Feast Day: January 21st
The Life of Saint Neophytus: Instead of becoming vainglorious over such a display of the Power of God through his Prayers, Saint Neophytos was humbled and strove to conceal his Virtuous way of life. As much as the child sought to conceal his Virtue, the Lord all the more sought to reveal His Favour and make him known as a Vessel of Grace… Not long after this event, his mother Florentia was Praying one night to know what God had in store for her son, and suddenly she saw a dove come down from Heaven and perched on Saint Neophytus’ empty bed. When she asked why the dove had rested upon the bed of her son, the dove replied Miraculously in a human voice, “The Holy Spirit sent me to hover over the bed of Neophytus, so that I should cast out every assault of the enemy and preserve his bedding pure and blameless.” This was followed by an Ineffable Light that descended. Overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, the poor woman fell down dead. When Saint Neophytus returned home and was informed by neighbours that his mother died, he did not grieve as one without hope, but consoled his father who came running with tears from the field, then taking his dead mother by the hand, he said, “Rise up, O mother, forasmuch as the Lord has willed it, you have slept enough.” Thereupon her Soul returned to her body, and after her recovery she told everyone present that she saw a dove over the bed of Saint Neophytus, which they then all saw and heard say to Saint Neophytus that he must depart from his home and live a life dedicated to God. Taking to heart what he had heard from the dove, ten year old Saint Neophytus went to Mount Olympus in Bithynia accompanied by the dove and became one of the earliest Hermits in the region… Guided by the dove, Saint Neophytus reached a lofty height and entered a cave… where he lived a life of Prayer, Fasting and Asceticism, contemplating the wonderful things of God, and sustained by Heavenly bread brought by an Angel… When Saint Neophytus was fifteen years old, an Angel of the Lord commanded him to return again to Nicaea in order to be perfected through glorious Martyrdom. Eagerly he went and stood before the tyrannical governor Maximus… There he proclaimed Christ as the True God and the ignorance and vanity of worshiping idols. For this the radiant youth was seized and brought to be tortured… Meanwhile, Saint Neophytus did not cease preaching the Gospel of Christ to his executioners…
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A Prayer
Apolytikion in the First Tone: Thou wast filled with Divine Grace from thine infancy, and thy youthful Soul was a dwelling-place of the Trinity. Thou didst work wondrous Miracles, and wast steadfast in contest, O prize-winning Neophytus. Pray unceasingly that our Souls may be saved.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone: O Great Martyr Neophytus, thou didst shine forth from the mountain and as an athlete Glorify Christ in the stadium. Wherefore thou didst receive the Unfading Crown.
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