Priest-Martyr Nicon

Life

Born in Naples of a pagan father and a Christian mother. Nicon was a Roman officer in Naples. He was not yet baptized, although his mother taught him the faith of Christ in secret from his father. Once when he set out with his unit into battle, his mother counseled him that if he found himself in dire straits, he should make the sign of the Cross and call on Christ for help. And indeed, when in battle Nicon's unit was surrounded and quite near final destruction, Nicon made the sign of the Cross and cried out to Christ in his heart. In that hour he was filled with extraordinary strength, rushed at his enemies, and killed some and routed others in flight. Returning home, Nicon kept crying out in wonder: "Great is the God of the Christians!" Having gladdened his mother with the news of his victory through the Cross of Christ, he secretly sailed to Asia, where Bishop Theodosius of Cyzicus baptized him. After his baptism he shut himself in a monastery, where he devoted himself to learning and ascetic labor. But before his death, Bishop Theodosius had a vision in which he was commanded to ordain Nicon as his successor. The elder Theodosius immediately summoned Nicon and ordained him deacon, then presbyter, and then bishop. But by God's Providence Nicon soon came to Naples where he found his mother still living. After his mother's death he withdrew with nine disciples — once his fellow soldiers — to Sicily, and there devoted himself to preaching the Gospel. But there was a terrible persecution of Christians at that time. And the prince Quintianus seized Nicon together with his companions and subjected them to great torments. His one hundred and ninety disciples and companions were beheaded. Nicon himself was bound to horses' tails by the torturer, hurled from a high cliff into a chasm, beaten, and scraped — yet Nicon survived all those torments. At last he was beheaded and departed to the Lord. His body was left in a field for birds to eat. But a certain young shepherd possessed by a demon stumbled and fell upon the dead body of Christ's martyr and was immediately healed. He spread the word about Nicon's body, and the Christians came and buried it honorably. Holy Nicon suffered in the time of Emperor Decius.

From the Hymn of Praise

### PRIEST-MARTYR NICON