Nikita Stylites was a 12th-century monk from Kievan Rus' who practiced extreme asceticism. After a spiritual conversion inspired by the words of the prophet Isaiah, he abandoned his former lifestyle to pursue a life of discipline. He lived as a stylite, a type of ascetic who resides atop a pillar, and established the Monastery of St. Nicetas near Lake Pleshcheyevo. He gained a reputation for his healing abilities before his death in 1186, when he was killed during a robbery.
Life and asceticism
Before his religious transformation, Nikita lived a dissolute life. His conversion led him to the area near Pereslavl-Zalessky, where he embraced strict discipline by binding himself with chains and living upon a pillar. This practice earned him the title of stylite. He eventually founded a monastery on the eastern shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo. His life ended violently when thieves, mistakenly believing his chains were made of silver, killed him during a robbery.
Veneration
The Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes him as a saint. He is remembered for his healing ministry and his intense devotion to asceticism. His feast day is observed on May 23 or May 24. He is honored within both Orthodox and Catholic traditions as a holy figure of the Kievan Rus' period.