Saint Nikita is one of the most beloved and revered saints of God in the Russian Orthodox Church. Even during his lifetime, he became famous as a healer of various ailments, including spiritual ones. Through his holy prayers, people tormented by illness received sudden healing from the Lord. However, even after his death, the saint does not cease to intercede for people who come running to him with sincere requests. Through the fervent prayers of Great Martyr Nikita, the Lord grants recovery from serious illnesses, and also helps to resolve many worldly troubles.
Baptism of a saint
The Great Martyr Nikita was born on the banks of the formidable Danube. The saint was born during the reign of Constantine the Great, when the faith of Christ finally began to be openly preached in all countries. In the country of the Goths, where Saint Nikita grew up, Christianity also quickly became the dominant religion. The future great martyr received holy baptism from the reigning bishop Theophilus, who became a participant in the first Council of Nicaea.
The Great Battle
However, the light of Christ was not given to shine for long in the Gothic country. Soon the impious prince Phanarikh ascended the throne, who, driven by malice and envy of the zealots of the Christian faith, ordered the death of all the heralds of the Savior's teachings. The Goths were divided into two opposing camps. The first was headed by a certain Fritigern, who was a true preacher of Christ. The second camp was taken under the command of a furious persecutor of Christians named Athanarich. In the country where the saint lived, a great bloody battle took place, as a result of which the Christians were victorious. Athanarih fled in great disgrace, and the faith of Christ became even more widespread among the Goths.
Saint Nikita also gave a lot of strength to ensure that the teachings of Christ entered into every home of his fellow tribesmen. His pious life was for many Goths an example of true Christian piety.
After the death of Bishop Theophilus, Urfil took his place in the cathedra. Being a prudent man, he invented letters for the inhabitants of his native country and translated many Christian books from Greek into Gothic.
Return of Athanaric
But soon another terrible test was to befall Nikita's country. Once exiled Afanarich returned to its borders. Desiring to receive retribution for the humiliation suffered, the wicked again raised an army against the Christians. Many zealots of the Christian faith were put to death by him in cruel tortures. But most of all, Afanarich longed for the death of the Great Martyr Nikita. The latter never hid from cruel reprisals, but always openly preached the teachings of the Savior. Being thrown into prison, he strengthened Christians there with the word of faith, who were preparing to accept torment for Christ.
Death of a Saint
The most terrible tortures were prepared for the Preacher of Christ from Afanarich. The king's servants laid the saint on a wooden couch and lit a fire on him. But the saint of God, getting up from his place, blew on the flame, and the fire immediately went out. Green grass sprouted in its place. Seeing that the torments he invented did not bring the proper result, Afanarich ordered that the flesh of the saint be subjected to torture. Trying to persuade a pious man to the pagan faith, the wicked ordered to starve him. Great Martyr Nikita spent three years in heavy chains, until one day the tsar again remembered him and ordered him to be brought to him.
Afanarich gave the order to throw the preacher of Christ into the fire. The saint died a martyr's death. But his body was not touched by the flames. The opponents of Christianity, once again seeing with their own eyes the miracle of God, decided to leave the remains of the saint without burial. His body was dishonorably thrown on the ground away from the people.
Feat Marian
At the same time, a pious man named Marian lived in the Gothic country. The latter was a close friend of the saint during his lifetime. He always admired the steadfast and fearless faith of the saint of God. But Marian especially fell in love with him when he saw how the holy Great Martyr Nikita courageously endures all the preparations for Athanaric.torture.
Having learned that the body of the teacher was thrown out into the street with dishonor, the pious young man immediately decided to give it to burial. Fearing to be seen by Athanaric, Marian decided to fulfill his wish in the dead of night. But he did not know where the tormentors left the wounded body of Nikita. Then the Lord himself sent Mariana a guide in the form of a star, which led him to the teacher.
For some time he kept the holy remains of Nikita at his place. Then, returning to his homeland, to Cilicia, Marian betrayed them to burial within the walls of his house.
Soon, numerous healings began to be performed from the honest relics of the saint. Every day, hundreds of believers came to Marian's house, who received grace-filled help through the prayers of the Great Martyr Nikita. The fame of the relics of the saint spread far beyond the borders of Cilicia.
Subsequently, the remains of the great martyr were transferred to Constantinople. In the Serbian monastery Vysokie Decani there is also a particle of the relics of the great saint of God.
Miracles through the prayers of a saint
The icon of St. Nikita was especially revered in Russia. In the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky, a monastery was erected in honor of the Great Martyr in the ninth century.
In the Nikitsky Cathedral there is an image of a saint, from whom miraculous help was sent many times to believers. The preacher of the Christian faith is often prayed for the he alth of children, for healing from a relative. In addition, the saint of God helps in spiritual warfare against the enemy of the human race. Great Martyr Nikita is often prayed by military leaders on the eve ofbig battles. The saint is considered the patron saint of the army.
Also, Saint Nikita has been a protector of all waterfowl since ancient times. Therefore, villagers and owners of poultry farms also often turn to God's saint for help.
The Great Martyr is commemorated by the Russian Orthodox Church on September 28. On St. Nikita's Day, everyone who was named after him at baptism celebrates their name day.
