Saint Nikita of Novgorod's life exemplifies a major lesson from the ladder of spiritual ascent: our progress to perfection in Christ is rarely smooth and consistent; we will suffer setbacks and falls along the way. But, with humility, a sense of purpose, and strong faith, we may begin anew. On Saint Nikita of Novgorod's feast day, we honour him for the great humility and obedience with which he conquered the enemy's temptations and disrupted his plans.
His hagiography takes us back to his youth, when he, a recently tonsured monk of the Kiev Caves Monastery, decided to become a recluse soon after arriving. He insisted on entering the hermitage right away. His confessor shared his reservations: he was still young, and the power of his spirit could be insufficient for the feat. The monk, on the other hand, was confident in his talents and abilities. He went into seclusion disregarding the advice. But his confidence was quickly put to shame.
The enemy paid him a visit in his cell one night, disguised as an angel. In his ingenuity, he played on the saint's willingness to trust himself more than others. The enemy congratulated him on his tremendous spiritual accomplishments and assured him that he was so flawless that he no longer needed to pray. He might continue his improvement just by reading and studying while he would pray for him. During the conversation, the gullible monk bowed to the enemy once.
The hermit thought the new collaboration was going well. Soon, he understood the Old Testament text better than any other monk in the Lavra. While he was reading, the adversary stood nearby, pretending to be in prayer. However, the hermit never read the Gospel, and when it was read out to him, he refused to listen.
The Kiev Cave elders were successful in expelling the demon from the monk after much prayer and labour. This stern lesson in humility taught the monk the risks of being overconfident and showed him how to trust God and listen to others. He quickly exceeded everyone in gentleness, humility, and obedience. With the elders' blessing, he remained a recluse, fasted strictly, and prayed constantly.
Eventually, he was appointed Bishop of Novgorod, and God bestowed upon him the power of miracle-working in recognition of his holy life. During a drought, he used his prayers to summon rain from the sky. Another time, he put out a city fire. Saint Nikita served as the bishop of Novgorod for thirteen years before peacefully falling asleep in the Lord in 1109. He was glorified in 1558.
Even today, the devout still invoke his name in prayers for protection against fires and droughts, and he continues to teach us all important life lessons. He cautions us to keep in mind that our excessive pride and self-confidence lessens our need to have a relationship with the Lord and leaves us open to attack from the enemy. He reminds us that the enemy will constantly want to take advantage of our frailties. Finally, he exhorts us to examine ourselves more, check that we are on the right track, and not be hesitant to own up to our errors. We may recover from any fall, no matter how severe, by turning to God and listening to people who care about us. This requires repentance and a contrite spirit.
