The very beautiful and courageous name Nikita is translated from Greek as "winner". Being interested in the issue, when Nikita’s Orthodox birthday is celebrated, it should be noted that there are several. And to begin with, let's see how the saints named by this name became famous. Among the Old Slavonic finds, archaeologists found many ancient crosses and icons depicting the holy martyr Nikita Besogon. He was portrayed with a stick and shackles, which he held in his hands and beat them with a demon. The name day of Nikita is celebrated several times a year.
The most famous are: Nikita Besogon (as described above), Nikita Gotsky (referring to the first Christian martyrs who were tortured in Constantinople), as well as Nikita Stolpnik (who lived in Russia in the XVIII century).
Nikita Besogon
Dealing with the question, when Nikita Besogon’s name day is celebrated, it should be noted that his icon-painting plot illustrates the history of the Byzantine apocryphal texts of the saint’s life. According to some reports, he was the son of King Maximian. Having believed in Christ, he caused great indignation of the pagan father and was subjected to numerous cruel tortures, and then thrown into prison, where once the demon himself appeared to him in the form of an angel and began to persuade him to believe in pagan idols, promising him freedom from torment. Nikita did not believe this terrible angelic essence and began to pray intensely to the Lord, and then the archangel Michael came down from heaven and ordered the false angel to be tested. Then Nikita seized the demon and began to beat him with his shackles, and he was forced to admit that he was an unclean spirit.
Then the king again summoned Nikita, but he did not come alone, but brought a demon with him to show everyone who took power over them. And to finally convince, Nikita resurrected a long-dead couple. But this did not affect Maximian, then both the tsarina and the people rebelled against him. On this day, St. Nikita baptized 18,400 people, but he soon gave his soul to God.
Holy Great Martyr Nikita of Gotha
In the topic “Nameday of Nikita”, it is necessary to mention the Rev. Nikita of Gotha, who was also a Christian saint. He was a Goth by birth and was born on the shores of the mighty Danube. He was baptized by Bishop Theophilus, who participated in the First Ecumenical Council. Nikita, along with Bishop Wulfilah, spread Christianity among his tribes and was a warrior of the Gothic leader Fritigern, who fought against Atanarich, when there was a tribal conflict between them.
But after Atanarich came to power again, Nikita continued to preach Christianity. Then they took him into custody, tortured him for a long time and tried to force him out of him the renunciation of the Christian faith by sophisticated torture. And then he was executed by burning and, according to his life, the body of St. Nikita did not burn the fire, but he was just killed anyway, and that was in 372. The body of the martyr was taken by his friend Marianne, and it was buried in Cilicia. But after some time part of the relics was transferred to Constantinople, and part to the Serbian monastery (High Dečany).
Nikita Stolpnik
When answering the question when Nikita’s name day, it is necessary to tell about the Monk Nikita Stolpnik, who lived in Pereslavl-Zalessky in the XII century. He married early and indulged in all sorts of vices, quarreled with the rich, oppressed the poor and dishonestly levied an excessive bribe on people, due to this he made a great fortune.
Once, while serving in a church, he heard words from the scripture of the Prophet Isaiah, which said that people should be cleansed and washed, stop doing evil, and seek the truth. Then a real miracle happened: Nikita was touched by these words to the core. He decided to give up his wealth and his vicious life and devote himself to serving God, and without thinking twice, he went to the monastery. Nikita voluntarily assumed heavy iron chains and secluded himself on a stone pillar. Until his last day on earth, he was in fasting and prayer, day and night forgiving his sins before the Lord. For such a hard ascetic life, Nikita received the gift of miracles from God and could heal the sick.
Betrayal of loved ones
But one day two people came to him to ask for blessings. He knew them well. His frayed twigs flashed before their envious eyes, and it seemed to them that they were silver. Then they took and killed Nikita in order to take possession of this wealth. This happened on May 24, 1186.
The relics of the Monk Nikita were examined and acquired on May 29-31 in 2000, with the blessing of the Russian Patriarch Alexy II and the Archbishop of Rostov and Yaroslavl Mikhey.
Nikita: name day, angel's day
It is said in life that Saint Nikita helps in teaching, overcomes demons, provides an opportunity to repent of sins and protect oneself from the devil's deceptions.
Name days of Nikita Besogon and Nikita Gotsky in the Orthodox calendar - September 15/28.
The memory of the Monk Nikita Stolpnik is celebrated on May 24 according to the Julian calendar.