By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
The Church celebrates today the memory of Venerable Nikon, who lived in the 10th century and acquired the nickname metanoite (Greek for “penitent/repent”) for using it as a preface to all his sermons
He was young when he left his house in order to become a monk.
Following the conquest of Crete in 961, Venerable Nikon travelled to Crete, where he stayed for 20 years in order to return recent converts of Islam back to Christianity.
He then went to the Peloponnese, particularly to Sparta. There he preached, performed miracles, and built a temple dedicated to the Savior Jesus Christ. He ended his life in 998 AD.
Saint Nikon also visited Euboea. He continued to preach. He cured a possessed woman by praying publicly with the participation of the laity.
Source: Church of Cyprus
