Ancient icon of the 9 Martyrs of Kizi. Moscow Church of the Nine Martyrs of Kizi
In the name of St. Two churches were consecrated to the Nine Martyrs of Kizi in old Moscow. One was a parish one, it stood on Presnya, in the patriarchal settlement near Novinsky Boulevard, and is now operating again. The other, the brownie, was located in the Orlovs’ estate on Bolshaya Nikitskaya, where the Moscow State University publishing house now operates. The Church of the Nine Martyrs on Presnya, which gave the name to the local Devyatinsky Lane, is interesting because it was founded by the last Russian patriarch of Peter the Great’s time, Adrian, shortly before his death. The founding and dedication of the church was associated with events in his life.
The Holy Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus suffered for the Christian faith at the end of the 3rd century after the Nativity of Christ in the Asia Minor city of Cyzicus on the shores of the Dardanelles Strait. The population of Cyzicus was mostly pagan, since due to persecution many Christians left the city, and those who remained hid their faith. This upset the followers of Christ. The nine martyrs who found themselves in Cyzicus from different regions were convinced Christians and zealously professed the true religion , denouncing paganism. By order of the local ruler, the preachers were imprisoned and tortured to renounce Christ, promising freedom in return. Having achieved nothing, the authorities sentenced them to death, which took place around 284–292. - All the martyrs had their heads cut off and buried near the city. Their names were Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artema, Magnus, Theodotus, Faumasius and Philemon. And only under the emperor St. Constantine the Great, who recognized Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire, laid to rest the incorrupt bodies of nine martyrs in a newly built temple dedicated to them. From their holy relics, believers received healing of bodies and minds.
According to popular belief, the holy martyrs of Kizicus provide miraculous help with bodily illnesses and epidemics. In 1686, when the former archimandrite of the Kremlin Miracle Monastery Adrian was installed as Metropolitan of Kazan and arrived in the city entrusted to him, an epidemic of serious illness began there, killing thousands of people and nicknamed “fever” in the documents of those years. Metropolitan Adrian made his first vow - if the epidemic left the city, he would establish a local monastery in the name of the Nine Martyrs of Kizi. The epidemic ended suddenly, and Adrian fulfilled his vow. He founded the Devyatinsky Monastery near Kazan, and particles of the holy relics of the martyrs were solemnly brought to it from the East. And after being appointed patriarch, Adrian continued to equip the monastery. He ordered the royal icon painter Peter Zolotoy, a student of Simon Ushakov, to paint the image of the Nine Martyrs, and Saint Demetrius of Rostov to compose a church service for them. And in 1696, Patriarch Adrian himself suddenly suffered from paralysis. Finding himself on the verge of death, he began to fervently pray to the holy martyrs for healing and again vowed to build a temple for them - now in Moscow. And again he received what he asked for, having lived for several more years.
Having been healed, the patriarch immediately began to fulfill his vow. He chose the location for the new church on Presnya, near his beloved Novinsky Monastery, which was abolished in the 18th century. This monastery was a metropolitan house, and then a patriarchal one; it was founded in the first half of the 15th century by Metropolitan Photius in a picturesque place near the mouth of the Presnya River, where it flowed into the Moscow River. In ancient times, the ancient Volotsk road to Novgorod passed here. Near the road lies the village of Kudrino, which belonged to a participant in the Battle of Kulikovo, Prince Vladimir Andreevich of Serpukhov, cousin of Dmitry Donskoy. The prince's widow granted the new monastery vast lands, and the future Patriarchal Ponds on Kozikha, where the Patriarchal Goat Settlement was built, became its possessions (see August 8). And on Presnya another patriarchal settlement was formed, where they bred expensive species of fish, stored bread and ran a huge vegetable garden - hence the old Moscow nickname for the Devyatinskaya Church - “what is on Kocheryzhka”. Over time, a settlement was built around the monastery, in which monastery servants, peasants and artisans lived. Her parish church was consecrated in the name of St. Joshua, which is why the name of the area Novinskoye could have appeared, but this is least likely. The name of the area may have come from its character - new, newly developed outlying lands, “settlements”, or from the local village of Novinki, with the same origin of its name.
The Novinsky Monastery could also have the role of a watchman, for back in the 18th century it was called “siege” from old memory. Here was also the patriarchal living yard, for which at the end of the 17th century, shortly before the construction of the Devyatinskaya Church, the former property of the disgraced prince V.V. was transferred to the patriarch. Golitsyn (now part of this territory is occupied by the American Embassy complex). The monastery stable yards, which remained in the name of Konyushkovsky Lanes, were also located here.
A new beautiful church in the name of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus appeared here already in 1698 and was built by patriarchal servants according to the personal decree of Peter I, who greatly respected Patriarch Adrian. The wooden Peter the Great Church burned down under Anna Ioannovna and was built with stone in 1735, in general terms acquiring its modern appearance. It was at that time that its first chapel appeared in the name of St. Archangel Michael, and a hundred years later - the second chapel in the name of St. Martyrs Varvara, consecrated on the name day of Varvara Chelishcheva and Varvara Nerskaya, at whose expense a new refectory with a chapel was built. In the middle of the 19th century, a bell tower also appeared.
In the same year of 1698, when the first wooden church was built, Peter returned from the Great Embassy and immediately visited the sick patriarch. Adrian was even called “the king’s confidant,” their relationship was so close. Peter often visited the patriarch, received generous treats of bulk apples, wine, honey, going on the Azov campaign and to Europe, received a blessing with the images of the Vladimir Mother of God, the Dormition and the Savior, wrote him letters from the road and, moreover, consulted about reforms. Returning from Europe, Peter received the blessing of the patriarch for the reform of education in Russia and the creation of schools to combat ignorance, including for clergy, which had the goal of raising their educational level and broadening their horizons. And in the Devyatinskaya Church, Peter loved to listen to the wonderful patriarchal singers.
Adrian did not live to see the era of Peter's reforms - he died in 1700, having witnessed only their beginning. Contemporaries said that it was no coincidence that Peter built a new Russian capital after the death of the patriarch, who would certainly have persuaded the sovereign not to do this and not to create the main city of Russia without Moscow shrines. After the death of Adrian, the tsar abolished the patriarchate, but left the patriarchal singers in the Church of the Nine Martyrs, and then transported them with him to St. Petersburg. And in the same century, the former patriarchal church became a parish church.
He received a wonderful parish. The most famous parishioner for many years was A.S. Griboyedov. In 1801, the writer’s mother bought a small wooden house here from her brother - they said that it became the prototype of Famusov. Now the house has been accurately restored in stone and stands on the corner of Bolshoi Devyatinsky Lane (No. 1/17). Griboyedov lived here when he studied at the Noble boarding school, and then at Moscow University, and in the Church of the Nine Martyrs, the writer’s relatives served a prayer service before his departure to the militia. As researchers say, it is the church books of the Devyatinsky Church that are now the only source of the poet’s biography before 1812. In the same church, Griboyedov’s mother was buried and buried at the nearby Vagankovskoye cemetery. When he came to Moscow, Griboyedov stayed in this house, as he did on his last visit in 1828. The house left the family property after the death of the poet.
And in the middle of the 19th century, the Russian composer A. Alyabyev, the author of the romances “The Nightingale” and “The Beggar,” became a parishioner of the Devyatinsky Church. At 7 Novinsky Boulevard stood his wife’s house, where Alyabyev lived secretly when he was prohibited from living in the capitals, and died here in 1851.
Later, both Fyodor Chaliapin and A.N. lived near the temple. Tolstoy, and the great singer settled in his own mansion on Novinsky Boulevard, 25, and the famous writer - in the elegant Shcherbatov house on Novinsky, 11. This quaint house was built in a time similar to our era, the construction fever of pre-revolutionary capitalist Moscow, when many buildings were erected on apartment buildings for rent for every taste and taste. Prince Sergei Shcherbatov decided to build something new: his own mansion and apartment building, combined into one complex, which he wanted to bequeath to the city to create a museum of private collections. At the entrance there were the usual stone lions, as well as original, “exquisitely designed” iron lanterns of Moscow University, which stood on the main staircase on the day of its opening and were then scrapped. Shcherbatov's house received a prize at the competition of city facades, although it was built by the then unknown but talented architect A. Tamanyan. The apartments in it were extremely comfortable - the architect studied foreign interiors in the Art Nouveau style as the most comfortable for human habitation, and it is not surprising that one of them was occupied by Alexei Tolstoy before World War I.
Only in the 19th century did the name Novinsky Boulevard, built on the site of the ancient Zemlyanoy Val, appear. After the medieval fortification was razed as unnecessary, boulevards began to be laid out on its sections, and part of it was decided to be built up with houses with the obligatory front gardens, which is why the name of the Garden Ring came about. After the fire of 1812, a “regular” plan was sent from St. Petersburg to build a circular green street in Moscow for walking and call it Sadovaya. However, its length was 15 km, which created a huge difficulty for the formation of church parishes and police stations. Then the street was divided into 29 independent street segments, to designate which the local name was added to the common name Sadovaya: Sadovo-Kudrinskaya, Sadovo-Spasskaya, etc. In those sections of the ring where front gardens appeared later, old names remained from the former Zemlyanoy Val, like Krymsky Val, or from former boulevards, like Zubovsky and Novinsky. In the old days, “near Novinsk”, next to the monastery, the most extensive folk festivals took place. They originated from the tradition of all-Moscow celebrations of Christmas, Maslenitsa, and Easter, but it is believed that Peter I introduced them in a new form to “polish” the people. Trade tents with all sorts of gifts, carousels, swings, theatrical booths for entertaining performances by actors and acrobats, and entire “battle” pantomimes, such as showing episodes from the Crimean War, were set up. Wax figures of “wild people” and even a siren “caught” in the Atlantic Ocean were also on display there. A ticket cost 10–20 kopecks and amounted to the earnings of the performers in the booth. On Novinsky, the dashing Moscow merchants organized troika rides.
After the revolution, the wonderful Devyatinskaya Church was closed and robbed. According to information, the temple building came under the jurisdiction of the Cheka, and executions may have been carried out there based on sentences. Then some institutions, like Giprobytprom, were located there, but the surviving ancient building was placed under state protection and restored in the 1970s - they even put crosses on the domes.
And at the end of the 1920s, the temple had a new neighbor - an experimental “communal house” (or “transitional house”), revealed in the era of utopian experiments to create communist socialized housing of the “future”, in accordance with the ideological postulate of Marxism on the elimination of the family and marriage under communism. To make it easier for citizens to transition from individual housing to socialized housing, a “transitional type house” project was proposed. In contrast to the communal house with the complete socialization of life, it still had isolated apartments (“family units”), which were combined with a “communal center” - a public space where meals and active leisure were supposed to take place. “Family cells” were connected by a long strip of common corridor - the architects of such houses abandoned isolated staircases and proposed placing many apartments on the same floor, so these houses were unusually long. The corridor was a public place - in good weather, its sliding windows opened, and it turned into a terrace where tables and chairs were placed for relaxation. In addition, this corridor connected individual apartments and their residents not only with each other, but also with the communal center - there was a public dining room, a reading room, and a children's room. The apartments were divided into several categories, from spacious three-room apartments, designed for large families, with a kitchen and bathroom, to small apartments with a shower and a “kitchen element” for quick home cooking. In the conditions of the severe housing crisis that was then raging in Soviet Russia, these apartments seemed like paradise.
Such a house was built in 1928 on Novinsky Boulevard, 25a, by the architect M. Ginzburg, one of the theorists of “revolutionary” Soviet constructivism and ideologists of transitional type houses. Dirty beige in color, with broken windows and cracked plaster everywhere, now mostly vacated, the house is striking in its amazing squalor. “A ribbon of residential cells... in the form of a long, monotonous volume with rhythmically repeating elements,” as art historians wonderfully describe it, sharply opposes the entire tradition of the home of old Moscow and is a true historical symbol of its era. Another creation of Mikhail Ginzburg, although not as expressive as the communal house, can be seen on Malaya Bronnaya, where he built a residential building for Gosstrakh employees. And the Trekhgornaya Manufactory commune occupied the former house of Prince Shcherbatov in the same years.
Devyatinsky Church was returned to believers in 1992. A few months later he came under fire during the October 1993 events, but again miraculously survived. And in 1994, priest Anthony Serov, grandson of the famous artist Valentin Serov, became its rector. Not so long ago, the most important event in the new history of the Devyatinsky Church took place. In December 2000, the bleeding icon of the Savior, revealed shortly before in the village of Derzhavino in the Orenburg region, was kept there for more than a day. Blood oozed from under the halo, covering the Face of the Savior. The icon was brought to Moscow for several days, and barriers had to be placed near the temple in order to avoid a crush - so many believers came to venerate the holy miracle and venerate the image.
The second church in the name of the Nine Martyrs was located in the Orlovs’ estate on Bolshaya Nikitskaya. It is interesting that this house church was consecrated in the second half of the 18th century according to the same belief - in connection with the plague epidemic that swept Moscow in 1771. The estate then belonged to Count V.G. Orlov, and his older brother took part in suppressing the Moscow unrest and organizing the fight against the epidemic. The October Revolution put an end to house churches in Moscow, and now all that remains of the Devyatinsky Church is a room in a historical house, built, by the way, by Matvey Kazakov. In May 1934, it was in this building that the Faculty of History of Moscow State University was first opened, now located in the 1st Humanities Building on Vorobyovy Gory. Now he is solemnly celebrating his 70th anniversary.
Finding a job is one of the most pressing issues in every person’s life. And this is not surprising, because a modern person simply cannot live without work. In order to get a job, people study for a long time and hone their skills, but sometimes even this is not enough. We all strive to receive high wages and comfortable working conditions, although it is very difficult to find such a workplace. In this case, in order to facilitate the search for work, Orthodox Christians can safely turn to the Almighty for help and read the prayer to the 9 Martyrs of Kiz for work. Such prayer can not only speed up the search for a job, but also guide a Christian to the most suitable job for him. The prayer to the “Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus” about work helps all troubled people find their path in life.
Origin of the Nine Kizich Martyrs
The Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus was the name given to a group of Christians who, at the beginning of the third century, came to preach in the pagan city of Cyzicus. The group consisted of men whose names were: Artem, Theodotus, Rufus, Philemon, Theognis, Antipar, Magnus, Famsviy, Theostichus. Arriving in the city, they began to preach so successfully that they quickly attracted new followers. This did not go unnoticed by the local authorities, who professed paganism. For their preaching, nine martyrs were arrested and thrown into prison. In prison, they were subjected to a lot of torture, because they were forced to renounce Christ and make sacrifices to the pagan gods. But the will of the martyrs was unshakable, and seeing their stubbornness, the executioners beheaded each one. The remains of the martyrs were bought by followers and buried outside the city walls.
With the arrival of Emperor Constantine the Great, by his order, a temple was built, into which the bodies of the nine holy martyrs were transferred. Christian historical records claim that the graves of martyrs became miraculous and helped heal sick people who visited them. Also, the burials of saints helped troubled people find a future path in life, giving them strength and perseverance in achieving their chosen goals. Since then, there has been a belief that the prayer to the “Nine Kizian Martyrs” brings help in work if a person sincerely believes and persists in his search.
How to correctly read the prayer to the 9 Martyrs of Kizi?
Before saying any Orthodox prayer, you must sincerely believe in its help and power. Only sincere faith in the Lord God helps in solving life's troubles. The prayer to the “Nine Kizian Martyrs” is no exception, so it must also be said with due respect and without a shadow of doubt. Also, if possible, it is recommended to visit the Church of the 9 Martyrs of Kizi in Moscow, with prayer for work. The temple, which is located at 15 Bolshoi Devyatinsky Lane, was founded in the 17th century by Patriarch Adrian, in gratitude for his salvation from illness, which he received thanks to the relics of nine holy martyrs.
- Show sincere faith.
- Before pronouncing, clear yourself of worldly thoughts.
- Read a prayer in front of the icons, best with a lit lamp or candle.
- Before prayer, say: “Our Father,” and after it, do not forget to say: “Amen.”
Text of prayer to the 9 martyrs of Kizi to find a job
About the all-praise of the holy martyr, the noble servants of Christ Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostishus, Artem, Magna, Theodotus, Faumasius and Philemon! For Christ's sake from various countries gathered together, and that perfect God and Man boldly preached in Kizitsa, and was forced to devour an idol, idols were in vain and the prince was put to shame; you shed your blood like water for Christ, and with that you adorn the Church of Christ like a bride with purple; in the same way, now, crowned with an unfading crown of immortal glory, you are ever in unspeakable joy from the faces of angels in the Heavenly villages, bathed in Divine light and enjoying the sight of His ineffable kindness.
For this reason, we, in humility, come to you and look tenderly at your holy image, we pray: pray for us to Christ God, as we have boldness towards Him, that through your holy prayers we will get rid of every ailment and harm, mental and physical, for you God has given the gift of medicine from all sorrows to heal those who fall upon you with faith, just as he healed this glorious man from the shaking illness; and we, too, who are faithful, having received the same, honor you, holy martyrs, who have so much of the gift of Christ God, to whom be glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Martyrs Kizicheskie Fe-o-gnid, Rufus, An-ti-patr, Fe-o-stich, Artema, Magnus, Fe-o-dot, Fav-ma-siy and Filimon
The city of Ki-zik is located in Asia Minor on the coast of Dar-da-nell-sko-go pro-li-va. Christianity began to spread in him since the time of the pro-apostle Paul (pa -mint June 29). But the persecution of the pagans led to the fact that one of the Christians fled from the city, while others -I believe in Christ in secret. That’s why, at the end of the 3rd century, Ki-zik was to a significant extent pagan, although there was a Christian church there -kov. This is the same situation in the city of grief among the true Christians who sought to establish the Christian faith . To them came 9 holy men - Fe-o-gnid, Rufus, An-ti-patr, Fe-o-verse, Ar-te-ma, Magn, Fe-o-dot, Fav-ma-siy and Fili-mon. They came from different places, were of different ages: both young, like Saint Anti-pater, and pre- old, like Saint Rufus; for different positions in society: among them there were vo-i-ns, and villagers, and towns- zhane, and kli-ri-ki. But all of them were united by their faith in Christ and their ardent desire to expand and strengthen the true faith -ry.
Finding yourself in the city of Ki-zi-ka, the saints are daring-but-ven-but-by-ve-be-of-Christ and without-go-language-nen- but about pagan wickedness. They were seized and brought to trial by the city's lord. Over the course of several days they were tortured, imprisoned in that place, and again you left it, promising freedom -du for re-re-che-nie from Christ. But the worthy praises of Christ must continue to glorify the Name of Christ. All nine mu-che-ni-kovs were truncated with a sword († c. 284-292), and their bodies were rowed near the city.
When, in 324, Saint Constantine the Great (306-337; memory) began to rule the Eastern Empire May 21) and the attacks on the Christians ceased, the ki-zi-che-Christians drew imperishable bodies from the earth 9 mu-che-ni-kovs and lived them in the temple, built in their honor.
The holy relics produced various personal miracles: the sick were cured, the madness came back to their minds -nye. The faith of Christ was established in the city through the steps of the holy mar- ties, many of the pagan communities. converted to Christianity.
When Yuli-an Ot-step-nik (361-363) reigned, the tongue-ki Ki-zi-ka turned to him with a sting-fight on Christian for the creation of pagan temples. Yuli-an ordered to restore the pagan temples and imprison the episcopal Eleus. After the death of Yuli-a-na, Bishop Elev received his freedom, and again the light of Christ arose in Ki-zi-ka. the howl of faith under the protection of the holy mar- ties.
In Russia, not far from the city of Ka-za-ni, a mo-na-styr was established in honor of the 9 mu-che-niks of the Ki-zi-che-hieros. di-a-ko-nom Ste-fa-nom, who brought with him from Pa-les-sti-na part of the relics of the saints. This monastery was founded in the hope of benefiting from their representation and prayers for various ailments and bo-lez-ney, especially-ben-but-hot-ki, sv-re-v-v-shay in Ka-za-ni in 1687, “for,” writes the saint, Tel († 1709; commemorated September 21), author of the service to the 9 holy men, - these saints were given abundant blessings about the persecution of trak-sa-vic-illnesses." Saint Demetrius also described the suffering of the holy mar- ty and wrote a word for the day of their remembrance.
See also: "" in the text of St. Di-mit-ria of Ro-stov.
Prayers
Troparion to the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus, tone 8
Holy nine-year-old martyr, / from various cities united into one face by the mania of the Divine, / suffered courageously for Christ, / defeated the invisible enemy, / the evil princes and tormentors were put to shame in With our patience, / the fire of God’s love is liquefied, / the fire that torments you in the cold will materially transform you ,/ Moreover, grace has been given to you from Christ God/ to heal the sickness of shaking,/ from the weak and manifold passions,// mercifully save us also through your intercession, we pray.
Translation: The holy nine martyrs, united from different cities into a single union by Divine command, suffered courageously for Christ, defeated the invisible enemy (), shamed the wicked princes and tormentors with your patience, kindled by the spiritual fire of love for God, turned the material fire tormenting you into cold, and therefore It was granted to you by Christ God to heal the plague, from it and from many different sufferings, graciously save us through your protection, we pray.
Kontakion to the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus, Tone 2
The firm and all-bright face of the martyr of the nine,/ the confessor of the Trisolar Deity,/ at the judgment I first cried out to him:/ our blood and souls from the body,/ like an immaculate sacrifice, we offer to You, Vlada For, // count Your heavenly faces as the Merciful God.
Translation: A strong and radiant union of nine who confess a God similar to the Three Suns, who at the trial began to cry out to Him: “We offer our blood and souls with our bodies, as immaculate, to You, Master, number us among Your Heavenly assembly, as the Merciful God.”
Glorification of the Nine Martyrs of Kizi
We magnify you, holy nine-year-old martyr, and honor your honest sufferings, which you naturally endured for Christ.
Prayer to the Nine Martyrs of Kizi
Oh, all-validated holy martyrs, valiant servants of Christ, Theognis, Rufa, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemo, Magna, Theodota, Faumasius and Philemon, likewise for Christ's sake, gathered from various countries Shy and the perfect God and Man boldly preached in Kizitsa; forced to worship the former idol, idols in vain and the prince to shame, various languor and fiery reproaches were not afraid, and through various sufferings the edge of the sword was cut quickly, and shed for Christ your blood like water, and your blood like scarlet, the Church of Christ like a bride, decorate; Likewise, even now, crowned with an unfading crown of immortal glory, ever in unspeakable joy with the faces of angels in the heavenly villages you are enshrined in divine light and vision His kindness is indescribable, enjoying. For this reason, we, in humility, flow to you and, looking tenderly at your holy image, we pray: you pray for Christ God for today, for the boldness of those who have it in Him, and yours With holy prayers we will get rid of every illness, mental and physical. For you have been given from God a gift of medicine from all sorrows with faith that comes to you, just as he healed his glorious husband from the shaking disease, and we, faithful ones, Having also received, we honor you, holy martyrs, with a fraction of the gifts of those who have from Christ God, Him and glory is with the Father and the Holy Spirit always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Canons and Akathists
Kontakion 1
The election from the King of Powers, the Lord Jesus, the nine passion-bearers of Christ, from various countries in the city of Kizitsa in one assembly and Christ boldly, without fear of torment and death, having confessed, we triumph spiritually in your holy feast and, chanting the grace-filled patience of your valor, we pray to you, How many of Christ have suffered and are confirmed in the will of Christ, and ask us for salvation, calling:
Ikos 1
Like the Angels of the Peace, having ascended in thought from the earthly to the heavenly, to Christ, the Lord of all, unceasingly gazing with faith with their eyes, the holy martyrs Theognis, Rufa, Antipater, Theostiche, Artemo, Magna, Theodota, Faumasius, Philemon, among the idolaters of the city of Cyzicus, confessed to yourself fearlessly be Christians and, strengthened by the power of God, have endured many torments courageously for Christ and have bowed your heads under the sword, and therefore, praising your suffering and beheading, we say:
Rejoice, you who have despised earthly joys;
Rejoice, you who have desired the blessings of heaven.
Rejoice, confessors of Christ's invincibility, having kept the immaculate faith;
Rejoice, you who followed the passion of Christ and imitated the death of Christ by your death.
Rejoice, by the power of the Risen One you have trampled down the kingdom of hell;
Rejoice, having delivered your souls into the hand of God and received crowns of victory.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the city of Kizicus is full of idols, you, O god-wise nine-numbered combination of the martyrs of Christ, have been indignant in spirit and, strengthened by burning zeal for God and strengthened by Divine grace, often proclaim and teach about the name of the Lord Jesus, denouncing the error of idols; the people, blinded by the darkness of unbelief, took you abby and bound, like villains, to the city prince of Kizitsa for torture; But you stood before the wicked prince and, having clothed yourself in all the armor of God, as faithful soldiers of Christ, in no way retreated from the chosen Voivode, your Lord, crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Understanding that he who has endured to the end will be saved by patience, the passion-bearers of Christ, at the feat set before you, looking at the Author of the faith and Perfecter of Jesus, and the torment and torment of your bodies naturally endured, rejoicing and flaunting the wounds that they naturally suffered for the love of To your Lord, too:
Rejoice, for Christ the Lord, who laid down His soul for us on the Cross, and you, holy martyrs, love each other;
Rejoice, for you have endured to be like the torment of patience.
Rejoice, having converted suffering and torment into the triumph of faith;
Rejoice, for those who shed their blood in glorification for the sake of Christ.
Rejoice, for blessed is the land, drunk with your blood;
Rejoice, for your souls are filled with love for Christ.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 3
We are strengthened by the power of God, martyrs of the ninth number, not afraid of the reproaches of the evil prince of Cyzitic, lower than the machinations of the invisible prince of this world, but bearing witness to Christ Jesus, with your lips confessing the true existence of God, for He has given you a mouth and wisdom, to whom you cannot answer anything against tormentor, but put to shame, overcome by the truth, and also through your sufferings you testify to all your desire for God, and people are terrified, seeing your valiant patience, and I recognize the power and help of the omnipotent God on you, to whom you cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having in memory the words of the Lord: and the hair of your head will not perish, you have such faith: not only the hair, for the sake of Christ’s torment, will appear in the glory of the resurrection, but also the body itself, which has endured wounds and fragmentation for Christ, will rise whole with much glory. For this reason, the most wonderful passion-bearers of Christ, strengthened by faith and boasting in the hope of the glory of God, have accomplished the good course of martyrdom and betrayed their holy souls into the hand of God, and we also offer you this song of praise:
Rejoice, you who have shown wonderful courage;
Rejoice, for with the hope of the resurrection Christ has made you invincible before the tormentors.
Rejoice, for Christ will transform the body of your humility, so that it will be conformed to the body of His glory;
Rejoice, participants in the eternal bliss of life.
Rejoice, for with the Angels you sing a song of victory.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 4
Tormented for the holy faith in the name of Christ the Lord, a storm of temptations and troubles arose against you, Theognis, but it was not possible to shake the temple of your soul, which was founded on the Stone, Who is Christ, the Son of the Living God; when you were brought to the prince of the city at the trial, as a testimony to the tormentor, neither prison nor cruel beatings and wounds rejected you from Christ, but, stretched across the earth and mercilessly beaten with sinews and whittled with iron nails, you appeared strong and courageous in suffering , with streams of your blood, like scarlet, you dressed yourself and fixed your heart’s eye on God, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard the formidable command of the wicked ruler, that you have rejected Christ, offer sacrifices to an idol, and having seen the tormenting weapon prepared for you, the venerable passion-bearers, think about the day of the second coming to earth of the Lord Christ and the unbearable wrath of His judgment, when He will come in His glory from heaven and all holy things. The angels are with Him; For this reason, soldiers of Christ, having not been overcome by much patience, having given yourself up to the wounds and torments of the Kingdom for the sake of the Heavenly Kingdom, receive from us these songs of praise:
Rejoice, you who have remembered the words of the Lord: he who rejected Me before men will be rejected before the angels of God;
Rejoice, having listened to the words spoken by Christ: do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Rejoice, you have decided for yourself: the torment of ardent people is temporary, but the torment of Gehenna is eternal; let us escape eternal torment, let us not fear the imams;
Rejoice, servants of Christ, faithful even unto death, to whom the Lord will reward the crown of life.
Rejoice, for at the terrible judgment the Lord will number you with those at the right hand and will grant you portions of those who loved Him;
Rejoice, to whom the King of Glory says: come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 5
The God-bearing star, guiding you to the Sun of Truth, Christ God, you have appeared, holy martyr Rufus, and you have shone with the light of your suffering feat among people who sit in the darkness of unbelief, for the power of the grace of the Lord is perfected in your weakness. For this reason, bound hand and foot, you endured dishonor and reproach, you dared to suffer and did not spare your life for your Lord, but, cruelly beaten with a rod and whips and scorched by fire, you cried out to Him with a loud voice: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen yourself in chains suffering for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom you loved and believed in inappropriately, you, the nine sufferers of Christ, are consoled by the Holy Spirit in your sorrow and the crampedness of the prison, rejoicing, saying to each other: we will not spare flesh and blood, let us become fearless to to every torment, let us die in Christ, so that we may live with Him forever, rejoicing unceasingly. Moreover, your wonderful and glorious deeds, we praise you:
Rejoice, having placed your hearts in the hand of God;
Rejoice, vessels of the grace of the Holy Spirit of election.
Rejoice, wonderful dwelling of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, truth, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, everlasting joys for us, favorable intercessors;
Rejoice, confirmed by the Spirit of the Lord, Who has given you the joy of salvation in the Lord.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 6
For the sake of suffering, you appeared as a preacher of Christ to us, the martyr Saint Antipater, for you were tied to a pillar and beaten by evil tormentors with rods of thorns, you were conformed to Christ the Lord, crowned with a crown of thorns. For this reason, you looked to Christ, for our sake, wounded and abused, and, enduring many torments for Him, just as He endured for us, you sang to Him, your Master, out of strong love: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Arose, O holy nine-numbered passion-bearers, in the city of Kizitsa the light of Christian virtues, like the descent of luminous stars, and enlightened the deep night of idolatry. Christ, the Lord, by His Divine mania, sent you like sheep in the midst of wolves; But you have shown yourself to the Lamb Christ, the Son of God slain for the world, a true follower, by the wisdom of God, even in the Holy Spirit, enlightened, understanding the fleeting life and careless about torment, keeping the right faith eternal for the sake of life, marveling at this, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for according to the word of the Lord, be wise like a serpent, be wise for good, and goals like a dove, forgive for evil, quickly;
Rejoice, for being like Christ, He was meek and lowly in heart, and you have endured the meekness and reproach of the meek one.
Rejoice, for in your suffering you did not resist those who embittered you, but in your humility, like sheep, were led to the slaughter;
Rejoice, for you have imitated the virtues of Christ in your life.
Rejoice, lambs, who sacrificed Christ for themselves;
Rejoice, whom Christ has blessed and who are the heirs of the land of the living.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 7
Although the enemy of the salvation of the human race frightens you, the fearless warrior of Christ, the passion-bearing saint Theostikhe, moves towards the anger and rage of the evil prince of the city of Cyzicus, who commanded the cruelty to torment you; But you, having been beaten with clubs without mercy, skulls planed and gored, thanked Christ for making you worthy of torment, suffering, and glory for the sake of His holy name. We strengthen you with the power of God, you repelled the advice of the invisible enemy and faithfully sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Marvelous Christ is God and glorified in His saints, granting to you, martyrs, not only to believe in Him with one mind, but also to walk with one mind in the good confession of His Divinity and to suffer for Him. For Christ has gathered you, the bright martyr’s army, into one cathedral of martyrs, into the Church of the Living God, and be with you, and we joyfully bring you this:
Rejoice, for the Lord also spoke to you in the Gospel: where there are two or three, gather together in My name, I am in the midst of them;
Rejoice, for you too are comforted by the gospel verb: you will be in a world of sorrow, but be brave: I have overcome the world.
Rejoice, for I also made a promise to you, saying: Behold, I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age;
Rejoice, for victory has been given to you by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rejoice, for we are strengthened by the grace of God to resist the tormentor, and moreover, we are able to resist all the devil’s power;
Rejoice, for Christ God has become to you a pillar of strength from the face of the enemy.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 8
You walked a strangely terrible and cruel path, Artemo, a martyr of glory, tied to a wheel and brought down from above the mountain, as if your wisdom had been crushed. The path of your suffering shines like light, the Light of the Unstoppable is illuminated by the rays, you have looked at the Lord, you are attached to Christ in thought and love. Christ is the Strength, God and Lord, to whom you cried, most passionately: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
The whole host of you, the nine holy martyrs, put their hope in Christ our God, who will look from on high at your feat with many holy Angels and will help you, the weak. But God is faithful, Who did not leave you to be tempted more than He could, but created deliverance from temptation, so that you were able to bear it, so receive this praise from us:
Rejoice, for God has comforted you in all your sorrow;
Rejoice, for as the suffering of Christ is abundant for you, so is your consolation abundant in Christ.
Rejoice, for the power of Christ has dwelled in you, for this reason you have done all you could through Jesus Christ, who strengthened you;
Rejoice, for the love of God has been poured into your hearts by the Holy Spirit and has given you the unashamed hope of the glory of God.
Rejoice, for the Lord of Powers, the Helper in sorrow, is with you, and nothing can separate you from the love of God;
Rejoice, as your souls, like birds, have escaped from the snare of those who catch them and have flown to the beautiful village of paradise.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 9
Your whole body was wounded to the bones, the kind sufferer Magne, always the tormentor, having exposed you, on the ground in the open and beating along the ridge without mercy and along the belly, even tormenting you with kindled tongs. The Lord, co-present with you by invisible power, easing your illness and confirming your heart in patience and Divine love, also in torment you sang to Christ God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The oracles of multi-proclamation will not be able to speak to you worthy of praise, nine martyrs of Christ, for with the sword you bowed your necks for the sake of Christ, who bowed the heavens and came down and shed your blood, who were fellow-partners of this passion. We, who are unworthy, bring you this gift of song, saying:
Rejoice, for Christ has given you His cup to drink and through baptism, with which He Himself was baptized, was baptized;
Rejoice, for your paths and labors are before God’s eyes.
Rejoice, having loved Christ with all your souls;
Rejoice, for you have suffered with Christ and may be glorified with Him.
Rejoice, having received eternal glory and the robe of incorruptibility from Him;
Rejoice, for the treasures of heaven have received you like ripening wheat.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 10
To save the world that has come, we ignite the love of the Son of God, Martyr Theodota, the strongest fire has appeared. You valiantly despised scorching and bitter torment, laid on a frying pan, set on fire, naked, even thrown into a bubbling horse; Having never been separated from the love of Christ, you sang to him with tenderness: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The Eternal King, who was obedient to Christ in everything, the long-suffering martyr, from various places and countries in Kizitsa gathered into one, and, having entered the city, Christ the Son of God, came in the flesh, preaching, glorifying, and speaking the word of God without fear. When the people of the city of Cyzicus did not accept the gospel of Christ, and gave you over to torments and executions and cruel death, you, the evangelists of God, proceeding from there not in body, but in soul, not the dust that stuck to you from the city, shake it from your feet, but mortal flesh yours, who were martyred for the gospel of Christ, stand as a witness against me on the day of judgment, and we therefore reverently cry to you:
Rejoice, having marched in your Christ-consistent feet to the city of Cyzicus;
Rejoice, evangelizers of the Gospel of Christ.
Rejoice, for you are a preacher of God incarnate;
Rejoice, for torment, fire and beheading by sword have been turned into sweetness for Him.
Rejoice, because people who did not accept you, listened to you, as a testimony of your heroic deed, for the salvation of them, you have been lifted up, your honest body has been left behind;
Rejoice, for the course of the martyrdom is good in the end, you have observed the faith, and so on, the crown of righteousness will be preserved for you.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 11
We bring singing, Faumasius, to you, martyr. Show your soul strong patience and heroic valor, for I will add merciless to you painful wounds to wounds and illness to illness, for I will cut and cut your flesh with a knife, and I will also pierce your ribs with a spear. But you, martyr Faumasius, having been conformed to Christ the Lord, on the Cross from one of the soldiers with a spear pierced into the ribs, you said, rejoicing and glorifying God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
A light-receiving, God-radiant light for those who exist in the darkness of unbelief and polytheism of idols, your incorruptible body appeared, the holy martyr of nine. When the great Constantine reigned, persecution ceased and the light of piety spread throughout the world, then in Kizitsa, in your temple, many miracles and healings from your holy relics happened, and for this reason many unfaithful people turned to Christ. Moreover, in your praise we call:
Rejoice, as the people of the city of Cyzicus, seeing the grace of God in your multi-healing relics, working wonders, having received the holy faith in Christ;
Rejoice, for the idols and idolatries of the temples in Kizitsa were destroyed, and in their place the temples of God were erected.
Rejoice, giver of infinite healings;
Rejoice, for you are great, martyr of Christ, God-gracious power, for you lie in graves and drive away the spirits of evil, and, as you live, by faith you give petitions to those who come.
Rejoice, for you illuminate the faithful with wondrous miracles and turn the unfaithful to Christ;
Rejoice, for your holy might has appeared to all as a victorious banner.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 12
Divine grace strengthened you in your martyrdom, more passion-bearing Philemon: surrounded by an iron hook by the ribs and horribly hanged on a tree, you remained adamant in your confession of Christ and God, and you sang a song of praise to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your many and glorious miracles, we praise you, the all-praised nine-numbered martyrs of Christ: when in Kizitsa the faithful Christians of your body, taken from the earthly heap and found incorruptible, brought into the temple created in your name, miracles, like bright rays, shone from your holy relics. We, singing with love the grace of healing given to you from God, call:
Rejoice, for after your death, wonderful healing springs flowed forth from Christ God for your glorification;
Rejoice, you have driven away unclean spirits from man.
Rejoice, those who are obsessed with healing and shaking diseases, obsessed with the ultimate healing;
Rejoice, for a certain man has freed himself from watery labor by touching your relics more honestly.
Rejoice, for by the very invocation of your honorable names the shaking illness is driven away and every illness of all who come with faith is healed;
Rejoice, good-victorious martyr, crowned with victory from Christ our Savior, for your suffering has been rewarded to you with the glory and honor of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 13
About the good victory and long-suffering of the nine martyrs of Christ, graciously accept from us, unworthy and sinners, the hymn of praise now offered to you; and, as we are forerunners of the heights of glory, having much boldness towards Christ our God, remember us, who please you with love and honor your wonderful deeds; Ask us from the Lord for forgiveness of sins, confirmation in faith, strengthening in good deeds, deliverance from troubles and misfortunes, and let us always sing to God with grateful lips: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion.
Prayer 1
(from the service compiled by the miracle worker saint)
About the all-validation of the holy martyr, the valiant servants of Christ, Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemo, Magna, Theodotus, Faumasius and Philemon, who like Christ for the sake of various countries gathered together and boldly preached that perfect God and Man in Kizitsa; having been forced to worship the former idol, putting idols to shame and putting the prince to shame, not being afraid of various languidities and fiery punishments, and through various sufferings with the edge of a sword, shed your blood for Christ like water, and with that, like purple, the Church of Christ, like a bride, decorator; Likewise, now, crowned with an unfading crown of immortal glory, you are ever in unspeakable joy with the faces of angels in the heavenly villages, bathed in Divine light and enjoying the sight of His ineffable kindness. For this reason, we, in humility, come to you and, looking tenderly at your holy image, we pray: you pray for us to Christ God, as we have boldness towards Him, that through your holy prayers we will get rid of every mental and physical ailment. For you have been given from God a medical gift from all sorrows, with faith to heal those who fall upon you, just as you healed this glorious man from the shaking illness, and we, the faithful, having received the same, honor you, holy martyrs, who have the same gift from Christ God, Him and glory is together with the Father and the Holy Spirit always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 2
O great servants of God, holy martyrs of Christ: Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemo, Magna, Theodotos, Faumasius and Philemon! You became a faithful servant of the King Christ and fought a good fight, enduring torment for Him; in the same way, according to His untrue verb: where I am, there My servant will be, and now you and the Angels stand before the Lord Christ and from the heights of heavenly glory look mercifully on your temple and on those praying in it.
Pray therefore to the Lord Almighty to save His Holy Church and our Orthodox Fatherland from misfortunes and troubles, from all enemies visible and invisible, to overthrow the charm of unbelief and atheism, and to deliver the flock of Christ from the wolves that destroy it, who speak evil of good, and good evil, who make darkness light , and light darkness; from the unsteadiness of minds, like a reed shaken by the wind, and from sinful relaxation of souls.
Extend the God-given grace of your miracles, nine martyrs of Christ, to all of us who come running to you by faith, and heal all our mental and physical ailments, and fulfill all our requests for good.
To her, holy passion-bearers, pray to the Lord for us, that He may bestow on us Divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, who always heals the weak and replenishes the poor, so that He can accomplish our salvation for us, through the intercession of Christ our Savior, and deliver us from the network of enmity and sins, and have mercy to our souls, and together with you and all the saints we will glorify God, glorified in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Orthodox icon, painted in honor of the great martyrs of Kizi, has been helping believers cope with the most difficult trials for centuries. The shrine is deeply revered by Orthodox Christians.
The Most Holy Image of the Kizi Martyrs is one of the main icons in the Russian Orthodox Church. The shrine is imbued with the courage and loyalty of the saints, who were not afraid to die for their faith, thereby earning the love and trust of all Christians. The miraculous image more than once saved the lives of those who retreated from their own destiny, falling into captivity of sinful desires.
History of the Icon of the Nine Holy Martyrs of Kizi
Many centuries ago, in the city of Cyzicus, where people professed paganism, the persecution of Christians began. Most of them fled the city, hiding in the forests and mountains, but not all managed to escape the execution and oppression of the Roman Emperor, who ruled the city at that time. Despite this, a large number of local residents who did not accept the pagan religion, being devoted to Jesus Christ, remained to live in their lands, hiding their true faith and secretly preaching Christianity. The number of such people included the nine saints, in whose honor this miraculous image was written: Theognis, Rufus, Faumasius, Artema, Magnus, Theodotus, Theostichus, Antipater and Ilimon. Their names are known and deserve special respect.
All nine martyrs came from different cities, but came together in Cyzicus to resist the tyranny and persecution of the ruler. They changed the view of faith of many pagans who later became Christians. The holy righteous were not afraid of execution and fought until the last for their true views and faith. When the emperor found out about the secret sermon, he ordered them to be brutally executed. Then they were given over to merciless bloodshed. But even then, at the moment of their trial, the martyrs were not afraid of death, because their hearts were imbued with love for the Lord.
Over time, nine brave preachers gained fame throughout the world. Icon painters dedicated many icons to them, in front of which thousands of Christians prayed.
More than once the holy face surprised with its miraculous power and performed divine miracles, healing people and helping them in difficult moments of their lives.
Where is the miraculous image and relics of saints located?
The most important shrine revered by Christians is located in the Moscow holy monastery, named in honor of the saints - in the Church of the Nine Martyrs of Kizi. People from all over the world come there to pray before the great icon and touch the miraculous shrine. The relics of all nine saints of God are also kept there. However, no less famous and miraculous images can be found in many churches and temples of our country.
Description of the icon
The glorified shrine contains the image of all nine of God's supporters. One of them is located in the center: he is sitting on a cart, the other two are on his knees on both sides, the rest are depicted standing. Some are holding a cross in their hands, others are holding spears and fiery wicker baskets, signifying persecution and confrontation. Some martyrs are dressed in military armor, others in ordinary, unremarkable, loose robes worn by ordinary people.
Jesus sits on a cloud above the saints of the Lord, praying for all the righteous and giving them blessings. Their heads are raised up, their gaze is turned to the Savior.
Sometimes you can find an Orthodox image of martyrs, where they are depicted in full growth, in three rows of three. All have crosses in their hands, some also hold a sword, while others point an open palm forward, symbolizing righteousness and frankness towards the praying people.
What do people pray for before the saints?
Before the great image of the nine Cyzitic righteous people, Christians pray:
- about help in any problems and life difficulties;
- about healing incurable diseases and getting rid of pain and suffering;
- about strengthening faith and giving strength to move in the right direction prepared by the Lord;
- about guidance on the true path when the right guidelines are lost;
- about protecting home and family from enemies and quarrels;
- about assistance in work and increasing financial status;
- about finding inner harmony and spiritual enlightenment.
Since the righteous became famous for their courage, bravery and fortitude, showing worthy resistance to the pagans and not fearing the cruel reprisal of a merciless ruler, before their face they pray for fearlessness, courage, noble thoughts and unbending perseverance.
Days of celebration
The official day of celebration and veneration of the great martyrs of God - April 29 (May 12, new style). On this day, large numbers of Christians gather in many holy monasteries to pray before the most holy image.
In the Moscow Church of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzes, a special service and liturgy is held, dedicated to the miraculous deeds and righteous deeds of the sufferers. Usually on this holiday the temple is full of Christians who come from different parts of the world to touch the sacred relics and pray in front of the revered icon.
Prayer to the holy martyrs in front of their icon
Since the martyrs are able to get rid of any ailment and help with various kinds of situations, there is no need to delve into the problem and utter a huge number of unnecessary words. The main thing is that the prayer comes from good and pure intentions.
The saints are able to come to the rescue and heal everyone who continually and sincerely offers prayers before their miraculous image.
Remember that it is necessary not only to ask for support from the patron saints, but also to thank for all the good things that you already have, and also ask for forgiveness for bad deeds, sinful thoughts and deeds. Then you will certainly receive forgiveness, blessing and help from the great Orthodox Kizichesk champions.
Prayers before the Holy Face:
“Oh, illustrious and great Martyrs of God! I offer my prayer before your sacred icon! Please hear me and help me overcome the heavy burden that has fallen on my shoulders. Heal from illnesses, protect your home from enemies, protect your family from quarrels and reward your children with good health. Rid the country of wars and destruction, drive away troubles and misfortunes! May there be peace and prosperity on earth! O blessed and faithful servants of the Lord! I bow before you and forever I promise to honor and glorify your great and noble names! From now on and forever. Amen. Amen. Amen".
Throughout their earthly lives, nine faithful subjects of God fought for true faith in Christ. They sacrificed their lives to spiritually enlighten idolaters and change their beliefs, introducing them to the only Lord and opening their hearts to the Heavenly Father. With the help of all nine Orthodox champions, the faith of the residents was strengthened. They did not allow people to become discouraged and lose their love for Jesus.
After death, Christian preachers did not stop helping and supporting Orthodox believers. And to this day
As presented by St. Demetrius of Rostov
The city of Cyzicus is located in the Asia Minor region of Mysia, on the shores of the Dardanelles Strait 1, separating Asia from Europe. It stands next to the city of Troas, in which the holy Apostle Paul 2, teacher of the pagans 3, preached, and was enlightened by the holy Christian faith from the same Apostle. Although this city was enlightened by the light of Christianity, initially it did not have very many Christians, due to the persecution of the Christian faith from the pagans. When the wicked Roman emperors, who ruled before Constantine the Great 4, sent out threatening commands throughout all countries - to force everyone who professed the name of Christ to worship idols, and sent cruel hegemons for this purpose - obliged to execute in various ways and put to death everyone who disobeyed the royal command, - then many of the Christians fled from the city, wandering through the mountains and deserts; Other Christians lived among the pagans, but hid their faith from them; those who especially ardently loved their God and Lord, Jesus Christ, clearly, loudly confessed the name of Christ among the pagans and willingly went to various torments and death for the name of Christ. Among these latter are the nine holy martyrs now remembered, valiant men, firm in the holy faith, like Mount Zion 5 and burning with zeal for God, like Elijah 6 . Their names are as follows: Theognius, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artema, Magnus, Theodotus, Faumasius and Philemon.
These holy martyrs came from different cities. Having gathered together in Cyzicus, they, not fearing either the formidable royal commands, or torture and death, loudly glorified Christ, boldly confessing that He is the True God, Creator and Almighty of the whole world. At the same time, they denounced and condemned the wicked teaching of the pagan idolaters, who instead of God worshiped demons, instead of worshiping the Creator of the whole world, they worshiped creatures, instead of the Living God they worshiped soulless idols, instead of the True God they worshiped false gods, instead of love for the Merciful God , who gives people every good thing, they made sacrifices to hard-hearted demons who torture people. Therefore, these holy martyrs exhorted the pagans, blinded by unbelief, to leave their delusions and to know the truth, so that, enlightened by the light of Christian teaching, they would believe in the One True One who dwells in heaven, God, who contains the entire universe in His power.
Having learned about such daring preaching of the saints, the wicked servants of the devil took them without mercy, like wolves of sheep, and, having tied them up, presented them for questioning to the commander of the city, as if they were some kind of villains.
The holy warriors of Christ courageously stood before the wicked judge. Their hearts were inflamed with the fire of love for God and zeal for His glory. Presented before the tormentor, they put on Christ in order to courageously resist the wicked judge, and especially the prince of darkness himself, with whom they were now coming out to fight.
The wicked judge gave them over to various torments and tortures; More than once he imprisoned them, then took them out again and gave them over to torture, demanding that they reject Christ and sacrifice to idols. But the valiant warriors of Christ in no case agreed to renounce Christ, their God and Lord; on the contrary, they began to talk about the vanity of idolatry and reproached the judge himself for wickedness. As a result of this, after many other various torments, they were truncated into heads. Their bodies were buried near that place.
A few years after this, Constantine the Great reigned and, having received holy baptism, stopped the persecution of Christians. The light of Christian piety has now spread throughout the universe.
Then the Kizian Christians with reverence removed from the ground the bodies of the holy martyrs, who turned out to be incorruptible, then they placed them in new coffins, built a temple in honor of the holy martyrs and with reverence transferred their valuable treasure into it.
From these holy relics, many different miracles and healings were performed: demons were cast out, the paralytic became healthy, those suffering from fever were completely healed of their illnesses.
So, for example, one well-known man in the city, who suffered from dropsy, was healed of his illness by touching with faith the shrine with holy relics. In the same way, anyone, no matter how sick he was, who touched the tomb of the holy martyrs with faith, immediately received healing. Seeing this, many of the infidels turned to Christ, so that soon the whole city believed in Christ; idols and pagan temples were destroyed and Christian temples were erected in their place; piety flourished in the city of Cyzicus, through the prayers of the holy nine martyrs who slept there. When, after the death of the pious king Constantine and his son Constantius 7, who reigned for quite a long time, the wicked Julian the Apostate 8 reigned, then some of the pagan Hellenes living in that city went to this emperor and reported to him against the Christians that they had destroyed all their temples and the altars were broken.
Hearing this, the king, although he ordered the restoration of pagan temples and idols, did not allow any oppression to be made against the Christians living in the city, since there were a lot of them (which is why he was afraid of popular indignation). However, this wicked emperor ordered the Christian bishop Eleusius to be imprisoned. When he went on a campaign against the Persians and died there, Bishop Eleusius was released, and again the light of the faith of Christ shone in the city of Cyzicus; That city was strengthened and strengthened, like a strong wall, by the zealous intercession of those holy martyrs before God. Through their prayers may we also receive healing from our illnesses, both mental and physical, may we also be worthy of grace and mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Kontakion, voice 2:
The firm and all-bright face of the martyr of the nine, the three-solar deity of the confessor, at the trial I initially cried out: our blood and souls from our bodies, as if we offer you an immaculate sacrifice, Master: count yourselves among the faces of your heavenly ones, for you are a merciful God.
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1 The Dardanelles Strait (in ancient times the Hellespont) connects the seas: Marmara and Aegean.
2 St. Apostle Paul was in Troas during his third Apostolic journey (Acts 20:6)
3 Name: “teacher of languages” (or pagans) is adopted by St. The Apostle Paul because he preached primarily to the pagans, while the Apostle Peter preached primarily to the Jews. -Memory of St. the supreme Apostles Peter and Paul is performed by St. Church on June 29.
4 Constantine the Great ruled the western part of the Roman Empire from 306, and the western and eastern parts together from 324 to 337. Beginning in 313, Constantine gave Christians various benefits and advantages through a series of decrees. Constantine received St. baptism and canonized by the Church. - His memory is committed to St. Church on May 21st.
5 Zion is the southwestern elevated part of Jerusalem. Here in Old Testament times a fortress was built to protect Jerusalem. Zion in Holy Scripture is often presented as the dwelling place of God Himself and, in general, a stronghold, a stronghold of Israel (Ps. 73:2; 75:3; 98:2; 109:2; 145:10, etc.).
6 Elijah is an Israeli prophet who came from the city of Thesbah in Gilead beyond the Jordan, who lived in the days of the wicked king Ahab and Jezebel, whom he denounced for idolatry. For his strictly ascetic life and zeal for the glory of God, he was taken alive to heaven. The history of his life and work is set out at the end of the 3rd (from 17th to 20th chapters) and the beginning of the 4th (from 1st to 4th chapters) book of Kings. - His memory is committed to St. Church on July 20.
7 Constantius ruled the eastern half of the Roman Empire from 337 to 363. The western half of the empire at this time was ruled by: Constant (from 337 to 350) and Magnentius (from 350 to 353) From 353 by 361 Constantius already ruled both halves of the Roman Empire.
8 Julian the Apostate ruled the Roman Empire from 361 to 363.