are most blessed.

Fortress housing ᲂu҆tѣshitelѧ, demѡnskih regiments and ѣѣtey є҆retі́ch, bg҃omꙋ́dre, and izbѣzhal є҆сѝ: and ҆ to nbⷭ҇нѣ you the hundred have ascended, from the faces of the bodiless now.

Bgorodichen:

The temple was sacred to everyone, even though it created two steps: it contained everything that was inconceivable, the world was renewed. at the same time we preach.

Song and.

Irmos:

The furnace is sometimes ignited in the Babylonian day of the division, which burns with the command of the Chaldeans and burns, the faith also improves, I sing Yesterday: bless you, everything is going where, where.

All superiority, blessedness, mentality, now the light has come closer, honestly, we are blessed with enlightenment and enlightenment. Let's fulfill, call: bless, all things where, where.

By the deadness of passions we are bleached, by the life-giving, we are exulting in jubilation, in all-blessings, in piety, in life-giving, and in virtues We are, calling: exalt, all things where, where.

All virtues, God, from infancy and development, at the end of your achievements, we will beautified, blessed appeared to you, and according to ́honor є҆сѝ, поѧ̀: exalt, all things whereⷭ҇нѧ, whereⷭ҇а.

From above we are now being watched, by your lord, your namesake victory is ahead, you boldly have a lot of things, and you are asking for more, with love, salvation, sacred love, your flock.

Bgorodichen:

You are inseparable, you lived in the womb, conceived without seed, and gave birth to the unspeakable mother of God ѧ: Moreover, we know the salvation of all of us.

Song ѳ҃.

Irmos:

Beginning is the parent of the dream, bg҃y and gdⷭ҇, incarnating two, we ꙗ҆вссѧ, ѡ҆mrachє́нnaѧ enlighten, gather wasteful. Thus we magnify everyone.

Bzhⷭ҇tvenny lordship ꙗ҆́кѡ purity has inspired є҆сѝ, the kind of virtues ѡ҆лѧсѧ, and ҆цpоѣѣ́daniѧ crown ꙗ҆́вѣ ᲂ We decorate: we also bless your all-celebratory holiday.

Meaningful, blessed one, your life has been completed, commanded by the Lord: now is the past, the joyful life of eternity is worthy I have received it from the Most Holy One.

The current ones quickly moved to this place, to a quiet place, no one, the heart of the world is happy ꙋ: to him, instruct us, those who are blessed, and those who honor your memory.

Bgorodichen:

The shadows of this day are pro-forma, in it the tablets and the statue, and the golden ark: just as they are, so are you without a beginning word in the morning it contained everything, btsⷣe, embodied.

Temple in honor of the saint

In addition to the face of the saint, which can be purchased at any candle shop, you can also visit the shrine. On the territory of Russia there is the Church of Nikita of Midice in Volgograd. This is the only old religious building that has survived. Its construction dates back to 1795. Worship services take place daily. In 1990, the interior was restored. More detailed information about it can be found on the Internet on the monastery page.

The best article for you, go to: Athonite Elder Sophrony (Sakharov)

Remember that God's grace will descend on us only after we sincerely ask Him for it.

God bless you!

You will also be interested in watching a video story about the holy confessor: