Saint of the Day – 20 March – Saint Nicetas (Died c733) Bishop of Apollonias in Bithynia, a region of Asia Minor, Defender of the veneration of holy images. We have no history of his birthplace but he died in exile in c733, presumably of natural causes, although some refer to him as a Martyr. Also known as – Nicetas of Apollonias, … of Bithynia, Niceta.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Apollonia, the Bishop, St Nicetas, who breathed his last in exile, where he had been sent for upholding the veneration of holy images.”
The history of the Church preserves the memories of countless figures who, by their courage and dedication, have helped shape Christian doctrine and tradition. Among these, the figure of Saint Nicetas, Bishop of Apollonias, (in modern Turkey) is distinguished as a silent hero of the Faith whose tale, although fragmentary, offers us food for thought and admiration.
Unfortunately, information regarding St Nicetas is limited. The records of Constantinople describes him as a “Most Orthodox” Bishop of Apollonias, who lived during the era of denying the benefits of the veneration of holy images, a turbulent period in which sacred images were the subject of heated controversy and destruction.
Nicetas not only remained faithful to the cult of images but too, suffered harsh persecution for his unshakable faith. His resistance eventually led him to exile, where he died in circumstances which remain unknown.
The precise identification of Apollonias, the City of which Nicetas was the Bishop, presents several difficulties. In fact, there are several Cities with this name in the ancient Christian world. The most widespread tradition places him in Bithynia, a region of Asia Minor. However, some scholars hypothesise that Nicetas may have been the Bishop of another Apolloniad, located in Thrace or Illyria.
The date and circumstances of the death of Saint Nicetas is also uncertain. Some hypothese associate him with the persecution of Leo the Isaurian (717-741), while others place him at the time of Leo the Armenian (813-820), both anti-veneration of holy images.
AnaStpaul 
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