Eastern Rite - Feasts of 3 April AM 7532

Today is Bright Tuesday and the Feast of Our Venerable Father and Confessor Nikḗtas, Hegumen of the Monastery of Mydicius.

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Saint Nikḗtas the Confessor was born in Bithynian Caesarea (northwest Asia Minor) to a pious family. His mother died eight days after his birth, and his father Philaretos became a monk. The child remained in the care of his grandmother, who raised him in a true Christian spirit. From his youth, Saint Nikḗtas attended church and was a disciple of the hermit Stephanos. With his blessing, Saint Nikḗtas set off to the Mydicia monastery, where Saint Nikēphóros (March 13) was the igumen.

After seven years of virtuous life at the monastery, famed for its strict monastic rule, Saint Nikḗtas was ordained presbyter. Saint Nikēphóros, knowing the holy life of the young monk, entrusted to him the guidance of the monastery when he himself became ill.

Not wanting power, Saint Nikḗtas devoted himself to the enlightenment and welfare of the monastery. He guided the brethren by his own example. Soon the fame of the lofty life of its inhabitants of the monastery attracted many seeking salvation. After several years, the number of monks had increased to one hundred.

When Saint Nikēphóros departed to the Lord in his old age, the brethren unanimously chose Saint Nikḗtas as igumen.

The Lord granted Saint Nikḗtas the gift of wonderworking. Through his prayer a deaf-mute child received the gift of speech; two demon-possessed women were healed; he restored reason to one who had lost his mind, and many of the sick were healed of their infirmities.

During these years under the Emperor, Leo the Armenian (813-820), the Iconoclast heresy resurfaced and oppression increased. Catholic bishops were deposed and banished. At Constantinople, a council of heretics was convened in 815, at which they deposed the holy Patriarch Nikēphóros (806-815), and in his place, they chose the heretical layman Theodotus. They also installed heretics in place of exiled and imprisoned Catholic bishops.

The Emperor summoned all the heads of the monasteries and tried to bring them over to the Iconoclast heresy. Among those summoned was Saint Nikḗtas, who stood firmly for the Catholic confession. Following his example, all the igumens remained faithful to the veneration of holy icons. Therefore, they threw him into prison. Saint Nikḗtas bravely underwent all the tribulations and encouraged firmness of spirit in the other prisoners.

Then the Emperor and the false Patriarch Theodotus attempted to trick those who remained faithful to Catholic teaching. They promised that the Emperor would give them their freedom and permit the veneration of the icons on one condition: that they take Communion from the pseudo-patriarch Theodotus.

For a long time, the saint had doubts about entering into communion with a heretic, but other prisoners begged him to go along with them. Acceding to their entreaties, Saint Nikḗtas went into the church, where icons were put out to deceive the confessors, and he accepted Communion.

But when he returned to his monastery and saw that the persecution against icons was continuing, he then repented of his deed, returned to Constantinople and fearlessly denounced the Iconoclast heresy. He ignored all the Emperor’s threats.

Saint Nikḗtas was again locked up in prison for six years until the death of Emperor Leo the Armenian. Enduring hunger and travail, Saint Nikḗtas worked miracles by the power of his prayers: through his prayer the Phrygian ruler released two captives without ransom; three shipwrecked men for whom Saint Nikḗtas prayed, were thrown up on shore by the waves.

Saint Nikḗtas reposed in the Lord in 824. The saint’s body was buried at the monastery with reverence. Later, his relics became a source of healing for those coming to venerate the holy confessor.

Troparion — Tone 4

You were a firm pillar and an undaunted guardian of sacred tradition, O Nicetas; / you were adorned with holy dispassion and became an illustrious confessor of the Faith. / Accept the prayers of those who cry to you, / interceding for them with Christ our God.

Kontakion — Tone 2

You acquired a heavenly mind and life, / shining as brightly as the sun in the splendour of your deeds! / Father Nicetas, you enlighten those in the darkness of life guiding them all to God. / Pray without ceasing for us all!