Nicetas of Novgorod
| Saint Nicetas of Novgorod | |
|---|---|
| 17th-century Russian icon
17th-century Russian icon
| |
| Bishop of Novgorod | |
| Born | 25 May 1030 Kiev |
| Died | 31 January 1108 (aged 77) Novgorod |
| Resting place | Cathedral of Saint Sophia, Novgorod |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 1558 |
| Feast | 31 January (Catholic Church) 31 January (O.S.) 30 April (O.S.) 14 May (O.S.) (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
Nicetas[1] (also spelled Niketas; 1030–1108) was a monk of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.[2] Despite the objections of Nikon the Abbot of the Caves, Nicetas embraced the life of a solitary hermit at a young age.[3][4]
Spiritual delusion
According to tradition, Nicetas was plagued heavily by demonic torments during his time in solitude.[5] The devil appeared to him in the guise of an angel, and the ascetic bowed down to him.[6][7] The devil gave him advice, and advised the monk not to pray, as the disguised devil would supposedly "pray for him". He stood near the hermit, giving the appearance of praying, falsely reassuring the deceived Nicetas. The hermit came to "surpass everyone in his knowledge of the Books of the Old Testament, but Nicetas would not speak about the Gospel, nor did he wish to hear it read."[2][8]
The devil would give Nicetas information on what was going on in the world, and the monk would prophesy to people who came to seek his guidance. The elders of the monastery understood that Nicetas was in a state of prelest, and broke into the cave, chased away the demons with their prayers, and dragged the hermit out.[9]
Following this intervention, Nicetas forgot all that he had read in the Old Testament, and forgot how to read at all. Nicetas was taught how to read again, and with the blessings of the elders of the monastery, continued his hermitage; only with the addition of humility.
Later life
Nicetas realized his wrongdoings, and repented from them with great sadness, humility, and fasting. By his humility, it is believed that God blessed Nicetas with the gift of miracle-working.[10][11]
In 1096, Nicetas was named to the office of Bishop of Novgorod. It is believed that his intercessions contributed to the release of rain during a severe drought, and also a fire in the city was extinguished by his prayers.[8] He reposed on January 31, 1108, with 13 years as a bishop.
Legacy and veneration
In 1558, during the reign of Tsar Ivan Vasilievich, Nicetas was glorified as a saint. In 1956, the relics of Nicetas were transferred by Bishop Sergius (Golubtsov) from the Sophia Cathedral to the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, and when it was closed in 1962, to the Church of the Apostle Philip. In 1993, the relics of Saint Nikita were returned to the St. Sophia Cathedral.[12]
His feast days in the Eastern Orthodox Church are on: 31 January (the day of his repose), 30 April (the day of the Uncovering of his Relics in 1558), and 14 May. These are calculated as 13 February, 13 May, and 27 May, respectively, using the Gregorian calendar. Nicetas is commemorated on 31 January in the Catholic Church.[13]
References
- Back to citation Russian: Епи́скоп Ники́та; Ukrainian: Єпи́скоп Мики́та.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 "Venerable Niketas of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves, Bishop of Novgorod". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- Back to citation "Near caves". Свято-Успенська Києво-Печерська Лавра (чоловічий монастир) УПЦ. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- Back to citation Kutash, Father Ihor. "Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada" (PDF). uocc.ca. Retrieved 25 Aug 2025.
- Back to citation Online, Catholic. "St. Nicetas - Saints & Angels". Catholic Online. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- Back to citation "Hermit Nikita of Novgorod, the Saint Who Fell and Started Over". obitel-minsk.org. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- Back to citation "THE VENERABLE NICETAS OF THE MONASTERY OF THE CAVES IN KIEV - January 31". www.orthodox.net. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 "Saint Nicetas of the Kiev Caves – The Archives of Orthodox America". Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- Back to citation Rose, Father Seraphim (1981). God's Revelation to the Human Heart (2nd ed.). Saint Herman of Alaska Monastery (published 1987). pp. 16–19. ISBN 978-0938635031.
- Back to citation "Nikita (Nicetas) the recluse of the Kiev Caves, bishop of Novgorod, holy hierarch". stjohndc.org. Retrieved 25 Aug 2025.
- Back to citation Brianchaniov, Bishop Ignatius (1983). The Arena (2nd ed.). Jordanville, New York: Holy Trinity Monastery. pp. 31–34. ISBN 978-0884652878.
- Back to citation Tserpitsky, His Eminence Lev (2008). "Вновь со святителем Никитой" (PDF). СОФИЯ (in Russian) (3): 8–10.
- Back to citation Online, Catholic. "St. Nicetas - Saints & Angels". Catholic Online. Retrieved 2025-08-26; (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Νικήτας ὁ Ἔγκλειστος. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ; (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Νικήτας ἐκ Κιέβου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ; (in Greek) Ἀνακομιδὴ Τιμίων Λειψάνων Ἁγίου Νικήτα Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Νόβγκοροντ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.