Nikon the Dry

Nikon the Dry was enslaved by the Polovtsians in the 11th century. Before his capture, he had been a monk of the monastery of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Ukraine. Nikon endured brutal captivity for more than three years, eventually gaining his freedom through a miracle.

Nikon, before his freedom was gained, informed his enslaver that Jesus would release him from bondage in three days. As a consequence, his enslaver crippled Nikon's legs so that he could no longer walk. According to legend, three days later, Nikon was carried by God to Kyiv unseen. Sometime later, Nikon's former master encountered the holy man in the city. The man repented of his former ways was baptised, and became a disciple of Nikon.

Nikon was referred to as "the Dry" due to his intense practice of fasting.

Nikon the Dry died in 1101 and is commemorated on the date of his passing to eternity, 11 December, in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches.^[1]