When Nikita's wife was preparing dinner, she saw human heads, arms and legs floating in the cauldron. She was very frightened and immediately called her husband, and he saw the same thing. And suddenly his conscience awoke, Nikita realized what he was doing. With his extortions, he acted like a real murderer. Then he began to pray to God to help him find the right path and follow it.
Nikita Stylite is a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is revered by the church in the ranks of the saints. The name of the saint is known to everyone, as he became famous for his feat of stylite monastery in the Nikitsky Monastery. His memory is celebrated on May 23 and 24.
Nikita Stylite - saint of the Russian Orthodox Church
Nikita Stolpnik Pereslavsky was the man who was responsible for collecting government taxes
Nikita the Stylite of Pereslavl was the man who was responsible for collecting government taxes. In 1152, Yuri Dolgoruky decided to move the city of Pereslavl and the temple in honor of the All-Merciful Savior to another place. Then the intensive collection of money from local residents began. Nikita robbed people and collected huge sums of money for himself. This went on for many years. But the Lord himself decided to bring Nikita to repentance.
One day he came to church and heard the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“Wash yourself and you will be clean, take away wickedness from your souls... learn to do good... deliver the offended, judge the orphan (protect the orphan) and justify the widow.”
Isaiah 1:16-17
At the same moment, Nikita was very shocked by these words. They penetrated to the very depths of his heart. That night Nikita did not sleep, the words of the prophet were still heard in his head.
The next day, Nikita decided to call his friends over to try to forget these words and somehow distract himself. But the Lord still called Nikita to repentance. When Nikita's wife was preparing dinner, she saw human heads, arms and legs floating in the cauldron. She was very frightened and immediately called her husband, and he saw the same thing.
And suddenly his conscience awoke, Nikita realized what he was doing. With his extortions, he acted like a real murderer. Then he began to pray to God to help him find the right path and follow it.
Nikita Stylite realized what a sinful life he lived. He asked God to guide him on the path of salvation
History of storage of chains and crosses
Before the revolution, holy chains and crosses were kept in the Nikitsky Monastery, the last abbot of which was Father Theophan. Due to his age, his blind wife and mentally ill son, he was not arrested immediately, which allowed the priest to hide the shrines in the monastery watchman’s house.
In 1939, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, where Father Feofan served, was closed, the priest was arrested, but before that he managed to hand over the sacred chains to two nuns, Althea and Glafira.
Elderly women, risking their freedom and life, in their wanderings with reverent tenderness kept the holy things, wrapped in birch bark, allowing their Christian friends to touch them. The offerings left by the believers saved the nuns from starvation.
In 1942, after the vile murder of Althea, Glafira handed over the chains and crosses to the Church of the Intercession, to Father Alexei Gromov. After the murder of nun Glafira, the nun of the Intercession Church, which did not close during the troubled time, took custody of the sacred objects.
Father Alexey lost heart and joined the renovationists. This fact turned the believers away from coming, but the war did its dirty work; people who received funerals came to the only church in the city for the funeral service of the dead. Priest Alexey, who repented in 1949, left; since 1953 the temple was under the care of Archimandrite Tavrion (Batozsky).
By that time, the large chains were in the Pereslavl museum, and the small ones were soon transported to the Latvian city of Jelgava, where Father Tavrion was transferred.
Nikitsky Monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky
The keeper of the shrine became the Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya hermitage; after the return of the Nikitsky monastery to the Orthodox Church, small chains and crosses were transported to the Nikitsky monastery. Large chains were given to the temple by the director of the museum, Mikhail Semenov.
Read about other temples:
- Temples of Kursk
- Temples of Serpukhov
- Wooden temples
Nikita came to the walls of the monastery to ask the abbot for help
Nikita ran out of the house, and several miles from the city he saw a monastery in the name of the Great Martyr Nikita. Crying and sobbing, Nikita fell at the feet of the abbot and began to ask him: “Save the perishing soul!”
Then the abbot himself, from the Pereslavl Monastery, decided to test his sincerity. He gave him his first obedience. He had to stand at the monastery gates for three days and confess his sins to all the people. Nikita accepted his first assignment.
Three days later, the abbot sent one monk to the gate to see how he was coping with his task. But the monk did not find Nikita on the spot. He found him lying in the swamp. The abbot and his brethren took him to the monastery and tonsured him into monasticism.
The Monk Nikita the Stylite of Pereyaslavl fulfilled all his vows. He spent days and nights in prayer. He put chains on himself and, at the places of his exploits, he dug two large wells.
Nikita put the chains on himself. Chains are iron chains, stripes, rings that Christians wear on their naked bodies to humble their flesh.
After some time, Nikita dug a large round hole and placed a stone cap on his head. Thus, he became like the ancient stylites. Nikita helped many people with his prayers to God.
Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich suffered from bodily relaxation from a very young age. One day he learned about Saint Nikita and his power. Prince Mikhail immediately had the idea of visiting the place where the saint himself was. He sent one of his people to Nikita to ask him for help.
The saint saw the efforts of the prince and gave the man a rod. He told the prince to touch him. As soon as Prince Mikhail took the rod in his hands, he immediately felt healthy.
Relics of Saint Nikita the Stylite
An unknown force brought Elder Simeon of the Peter and Paul Monastery in Yaroslavl to the river bank to pray, when suddenly he saw three luminous rays, ran to the monastery and reported the miracle to the abbot. The abbot of the monastery, the priesthood, all the inhabitants, city elders and townspeople went to the river and witnessed the appearance of three crosses with chains above the water surface.
Accompanied by prayerful chants, holy objects were brought ashore and delivered to the monastery of Peter and Paul. All those present at the miracle received healings, which did not stop when the chains with crosses were transferred to Nikita’s tomb.
With the blessing of Saint Metropolitan Photius of Moscow, in 1425 it was decided to open the relics of the saint.
After the prayer service, the grave of Nikita the Stylite was dug up, an incorrupt body wrapped in birch bark was taken out, when suddenly an earthen rampart covered the pit with the body, and a real hurricane broke out over those present, scattering those digging from the grave. Many present were traumatized, some lost their minds.
Cancer with the relics of Nikita Stylite
Until the beginning of the third millennium, the holy relics were not touched. In 2000, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II blessed the discovery of the holy relics of St. Nikita, which are still kept in the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and are open for veneration by parishioners. Next to the saint's shrine there are crosses and chains of the Stylite.
In 2004, with the support of philanthropists and parishioners, the Cathedral of the Great Martyr Nikita the Stylite was restored, delighting those around with the radiance of golden crosses.
The Monk Nikita the Stylite ended his life with martyrdom
He ended his life with martyrdom. One day his relatives saw chains and crosses on him. They mistook them for silver and wanted to take possession of them. In 1186, they dismantled the covering of the pillar and killed the ascetic, after which they took the crosses and chains and ran away.
In the morning he was discovered by a sexton. He called everyone else to this place. The abbot and the brethren then found Nikita himself. A fragrance came from his body.
Holy Father Nikita, staying in his pillar and offering constant prayers to God, gave healing to everyone who came to him to receive healing from ailments
His killers saw that it was not silver, but iron, and began to throw chains into the Volga. But the Lord glorified these exploits of the saint. At night, Elder Simeon saw three bright rays of light. He told the abbot about this, and, having gathered together by the river, they saw three crosses and chains. They took them to the Nikitsky monastery and placed them on the tomb of the Monk Nikita. Afterwards, healings took place at this place.
One day Saint Photius in 1420 insisted that the relics of Saint Nikita be opened. When the abbot and the brethren performed a prayer service, and then opened the birch bark with which Nikita was wrapped, when suddenly the grave was covered with earth. The saint's relics remained hidden. At this place in 1511 a chapel was built in honor of St. Nikita.
Martyrdom
The miracle of the prince’s healing became known throughout the area; sick, infirm and people suffering from seizures flocked to the pillar. The reverend monk did not refuse anyone what they asked for. One night, relatives turned to the pillar for help, but, seduced by the shine of the chains wiped to a shine on the saint’s skin, mistaking them for silver, they decided to kill the monk.
The killers, driven by fear and joy from acquiring the loot, ran to the river bank, where they decided to inspect the “wealth”; their horror and disappointment knew no bounds when, upon discovery, iron was discovered instead of silver. With anger and despair, the killers threw the loot, the price of which was the death of the saint, into the river.
On May 24, 1186, the sexton and the abbot found the body of an associate wrapped in rough linen, but there were no chains, crosses or staff with him. The dead body that had lain overnight had no smell of decay, it was fragrant.
Singing and the burning of many candles accompanied the burial of the venerable body of the stylite near the Church of St. Nikita. Everyone present at the funeral was healed.
A prayer was written to Nikita the Stylite, which can be read at home in front of the icon
A prayer was also written for Nikita the Stylite, which can be read at home in front of his icon.
Prayer to Nikita Stylite:
Oh, all-honorable head, reverend and blessed father, venerable martyr Nikita! Do not forget your poor to the end, but always remember us in your holy and auspicious prayers to God and do not forget to visit your children. Pray for us, good father and chosen one of Christ, as if you have boldness towards the Heavenly King, and do not remain silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us, who honor you with faith and love. Remember us, unworthy, at the Throne of the Almighty and do not stop praying for us to Christ God:
You were given the grace to pray for us. We do not think that you are dead, even though you have passed away from us in body, but even after death you remain alive. Do not depart from us in spirit, preserving and keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of the demonic, our good intercessor and prayer book.
Even though your relics are always visible before our eyes, your holy soul with the angelic hosts, with the disembodied faces, with the heavenly powers at the Throne of the Almighty God rejoices with dignity.
Knowing that you are truly and alive after death, we bow down to you, and we pray to you, and we pray to you, praying for us to the Almighty God for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance and the unrestrained passage from earth to Heaven, and bitter ordeals, and the princes of the air, and eternal torment, we will be delivered, and we will be heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven with all the righteous who have pleased Him from all eternity, our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with His Beginning Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Venerable Nikita Stolpnik, Pereslavl miracle worker with his life. Icon, XVII century. Germany, Munich, Brenske Gallery
Posthumous miracles of Nikita Stylite
In 1515, the Pereslavl deacon Eustathius lost his reason, but as soon as the iron shrines of the Stylite were placed on him, his reason returned.
Suffering from physical weakness, Ivan Turkov in 1884 witnessed complete healing after reading a prayer to the saint.
Arriving at the monastery, Yakov Okhanov, having accepted monasticism with the name Joachim, was assigned to rewrite the holy scriptures, but fell into temptation and began to study witchcraft books and practice sorcery. The Lord was angry with the self-confident monk who took on the task of healing a demoniac who was brought by relatives to the relics of Nikita the Stylite.
People complained to the abbot about Joachim, but the monk denied that he was a sorcerer. At that moment, when the demoniac leaned over the saint’s chains with a kiss, the hypocritical monk was thrown to the ground by an unknown force, screamed for a long time and died, and the demoniac Hilarion received healing.
Ivan Lopatkin not only lost his mind, but became numb as the members of his body relaxed. His wife tried all the remedies and herbs, in despair and hope she took her sick husband to the Nikitsky Monastery.
As he approached the relics of the saint, Ivan felt the approach of death, but his wife did not despair, but began to pray fervently and remained with her dying husband for the Liturgy. While singing the Trisagion, Lopatkin became motionless, but as soon as the Cherubic hymn sounded, he began to breathe, crossed himself independently, stood up and venerated the holy relics, which bestow healing through faith and the power of prayer. Ivan Lopatkin's health and mind have fully recovered.
Icon of Saint Nikita of Pereslavl
During the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a certain Simeon, who had a possessed wife, worked on the construction of the temple. Having tried all the prayers and folk remedies, Simeon and his wife went to the Nikitsky grave, near which the demons attacked the sick woman so much that several strong men could not restrain her.
The abbot of the monastery ordered to put holy chains on the possessed woman; for five days the devil did not let go of Evdokia’s soul, but in the end he gave in, and the woman prayed with tears in her eyes in the temple, asking God for cleansing from the evil one.
Having fallen asleep during prayer at the pillar of the saint, in a dream she saw Nikita the Stylite, who ordered her to pray to the Savior. Waking up, Evdokia told her husband about the dream, they went to the Liturgy, and after taking communion the woman received complete healing.
The Nikitsky monastery keeps more than one evidence of healings granted both to royalty and to ordinary people.
In the 21st century, Svirelin composed an akathist to Saint Nikita
In the 21st century, Archpriest A. Svirelin composed an akathist to Saint Nikita, which is read in all churches.
Akathist to Nikita Stylite:
Kontakion 1
Chosen wonderworker and great servant of Christ! We praise you with love, your child, the warmth of the intercessor to God that you have acquired. You pray to the Lord, who has glorified you, to free us from all troubles, calling: Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Ikos 1
Like the angels and the demons of the enemy, having foreseen thee of all creation, the Creator of prophetic words: wash and cleanse yourself, declaring you to repentance, like the second Paul, humanely calling to yourself, teach us to please you:
Rejoice, chosen vessel, foreknown from above by God; Rejoice, you who were provided for the temple of the All-Holy Spirit. Rejoice, thou vouchsafed the Divine calling; Rejoice, thou art worthy of justification from the Lord.
Rejoice, having received the grace of God that softens your heart; Rejoice, you who shed currents of tears from cleansing repentance. Rejoice, having received faith in the Lord who called you without doubt; Rejoice, having surrendered everything to the guidance of God.
Rejoice, having forsaken your spouse and your minions for the Lord’s sake; Rejoice, having directed your irrevocable march towards attaining salvation.
Rejoice, acquirer of the Kingdom of Heaven; Rejoice, for all those who come to you warmly to the Lord, the representative. Rejoice, Venerable Nikitas, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 2
Seeing your wife, marveling at the transformation of edible meats supposedly into human members and perplexed about the inscrutable destinies of God, you were illuminated from above, you confessed that the Lord was calling you to repentance, and you knew that you could sing to the God who saves you: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The misunderstood mind, manifested in your wondrous calling, seeking to understand, Reverend Father Nikito, you thought how in the Lord you could put the world and the devil to shame, you flowed to the Lavra of the Holy Great Martyr Nikita Abiy, where we will perceive the angelic image, you have appeared like a warrior of Christ.
We, who glorified the Lord who saved you, joyfully cry out to you: Rejoice, like a publican, crying out to the Lord for mercy; Rejoice, as a lost son, seeking the Heavenly Father. Rejoice, as a Canaanite, who did not depart from Christ; Rejoice, like a harlot, weeping over sins.
Rejoice, like Hezekiah, who prayed tenderly; Rejoice, like Manasseh, humbled in repentance. Rejoice, like Job, who patiently endured temptation; Rejoice, as Daniel, having understood the wisdom of God. Rejoice, you who have shown David’s repentance; Rejoice, you who shed Peter's tears.
Rejoice, you have found the true path to eternal life; Rejoice, like a creen, prosperous with Divine love. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High autumn of you, reverend Father Nikita, when in the beginning you were not honored to receive the Great Martyr Nikita into the Lavra, and for three days before your gates you sat down and publicly confessed your sins as a victor against the devil, teaching us to sing to God, who gives strength to His people: Alleluia .
Ikos 3
You had the auspicious desire to settle in the holy monastery of the Great Martyr Nikita, but having been cut off from your sowing, you plunged naked into the muddy place to be tormented by moss and reptiles. We marvel at your strong patience and cry out to you:
Rejoice, thou who died to the world once and forever; Rejoice, unrepentantly despising all the red of this world. Rejoice, humbler of vainglorious thoughts; Rejoice, thought affirmed in God. Rejoice, you who have dried up the love of money; Rejoice, deadly lust.
Rejoice, having put aside all anger and excess of malice; Rejoice, lover of humility. Rejoice, having hated your soul according to the word of Christ; Rejoice, you who have offended Belial by good deeds.
Rejoice, crucified flesh with passions and lusts; Rejoice, because you have converted not to yourself, but to God alone, you live. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 4
Having a storm inside with doubtful thoughts, the holy laurels of the abbot were confused, in vain you, who were sin-loving, who bravely dared to do the exploits of monastics, shut you up in a place of crampedness to test the goodness of your will; You, like David against Goliath, joyfully ran against the devil with the stone of faith, singing to the Lord of hosts: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the stories of the lives of the ancient ascetics, reverend, how we were instructed and strengthened by the Lord, adding labor to labor, you became jealous to imitate, and, with the blessing of the abbot, you placed heavy chains on yourself, day and night you remained in prayer. We, glorifying your wondrous asceticism, call you like this:
Rejoice, captivated by the life of the desert fathers; Rejoice, inflamed with Divine love. Rejoice, lover of arbitrary captivity; Rejoice, you who put iron on yourself to mortify the flesh. Rejoice, tireless in labors; Rejoice, uncooled in piety.
Rejoice, cohabitant in the flesh of disembodied Angels; Rejoice, conqueror of your will of God's will. Rejoice, having astonished the bodiless with your corrections; Rejoice, the true image of the life of the angels has been revealed to us.
Rejoice, I will take you deep into conversation with God; Rejoice, abundantly enriched by the grace of God. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 5
The God-song Psalter for reaching the Heavenly Fatherland, like a lamp, held in your mind, with it you glorified the Heavenly Father, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen those near and far, your life according to God, O Reverend, I was amazed at the wonderful change in your morals, but I glorified your virtues and deeds, and with them we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for in old age you showed the strength of a man; Rejoice, for you have justified your vow of monasticism by your deeds.
Rejoice, thou who labored in the many-passionate flesh, as if incorporeal; Rejoice, abundantly fruitful in good thoughts and deeds. Rejoice, through your exploits you raise us up from laziness; Rejoice, through your life show the path to salvation to everyone.
Rejoice, you who have shown great love for God; Rejoice, having experienced God's help in many ways. Rejoice, God's love for the repentant is a mirror; Rejoice, for those who strive against the devil have a strong hold.
Rejoice, I will pray for you to the coming God for us; Rejoice, and offer up your monastery to the indestructible guardian. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Venerable Nikita Stylite, Pereslavl Wonderworker. Icon, XVII century. Moscow, Church-archaeological office of the Moscow Theological Academy
Kontakion 6
Your heavy chains preach, to the humble wise Nikito, the labors and illnesses that you lifted up for God’s sake, and for their sake the Lord wondrously glorified you, pouring out abundant healing streams from you to us, so that we may sing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The grace of the All-Holy Spirit, the seer of the future and the speedy liberator of the demons, has risen in your contrite heart, showing you, reverend, teaching everyone to cry out to you:
Rejoice, first one, as one who truly prophesied; Rejoice, you who are far away, for you who are near are clear-sighted. Rejoice, for you explained to Prince Mikhail the guilt of his bodily weakening; Rejoice, for you foretold the martyrdom of him and his life as a boyar.
Rejoice, glorified with the prophets; Rejoice, thou numbered among the wonderworker. Rejoice, destroyer of the devil's pride; Rejoice, demon driver. Rejoice, having trampled upon the power of the enemy; Rejoice, thou who excelled in the power of God.
Rejoice, for you have gained the Kingdom of God within yourself; Rejoice, for you have received Christ to live in you forever. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 7
I want the devil to frighten you, standing in prayer, with his appearance in the form of a dragon, with the weapon of the cross you inflicted endless defeat, chanting to the conqueror God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The Creator has shown you a new creation, turning your heart from love of peace to great love of God, Reverend Father, as you ascended onto a pillar, like Elijah on a chariot of fire, vigil, fasting and prayer, like fleeting horses, you gained from earth to heaven, and so Having presented yourself to Christ, you will intercede for us, crying out to you:
Rejoice, for through God you have come to know true life; Rejoice, for you have shown this to those who seek it through your deeds. Rejoice, thou shod with the great wisdom of this age; Rejoice, you revealed true wisdom in humility.
Rejoice, thou who has accepted the yoke of Christ: Rejoice, thou who has justified His goodness by life. Rejoice, you who graciously bore the wounds of the Lord Jesus on your body; Rejoice, you have sacrificed everything to yourself to the Lord.
Rejoice, earthly wanderer; Rejoice, God's chosen one. Rejoice, teacher of monks; Rejoice, God-pleasing prayer book for us. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 8
A strange and glorious miracle is seen by everyone who flows to you, Father Nikito, as the water from the treasures you have dug, drawn with faith, heals bodily and mental ailments, teaching the miracle-working God to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You have been blessed entirely by the All-Holy God, O Reverend Father, for in spirit you stand before the Throne of God, but with your body resting in the bowels of the earth, you grant healing from your grave. For this reason we appeal to you like this:
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord of All-Blessings; Rejoice, temple adorned with the All-Holy Spirit. Rejoice, primate of the Heavenly King; Rejoice, speedy petitioner to the giver. Rejoice, source of healings; Rejoice, treasury of miracles.
Rejoice, manifest through visible miracles the invisible grace that exists in you; Rejoice, confirming the faithful souls in faith with a banner. Rejoice, radiant lamp to the children of the Church; Rejoice, wondrous servant of Christ.
Rejoice, crowned ascetic; Rejoice, beloved of God. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 9
Every angelic nature was amazed at your great gift from above, Reverend Nikito, just like your wooden staff, sent from you to the Chernigov prince Mikhail, who suffered from bodily relaxation, and received into his hand, giving him the gift of healing, and teach him to sing to the God who works wonders for you: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The branches of many things are perplexed to praise you, gloriously Father, as you gloriously overthrow the power of the enemy more than nature.
While still in the body, the demon, who walked towards you to Prince Michael, appearing in the form of a monk and praising the good prince’s undertaking, apparently you nailed Christ to the pillar in your name, and having brought power to the demons, you manifested them, destroying their malicious actions on people. For this reason we call you sitse:
Rejoice, denouncer of the devil's lies; Rejoice, the charms of demons are a disgrace. Rejoice, thou who hast received power over unclean spirits; Rejoice, thou who held thee even after death. Rejoice, for the demons and your tomb are trembling; Rejoice, for your chains also shoot scorching arrows at them.
Rejoice, for the demons are drawn into your abode by need; Rejoice, for they leave the thuja healthy and intelligent. Rejoice, for the demons are here and do not want to reveal themselves; Rejoice, for when you are persecuted, those possessed by them will soon run away.
Rejoice, river of healing that flows quickly; Rejoice, guardian of the eternal monastery. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 10
Although you have learned to save your soul, God-wise Father, in the meekness and humbleness of Christ you have learned and wondrously succeeded. In the same way, even with your servant, who wants to take away your soul, you have rejected nothing, and you have cried out below; but, like a gentle lamb, bowing your head, you accepted death from those, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Thou art a wall to all who praise thee and flow with faith to thy intercession, O Stylite Nikita. Likewise, for us who come running to you, be an unshakable pillar, shielding and protecting us from all troubles and misfortunes, for which we sing to you like this:
Rejoice, refuge of the overwhelmed; Rejoice, help of the embittered. Rejoice, comforter of the sorrowful; Rejoice, strengthener of the weak. Rejoice, propitiate sinners of God; Rejoice, confirm the good in goodness.
Rejoice, you who encourage those who repent by your example; Rejoice, strive for the salvation of those who strive. Rejoice, pacifier of those who are troubled by thoughts; Rejoice, reflector of the enemy's slander.
Rejoice, our kings have power and praise; Rejoice, affirmation and beauty of the city of Pereslavl. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 11
Singing of thanksgiving to the Lord is brought by everyone who receives, sees and hears the numerous miracles that come from the heavy chains and your grave through the power of God, even as you glorify in heaven, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
A luminous luminary, shining in the firmament of the church, the Reverend Father Nikito, showing you three fiery pillars that appeared over those defeated by your murderers and like a tree in the waters of the Volga, your chains floated, which you laid here on your tomb, as an honor for your labors, in the night vision You commanded.
For the sake of your establishment in the light of the saints, having understood you, we sing to you: Rejoice, inhabitant of the Divine village; Rejoice, you who have achieved eternal rest. Rejoice, enjoyer of unspeakable blessings; Rejoice, you who are satisfied with the sight of God.
Rejoice, ever rejoicing with the Angels; Rejoice, you who continually sing the Trisagion. Rejoice, honored with the saints; Rejoice, crowned with the martyrs. Rejoice, filled with eternal joy; Rejoice, overjoyed by Divine love.
Rejoice, for through you the Most High is glorified in heaven and on earth; Rejoice, for for this sake you too have been glorified by the Most High in heaven and on earth. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 12
The grace of your miracles, Rev. Father Nikito, in the heart of High Hierarch Photius, the desire to find your multi-healing relics was kindled. But you, God-wise, even if you allowed to dig up and see your incorruptible and miraculously fragrant body; Moreover, just as before human glory, you fled from the temple, like a storm, having torn everyone away, you hid it in the ground. For the sake of the wondrous God Jacob in His saints, we sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing gloriously the miracles of the Heavenly King who works by you, we praise you, most glorious father, even with unworthy lips, but at the same time diligently pleasing you:
Rejoice, the honorable One of the Most Holy Trinity was also praised; Rejoice, pure and immaculate village of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, abyss of miracles, poured out by God: Rejoice, world maker, abundant in healing for all ailments.
Rejoice, thou art like a lamb and a shepherd; Rejoice, adorned with every Divine gift. Rejoice, rule of faith and image of spiritual meekness; Rejoice, viewer of the inexpressible beauty of the Divine.
Rejoice, fragrance of the peace of Christ; Rejoice, multi-colored tree of paradise. Rejoice, as the Angels rejoice over your corrections; Rejoice, for many people are being saved by your example and intercession. Rejoice, Reverend Nikita, pillar-bearer and miracle worker.
Kontakion 13
Oh, glorious miracle worker and great servant of Christ, Nikita the Martyr! Accept our present laudatory offering, do not forsake ever interceding for us with the Heavenly Father, so that in living this life the snares of the enemy and the charms of demons may escape, airy ordeals and Gehenna will all escape, and having settled in the heavenly Jerusalem, we will be vouchsafed with you to sing to our All-Good God the eternally silent: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
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