St. Niketas the New Martyr of Nisyros

Sts. Julian the Martyr of Cilicia and Niketas the Neomartyr of Nisyros, both celebrated on June 21st (taken from: http://www.christopherklitou.com/icon_21_june_julian_nicetas.htm)

  
St. Niketas was born in 1716 from rich parents. His father was the governor of the island, however, he fell into trouble with the Turks, and to escape tortures, he and his family converted to Islam and moved to Rhodes. There, his youngest son, Mehmet, learned that at one time he had been a Christian named Niketas. Immediately after, at 14 years of age, Niketas went to Nea Moni of Chios where he confessed his situation to the Abbot. The Abbot sent him first to the former Bishop of Thebes Makarios, who gave him Holy Chrism and valuable guidance. Niketas learned of the way of martyrdom and received advice from the well-known ascetic Anthimos Agiopateriti, and with the prayers and blessing of the other fathers, he left for Chios.
  

St. Niketas the New Martyr of Nisyros (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuZkzuZAG5MczEPiJaHKdRMTnCB2ZYiCbRzs3AzYVelyOQ2VDuWCozBMQelcuuR9nipGbImqXZQvQzHnGPJedAvqAn5xVbGJL36y7jPBrsyUiEI0DkQFD7-hOq5QLECq1X9WmX5v9DDNs/s1600/%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%82.jpg)

  
When he reached Chios, he was compelled by the Turks to pay the head tax, which he was unable to do. Therefore the Turkish employee led him towards the prison at Vounaki. On the road he met some priest who greeted Niketas as Mehmet. When the Turk heard this and learned from someone what had happened he led him to the Aga. There Niketas confessed his faith with boldness and withstood the pressures and threats to return to their religion. Because however he did not give way, they delivered him to terrible tortures for ten days. In the end, he was beheaded on June 21st 1732 at 17 years of age, gaining the crown of martyrdom and heavenly glory. (translated and summarized from: http://www.synaxaristis.googlepages.com/21ιουνιου)
  

Icon of St. Niketas the New Martyr, from the Greek island of Nisyros (taken from: http://www.thehtm.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27_50_90&products_id=369&osCsid=39cdf91dda544f227592e3434413fcad)
  

Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος α΄.

Τῆς Νισύρου τὸν γόνον καὶ τῆς Χίου τὸ καύχημα, τὸν φρουρὸν Αἰγαίου Πελάγους Νικήταν τὸν ἔνδοξον, ὑμνήσωμεν συμφώνως οἱ πιστοὶ, βοῶντες πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰλικρινῶς· Σαῖς λιταῖς τοὺς τὴν σὴν μνήμην ἐπιτελούντας, σῶζε καὶ βοῶντας σοι· Δόξα τῷ σε στεφανώσαντι Χριστῷ, δόξα τῷ σὲ στεφανώσαντι, δόξα τῷ δωρησαμένῳ σε ἡμῖν πρέσβυν ἀκοίμητον.
  

Apolytikion of St. Niketas the Neomartyr of Nisyros - First Tone (amateur translation)

The offspring of Nisyros and the boast of Chios, the protector of the Aegean Sea, Niketas the glorious, let us hymn him together o faithful, crying out to him sincerely, By your prayers, save those who honor your memory, Glory to Christ who crowned you, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him Who gave you to us as a ceaseless intercessor.
  

St. Niketas the New Martyr of Nisyros (http://www.saint.gr/photos/standard/0621/AgiosNikitas03.jpg)

  
Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος δ΄. Ὁ Ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.
Νεοφανὴς ὥσπερ ἀστὴρ ἀθλοφόρε, ἐξανατείλας τῇ σεπτῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ, τῶν εὐσεβῶν κατηύγασας τὰ πρόσωπα, πόθῳ εὐφημούντων σε, καὶ τελούντων Νικήτα, σῆς στεῤῥᾶς ἀθλήσεως, τὴν ὑπέρλαμπρον μνήμην, καὶ ἐκβοώντων· δόξα σοι Χριστὲ, τῷ τὸν ὁπλίτην τὸν σὸν στεφανώσαντι.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone (amateur translation)
Newly-appearing as a star, O champion, you shine upon the faces of the faithful of the sacred Church, who praise you with fervor, and celebrate your super-radiant memory, O Niketas who struggled steadfastly, and they cry out: glory to You, O Christ, Who crowned Your soldier.
  

(For the service of the Saint in Greek, see: http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2009/06/21-1.html; for the full life and Paraklesis to St. Niketas, see the following two links, respectively: http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2009/06/21-2.html, http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2009/06/21-3.html)
  

St. Niketas the New Martyr of Nisyros (http://www.amen.gr/uploads/mitropoleis%20dodekanisou/NISSYROS/AGIOS%20NIKITAS%20NISSIRIOS1.jpg)

  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!