09/15/206 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Св. вмч. Микити / Greatmartyr Niketas the Goth
The Synaxarion (Lives of the Saints): The Holy Great Martyr Niketas was a Goth, a Germanic tribe living along the Danube River. He suffered for Christ in the year 372. Christianity was already spreading among the Goths, and Saint Niketas was baptized by the Gothic bishop Theophilos, who had participated in the First Ecumenical Council. Saint Niketas worked tirelessly among his people, teaching them about Christ. Through his words and personal example, he brought many pagans to the Christian Faith and strengthened other Christians in their faith. At that time, the Goths were divided between Christians and pagans. The pagan ruler Athanaric persecuted Christians and subjected them to severe tortures. Saint Niketas openly denounced his cruelty and defended the Christian Faith. The Saint endured many tortures for Christ and was finally thrown into a fire. Although his body was not consumed by the flames, he surrendered his soul to God. That night, a Christian named Marianus secretly took his body and buried it in Cilicia. Later, his relics were transferred to Constantinople, and part of them was given to the monastery of Vysokie Dechani in Serbia. Thus, on September 15, 372, Saint Niketas received the unfading crown of glory from Christ. We pray to Saint Niketas for the preservation of children from birth defects.