Last year, while harvesting potatoes from his plot, one of the residents of the village of Omgovichi, east of the city of Slutsk, found an ancient icon “St. Nikita Besogon” or “Nikita beating the demon.”
The approximate size of the find is 6x5 cm, thickness is about 1.5 mm. The material is probably copper or bronze. In the center is depicted the Great Martyr Nikita, holding a demon by the ears with his left hand, and a rope or chains with his right hand.
You can find quite a lot of information about Saint Nikita Besogon on the Internet, sometimes contradictory. We will limit ourselves to the most, in our opinion, widespread and reliable.
Nikita Besogon is also known as Nikita Gothic (? - 372) - a Christian saint, revered among the great martyrs. The memory is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on September 15 (according to the Julian calendar, September 28 according to the present day), in the Catholic Church on September 15.
Nikita was a Goth by origin, born and lived on the banks of the Danube. He received baptism from Bishop Theophilus, a participant in the First Ecumenical Council. Together with the Gothic bishop Wulfila, he participated in the spread of Christianity among his fellow tribesmen. He fought in the troops of the Gothic leader Fritigern against Athanaric during the inter-tribal conflict.
After the pagan Athanaric returned to power, he continued preaching Christianity and denounced Atanarikh (the life attributes the persecution of Christians to the machinations of the devil and, in connection with this, gives Nikita’s actions the character of a fight against the demon). Nikita was arrested and tortured.
The various torments with which they wanted to force the good sufferer of Christ to renounce Christ were powerless, and the tormentor himself was at a loss why, with all his power, he could not bend to his wickedness one servant of Christ, firm in his confession like a strong and unshakable pillar
Nikita was executed in 372 by burning. According to the life, the fire did not burn the saint’s body and it was buried in Cilicia by his friend Marian. Later the relics were transferred to Constantinople, and part of the relics to the Serbian monastery of Vysoki Decani.
Several Russian monasteries were dedicated to the Great Martyr Nikita (the current Nikitsky monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky, the abolished Nikitsky in Moscow, Alexandrovsky Nikitsky in Kashira, Nikitsky in Dmitrov). The Moscow Nikitsky Monastery gave the name to Bolshaya Nikitskaya and Malaya Nikitskaya streets, Nikitsky Lane; Once upon a time there were the Nikitsky Gates of Kitay-Gorod, named after the monastery, thanks to which the names Nikitsky Gate Square and the Theater “At the Nikitsky Gates” appeared.
And here is what Nikita Mikhalkov writes on his blog.
My heavenly patron is Saint Nikita, popularly nicknamed Besogon, the son of Tsar Maximian. He was subjected to unimaginable torture by his father for becoming a Christian, and then imprisoned for three years. Here a demon appeared to the Saint in the guise of an angel and tried to seduce Him. But Nikita, having prayed, grabbed the demon by the hair, stepped on his neck and beat him with his chains. When the king again summoned Him for questioning, Nikita brought the demon with him by the hand and showed his father who was ruling over him. And so that his father would believe in Christ, Nikita resurrected two long-dead spouses. But nothing had any effect on Maximian. And then the whole city and the queen rebelled against him. On this day, Nikita baptized eighteen thousand four hundred people and soon rested in God.
In His Life it is said that He helps in teaching, heals, casts out demons, frees from slavery, helps to repent of sins and free ourselves from the temptations of the devil.
On the website azbyka.ru we can find a life written by St. Dmitry Rostovsky.
When the honorable and life-giving cross of the Lord, this sign of victory, was raised high above the world, then Saint Nikita, the same name for victory, came under its shadow. On the eve of this day we celebrated the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, this victory invincible for the world, and now we honor Saint Nikita, whose name means winner (1). This good warrior of Jesus Christ stood under the cross, as if under a banner, to wage war against the enemies of the Holy Cross, in honor of Him Crucified on it. One fights for the king of the earth, another for his life and vain glory, another for temporary riches, but Saint Nikita fought for his only Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the King of every creation and our glory and never-failing wealth. And where and how this warrior fought for Christ - the following is told about this.
When, during the reign of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles King Constantine the Great, the holy faith began to spread throughout the entire universe, then in the Gothic country (2), on the other side of the Istra River (3) (Danube), holy piety shone like a light in the darkness. In that country Saint Nikita was born, baptized and educated. The Gothic Bishop Theophilus (4), who took part in the first Council of Nicea, confessed the dogmas of the Orthodox faith and signed the definitions of the council, enlightened Nikita with the light of faith and baptized him in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
After a little time, the ancient envious devil, unable to bear the fact that the holy faith of Christ was spreading and the number of Christians was increasing more and more, raised in this barbaric land, darkened by idolatry, a struggle and strong persecution against those professing the name of Christ and believing in the Lord. The spirit of evil inspired the prince of that country, named Phanarikh, to kill Christians and destroy even the memory of them from his land. At that time, division and internecine warfare occurred among the Goths. They were divided into two parts: one part had a certain Fritigern as its leader, and the other was led by the cruel tormentor Athanaric. When these fellow tribesmen came together to fight and great bloodshed occurred, Athanaric, who had more strength and courage, overpowered and defeated his opponent and put his army to flight. The defeated Fritigern fled to Greece, where he sought help from the Christ-hating king Valens (5); the emperor ordered the entire army that was in Thrace to go to the aid of Fritigern. After this, Fritigern, with all his remaining warriors and the Greek army gathered in Thrace, set out against his rival. Crossing the Istr (Danube) River, he ordered an image of the holy cross to be made and this image to be worn in front of his regiments. So he attacked Athanaric. A terrible battle took place, but the Christians, with the help of the cross, defeated Athanaric and defeated his entire army: they killed some, captured others, so that he himself and his small retinue barely managed to escape. From that time on, the Christian Orthodox faith began to spread more and more among the Goths, for many, seeing the irresistible power of the cross manifested in the battle, believed in the Lord Crucified on the cross.
When Bishop Theophilus died, Urfil(6), a prudent and pious man, took over his see. He invented writing for the Goths and translated many books from Greek into Gothic, so that the holy Christian faith spread among the Goths more and more every day. Saint Nikita, one of the noblest and most glorious persons of that land, also contributed with his zeal to the establishment of faith in Christ there. With his piety and divinely inspired words, he led many to Christ.
After some time, the wicked Athanaric again returned to his homeland. Having achieved power and strength, he, taught by the demon, raised a terrible persecution against Christians in his area, trying to avenge his humiliation, since he was defeated and disgraced by Christians in battle.
Then Saint Nikita, inflamed by zeal for God, went out to fight both enemies, invisible and visible: he fought against the invisible enemy, converting the infidels to the true faith and preparing the believers for martyrdom; he fought against the visible enemy, denouncing the tormentor Athanaric and reproaching him for his godlessness and inhumanity, for the fact that he betrayed many believers to various torments; Thus Saint Nikita defeated both: he trampled on the devil and overcame the severity of the tormentor. The various torments with which they wanted to force the good sufferer of Christ to renounce Christ were powerless, and the tormentor himself was at a loss why, with all his power, he could not bend to his wickedness one servant of Christ, firm in his confession like a strong and unshakable pillar
What was the lawless one up to then? He planned to destroy with fire the one whom he could not kill with many wounds, torture of the flesh and crushing of members. But what has the wicked achieved? He burned himself more with his rage than the martyr with flame: Saint Nikita, although he was in the fire, his body was not burned by the fire, but his soul was reborn for a new eternal immortal life. Meanwhile, the tormentor burned without fire from his godlessness: he deadened his soul and prepared his body for hell. So Saint Nikita fought for Christ under the sign of the cross and showed himself to be a winner; not only in name, but in reality he was one.
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The body of the saint, undamaged by the fire, was left without burial and lay there, being thrown out with dishonor. At that time, there lived only a pious Christian named Marian. This man was from the Cilician country, from the city of Mopsuestia (7). On some business he came to the Gothic land, and stayed here for quite a long time. Marian met Saint Nikita and acquired his friendship and love; He especially loved him when he saw that the holy ascetic stood for the holy faith of Christ even to the point of being ready to shed his blood for it. And so, when the body of the saint lay unburied, Marian decided how he could take the body of his beloved friend and martyr of Christ and take it to his native country. But he was afraid to carry out his intention, out of fear of the prince, who ordered that no one dare bury the body of the martyr. Then Marian decided to take it secretly at night.
When night fell, Marian was ready to go out on his planned business; but the night was dark and rainy, so it was difficult for him to walk. Marian was greatly saddened by this, for he did not see where to go and where to find the body of the martyr that was being sought. When he greatly grieved over this, the God of all consolations, who once showed the Magi with a star the way to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2), comforted Marian in his sorrow and showed him a favorable path to finding the saint’s body: He sent some heavenly power in the form of a star, which, shining before Marian, led him where he needed to go. This star preceded Marian and dispersed the darkness of the night; he followed her with joy. Having reached the place where the saint’s body was located, the star stopped above him. Then Marian, wrapping a clean shroud around the body of the martyr, carried him to the house where he lived.
This is how Marian received the treasure he was looking for. Having hidden it for a while in his home with great care, he soon after this returned to his fatherland and brought with him the body of the holy martyr (8). Arriving in the city of Mopsuestia, Marian buried him with honor in his house.
God sent down a blessing to the house of Marian for the sake of His passion-bearer, Saint Niketas, as He once blessed the house of Pentephry with many riches for the sake of Joseph (Gen. 39:5) and the house of Abeddar for the sake of the Icon of the Covenant (2 Sam. 6:11). The house of Marian began to abound in great wealth: both material and spiritual, for from the tomb of the saint many gifts were given to all those in need and many healings were sent down to the sick. The entire city and surrounding residents gathered at the saint’s tomb, so that Marian’s house could not accommodate all the believers who gathered here; Therefore, everyone decided to build a church in the name of Saint Nikita and place the relics of the martyr there. Taking up this task with zeal, the believers soon erected a temple. At the end of the building, when the temple was decorated with appropriate splendor, the tomb of the holy martyr was opened and, taking the ark, they carried it to the newly created church and here they buried it in the ground. Only one Marian managed to take, to bless his house from the relics of the saint, one finger, which he kept with reverence; no one else could take a single particle from the relics of Saint Nikita.
One day, blessed Auxentius, Bishop of Mopsuestia, having created a church in honor of the holy martyrs Tarakh, Provos and Andronikos (9), sent a message to the city of Anazarva (10), where the relics of these three saints rested; in his message, he asked the citizens of Anazarwa to give some of the relics of the holy martyrs for the newly built temple. Then the citizens of Anazarva asked Auxentius to give them in return some of the relics of Saint Nikita to bless their city. Wanting to fulfill their request, the bishop ordered the tomb of the holy martyr Nikita to be opened. And so, for no apparent reason, the marble stone that was on the saint’s tomb broke into two halves. One of those present here boldly touched the holy relics with his hand, but immediately his hand dried up, and horror attacked him. At the same time, a strong clap of thunder sounded from the sky and bright lightning flashed; everyone was in fear. Then the bishop realized that God did not bless the crushing of the saint’s relics, and he repented of his intention. Taking the withered hand of the man who had boldly touched the relics of the saint, he again touched the relics with it and began to pray:
Oh, holy martyr of Christ Nikita! It is more fitting for you to heal than to harm, for you are good and imitate the All-Good Lord, and if you quickly punished this person, then wouldn’t you rather have mercy on him?
As soon as the bishop uttered these words, the withered hand of that man was immediately healed, and everyone was amazed at the miracles of the holy martyr Nikita and glorified God. No longer daring to touch the relics of the saint of God, the bishop (11), having performed reverent singing over them, again closed his tomb with honor, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One God in the Trinity, to Whom all glory, honor and worship belong forever. . Amen.
1) Nikita - translated from Greek as “winner”.
2) The Gothic country extended from the lower Vistula to the Black Sea; The Goths lived mainly in what is now Romania, along the Danube.
3) Istr is the ancient name of the Danube.
4) Mind. around 340.
5) Emperor Valens reigned from 364 to 378.
6) Urfil or Ulfilla - the first Gothic bishop and a zealous preacher of Christianity among the Goths; lived from 311 to 383
7) The city of Mopsuestia was located on a plain, on the banks of the Pyramus River.
8) Death of St. Nikita followed on September 15, 372.
9) Their memory is celebrated on October 12.
10) Anazarv or Anazarva is a city in Cilicia.
11) Bishop Auxentius II lived in the half of the 5th century; participated in 451 at the IV Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon.
This “Life of the Holy Martyr Nikita” is offered by the website apokrif.fullweb.ru
The month of September is the fifteenth day of the suffering of the holy martyr Nikita. God bless you, father.
Once upon a time there lived a wise man named Nikita, the son of a king whose name was Maximian. And he loved Christ very much, wanting to be the chosen vessel for him. And at night in a dream he saw a vision of the most venerable cross above his head, and when he saw it, he fell on his face and bowed to it. When he arose from sleep, he went out into the city and began to ask everyone, saying: “Who will show me the image that I saw in my dream this night?” And then he met a woman named Ulyana, who told him: “You rule over the whole world, but I am afraid of your father, otherwise I would show you the image that you saw that night.” And the blessed one answered: “Do not be afraid, woman, I will give you a lot of wealth (for this).” And the blessed (woman) bent down, put her hand into her womb and took out a cross, (depicting) the Most Holy Theotokos Mary. Seeing the cross, the blessed one bowed to it, saying: “Truly this is the same vision that I saw this night!”
At that same hour he went to his father and said to him: “O infidel and lawless one! He made sacrifices to the pagan gods, still not knowing (the truth).” And he took off his expensive clothes and dressed himself in a beggar’s cloth dress, saying: “Lord, guide me on your path, and I will pray to you.”
And a young boy named Ulyan the criminal appeared to the king, he came to his father, saying: “I assure you, king, that your dear son prays to God, born of the Virgin Mary, and renounces your idols.” And the king said to him: “My boy, if you tell me (everything), then I will give you a lot of wealth, and by the command of God I will give my second daughter for you, and you will become my son-in-law.”
Having learned that Nikita was praying in the Church of the Mother of God to the East, the king said to him: “O my dear son, I heard about it, but did not believe it, but now I saw you myself and believed that you were praying to the Christian God, but you were renouncing my idols.” !” And Saint Nikita said to him: “O lawless one, your gods are deaf and dumb, blind and voiceless, they have lips but do not speak, they have eyes but do not see, they have ears but do not hear, they have hands but do not touch, they have legs but they don’t walk, they have nostrils but don’t smell, they fall and don’t get up. If they cannot help themselves, then they do not know how to help others. And if you reproach me, then give me your idols, as many as you have, and I will secretly worship them!” The king was delighted and gave him twelve golden idols. The blessed one (Nikitas) took them and carried them to the place of judgment. There, he grabbed the rod and ground them into powder. And so the king came down from his throne and said: “O my dear son, I have not seen how you offer sacrifice to my gods.” Then the son took him by the hand and led him to the place of judgment, where there were idols and where they were worshiped. And the ruler looked and saw nothing, and cried out with the words: “O my son, who did this, wasn’t it Yegoriy who taught you, whom my brother Dadian tortured?” And Saint Nikita answered him: “No one taught me, but I trust in my living and immortal God, so that he will deliver me from trouble.”
And then the king ordered Nikita to be taken outside the city and tied to a stake and beaten with ox veins dipped in vinegar and bile.
The good martyr of Christ Nikita endured this torment and prayed, saying: “I thank you, my Lord, that I have been honored with praiseworthy memory and my flesh is perishing from iron, and my subtle body is withering!” And an angel of the Lord named Michael came down to him and said to him: “Rejoice, martyr of Christ Nikita, our messenger, punishment for demons and temptation for demons, look (up) and see your good deeds!” And the blessed one looked to heaven, and Michael asked him: “What do you see?” He answered: “I see a crown, in the middle of it is the hand of the Lord, and in it is like a dove and a pillar of fire from earth to heaven.” And Michael asked: “What can you say about that?” The blessed one answered: “I say that this is not God.” And Michael said to him: “This is not God, this is your (martyr’s) crown.”
Then the king ordered to bring the saint and, untying him (his arms and legs), put him under four wheels. And they would bring a beautiful maiden and lay her to him, so that she could marry him, and so they would make a sacrifice to the pagan idols.
Then the blessed one bit off his tongue and spat it out into the mud. The obscene girl saw that his lips were filled with blood, and she abhorred him and committed no sin. She went to his father and said: “I assure you that your son does not have a tongue, he gave his tongue to his God!”
Then the king ordered a bed to be brought; it had nine wheels. And they kindled a fire on it with pitch, and they laid Nikita on it. The good martyr of Christ, sighing, blew on the bed, and then grass sprouted on it, and he lay down on it, singing: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the God who has appeared to us.” When the king saw the miracle happen, he was terribly surprised and angry. Then he ordered the soldiers to take Saint Nikita to a high mountain and, tying him up, lower him down the mountain. The saint flew off the mountain without any harm. The soldiers, having seen the miracle that happened to Saint Nikita, bowed to him, saying: “We also believe in your God, martyr of Christ Nikita!” And he crossed them with his right hand and said to them: “Go in peace and you will enter paradise.” And he went to his father and said to him: “Unmerciful lawless one, don’t you see the power of my God?” Hearing this, the king sat dumb, unable to answer. After some thought, he ordered to wrap a belt around Nikita’s mouth and tighten it (only) so that he could not move, and to bring an iron spear twelve cubits in size and sharp on four sides. And the king ordered to put this spear into his right ear and take it out of his left, to scatter coals under his feet, and to pour ashes into his mouth, hanging it sharply, and to place two iron lamps under his arms. And then the king ordered to set fire to the brushwood under (the martyr).
And, appearing to him, the devil began to speak like this: “Shackle our trampler and tormentor, none of your rulers defeated us, this one defeated us, but now he himself has turned into nothing.” Saint Nikita turned his face away so as not to see him. The devil cried out: “Oh, fierce woe to me! The martyr of Christ Nikita wants to grab me!” And having said this, the devil left him.
Then the king ordered Saint Nikita to be shackled and put in prison. The devil dressed himself in angelic attire and went to prison, saying to Nikita: “Rejoice, martyr of Christ Nikita!” The blessed one asked: “Who is this that greets me?” And the devil replied: “I, the angel of the Lord, came down from heaven to talk to you, so that you make a sacrifice to the idols, and then pray to your God, and you will not plunge yourself into much torment.” The blessed one, raising his hands to heaven and bending his knees to the ground, prayed, saying: “Lord, show me who it is who is speaking to me, for he is not speaking for the benefit of my soul?” And the Archangel Michael descended (from heaven), saying to him: “Reach out your hand, martyr of Christ Nikita, and grab the one who speaks about himself.”
And the blessed one stretched out his hand and grabbed the devil, and threw him down before him, and stepped on his neck, and crushed him. He saw that the devil was wheezing, and took off the iron shackles that were on his feet, and began to beat the devil with the shackles, saying: “Answer me, demon and demon, who sent you here?” The demon said: “Passion-bearer of God, ease the weight of your feet for me, and I will tell you that my father, Satan, who came to you, sent me.” And Saint Nikita asked him: “Filthy, unclean, how did you dare to enter here?” The demon answered him: “Passion-bearer of God, just as you strive to receive the crown from the hands of the Almighty, so we strive to receive gratitude from our father Satan!” And the passion-bearer said to him: “Answer me, demon, what is your name?” And the demon answered him: “I am the one called Beelzebub. I am the one who fights with the bishops, I am the one who pushes people into the fire and drowns them in the waters, I am the one who makes people sin and pay women (I force them to do this), and in the next world they will be rewarded with their reward and convicted (they) her. Yes, it would be better for them to sin without (any) reward! I am the one who arranges for people to say that a certain priest is sinful, and we will not, they say, take communion from his hands! Let those who say so be cursed, and the priest is such that when he enters the house of God, he will bow (his knees) and take away (from himself) the burden of his sins, and enter the altar in fiery vestments and then say: “Let our lips be filled,” and will bow down again and, taking the burden of his sins, will go out.”
And so, when three years had passed since Saint Nikita was sitting in prison, the king remembered him and ordered him to be brought to the place of judgment. And when they led him there, he held the demon by the hand, and when he came to the place of judgment, he cast the demon down on his face before the king. And the king said to him: “O Nikita, this is your god!” The blessed one replied: “This is not my God, but this is a henchman of your machinations!”
And the king ordered to chain Saint Nikita between two pillars and saw his body in half. The good martyr of Christ Nikita endured this torment and prayed with the words: “I thank you, Lord my God!” And having said this, he remained unharmed, and the saw became like wax.
And so two magicians, called Nahomey (Pachomius) and Adonai, began to boast, telling the king that they supposedly could put Nikita to death. And the king said to them: “My magicians, if you do this, you will be my friends and I will give you great wealth.” And the magicians obtained snake venom (ground) with grass and many other potions, and gave the blessed one to drink from the cup. The good martyr of Christ Nikita took the cup, made the sign of the cross over it, sighed, and then dew fell from the sky and dripped into the cup, and the cup began to boil, and all the magic potion boiled away and poured out onto the ground. And the blessed one drank the cup with the body and blood of Christ and remained thus, glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ. The magicians saw such a miracle and bowed to him, saying: “We also believe in your God, martyr of Christ Nikita.” And they asked him, saying: “Passion-bearer of God, what is your name?” And he said to them: “My first name is Christian, and my second name is Nikita, Martyr of Christ.” And, falling down before him, the magicians bowed to him, saying: “We also believe in your God, martyr of Christ Nikita!” And he sprinkled them from the cup and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and said to them: “Go in peace to paradise!”
And Saint Nikita said to his father: “O lawless one, why don’t you realize the miracles that have happened that my God has performed, and don’t you believe in him?” And the king said to him: “A stone pillar has stood for a long time, and the dead lie in it, and if you convince the stone pillar to raise the dead, then I will believe in your God.” And the Archangel of the Lord Michael came down (from heaven) and said to him: “Rejoice, martyr of Christ Nikita, your prayer has been heard.” And Nikita crossed the pillar with his right hand. And then a vine grew from the pillar and was filled with bunches of grapes, and among them with good honey. And the two spouses rose up and went and bowed to him, saying: “We also believe in your God, martyr of Christ Nikita.” The passion-bearer asked them: “How do you know my name?” They answered: “For centuries we have lain and suffered, but now we are here in your name, how can we not know your name?” And then all the inhabitants of the city cried out: “We also believe in your God, martyr of Christ Nikita!” And the king said to them: “Do not be deceived, my people, he is cunning and seducing you.”
And all the people with the queen rebelled against the king, and honey mixed with myrrh and oil flowed from that pillar. Blessed Nikita baptized the entire city, eight thousand men and four hundred, and nine thousand women, and a thousand children.
The holy martyr of Christ reposed in the month of September on the fifteenth day, on Sunday at three o'clock in the afternoon. And the angels of the Lord descended and did not let his body lie on the ground, but took him to the holy city, where the relics of the holy martyrs Kharlampy and Eulampy, and V(o)niphatius rest. And his relics (too) are in the holy city.
Where one reads and who hears the holy reading about the most honorable and glorious martyr of Christ, the healer Nikita, if he begins to learn his work poorly, then he will learn well; if he is sick, he will receive healing; if he remains in bitter slavery, he will be freed; if demons torment him, then will get rid of them, and the orphan and widow will receive intercession. Whoever reads this about the holy, glorious martyr of Christ Nikita, then in six days his sins will run away from him, and in forty days his demons will run away.
About Christ Jesus, about our Lord (we pray), to Him be glory now and ever and unto ages of ages!
Vladimir KHVOROV
Prayers to the Holy Great Martyr Nikita.
To you, as the speedy and chosen intercessor of our salvation, God’s chosen commander, who conquered the enemies with the weapon of the cross, Great Martyr Nikito, we wholeheartedly resort to you: do not turn away from our poverty, heed our prayer, and save us and this city from troubles.
Stretch out your hand, giving quick help, guide our minds from harmful distractions, and cleanse, sanctify and strengthen our defiled hearts.
Save us from enemies, visible and invisible, so that we may emerge victorious over passions, creating holiness in the passion of the Lord, and overcome all despondency and begin to rejoice in the Lord; and through your intercessions, in humility and simplicity of heart, we will be vouchsafed until our last breath to gloriously glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and glorify your divinely crowned deeds and miracles forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, great passion-bearer of Christ and wonder-working Great Martyr Nikito! Falling before your holy and miraculous image, while your deeds and miracles and your many sufferings glorify people, we pray to you diligently: show us the humble and sinners your holy and powerful intercession: behold, for our sakes, we are not the imams of the freedom of the children of God, We boldly ask our Lord and Master for our needs, but we offer you a favorable prayer book to Him and we ask for your intercession: ask us from the Lord for beneficial gifts for our souls and bodies: right faith, undoubted hope of salvation, unfeigned love for everyone, courage in temptation , patience in suffering, constancy in prayers, health of soul and body, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, contentment of everyday needs, peaceful and pious life on earth, Christian death and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Christ. Also, O passion-bearer of Christ, from the Heavenly King ask all Orthodox Christians for peace, health and salvation, victory and victory against enemies, and prosperity, peace and prosperity for the whole God-protected country. Be a companion and helper to the Christ-loving army against their enemies, and show your holy intercession to all Orthodox people: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, help the needy; Hey, servant of God and long-suffering martyr! Do not forget your holy monastery and all the nuns and worldly people living in it and striving, but hasten to bear the yoke of Christ in humility and patience and graciously deliver them from all troubles and temptations. Bring us all into a quiet haven of salvation and make us worthy to be heirs of the blessed Kingdom of Christ through your holy prayers, so that we glorify and sing the great generosity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity we glorify and worship God, and your holy intercession forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, great luminary, illuminating the ends of the whole world, more passion-bearing than Christ, Nikita! Today, as we most tenderly approach your icon, bowing down and kissing this, we earnestly pray to you: ask us from Christ our God for forgiveness of sins, correction of life, and all the good things needed for temporary and eternal life. O most honorable and glorious passion-bearer of Christ! Do not despise our prayer and do not leave us running to you, but look mercifully on us and on our earthly vale; remember us who wander and come, and with the power given to you by God, guide us to the Heavenly Fatherland; strengthen our weakness, protect us from falling into sin, kindle in us holy love for the Lord, and grant us zeal for our salvation; plant Divine fear in our hearts, and direct our steps to doing the commandments of Christ. Through your intercession, ask our All-Merciful God for the peace of His Church, for people to be united in the faith, for the destruction of fools and schisms, and for affirmation in good deeds, healing for the sick, consolation for the sad, intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Most of all, through your prayer, make us all live chastely and righteously and piously in this present world, so that ever the hour of death and the terrible second coming of our Lord and God Jesus Christ are remembered, so that by His grace and love for mankind we observe and save, bitter ordeals from demons, air princes, and we will be delivered from eternal torment, and in the Heavenly Kingdom we will be worthy to worship the Throne of God, gratefully and joyfully glorifying the Most Holy and Divine Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, Great Martyr of Christ, Nikito! You were brave in battle, and a chaser of the enemy, and a defender of the offended, and a representative of all Orthodox Christians. Have mercy on me, a sinner and unworthy, and intercede in troubles, and in sorrows, and in sorrows, and in every evil adversity, and protect me from every evil and offending person: for you have been given such grace from God to pray for us sinners, in troubles and misfortunes the evil sufferers. Deliver us from those who offend and hate us, and always be a strong champion for us against all our visible and invisible enemies.
Oh, our great champion Nikito! Do not forget us, who always pray to you and ask you for help and endless mercy, and grant us, sinners and unworthy, the ineffable good things from God that are prepared for those who love Him. For to him is due all glory, honor and worship, to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O great passion-bearer of Christ Nikito! Hear the prayer of us sinners, and deliver us (names) from all sorrow and adversity, from sudden death and from all evil: at the hour of separation of the soul from the body, passion-bearing, every evil thought and evil demons, so that our souls may be received in peace to the place of light, Christ the Lord our God, for from Him is the cleansing of sins, and He is the salvation of our souls, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Troparion to the Holy Great Martyr Nikita
The Cross of Christ, like some kind of weapon, we zealously accepted, and you came to the fight of enemies, and you suffered for Christ, following the fire of your sacred soul to the Lord, you were vouchsafed to receive the gifts of healing from Him, Great Martyr Nikita, pray to Christ God, that our souls may be saved. .
With your standing, you cut down the power of delights, and we received the crown of victory in your suffering, with the angels rejoicing more gloriously, Nikita's namesake, with them, praying to Christ God incessantly for all of us.
Akathist to the Holy Great Martyr Nikita Icon to the Holy Great Martyr NikitaPopular prayers:
Prayer to St. John of Rila
Prayer to St. Sampson, priest and healer, host of strangers
Prayers to Saints Xenophon and Mary
Prayers to the Hieromartyr Charalampios
Prayer to the holy martyrs Florus and Laurus
Prayer to the Holy Hieromartyr Zadok, Bishop of Persia
Prayers to the Holy Archangel Jehudiel
Prayer to the holy martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes
Prayer to the Holy Apostles Cleopas and Luke the Evangelist
Prayer to the holy martyr Polyeuctus
Prayer to Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov
Prayer to Saint Innocent, Apostle of Alaska
Optina prayer book. Prayer of the Optina Elders
Psalms 34, 90. Prayer to the honorable cross: May God rise again. Psalm to David
Orthodox informers for websites and blogs All prayers.Icon of the Holy Martyr Nikita Besogon
Cost and terms
Wooden board 28x22 cm, gesso, tempera, gilding.
The memory of the holy martyr Nikita Besogon is celebrated September 15 (August 28 AD) Art.).
Prayer tradition: People turn to the holy martyr Nikita in various family circumstances, in particular, when children are damaged and for healing from a “relative”.
About the Holy Martyr Nikita Besogon
Saint Nikita, beating the demon, is an early Christian martyr who was tortured and accepted death for Christ in Constantinople. The memory of Nikita Besogon, who beat the demon, was celebrated on September 15/28, that is, on the same day as the memory of the Great Martyr Nikita of Goth, a Christian military leader who suffered for his faith from the king of the Goths, Athanaric (c. 372). Therefore, even in the Middle Ages, the events described in the lives of both martyrs - Nikita Gothic and Nikita “besogon”, began to be perceived as relating to the same person.
The biography of the son of Tsar Maximian is also associated with the name of Nikita “Besogon”, but his name disappeared from the church calendar, and the date of his veneration was moved to September 15/28, that is, to the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Nikita of Gotha.
Iconography of the holy martyr Nikita Besogon: The different iconography of the martyr Nikita is most likely connected with the combination of saints from different eras in one person: he is almost always represented with his hand raised to strike, but he beats the demon with a chain, with a stick or club, or with a rope.
The attire of Saint Nikita is also different: sometimes it is a short tunic and cloak, sometimes it is a long robe-like robe, and sometimes it is military armor. The appearance of the saint is also varied: Nikita is depicted either as a young man - without a beard, or as a mature husband - with a beard. Sometimes the composition includes architectural elements symbolizing the dungeon in which Saint Nikita was imprisoned.
It should be noted that over time, the iconography of the Great Martyr Nikitas underwent significant changes. In the 10th – 11th centuries, he is often depicted as a young martyr with medium-length brown hair and sometimes with a small mustache. On the fresco of the Hosios Loukas monastery in Phokis (1030-1040s), the Great Martyr Nikitas is depicted young and without a beard, he is dressed in a mantle and cloak, holding a cross in his hand - a sign of martyrdom. Later, images of the saint as a young warrior with dark hair and a small beard became widespread; in Erminia (a manual for icon painters) it is said that Nikita was “like Christ in appearance.” In ancient Russian art, one of the earliest images of the Great Martyr Nikita was preserved on a 12th-century frame of the Mother of God Hodegetria from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod, where the saint is represented in a cloak and tunic, with a cross in his right hand. In the iconography of the 15th – 16th centuries, two iconographic types of the saint emerged - as a warrior in full military garb and as a martyr in a tunic and cloak. On the tablet icon “St. Procopius, Niketas and Eustathius Placida" of the late 15th century from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod (now in the collection of the Russian Museum), he is depicted as a martyr. On an icon of the late 16th century from the Ipatiev Monastery, the saint is depicted in military armor. Often the image of a saint is present among selected saints, for example, on the icon “St. Nicholas with Selected Saints” from the late 15th – early 16th centuries from the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Cultural and Art Museum-Reserve.
The plot of the icon of St. Nikita casting out a demon sometimes acquired unexpected twists: in archaeological excavations in the Ryazan region, pectorals with the image of St. Nikita were discovered, but he does not beat the demon, but a triangular pyramid. Thus, the name and plot of the icon suggest that the help of the saint is prayerfully turned to in special cases, when the need to get rid of the overwhelm of evil misfortunes becomes urgent.
Veneration of the holy martyr Nikita Besogon in Russia
In Russia, under Peter the Great, state control of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) was introduced through the Synod, and all saints were censored. At the same time, the apocryphal life of Nikita, iconographically predominantly depicted with a stick or shackles clutched in his hand, “beating a demon,” was included in the list of Christian literature prohibited for reading.
Until 1666 - the Old Believer schism, the most famous and revered of the two images of Saint Nikita was Nikita - “besogon”. Until the nineteenth century, the iconographic plot of beating the demon was occasionally reproduced by Old Believers according to old models.
In large quantities, archaeologists find ancient crosses and various works of small plastic art bearing the image of St. Nikita, the plot of which is illustrated by one of the episodes of the Byzantine apocryphal life, according to which, having become a Christian, Nikita aroused the wrath of his pagan father and, after torture, was thrown into prison. There a demon appeared to the martyr - in the form of an angel, who persuaded him to worship pagan idols and promised that by doing so the saint would avoid new tortures.
But the martyr doubted the angelic essence of this “guest,” and through the prayer of Saint Nikita to the Lord, the Archangel Michael descended from heaven, who tested this false angel. Saint Nikita stepped on the demon, beat him with his iron shackles, and the demon was forced to admit his devilish essence, and during interrogation by the king, the martyr “presented” the demon, showing the one who rules over them - the king and the pagans.
The iconography “Nikita beating the demon” was popular in Rus'. one of the earliest incarnations of the plot is a relief of the twelfth century: on the Dmitrovsky Cathedral in Vladimir (western facade); Also a rarity is a Novgorod double-sided stone icon of the thirteenth century with the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on one side and with Nikita - “besogon” - on the other.
In Tver, in the old craft district on the banks of the Tvertsa River, there is an ancient temple in honor of the martyr Nikita: from this temple, according to legend, Afanasy Nikitin set off on his journey across the three seas.
As is generally accepted, the plot with Nikita Besogon was most widespread in the 14th-17th centuries, when the composition with Nikita and the demon began to be reproduced in large numbers on stone and copper-cast icons, crosses - encolpions, pectoral and body crosses and amulets - serpentines.
The Suffering of the Holy Martyr Nikitas of Gotha
(Source: Lives of Saints Demetrius of Rostov)
When the honorable and life-giving cross of the Lord, this sign of victory, was raised high above the world, then Saint Nikita, the same name for victory, came under its shadow. On the eve of this day we celebrated the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, this invincible victory for the world, and now we honor Saint Nikita, whose name means winner (Translated from Greek, Nikita means Victor). This good warrior of Jesus Christ stood under the cross, as if under a banner, to wage war against the enemies of the Holy Cross, in honor of Him Crucified on it. One fights for the king of the earth, another for his life and vain glory, another for temporary riches, but Saint Nikita fought for his only Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the King of every creation and our glory and never-failing wealth. And where and how this warrior labored for Christ - the following is told about this.
When, during the reign of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles King Constantine the Great, the holy faith began to spread throughout the entire universe, then the Gothic country (the Gothic country extended from the lower Vistula to the Black Sea; mainly the Goths lived in present-day Romania, along the Danube), on the other side of the Istra River (t e. Danube) holy piety shone like a light in the darkness. In that country Saint Nikita was born, baptized and raised. The Gothic Bishop Theophilus (D. about 340), who took part in the first Council of Nicaea, confessed the dogmas of the Orthodox faith and signed the definitions of the council, enlightened Nikita with the light of faith and baptized him in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
After a little time, the ancient envious devil, unable to bear the fact that the holy faith of Christ was spreading and the number of Christians was increasing more and more, raised in this barbaric land, darkened by idolatry, a struggle and strong persecution against those professing the name of Christ and believing in the Lord. The spirit of evil inspired the prince of that country, named Phanarikh, to kill Christians and destroy even the memory of them from his land. At that time, division and internecine warfare occurred among the Goths. They were divided into two parts: one part had a certain Fritigern as its leader, and the other was led by the cruel tormentor Athanaric. When these fellow tribesmen came together to fight and great bloodshed occurred, Athanaric, who had more strength and courage, overpowered and defeated his opponent and put his army to flight. The defeated Fritigern fled to Greece, where he sought help from the Christ-hating king Valens (Emperor Valens reigned from 364 to 378); the emperor ordered the entire army that was in Thrace to go to the aid of Fritigern. After this, Fritigern, with all his remaining warriors and the Greek army gathered in Thrace, set out against his rival. Crossing the Istr (Danube) River, he ordered an image of the holy cross to be made and carries this image in front of his regiments. So he attacked Athanaric. A terrible battle took place, but the Christians, with the help of the cross, defeated Athanaric and defeated his entire army: they killed some, captured others, so that he himself and his small retinue barely managed to escape. From that time on, the Christian Orthodox faith began to spread more and more among the Goths, for many, seeing the irresistible power of the cross manifested in the battle, believed in the Lord Crucified on the cross.
When Bishop Theophilus died, Urfil (Urfil or Ulfilla - the first Gothic bishop and a zealous preacher of Christianity among the Goths; lived from 311 to 383), a prudent and pious man, took over his see. He invented writing for the Goths and translated many books from Greek into Gothic, so that the holy Christian faith spread among the Goths more and more every day. Saint Nikita, one of the noblest and most glorious persons of that land, also contributed with his zeal to the establishment of faith in Christ there. With his piety and divinely inspired words, he led many to Christ.
After some time, the wicked Athanaric again returned to his homeland. Having achieved power and strength, he, taught by the demon, raised a terrible persecution against Christians in his area, trying to avenge his humiliation, since he was defeated and disgraced by Christians in battle.
Then Saint Nikita, inflamed by zeal for God, went out to fight both enemies, invisible and visible: he fought against the invisible enemy, converting the infidels to the true faith and preparing the believers for martyrdom; he fought against the visible enemy, denouncing the tormentor Athanaric and reproaching him for his godlessness and inhumanity, for the fact that he betrayed many believers to various torments; Thus Saint Nikita defeated both: he trampled on the devil and overcame the severity of the tormentor. The various torments with which they wanted to force the good sufferer of Christ to renounce Christ were powerless, and the tormentor himself was at a loss why, with all his power, he could not bend to his wickedness one servant of Christ, firm in his confession like a strong and unshakable pillar
What was the lawless one up to then? He planned to destroy with fire the one whom he could not kill with many wounds, torture of the flesh and crushing of the members. But what has the wicked achieved? He burned himself more with his rage than the martyr with flame: Saint Nikita, although he was in the fire, his body was not burned by the fire, but his soul was reborn for a new eternal immortal life. Meanwhile, the tormentor burned without fire from his atheism: he deadened his soul and prepared his body for hell. So Saint Nikita fought for Christ under the sign of the cross and showed himself to be a winner; not only in name, but in reality he was one.
The body of the saint, undamaged by the fire, was left without burial and lay there, being thrown out with dishonor. At that time, there lived only a pious Christian named Marian. This man was from the Cilician country, from the city of Mopsuestia. (The city of Mopsuestia was located on a plain, on the banks of the Pyramus River.) On some business he came to the Gothic land, and stayed here for quite a long time. Marian met Saint Nikita and acquired his friendship and love; He especially loved him when he saw that the holy ascetic stood for the holy faith of Christ even to the point of being ready to shed his blood for it. And so, when the body of the saint lay unburied, Marian thought about how he could take the body of his beloved friend and martyr of Christ and take it to his native country. But he was afraid to carry out his intention, out of fear of the prince, who ordered that no one dare bury the body of the martyr. Then Marian decided to take it secretly at night.
When night fell, Marian was ready to go out on his planned business; but the night was dark and rainy, so it was difficult for him to walk. Marian was greatly saddened by this, for he did not see where to go and where to find the body of the martyr that was being sought. When he greatly grieved over this, the God of all consolations, who once showed the Magi with a star the way to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2), comforted Marian in his sorrow and showed him a favorable path to finding the saint’s body: He sent some heavenly power in the form of a star, which, shining before Marian, led him where he needed to go. This star preceded Marian and dispersed the darkness of the night; he followed her with joy. Having reached the place where the saint’s body was located, the star stopped above him. Then Marian, wrapping a clean shroud around the body of the martyr, carried him to the house where he lived.
This is how Marian received the treasure he was looking for. Having hidden it for a while in his home with great care, he soon after returned to his fatherland and brought with him the body of the holy martyr (the death of St. Nikita followed on September 15, 372). Arriving in the city of Mopsuestia, Marian buried him with honor in his house.
God sent down a blessing to the house of Marian for the sake of His passion-bearer, Saint Niketas, as He once blessed the house of Pentephry with many riches for the sake of Joseph (Gen. 39:5) and the house of Abeddar for the sake of the Icon of the Covenant (2 Sam. 6:11). The house of Marian began to abound in great wealth: both material and spiritual, for from the tomb of the saint many gifts were given to all those in need and many healings were sent down to the sick. The entire city and surrounding residents gathered at the saint’s tomb, so that Marian’s house could not accommodate all the believers who gathered here; Therefore, everyone decided to build a church in the name of Saint Nikita and place the relics of the martyr there. Taking up this task with zeal, the believers soon erected a temple. At the end of the building, when the temple was decorated with appropriate splendor, the tomb of the holy martyr was opened and, taking the ark, they carried it to the newly created church and here they buried it in the ground. Only one Marian managed to take, to bless his house from the relics of the saint, one finger, which he kept with reverence; no one else could take a single particle from the relics of Saint Nikita.
One day, blessed Auxentius, Bishop of Mopsuestia, having created a church in honor of the holy martyrs Tarakh, Provos and Andronikos (Their memory is celebrated on October 12), sent a message to the city of Anazarva (Anazarv or Anazarva is a city in Cilicia), where the relics of these three saints rested; in his message, he asked the citizens of Anazarwa to give some of the relics of the holy martyrs for the newly built temple. Then the citizens of Anazarva asked Auxentius to give them in return some of the relics of Saint Nikita to bless their city. Wanting to fulfill their request, the bishop ordered the tomb of the holy martyr Nikita to be opened. And so, for no apparent reason, the marble stone that was on the saint’s tomb broke into two halves. One of those present here boldly touched the holy relics with his hand, but immediately his hand dried up, and horror attacked him. At the same time, a strong clap of thunder sounded from the sky and bright lightning flashed; everyone was in fear. Then the bishop realized that God did not bless the crushing of the saint’s relics, and he repented of his intention. Taking the withered hand of the man who had boldly touched the relics of the saint, he again touched the relics with it and began to pray:
- Oh, holy martyr of Christ Nikita! It is more fitting for you to heal than to harm, for you are good and imitate the All-Good Lord, and if you quickly punished this man, then wouldn’t you rather have mercy on him?
As soon as the bishop uttered these words, the withered hand of that man was immediately healed, and everyone was amazed at the miracles of the holy martyr Nikitas and glorified God. No longer daring to touch the relics of the saint of God, the bishop (Bishop Auxentius II lived in the middle of the 5th century; participated in 451 at the IV Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon.), having performed reverent singing over them, again honorably closed his tomb, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God in the Trinity, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship forever. Amen.
Prayer to the Great Martyr Nikita
Oh, great passion-bearer of Christ and wonder-worker, Great Martyr Nikito! Falling before your holy and miraculous image, while your deeds and miracles and your great compassion for people are glorifying, we diligently pray to you: show us your holy and powerful intercession to the humble and sinful. Behold, it is a sin for our sake, not the imams of freedom of the children of God, who boldly ask our Lord and Master for our needs: but we offer you, a favorable prayer book to Him, and we cry for your intercession: ask us from the Lord for beneficial gifts for our souls and bodies: faith right, undoubted hope of salvation, unfeigned love for everyone, courage in temptation, patience in suffering, constancy in prayer, health of souls and bodies, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, contentment of everyday needs, peaceful and pious life on earth, Christian life and death. a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. And show your holy intercession to all Orthodox people: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, help the needy. To her, servant of God and torment
Miraculous words: the prayer of St. Nikita Besogon in full description from all the sources we found.
Prayer 1, Holy Great Martyr Nikita
Prayer 2, Holy Great Martyr Nikita
Prayer 3, Holy Great Martyr Nikita
Prayer 4, Holy Great Martyr Nikita
To you, as the speedy and chosen intercessor of our salvation, God’s chosen commander, who conquered the enemies with the weapon of the cross, Great Martyr Nikito, we wholeheartedly resort to you: do not turn away from our poverty, heed our prayer, and save us and this city from troubles.
Stretch out your hand, giving quick help, guide our minds from harmful distractions, and cleanse, sanctify and strengthen our defiled hearts.
Save us from enemies, visible and invisible, so that we may emerge victorious over passions, creating holiness in the passion of the Lord, and overcome all despondency and begin to rejoice in the Lord; and through your intercessions, in humility and simplicity of heart, we will be vouchsafed until our last breath to gloriously glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and glorify your divinely crowned deeds and miracles forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, great passion-bearer of Christ and wonder-working Great Martyr Nikito! Falling before your holy and miraculous image, while your deeds and miracles and your many sufferings glorify people, we pray to you diligently: show us the humble and sinners your holy and powerful intercession: behold, for our sakes, we are not the imams of the freedom of the children of God, We boldly ask our Lord and Master for our needs, but we offer you a favorable prayer book to Him and we ask for your intercession: ask us from the Lord for beneficial gifts for our souls and bodies: right faith, undoubted hope of salvation, unfeigned love for everyone, courage in temptation , patience in suffering, constancy in prayers, health of soul and body, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, contentment of everyday needs, peaceful and pious life on earth, Christian death and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Christ. Also, O passion-bearer of Christ, from the Heavenly King ask all Orthodox Christians for peace, health and salvation, victory and victory against enemies, and prosperity, peace and prosperity for the whole God-protected country. Be a companion and helper to the Christ-loving army against their enemies, and show your holy intercession to all Orthodox people: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, help the needy; Hey, servant of God and long-suffering martyr! Do not forget your holy monastery and all the nuns and worldly people living in it and striving, but hasten to bear the yoke of Christ in humility and patience and graciously deliver them from all troubles and temptations. Bring us all into a quiet haven of salvation and make us worthy to be heirs of the blessed Kingdom of Christ through your holy prayers, so that we glorify and sing the great generosity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity we glorify and worship God, and your holy intercession forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, great luminary, illuminating the ends of the whole world, more passion-bearing than Christ, Nikita! Today, as we most tenderly approach your icon, bowing down and kissing this, we earnestly pray to you: ask us from Christ our God for forgiveness of sins, correction of life, and all the good things needed for temporary and eternal life. O most honorable and glorious passion-bearer of Christ! Do not despise our prayer and do not leave us running to you, but look mercifully on us and on our earthly vale; remember us who wander and come, and with the power given to you by God, guide us to the Heavenly Fatherland; strengthen our weakness, protect us from falling into sin, kindle in us holy love for the Lord, and grant us zeal for our salvation; plant Divine fear in our hearts, and direct our steps to doing the commandments of Christ. Through your intercession, ask our All-Merciful God for the peace of His Church, for people to be united in the faith, for the destruction of fools and schisms, and for affirmation in good deeds, healing for the sick, consolation for the sad, intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Most of all, through your prayer, make us all live chastely and righteously and piously in this present world, so that ever the hour of death and the terrible second coming of our Lord and God Jesus Christ are remembered, so that by His grace and love for mankind we observe and save, bitter ordeals from demons, air princes, and we will be delivered from eternal torment, and in the Heavenly Kingdom we will be worthy to worship the Throne of God, gratefully and joyfully glorifying the Most Holy and Divine Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, Great Martyr of Christ, Nikito! You were brave in battle, and a chaser of the enemy, and a defender of the offended, and a representative of all Orthodox Christians. Have mercy on me, a sinner and unworthy, and intercede in troubles, and in sorrows, and in sorrows, and in every evil adversity, and protect me from every evil and offending person: for you have been given such grace from God to pray for us sinners, in troubles and misfortunes the evil sufferers. Deliver us from those who offend and hate us, and always be a strong champion for us against all our visible and invisible enemies.
Oh, our great champion Nikito! Do not forget us, who always pray to you and ask you for help and endless mercy, and grant us, sinners and unworthy, the ineffable good things from God that are prepared for those who love Him. For to him is due all glory, honor and worship, to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O great passion-bearer of Christ Nikito! Hear the prayer of us sinners, and deliver us (names) from all sorrow and adversity, from sudden death and from all evil: at the hour of separation of the soul from the body, passion-bearing, every evil thought and evil demons, so that our souls may be received in peace to the place of light, Christ the Lord our God, for from Him is the cleansing of sins, and He is the salvation of our souls, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Troparion to the Holy Great Martyr Nikita
The Cross of Christ, like some kind of weapon, we zealously accepted, and you came to the fight of enemies, and you suffered for Christ, following the fire of your sacred soul to the Lord, you were vouchsafed to receive the gifts of healing from Him, Great Martyr Nikita, pray to Christ God, that our souls may be saved. .
With your standing, you cut down the power of delights, and we received the crown of victory in your suffering, with the angels rejoicing more gloriously, Nikita's namesake, with them, praying to Christ God incessantly for all of us.
Akathist to the Holy Great Martyr Nikita Icon to the Holy Great Martyr NikitaPopular prayers:
Prayer to Saint Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod
Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr Artemy
Prayer to the Holy Martyr Agreppina
Prayer to St. Roman the Wonderworker
Prayers to Saint Andrew, the Fool for Christ's sake
Prayer to St. John of Rila
Prayer to the martyr Falaley
Prayers to Saint John the Warrior
Prayer to the martyrs Alexander and Antonina
Prayers to Saint Archangel Gabriel
Prayer to St. Joseph of Volotsk
Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos of Feodorovskaya
Prayers to St. Alypius of Pechersk, icon painter
Prayer to the Hieromartyr Uary
Orthodox informers for websites and blogs All prayers.Icon of the Holy Martyr Nikita Besogon
Cost and terms
Wooden board 28x22 cm, gesso, tempera, gilding.
The memory of the holy martyr Nikita Besogon is celebrated September 15 (August 28 AD) Art.).
Prayer tradition: People turn to the holy martyr Nikita in various family circumstances, in particular, when children are damaged and for healing from a “relative”.
About the Holy Martyr Nikita Besogon
Saint Nikita, beating the demon, is an early Christian martyr who was tortured and accepted death for Christ in Constantinople. The memory of Nikita Besogon, who beat the demon, was celebrated on September 15/28, that is, on the same day as the memory of the Great Martyr Nikita of Goth, a Christian military leader who suffered for his faith from the king of the Goths, Athanaric (c. 372). Therefore, even in the Middle Ages, the events described in the lives of both martyrs - Nikita Gothic and Nikita “besogon”, began to be perceived as relating to the same person.
The biography of the son of Tsar Maximian is also associated with the name of Nikita “Besogon”, but his name disappeared from the church calendar, and the date of his veneration was moved to September 15/28, that is, to the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Nikita of Gotha.
Iconography of the holy martyr Nikita Besogon: The different iconography of the martyr Nikita is most likely connected with the combination of saints from different eras in one person: he is almost always represented with his hand raised to strike, but he beats the demon with a chain, with a stick or club, or with a rope.
The attire of Saint Nikita is also different: sometimes it is a short tunic and cloak, sometimes it is a long robe-like robe, and sometimes it is military armor. The appearance of the saint is also varied: Nikita is depicted either as a young man - without a beard, or as a mature husband - with a beard. Sometimes the composition includes architectural elements symbolizing the dungeon in which Saint Nikita was imprisoned.
It should be noted that over time, the iconography of the Great Martyr Nikitas underwent significant changes. In the 10th – 11th centuries, he is often depicted as a young martyr with medium-length brown hair and sometimes with a small mustache. On the fresco of the Hosios Loukas monastery in Phokis (1030-1040s), the Great Martyr Nikitas is depicted young and without a beard, he is dressed in a mantle and cloak, holding a cross in his hand - a sign of martyrdom. Later, images of the saint as a young warrior with dark hair and a small beard became widespread; in Erminia (a manual for icon painters) it is said that Nikita was “like Christ in appearance.” In ancient Russian art, one of the earliest images of the Great Martyr Nikita was preserved on a 12th-century frame of the Mother of God Hodegetria from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod, where the saint is represented in a cloak and tunic, with a cross in his right hand. In the iconography of the 15th – 16th centuries, two iconographic types of the saint emerged - as a warrior in full military garb and as a martyr in a tunic and cloak. On the tablet icon “St. Procopius, Niketas and Eustathius Placida" of the late 15th century from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod (now in the collection of the Russian Museum), he is depicted as a martyr. On an icon of the late 16th century from the Ipatiev Monastery, the saint is depicted in military armor. Often the image of a saint is present among selected saints, for example, on the icon “St. Nicholas with Selected Saints” from the late 15th – early 16th centuries from the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Cultural and Art Museum-Reserve.
The plot of the icon of St. Nikita casting out a demon sometimes acquired unexpected twists: in archaeological excavations in the Ryazan region, pectorals with the image of St. Nikita were discovered, but he does not beat the demon, but a triangular pyramid. Thus, the name and plot of the icon suggest that the help of the saint is prayerfully turned to in special cases, when the need to get rid of the overwhelm of evil misfortunes becomes urgent.
Veneration of the holy martyr Nikita Besogon in Russia
In Russia, under Peter the Great, state control of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) was introduced through the Synod, and all saints were censored. At the same time, the apocryphal life of Nikita, iconographically predominantly depicted with a stick or shackles clutched in his hand, “beating a demon,” was included in the list of Christian literature prohibited for reading.
Until 1666 - the Old Believer schism, the most famous and revered of the two images of Saint Nikita was Nikita - “besogon”. Until the nineteenth century, the iconographic plot of beating the demon was occasionally reproduced by Old Believers according to old models.
In large quantities, archaeologists find ancient crosses and various works of small plastic art bearing the image of St. Nikita, the plot of which is illustrated by one of the episodes of the Byzantine apocryphal life, according to which, having become a Christian, Nikita aroused the wrath of his pagan father and, after torture, was thrown into prison. There a demon appeared to the martyr - in the form of an angel, who persuaded him to worship pagan idols and promised that by doing so the saint would avoid new tortures.
But the martyr doubted the angelic essence of this “guest,” and through the prayer of Saint Nikita to the Lord, the Archangel Michael descended from heaven, who tested this false angel. Saint Nikita stepped on the demon, beat him with his iron shackles, and the demon was forced to admit his devilish essence, and during interrogation by the king, the martyr “presented” the demon, showing the one who rules over them - the king and the pagans.
The iconography “Nikita beating the demon” was popular in Rus'. one of the earliest incarnations of the plot is a relief of the twelfth century: on the Dmitrovsky Cathedral in Vladimir (western facade); Also a rarity is a Novgorod double-sided stone icon of the thirteenth century with the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on one side and with Nikita - “besogon” - on the other.
In Tver, in the old craft district on the banks of the Tvertsa River, there is an ancient temple in honor of the martyr Nikita: from this temple, according to legend, Afanasy Nikitin set off on his journey across the three seas.
As is generally accepted, the plot with Nikita Besogon was most widespread in the 14th-17th centuries, when the composition with Nikita and the demon began to be reproduced in large numbers on stone and copper-cast icons, crosses - encolpions, pectoral and body crosses and amulets - serpentines.
The Suffering of the Holy Martyr Nikitas of Gotha
The story of the early Christian martyr, Saint Nikita, is known to many believers of the Orthodox Church. We especially venerate Saint Nikita in Abkhazia, and ancient stone icons depicting the martyr Nikita Besogon are found in excavations in many cities of Central Russia. Many believers turn to the Great Martyr Nikita in prayer, asking him for protection from conspiracies and witchcraft.
The story of Saint Nikita
One of the first Christians, the Great Martyr Nikita, according to legend, was born into the family of the pagan Tsar Maximian, who was particularly cruel in dealing with the first Christian communities. Nikita more than once turned to his father with a request to convert to Christianity, but he, in a rage, tried to kill his son, and when this failed, he imprisoned him. In prison, a demon appeared to the future great martyr, albeit in the guise of an angel, and began to persuade the young man to renounce his chosen faith. Nikita began to pray to the Lord, and soon the Archangel Michael appeared to him, commanding him to test the devil. The young man grabbed the false guest, and, stepping on his neck, beat him with his own shackles.
The future great martyr spent three years in prison, and when the king called his son to repentance, the young man brought with him a defeated demon, proving to his father that it was the evil forces that controlled his heart. The king was inexorable and ordered his son to be executed, but God did not allow this. To prove the righteousness of the Christian faith and convert his father to Christianity, Nikita resurrected two people, and a little later, according to legend, baptized more than 18,000 people.
How do prayers to the Great Martyr Nikita help?
Many believers, offering a prayer to Saint Nikita for children, turn to him as a protector from demons and from seducing children’s souls. On the icons of the Great Martyr Nikita is depicted with shackles, with which he beats the Devil.
Prayer to Saint Nikita helps against damage, with various family troubles and with some illnesses, such as “relative”. The words of prayer will protect you from black magic, free you from slavery, and help you in your studies. Icons depicting the Saint beating the devil are customary to give to Nikitas on their name day, so that they will never be tempted by the Devil in their lives.
Prayers to Saint Nikita Besogon
First prayer
O great passion-bearer of Christ and wonder-working Great Martyr Nikito! Falling before your holy and miraculous image, while your deeds and miracles and your many compassion for people are glorifying, we pray to you diligently: show us the humble and sinners your holy and powerful intercession, for it is a sin for our sake, not the imams of the freedom of the children of God, for our needs We boldly ask our Lord and our Master, but we offer you a favorable prayer book for him and we cry for your intercession, ask us from the Lord for beneficial gifts for our souls and bodies, right faith, undoubted hope of salvation, unfeigned love for everyone, courage in temptation, their patience in suffering, constancy in prayer, health of soul and body, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, contentment of everyday needs, peaceful and pious life on earth, Christian death and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Christ. Also, O passion-bearer of Christ, from the Heavenly King ask our Russian country for peace, health and salvation, and against our enemies victory and victory, prosperity, silence and prosperity. Be a companion and helper against the enemies of the Christ-loving army, and show your holy intercession to all Orthodox people: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, help the needy. Hey, servant of God and long-suffering martyr! Do not forget your holy monastery and all the nuns and worldly people living in it and striving, but hasten to bear the yoke of Christ in humility and patience and graciously deliver them from all troubles and temptations. Bring us all into a quiet haven of salvation and make us worthy to be heirs of the blessed Kingdom of Christ through your holy prayers, so that we glorify and sing the great generosity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity we glorify and worship God, and your holy intercession forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
O great passion-bearer of Christ Nikito! Hear the prayer of us sinners, and deliver us (names) from all sorrow and adversity, from sudden death and from all evil: at the hour of separation of the soul from the body, passion-bearing, every evil thought and evil demons, so that our souls may be received in peace to the place of light, Christ the Lord our God, for from Him is the cleansing of sins, and He is the salvation of our souls, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Personal petition
In Orthodox church history there are several saints who had the name Nikita: Nikita the Besogon and Nikita the Martyr (Nikita the Gothic) - the first Christians who were subjected to torture and death for Christ in Constantinople, as well as Nikita the Stylite (who lived in the 18th century in Russia in top of the pillar). Until 1666, the most famous and revered of them was Nikita the Besogon. Antique crosses and various works of small plastic art bearing the image of St. Nikita are found in large quantities. How to recognize Nikita the Besogon? He is depicted with a stick or shackles clutched in his hand, “beating a demon.” This plot illustrates one of the episodes of the Byzantine apocryphal life of Saint Nikita, the son of a certain king Maximian. Having become a Christian, Nikita aroused the extreme displeasure of his pagan father and, after a series of torments, was thrown into prison, where a demon appeared to him, taking on the appearance of an angel. The demon began to persuade Nikita to worship pagan idols and thereby avoid new torment. Nikita doubted the angelic essence of the guest, prayed to the Lord!, after which the Archangel Michael came down from heaven and ordered the false angel to be tested. Nikita grabbed the demon, stepped on him and beat him with his iron shackles, forcing him to confess his devilish nature. When the king again summoned him for questioning, the saint brought the demon with him by the hand and showed his father who was ruling over him. And so that his father would believe in Christ, Nikita resurrected two long-dead spouses. But nothing had any effect on Maximian. And then the whole city and the queen rebelled against him. On this day, Nikita baptized eighteen thousand four hundred people and soon rested in God. In his life it is said that he helps in teaching, heals, casts out demons, frees from slavery, helps to repent of sins and free oneself from the temptations of the devil. Two incantatory prayers are associated with the name of Saint Nikita, in which the attitude of ancient Russian people towards him as the main protector from demons was manifested. One of them is read before going to bed, the other is attributed to Nikita himself before his death. It is precisely because of its protective nature that the iconographic composition “Nikita beating the demon” was extremely popular in Rus'. Its earliest incarnations are the relief on the western facade of the Dmitrov Cathedral in Vladimir (1197), where, according to prophecies, Seraphim of Sarov himself would bring the future Russian Orthodox Tsar for anointing, and a double-sided stone icon of the 13th century. with images of Nicholas the Wonderworker and Nikita with a demon, presumably of Novgorod origin (Nikolaeva T.V., 1983, pl. 14, 2, cat. No. 68). As is currently believed, this plot was most widespread in the 14th-16th centuries, when the composition with Nikita and the demon began to be reproduced in large numbers on stone and copper-cast icons, encolpion crosses, pectoral and body crosses and serpentine amulets. A brief overview of material sources and their interpretation can be found in a number of special works published since the 1890s. (Chetyrkin I.D., Dobrykin N.G.) and until now (Tkachenko V.A., Khukharev V.V.). In metal-plastic works, Saint Nikita Besogon is almost always represented with his hand raised to strike. He beats the demon with shackles, with a stick or club, or with a rope. Nikita is depicted either in a short, belted tunic-shaped garment and a cloak, or in long clothing resembling a cassock, or in military armor. Nikita's appearance also turns out to be different: he can be depicted as a beardless youth or as a mature bearded husband. The appearance of the demon is also different: most often it has anthropomorphic features, occasionally zoomorphic or even ornithomorphic. Sometimes the composition includes architectural elements symbolizing the dungeon in which Saint Nikita is imprisoned. Until the 90s of the 14th century. on icons and crosses, the Monk Nikita beat the demon in his guise (with horns, tail, etc.). But surprisingly, according to the latest archaeological excavations carried out in the Ryazan region, body armor was found, where instead of a whipping demon there was a triangle depicted - a pyramid! The conclusion suggests itself that the Orthodox at the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th centuries. They clearly understood where the evil for the Russian people came from and through cult plastic surgery (pectoral crosses and icons) they tried to protect themselves from this evil. In Zatverechye (the old craft district of Tver, located on the Tvertsa River) one of the oldest temples in honor of Nikita has been preserved. The well-known Afanasy Nikitin set off on a journey three seas from the Nikitsky Church. According to legend, a pectoral cross with two images of St. Nikita belonged to Sergius of Radonezh (later kept in the Pavlo-Obnorsky monastery of the Vologda province).The memory of Nikita Besogon was celebrated on September 15/28, the same day as the memory of the great martyr Nikita of Goth, a Christian military leader who suffered for his faith from the king of the Goths Athanaric (c. 372), therefore, even in the Middle Ages, the events described in the lives both martyrs, began to be perceived as referring to the same person. After the introduction of state control of the Russian Orthodox Church (through the Synod) under Peter I in 1720, all saints were censored. The apocryphal life of Nikita (Besogon), the son of Tsar Maximian, was included in the list of Christian literature prohibited for reading, and the name of Nikita Besogon disappeared from the church calendar. It's time to clear his name. His veneration was transferred to the Great Martyr Nikita of Gotha, and the iconographic plot of the beating of the demon became the property of the Old Believers and was occasionally reproduced by them according to old models until the 19th century.First prayer.O great passion-bearer of Christ and wonder-working Great Martyr Nikito! Falling before your holy and miraculous image, while your deeds and miracles and your many compassion for people are glorifying, we pray to you diligently: show us the humble and sinners your holy and powerful intercession, for it is a sin for our sake, not the imams of the freedom of the children of God, for our needs We boldly ask our Lord and our Master, but we offer you a favorable prayer book for him and we cry for your intercession, ask us from the Lord for beneficial gifts for our souls and bodies, right faith, undoubted hope of salvation, unfeigned love for everyone, courage in temptation, their patience in suffering, constancy in prayer, health of soul and body, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, contentment of everyday needs, peaceful and pious life on earth, Christian death and a good answer at the terrible judgment of Christ. Also, O passion-bearer of Christ, from the Heavenly King ask our Russian country for peace, health and salvation, and against our enemies victory and victory, prosperity, silence and prosperity. Be a companion and helper against the enemies of the Christ-loving army, and show your holy intercession to all Orthodox people: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, help the needy. Hey, servant of God and long-suffering martyr! Do not forget your holy monastery and all the nuns and worldly people living in it and striving, but hasten to bear the yoke of Christ in humility and patience and graciously deliver them from all troubles and temptations. Bring us all into a quiet refuge of salvation and make us worthy to be heirs of the blessed Kingdom of Christ through your holy prayers, so that we glorify and sing the great generosity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity we glorify and worship God, and your holy intercession forever and ever. Amen.Second prayer. O great passion-bearer of Christ Nikito! Hear the prayer of us sinners, and deliver us (names) from all sorrow and adversity, from sudden death and from all evil: at the hour of separation of the soul from the body, passion-bearing, every evil thought and evil demons, so that our souls may be received in peace to the place of light, Christ the Lord our God, for from Him is the cleansing of sins, and He is the salvation of our souls, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.Personal petition. O great passion-bearer of Christ and miracle worker, Great Martyr Nikita! Hear us praying to you with tears (names), and beg Christ God to have mercy on us and grant us (the content of the petition), and let us glorify and sing the great generosity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your holy intercession, forever and ever. Amen.O great passion-bearer of Christ and miracle worker, Great Martyr Nikita! Hear us praying to you with tears (names), and beg Christ God to have mercy on us and grant us (the content of the petition), and let us glorify and sing the great generosity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your holy intercession, forever and ever. Amen.
