It celebrates 7 days after Holy Easter.
The Holy Martyr Nikitas was born between the years 1760 – 1770 AD. and came from Epirus. Other authors consider that Agios came from Trebizond on the Pontus and indeed from the region of Lazo. They base this version mainly on the Order of the Ayannanites, written in 1840 – 1850 AD. by the monk Iakovos of Nea Skitis and in which it is stated that the Saint came from the region of Lazos of Pontos, as well as on the reliquary of the Saint on which is written “To the Holy Martyr Nikitas of Lazos”. We do not know anything important about the parents and relatives of the Saint. We only know that they were crypto-Christians.
From the text of his martyrdom we do not know if he denied Christ at the beginning of his life and became a Mohammedan in Serres. However, there is talk of the circumcision which the Saint underwent.
The Saint became a monk in the Skete of Agia Anna on Mount Athos. There he began his spiritual struggles living with fasting, vigil and prayer. Later he was ordained deacon and elder at the monastery of Agios Panteleimonos, the so-called Russian. Seized by the desire for martyrdom, he roamed around Serres and Drama and preached before the Turks Christ as true God. His decision was to shed his blood for the love of sweet Jesus.
Saint Nikitas confessed to the previous hieromonk Konstantinos of the share of the Virgin of Heliokallis and received the Immaculate Mysteries. After passing by the church of Agios Georgios, he then went to the mosque of Ahmet Pasha. In this mosque lived a religious teacher of the Turks together with his religious students. One of these disciples was lame in both legs. Saint Nikitas told him that he would be healed if he believed in Christ.
The young Turk immediately reported to his teacher what the Saint told him. So Agios was arrested and taken to the voivode of Serres, who ordered that he be burned. During the time of his imprisonment he suffered many and horrible tortures. On the evening of Great Saturday in the year 1808 AD. Isukh Bey ordered the execution of the death sentence of Saint Nikitas, who was hanged at the site of Jeriah – Pazar. Near the place of his martyrdom was the temple of Chief General Michael. On the same night of the martyrdom the deacon of the temple came out of his cell and saw a great light shining in the whole surrounding area. The Martyr’s remains hung on the gallows for three days. On the Tuesday of Epiphany, in the evening, the Christians were given permission to take down the holy relic and bury it in the church of Agios Nikolaos of Serres.
The Saint at the place of his martyrdom, in Serres, is honored as a Patron Saint. It is solemnly celebrated on Sunday of Thomas.
