Life and prayer to the 9 martyrs of Kiz, what it helps with and where the icon is located

Nine holy martyrs of Cyzicus: Theognis (Theognius), Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artema, Magnus, Theodotus (Theodulus), Faumasius and Philemon
(+ 286-299) Commemorated April 29, April 28 (Greek [1])

They came from different areas, were of different ages: both young, like Saint Antipater, and elderly, like Saint Rufus, occupied different positions in society: among them were warriors, and villagers, and townspeople, and clergy. But all of them were united by faith in Christ and an ardent desire to spread and strengthen the true faith.

Finding themselves in the city of Cyzicus, where paganism occupied a dominant position, the saints boldly confessed Christ and fearlessly denounced pagan wickedness. They were captured and brought before the ruler of the city. For several days they were tortured, imprisoned and taken out again, promising freedom for renouncing Christ. But the valiant warriors of Christ continued to glorify the Name of Christ. All nine martyrs were beheaded by the sword (+ c. 286 - 299), and their bodies were buried near the city.

Various miracles occurred from the holy relics: the sick were healed, the insane came to their senses. The Faith of Christ was affirmed in the city through the intercession of the holy martyrs, many of the pagans converted to Christianity.

In Russia, not far from the city of Kazan, a monastery was built in honor of the nine martyrs of Cyzicus by Hierodeacon Stephen, who brought with him from Palestine part of the relics of the saints. This monastery was founded in the hope of delivering them through intercession and prayers from various ailments and illnesses, especially fever, which raged in Kazan in 1687, “for,” writes St. Demetrius of Rostov, author of the service to the nine martyrs, “these saints were given abundant grace to drive away the shaking diseases." Saint Demetrius also described the suffering of the holy martyrs and composed a word for their day of remembrance.

Life

Little is known about the lives of the nine Kizian martyrs. 17 centuries have passed since they accomplished the feat in the name of Christ. In the third 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 this region. 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 negatively perceived the actions of Christians against their religion. Nine preachers were arrested and detained. The holy men were cruelly tortured and asked to renounce the Savior. None of the preachers changed their faith. By order of the ruler, nine people (Theognis, Antipater, Rufus, Artem, Theostigus, Magna, Philemon, Theodotus, Faumasia) were beheaded. The bodies of the martyrs were redeemed by believers and buried outside the city.

However, this story had a continuation. A few years after their death, Constantine the Great took over the Roman Empire. Under him, the persecution of believers in the Savior ceased. The inhabitants of Cyzicus removed the incorruptible relics of nine saints from the ground and brought them to the temple for veneration. People noticed that healing energy came from the remains of saints. The weak and sick, touching the relics, were healed. 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 passed to Julian the Apostate, who did not approve of Christians. True, the ruler tried not to touch the believers in Christ, fearing a popular uprising. Julian the Apostate only sent Bishop Eleusinus 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 inhabitants of this region not to renounce their holy faith. Every year on April 29, or more precisely on May 12, the Orthodox Church glorifies 9 Kizitsa preachers.

How to get there by car, public transport

The Church of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus in Moscow is located on the central street of the capital in Bolshoi Devyatinsky Lane, named after the name of the church. It is located near the Government House of the Russian Federation and the American Embassy.

You can get to the Orthodox church from Moscow by different types of transport (ground and underground).

Ground public transport routes:

• By trolleybus: No. 35 and No. 66 to the Krasnopresnenskaya stop
• By bus: No. 4, 39,116, N2, m2, m27 to the stop. "Free Russia Square"
• No C12 to the stop. "New Arbat Street"
• No. 64, 869, B, T10, T39, T79 to the stop. "Chaliapin's House"
• No H2, m2, m27 to stop. "Novinsky Boulevard"

The nearest metro stations (Krasnopresnenskaya and Barrikadnaya) are located 634 m from the temple. You should continue walking along Konyushkovskaya Street towards the Government. Then move along the red brick fence of the American representative office in Moscow until the traffic light. The fence should be on the left hand. After crossing the road, turn left.

The bell tower of the temple will already become visible from this place. Continue the route to the fork, turn right and follow the road to the temple. When walking slowly, it will take about 10-12 minutes to cover the distance of the walking route.

The temple can also be reached by private transport. It should be taken into account that Devyatinsky Lane has one-way traffic flow towards Konyushkovskaya Street from Novinsky Boulevard.

Iconography

In honor of the nine martyrs of Kizić, icons were painted depicting the shining faces of saints who did not spare their lives for the sake of the Savior. There are several options for sacred images. One of the ancient icons depicts nine people, and above them the Savior in the clouds. In 1584, an image with such a plot was found in the attic of the Kremlin palace of John 4. It is possible that this icon was given to the king by Metropolitan Cyzicus himself.

In the 17th century, churches began to be built in Russia in honor of the nine martyrs of Kizić. This circumstance contributed to the painting of various icons depicting saints. All nine people had to be present at each sacred image, demonstrating their loyalty to the Savior by their feat.

Interior decoration

After the decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on the confiscation of church valuables to be sold to help the starving people of the Volga region, the Devyatinsky Church lost a huge amount of expensive Orthodox items made of gold and silver and was subsequently closed in 1929.

Some of the valuables (some icons and vestments of the 19th century) were preserved and partially transferred to neighboring churches by clergy, believers and museum workers. Thus, the main image of the Kizichesk saints of God was transferred to the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist on Presnya. However, most of the things of the temple (various utensils, fabrics) had to be disposed of.

In 1993, due to its location near the buildings of the Governments of the Russian Federation and Moscow, the temple was shelled, causing significant damage. Restoration of the building began in 1994. The wall paintings were restored and partially re-done, the shrines were returned, and the chapels were reconstructed. The interior decoration of the temple, in comparison with its modest exterior decoration, has an excellent appearance.

The Church of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus in Moscow has 3 chapels of different years of construction and consecration:

1. The central one was consecrated in honor of the Kizichesk martyrs themselves.

2. The right one is dedicated to the Archangel Michael.
3. The left one was created in honor of the Great Martyr Barbara.

Reverence

Orthodox believers honor the memory of the saints who gathered in Cyzicus in the 3rd century to convert pagans to their religion. Christians pray in front of icons depicting the nine holy martyrs. In honor of the saints, a festive service is held annually on May 12. Christians believe in the intercession of saints and help in difficult life situations. Nine people from Kizicha were honored for their feat in the name of the Holy Faith and the Savior.

In Rus', saints have been revered for several centuries. In the second half of the 17th century, Metropolitan Adrian of Kazan ordered the construction of a temple in honor of the 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 next to it.

Metropolitan of the Greek diocese Kizich even donated pieces of the relics of the martyrs to this monastery. True, during the Soviet years the relic was lost. The Kizichesky Monastery is still located in Kazan today. Recently, the Moscow Church of the Kizichi Martyrs donated an icon and particles of the relics of these saints to the holy monastery.

Signs and sayings

• The sunrise is bright and clear - summer will be warm.
• The starry sky on the night of May 12 foreshadows a rich harvest.
• Lightning before rain - precipitation will continue for a long time.
• The crane is building a nest in the lowlands - bread can already be sown in damp places. If the crane’s nest is at a height, then it is best to hide the bread in the lowlands.
• The oriole screams and its cry is like a cat’s - it will rain soon.
• Ants urgently move to dry, hard ground - wait for prolonged downpours.
• A lot of May beetles - for dry days.
• The birch leafed out earlier than the alder - there will be a drought in the summer, if on the contrary - the summer will be rainy.
• To increase and maintain your health for a year, you need to stand on the road exactly at noon and turn your face to the warm wind.
• Those born on May 12th will have to go through nine tests. They should wear amethyst or turquoise.

What do the nine martyrs ask for?

Believers turn to the saints of Kizicha with requests in difficult life situations. Christians pray to the martyrs and ask for mental and physical healing. The icon of the nine saints is believed to heal, cure paralysis, fever, plague and cancer. People suffering from serious illnesses make pilgrimages to the holy relics.

Sincerely repenting of their sins, believers ask the nine martyrs to send them health. There are many famous examples of happy healing. The first Russian Christian to believe in the miracles of the nine Kizichi martyrs was Patriarch Adrian, who was healed of paralysis by prayers to the saints.

Traditions and rituals

The main traditions of May 12 are prayers to saints for healing from illnesses, a spell against nine troubles, and the preparation of healing infusions from herbal plants.

— According to popular belief, the nine martyrs help with bodily illnesses and epidemics. Therefore, their day itself was considered the day of healers. On May 12, a special conspiracy against nine misfortunes was supposed to be pronounced. There was also a custom: you had to go out onto the road at noon and expose your face to the warm wind. After this, health should have increased for a whole year.

“On this holiday, we collected herbs and prepared infusions from medicinal plants. One of the legends says that one day God drew a human silhouette in the sand. At that same moment the devil appeared and pierced many wounds-holes in him, each of which meant some kind of illness. Then God created 11 herbs and gave them the power to cure 77 ailments. Therefore, according to popular beliefs, a person can get sick from 77 diseases and will find a remedy for each of them.

— On the Nine Martyrs, the suffering was in full swing, but the peasants thought not only about work, but also about maintaining mental health. Therefore, they tried to especially carefully observe the customs of the clan, starting plowing and sowing only with prayers and with the advice of the elders. On this occasion they said: “Without time and without measure, there will be sin in the soul, and illness in the body.”

— Dreams on May 12 mean the following: seeing a clean lake means health throughout the year; sowing flour - to loss of vision in old age; read psalms - to a long life; ordering someone - to loss of respect in the team; sorting things out with your spouse means peace in the family; wiping furniture - to the loss of a close (blood) person, to the loss of a relative.

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 the innocent was shed for Christ. For this deed, the Church glorifies the nine most holy martyrs. The saints have achieved immortality and enjoy the goodness of the Almighty.

Christians pray that the martyrs will convey their requests to the Savior. Holy men ask for healing from mental and physical ailments. Believers sincerely believe that the martyrs received the gift of healing from God; Christians honor the saints for helping to save them from serious illnesses.

Prayer to the 9 Kizian Martyrs

Regarding the almighty holiness of the martyr, the value of Rabbi Christ, Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichos, Artemos, Magna, Thaumasya, Theodotus and Philemon, for the love of Christ, for the love of Christ, we will gather from different countries and that God and man are boldly perfect in Kizitsa's sermon;

we are forced to worship the former idol, idols are more common and the prince is shameful, we will not be afraid of various desires and cruel reproaches, and because of various sufferings from the sword we quickly cut and shed our blood for Christ, like water, and that like crimson,

The Church of Christ, like a bride, is more beautiful; the same now, crowned with the eternal crown of immortal glory, ever in inexpressible joy with the face of the angels in the heavenly habitations, you are entrenched, with the divine light shining and the sight of his inexpressible goodness.

For this, we humbly rush to You and, lovingly looking at Your holy image, we pray: You pray for us, Christ God, as courage to Him who has, so that through Your holy prayers we will be delivered from all mental and physical ailments.

God gave you the gift of healing from all pains with faith that you fall to be healed, as well as this glorious man who was healed of a terrible illness, and we, the faithful, accepted equally, honor you, holy martyr, a piece of the gift of those who have God from Christ to Him, and glory is purchased by the Father and the Holy Spirit always, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion to the Nine Martyrs of Kyzych (item

Holy martyr of nine numbers, / from different cities in one person, mating with divine mania, / suffer courageously for Christ, the victorious invisible enemy, / evil princes and tormentors dishonor your patience, / we will smell the fire of God’s love, / materially torments you until cold / even if Christ God has given you the grace to heal the disease / from unseemly and multiple passions // mercifully save us through your intercession, we pray to you.

Kontakion to the Nine Martyrs of Kiziches (position 2)

The firm and bright face of the martyr of the nine, / the Trisolunian Deity confessor, / according to the sentence of the First cry: / our blood and our souls from the body, / as an impeccable sacrifice we offer to you, O Lord, / before your heavenly face, // as a merciful God .