saint nicetas

Saint NicetasSaint Nicetas

The connection between the Byzantine The connection between the Byzantine city of Chalcedon of 8city of Chalcedon of 8thth century and century and

Greek island of Lefkas of 21Greek island of Lefkas of 21stst century century

The quizThe quiz In N.W. Lefkas, an island In N.W. Lefkas, an island

of western Greece, the of western Greece, the village of “Aghios Nikitas” village of “Aghios Nikitas” is, today, widely known as is, today, widely known as a good choice for summer a good choice for summer vacations. At the edge of vacations. At the edge of this village, close to the this village, close to the sea, there is a church in sea, there is a church in honor of saint Nicetas of honor of saint Nicetas of Chalcedon, constructed Chalcedon, constructed during 19during 19thth century. century.

Why the local people Why the local people constructed a church for a constructed a church for a saint who is totally saint who is totally unknown for Greek unknown for Greek Orthodox Community? Orthodox Community?

This is a try of explanation.This is a try of explanation.

Chalcedon / Byzantine EmpireChalcedon / Byzantine Empire 8 8thth century AD century AD

Monk Nicetas is elected «archbishop of Chalcedon». Monk Nicetas is elected «archbishop of Chalcedon». He was an educated man, full of wealth and charity He was an educated man, full of wealth and charity virtues action, who enjoyed great appreciation to the virtues action, who enjoyed great appreciation to the residents of the city.residents of the city.

Constantinople / Byzantine Constantinople / Byzantine Empire Empire

beginning of 9th century AD beginning of 9th century AD The Byzantine The Byzantine

emperor Leo (V) “the emperor Leo (V) “the Armenian” is ordering Armenian” is ordering that every religious that every religious icon of Jesus Christ, icon of Jesus Christ, Holly Virgin and other Holly Virgin and other holly people that exist holly people that exist in the churches of the in the churches of the hole empire, have to hole empire, have to be destroyed. be destroyed.

Chalcedon / Byzantine EmpireChalcedon / Byzantine Empire beginning of 9th century AD beginning of 9th century AD

Metropolitan Nicetas Metropolitan Nicetas refuses to obey to the refuses to obey to the emperor’s instructions and emperor’s instructions and is arrested, together with is arrested, together with some of his relatives and some of his relatives and some of his supporters, by some of his supporters, by the army troops of the the army troops of the area. Soldiers put the old area. Soldiers put the old man to torture and he died man to torture and he died after a short time in the jail after a short time in the jail

Chalcedon / Byzantine Empire Chalcedon / Byzantine Empire 9 9thth century AD century AD

Supporters and friends Supporters and friends of archbishop Nicetas of archbishop Nicetas are organizing meals are organizing meals and speeches in his and speeches in his honour, every year, on honour, every year, on his death anniversary. his death anniversary. His remains are kept His remains are kept and many people say and many people say that some miracles are that some miracles are related to them.related to them.

Constantinople -Constantinople - Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire 9 9thth century AD century AD

JosephJoseph the the Hymnographer (Hymnographer (816-886816-886 A.D.A.D.), is composing a ), is composing a hymn in honor of “saint hymn in honor of “saint Nicetas the bishop of Nicetas the bishop of Chalcedon” dedicated to Chalcedon” dedicated to the people who were the people who were shepherded by him. The shepherded by him. The fame of the new saint is fame of the new saint is spreading all over the spreading all over the Christian world, especially Christian world, especially over the Slavonic nations over the Slavonic nations who are newly converted.who are newly converted.

Chalcedon / Byzantine Empire Chalcedon / Byzantine Empire 1313thth century century

The remains of saint The remains of saint Nicetas are Nicetas are still kept in still kept in the city and are subject the city and are subject of worship by many of worship by many believers. In the local believers. In the local church bookschurch books is is referred as “martyr referred as “martyr Nicetas” and his Nicetas” and his memory is celebrated memory is celebrated on 28on 28thth of May. of May.

KadiKadi--KeuiKeui / Ottoman Empire/ Ottoman Empire1414thth century century

Chalcedon has fell to Ottomans’ Chalcedon has fell to Ottomans’ hands and has been totally hands and has been totally destructed. Even the stones of destructed. Even the stones of its buildings has been its buildings has been transferred to Istanbul for the transferred to Istanbul for the construction of this city. The construction of this city. The deserted area is renamed as deserted area is renamed as “Kadi“Kadi--Keui” in 15Keui” in 15thth century. century. Nobody knows where the Nobody knows where the remains of saint Nicetas are. remains of saint Nicetas are. Possibly they had been Possibly they had been transferred by refugees,100 km transferred by refugees,100 km SE from Chalcedon to the city of SE from Chalcedon to the city of Nicomedia, capital of Bithynia Nicomedia, capital of Bithynia as the area was called.as the area was called.

City of Venice /City of Venice / The The Most SereneMost Serene Republic of VeniceRepublic of Venice

1515thth century century According According Marino Marino SanudoSanudo

(1466-1536) (1466-1536) a ship from a ship from Nicomedia / Bithynia, Nicomedia / Bithynia, brought to Venice, the brought to Venice, the remains of “saint Nicetas remains of “saint Nicetas the martyr”. This was the martyr”. This was reason for great confusion reason for great confusion for the scholars, as the for the scholars, as the only saint with name only saint with name Nicetas who was known by Nicetas who was known by them, was Nicetas the them, was Nicetas the “Great – Martyr, the Goth” “Great – Martyr, the Goth” who’s remains already who’s remains already were existing in the city.were existing in the city.

City of Venice / The City of Venice / The Most SereneMost Serene Republic of VeniceRepublic of Venice

1515thth century century The remains of saint The remains of saint

Nicetas have been put in Nicetas have been put in the church of “Anzolo the church of “Anzolo Rafael” in the city and a Rafael” in the city and a new celebration day was new celebration day was added in the local church added in the local church calendar: The day in honor calendar: The day in honor of “saint Nicetas of of “saint Nicetas of Nicomedia”.It was the 12Nicomedia”.It was the 12thth of September, probably of September, probably because this was the day because this was the day when the remains arrived when the remains arrived at the city. at the city.

Dalmatic coastDalmatic coast The The Most SereneMost Serene Republic of Republic of

VeniceVenice1717thth century century

This area, which was This area, which was controlled by the controlled by the Venetian state, Venetian state, is is inhabited by a significant inhabited by a significant ratio of Greek Orthodox people, (Slavs and ratio of Greek Orthodox people, (Slavs and Greeks) who came as refugees from Greeks) who came as refugees from occupied - by Turks -areas. Greek and occupied - by Turks -areas. Greek and Slavs have the same churches and Slavs have the same churches and monasteries and the same bishop who lives monasteries and the same bishop who lives in Venice.in Venice.

Dalmatic coastDalmatic coast The The Most SereneMost Serene Republic of Republic of


Saint Nicetas of Saint Nicetas of Chalcedon was one of Chalcedon was one of the favorite saints, for the favorite saints, for the Christians of the Christians of Dalmatia, as Slav Dalmatia, as Slav Christians had kept Christians had kept their interest for him, their interest for him, which is dated from 9which is dated from 9th th century. century.

Santa MauraSanta Maura The The Most SereneMost Serene Republic of Republic of


Shortly after the Shortly after the occupation of the island by occupation of the island by Venice, Orthodox soldiers Venice, Orthodox soldiers from Dalmatia, cooperating from Dalmatia, cooperating with the Venetians in the with the Venetians in the war against the Turks, war against the Turks, camp by the western coast camp by the western coast of the island in an of the island in an uninhabited area and uninhabited area and constructconstruct a church in a church in honor of saint Nicetas of honor of saint Nicetas of Chalcedon.Chalcedon.

Lefkas / The United States of the Lefkas / The United States of the Ionian Islands» (English protection) Ionian Islands» (English protection)

– 19– 19thth century century Around the old abandoned Around the old abandoned

church of St. Nikita, people church of St. Nikita, people coming from other places, coming from other places, construct new houses and construct new houses and graduallygradually make a new make a new village. The new-comers village. The new-comers adopt the unknown saint adopt the unknown saint and gave his name to it. and gave his name to it. They construct a new They construct a new larger church, replacing larger church, replacing the old one.the old one.

Lefkas/ GreeceLefkas/ Greece2020thth century century

The bookThe book

““Aghios Nikitas” by Antonios Perdikaris Aghios Nikitas” by Antonios Perdikaris A. Stamoulis editions.A. Stamoulis editions. Thessaloniki/ Greece 2008Thessaloniki/ Greece 2008

saint nicetas

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