Saint Nikon of Sicily

Born in Neapolis to a pagan father and a devout Christian mother, Nikon grew into a remarkably strong and courageous soldier without initially being baptized. During a perilous military battle where his company was surrounded, he recalled his mother’s Christian teachings, made the Sign of the Cross, and vowed to be baptized if he survived. Filled with sudden, supernatural strength, he single-handedly routed the enemy, returned home safely, and set out with his mother's blessing to find a priest during a time of intense Christian persecution.

Guided by an angel in a dream after days of fasting on Chios, Nikon traveled to Mount Ganos, where he was baptized and tonsured as a monk by Bishop Theodosius of Cyzicus. After three years of exemplary monastic life, divine revelation instructed the bishop to consecrate Nikon as a bishop and order him to lead the 190 monks to Sicily to escape approaching barbarians. En route, Nikon returned to Neapolis just in time to give his mother her final blessing before she passed away in peace; his holy demeanor also inspired ten of his former military comrades to convert, receive baptism, and join his monastic community in Sicily.

The community settled in the desolate Sicilian region of Gigia, where they lived peacefully for many years until a new wave of Christian persecution arose under Governor Quintilian. The governor ordered the capture of the community, resulting in the immediate beheading of all 199 of Nikon's fellow monks. Desiring to break Nikon, the authorities subjected him to brutal tortures—including fire, being dragged by wild horses, and having his tongue removed—yet he remained miraculously unharmed until he was finally defiled and beheaded, his body cast into a field for scavengers.

Even after his death, Nikon’s holiness continued to manifest when a demon-possessed shepherd stumbled upon the martyr’s remains. The unclean spirit was instantly vanquished by the saint's lingering power, crying out in agony before fleeing the shepherd, who was completely healed. Word of this miraculous deliverance reached the Bishop of Messina, who, alongside his clergy, went to the field to recover and properly bury the bodies of Saint Nikon and his martyred disciples.

This beautiful and finely detailed icon is the work of our own Kyriakos Kosova. The icon is available in our own standard sizes. Featuring Christ as the Pantocrator.

Kyriakos Kosova is a master iconographer who spent much of his life in Albania, Greece and Italy. He is now in the US to continue his work in Orthodox Churches to the glory of God. Contact us, if you would like to hire him for your parishes iconographic needs.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted Orthodox Christian icon reproductions made in the United States with prayer and a desire for excellence. Each of our icons are printed on museum-quality matte canvas, providing a rich print with saturated coloration that lends to a beautiful handwritten-icon appearance.

All Theophany Works Icons are mounted on beveled wooden boards and finished with a high-quality UV protection sealant. This offers a subtle authentic-feeling texture while also enhancing durability, allowing for cleaning with a damp cloth. Additionally, each icon is given a maple-shelled keyhole slot on its back for easy and balanced hanging.

Our beautiful icon reproductions are lovingly made in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania studio. We pray they are a blessing to all who receive them, and we believe they will be a beloved addition to any home or parish—each at a fraction of the cost of a hand-painted icon.

***Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ: Please allow 3 weeks for production as each icon is made to order. If an icon is needed sooner for a baptism, chrismation, wedding, or name day, please contact us—we will always do our very best to accommodate your request.

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