Life
Not much is known about the lives of the nine Kizi martyrs. 17 centuries have passed since they accomplished their feat in the name of Christ. In the 3rd century, important events for the establishment of Christianity took place in Cyzicus, located on the Capu Dag peninsula. The inhabitants of this Asian city were pagans, but some of them preached the religion that the Apostle Paul himself had once brought to these regions. Nine people from different parts of Asia Minor came to Cyzicus to convert the pagan population to Christianity.
The ruler of this city was a pagan. Of course, he perceived the actions of Christians against their religion negatively. Nine preachers were captured and taken into custody. The most holy men were cruelly tortured and asked to renounce the Savior. None of the preachers betrayed their faith. By order of the ruler, nine people (Theognis, Antipater, Rufus, Artem, Theostig, Magnus, Philemon, Theodotus, Faumasius) were beheaded. The bodies of the martyrs were bought by believers and buried outside the city.
However, this story had a continuation. A few years after their death, Constantine the Great found himself at the head of the Roman Empire. Under him, the persecution of believers in the Savior ceased. The inhabitants of Cyzicus extracted the incorruptible relics of nine holy men from the ground and transferred them to the temple for worship. People noticed that healing energy emanated from the remains of saints. The weak and sick, touching the relics, recovered. Miracles in the name of the Lord strengthened people's faith in Christianity. More and more pagans took the side of the new religion.
However, power soon fell to Julian the Apostate, who did not favor Christians. True, the ruler tried not to touch the believers in Christ, fearing a popular revolt. Julian the Apostate only sent Bishop Eleusius to prison. After the death of the ruler, Christianity reigned again in Cyzicus.
It is believed that it was nine holy men who helped the people of this region not to renounce the holy faith. Every year on April 29, or rather May 12, the Orthodox Church glorifies 9 Kizian preachers.
Requests for prayer to the martyrs of Kizi
The memory of the saints is celebrated on May 12. The service for them was compiled by Saint Dmitry of Rostov, he also wrote a prayer, with the words of which the Church has been turning to miracle workers for several centuries. The text does not contain the words “give me a good job” or “talk some sense into my boss.” All the attention of the person praying turns to the martyrdom and the reward for it from Christ. “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and the rest will be added to you” - the saints remembered this covenant of the Lord and through torment showed their strong faith in the true God. For this, the Lord gave them “the rest” - eternal glory, inexhaustible wealth and the opportunity to help those who ask.
Nine Martyrs of Kizi with an icon of the Nativity BM with an icon of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Sloboda Kholui, late 18th century.
Turning in need to the martyrs of Cyzicus, the prayer remembers how Christians “gathered from different countries (cities)” came to pagan Cyzicus to preach Christ there. They rejected the idols offered for worship, not being afraid of torment.
Important. The modern world offers a person many idols: things, shows, the prosperity of a neighbor. Whoever manages to reject them easily receives “the rest” from the Lord - the necessary funds, health, a home.
Iconography
In honor of the nine Kizian martyrs, icons were painted that depict the bright faces of saints who did not spare their lives for the sake of the Savior. There are several options for holy images. One of the ancient icons depicts nine people, and above them the Savior in the clouds. In 1584, an icon with such a plot was found in the attic of the Kremlin palace of John 4. It is possible that Metropolitan Cyzicus himself gave this icon to the king.
In the 17th century, churches began to be built in Rus' in honor of the nine Kizian martyrs. This circumstance contributed to the painting of various icons depicting holy men. Each holy image was necessarily attended by all nine people who, by their feat, proved their loyalty to the Savior.
Reverence
Orthodox believers honor the memory of the holy men who gathered in the 3rd century in Cyzicus to convert the pagans to their religion. Christians pray in front of icons depicting the nine most holy martyrs. In honor of the saints, a festive church service is held annually on May 12. Christians believe in the intercession of holy men and help in difficult life situations. The nine men of Kizi are honored for their feat in the name of the Holy Faith and the Savior.
In Russia, saints have been venerated for several centuries. In the second half of the 17th century, Kazan Metropolitan Adrian ordered to build a temple in honor of 9 martyrs and sincerely pray for the deliverance of Christians from the fever epidemic. The sincere prayers of the believers were heard by the Savior. The temple became a place of pilgrimage. Later, a monastery was built near it.
The Metropolitan of the Greek Diocese of Kizi even donated particles of the relics of the martyrs to this monastery. True, the relic was lost during the Soviet years. The Kizichesky Monastery is still located in Kazan today. Recently, the Moscow Church of the Kizich Martyrs donated an icon and particles of the relics of these saints to the most holy monastery.
Honoring the saints of God in Rus'
In Russian Orthodoxy, holy martyrs have been venerated for several centuries. They pray to them no less than to recently canonized saints. The Day of Remembrance of the Nine Great Sufferers of Kizichesk is celebrated on April 29.
Icon of courageous sufferers
The first mention of the image of saints dates back to the 16th century. It was then that the image, covered with silver and gilding, was found in the royal palace of John IV. Its further fate is unknown, since the shrine was soon lost.
Another ancient icon was kept in the Kazan Kizichesky Monastery until the 19th century. She was brought there at the insistence of Metropolitan Adrian, along with a piece of holy relics. The rich setting was decorated with verses praising the grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the nine martyrs.
Today, the image of saints is presented in several variations. Everywhere they are depicted as nine of them, but on some icons the holy martyrs stand, and on others they sit in a semicircle. Their gaze is turned to Jesus Christ, and in their hands the sufferers hold crosses and various instruments of torture.
In iconography, the image of saints has several variations
Temples in honor of the holy martyrs
The first monastery that was founded in honor of the Kizisky holy martyrs was the Kazan Monastery. Its founder was Metropolitan Adrian, who was awarded miracles performed by prayer to the great sufferers. When the future Patriarch of Moscow was appointed to the cathedra, the city was gripped by an epidemic. To stop the terrible pestilence, the bishop began to pray to the saints, and soon the fever that was decimating the local residents stopped.
After the archpastor was appointed Primate of the Russian Church, he experienced the power of the saints. Lying near death and preparing to depart to another world, he turned to the great martyrs. After prayer, the disease subsided, and the patriarch erected a Moscow temple in the name of the Nine Martyrs of Kizi.
Today, churches in honor of the holy sufferers have been built in many cities of Russia, which once again proves the strength of the Christian faith.
Temple in Moscow
Monastery in Kazan
Church in Tatarstan
What do the nine martyrs ask for?
Believers make requests to the Kizi saints in difficult life situations. Christians pray to the martyrs and ask for mental and physical healing. It is believed that the icon of nine saints helps to recover from paralysis, fever, plague, and cancer. People suffering from serious illnesses make a pilgrimage to the holy relics.
Sincerely repenting of their sins, believers ask the nine martyrs to send them health. There are many examples of happy recovery. The very first Russian Christian to believe in the miracles of the 9 Kizian martyrs was Patriarch Adrian, who was cured of paralysis thanks to prayers to the holy men.
Holy relics and their miracles
After some time, Constantine, the Equal-to-the-Apostles, became the ruler of Asia Minor, who marked the beginning of the flowering of the Christian faith. The followers of the teachings of Christ no longer hid, openly glorifying the Lord God. They found the burial and placed the incorruptible relics in the ark. Later, when the Church of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus was built, the shrine was moved there.
Pilgrims from various cities flocked to venerate the remains of the holy martyrs. Sincere Christian believers, regardless of their status, were granted miracles by the relics. They healed diseases, cast out demons, and made the blind see.
The legend tells about one noble man who suffered from dropsy all his life. Having learned about the miracles that the shrine performed, he immediately went to the temple. There, venerating the relics of the 9 martyrs, the high-ranking man tearfully asked them for healing. At the end of the prayer, the illness subsided and never returned to the man.
Seeing what the Christian faith was capable of, the pagans gradually began to undergo the rite of baptism, abandoning their gods. The symbols of their worship were massively demolished, and the idols were forgotten. Thus, Cyzicus became one of the most pious cities in Asia Minor.
But the joy of the Christians was short-lived. After Constantine, Julian the Apostate, an ardent pagan who rejected the teachings of Christ, ascended the throne. The remaining idolaters rushed to him with a request to protect their faith and stop the destruction of the temples. Having listened to their requests, the king restored the destroyed temples, but did not dare to start persecution, fearing a popular uprising. Some time later, the Christian faith finally prevailed over paganism and began to spread over an ever-increasing territory, converting former idolaters.
Prayer text
Believers pray to the nine holy martyrs who preached in Cyzicus. Holy men gave their lives in the name of the Savior and for the Christian faith. The blood of innocents was shed for Christ. For this feat, the Church glorifies the nine most holy martyrs. The saints have acquired immortality and enjoy the kindness of the Almighty.
Christians pray that the martyrs will convey their requests to the Savior. Holy men are asked for healing from mental and physical ailments. Believers sincerely believe that the martyrs received the gift of healing from God. Christians venerate saints for their help in saving them from serious illnesses.
Prayer to the 9 Kizian Martyrs
About the all-praise of the holy martyr, the valiant servants of Christ, Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemo, Magna, Faumasius, Theodotus and Philemon, who like Christ for the sake of different 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 was cut quickly, and shed for Christ your blood like water, and that like purple,
Decorate the Church of Christ like a bride; 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.
Troparion to the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus (voice 
Holy nine-numbered martyrs, / from various cities united in one face by the Divine mania, / suffered courageously for Christ, conquering the invisible enemy, / the evil princes and tormentors were put to shame by your patience, / by the fire of God’s love you were liquefied, / materially the fire tormenting you in the cold turned away, / in the same way, grace has been given to you from Christ God to heal the sickness of the tremors, / from the sickness and manifold passions / / graciously save us through your intercession, we pray.
Kontakion to the Nine Martyrs of Kiziz (Tone 2)
The firm and all-bright face of the martyr of the nine,/ of the Trisolar Deity of the confessor,/ at the judgment I initially cried out to Him:/ our blood and souls from our bodies,/ like an immaculate sacrifice, we offer to You, Master,/ in the faces of Your heavenly ones,// like the Merciful God.
Biography of the Holy Martyrs
Three centuries have passed since the coming of the Savior, but followers of the Christian faith are still a minority. The territory of Asia Minor at that time was inhabited by pagans who preached idolatry and sacrifice. Followers of Christ's teaching were forced to hide in order to pray or talk about the Lord. Many preferred the hermit's path, leaving crowded settlements for mountains or forests.
Followers of Christ's teaching bravely carried their faith
Only a few dared to bring their faith to the people without hiding, talking about it in the central squares. One of these brave preachers were nine residents of Cyzicus, a city on the coast of the Sea of Marmara:
- Antipater;
- Artema;
- Magn;
- Ruf;
- Faumasius;
- Theognis;
- Theodotus;
- Theostichus;
- Philemon.
The men belonged to different classes, differed in age, each doing their own thing. However, fiery faith managed to unite these completely different people. Without fear of persecution, they bravely preached Christianity, calling on the pagans to repent and renounce idolatry.
Fiery faith united people of different ages and social status
But not everyone liked the activities of the soldiers of Christ, and therefore they were soon arrested, demanding that they renounce their Lord. Tempted by wealth and freedom, men were persuaded to accept paganism, but their faith was unshakable. Even when the brave nine were tortured, they did not abandon the Creator, for which they were brutally executed by cutting off their heads. One of the followers took their bodies, and he buried the martyrs, as required by Christian custom.
Temple
In Russia, churches in honor of the 9 martyrs of Kizi began to be built several centuries ago. The first temple in the name of saints appeared in Kazan in the 17th century. Patriarch Adrian decided to perpetuate the memory of the martyrs.
In Moscow, a wooden church glorifying the feat of the saints appeared at the very end of the 17th century, not far from Novinsky Val. The church was erected by His Holiness Patriarch Adrian, who was healed of paralysis thanks to prayers to the martyrs. When the wooden church burned down, a stone one was built in its place. Under Soviet rule, the temple was a prison. In 1992, the church again began holding services in honor of the 9 martyrs of Kizi.
In Moscow there is another ancient temple in memory of nine saints. This is a small house church of Count Orlov, erected in the 70s of the 18th century for the sake of salvation from the plague epidemic.
The ancient chapel in the name of the 9 holy men of Kizi is located in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, which is behind the Serpukhov Gate. The majestic stone temple was built at the end of the 17th century at the expense of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich. The dedication of the chapel to the most holy martyrs is associated with their veneration by Patriarch Adrian. This man was the first to experience the miracles emanating from the icon with their image.
Another chapel in honor of nine saints is located in the Novgorod St. Nicholas Cathedral. Stone churches glorifying the feat of the martyrs were built in different cities of Russia (in the Volga region, Kostroma, Tutaev). Particles of the relics of the saints may have been placed in their icon, which is located in the Assumption Church in Astrakhan. There is a version that the most holy remains are in the Vyshensky Monastery.
