On September 28, the Orthodox commemorate the Great Martyr Nikita of Gotha
On September 28, Orthodox Christians remember St. Nikita, who lived in the fourth century, whose life and death are surrounded by many miracles.
Nikita came from a tribe of Goths who lived off the coast of the Danube. Having received baptism, he, together with the bishops, actively carried the light of faith to his fellow tribesmen.
When the cruel pagan Athanarich returned to power, persecution began. Nikita openly denounced the ruler, for which he was captured. After severe torture, which did not break his spirit, in 372 he was sentenced to be burned. According to legend, the fire did not touch the body of the righteous.
Wanting to erase the memory of the martyr, Athanarich forbade the burial of his remains. However, the friend of the holy Christian Marian secretly went to the place of execution. On a dark rainy night, a celestial star appeared to him pointing at the body. Marian shipped the relics to Cilicia. Soon healings began to occur from them, and a temple was erected in honor of the saint. Later, the relics were transferred to Constantinople and a Serbian monastery.
On this day, the namesakes are celebrated by Andrei, Vissarion, Gerasim, Gregory, Dmitry, Evdokia, Ivan, Ignatius, Joseph, Leonid, Lyudmila, Makar, Maxim, Maria, Nikita, Nikolai, Peter, Porphyry, Semyon, Stepan, Fedot, Jacob.
