🔸 September 15 - Saint Nikitas the Goth 🔸
Today, we honor the memory of Saint Nikitas, the Holy and Great Martyr. He was a member of the Goths, a Germanic people, and after embracing Christianity, he courageously defended his faith against the pagan Goths, ultimately giving his life as a martyr in the 4th century.
Saint Nikitas was a soldier living on the eastern side of the Danube River, in what is now Romania. He was converted and baptized as a young man by Bishop Theophilos, who played a significant role in spreading Christianity among the Goths and participated in the First Ecumenical Council in 325.
It is important to highlight that Nikitas became a devout Orthodox Christian before Arianism spread among the Goths under Bishop Urphilos, Theophilos's successor.
The rise of Christianity led to a Gothic civil war between Athanarichus, the pagan king of the Visigoths who despised Christians, and Frigentus, leader of the Gothic Christian army, where Saint Nikitas served as a soldier.
Frigentus emerged victorious, ushering in a time of peace for the Christian Goths. During this period, Bishop Urphilos created the Gothic alphabet and translated many religious texts from Greek. Through his preaching and virtuous life, Saint Nikitas strengthened the faith of many Goths and helped convert numerous people of Dacia to Christianity.
However, peace was short-lived. Athanarichus soon returned with a stronger army, defeated Frigentus, and launched a severe persecution against Christians. As a spiritual leader, Saint Nikitas encouraged his fellow believers to remain steadfast and unafraid of martyrdom.
Saint Nikitas was eventually captured and subjected to brutal torture. Even in the face of suffering, he boldly condemned Athanarichus for his wickedness and cruelty. He was martyred by being thrown into a fire, where he surrendered his soul on September 15, 372.
That night, a Christian named Marianus retrieved Saint Nikitas’s body and buried it in Cilicia. Later, his relics were transferred to Constantinople, where a church was built in his honor. A portion of his relics was also brought to the Monastery of Vysokie Dechani in Serbia, where his incorrupt hand continues to perform miracles to this day.