ON SAINT NICETA
BISHOP OF CHALCEDON IN BITHYNIA.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
On his cult among the Greeks, the defect of the Acts, and the time of his See by conjecture.
St. Niceta, Bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia.
BY G. H.
[1] Chalcedon, a city of ancient Bithynia, over against Byzantium or Constantinople on the coast of the Bosphorus flowing between, celebrated for the cult of St. Euphemia the Virgin and Martyr, became more celebrated by the fourth Oecumenical Council held there; in which, as to honor, it was held a Metropolis; although otherwise the Bishops remained subject to the Metropolitan of Nicomedia. Among these only one hitherto reckoned among the Saints we have found, Niceta, Memory in the Typicum of St. Sabas of whom we here treat: and whose Combat also is recollected from the Manuscript Arabo-Egyptian Martyrology among the Maronites, as having followed the Greeks in this rite. There is extant reprinted at Venice in the year MDCIII a Typicum, according to the Order and custom of the sacred Laura of St. Sabas among the people of Jerusalem, observed in the rest of the monasteries there and other Churches of God in whatever place. In this Typicum to the several days one, or from time to time two Saints are proposed, and in some are indicated certain proper things; but when such are not suggested it is plain that the things which are had of the Common of the Saints are to be assumed. But in that Typicum on this XXVIII of May these things are read: Τοῦ ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Νικήτα, Ἐπισκόπου χαλκηδόνος. καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου ἱερομάρτυρος Ἑλλαδίου. Of our holy Father Niceta Bishop of Chalcedon, and the holy Hieromartyr Helladius. These same things are read in the Greek Horologion printed at Venice about the year MDCVII, and other Menologies: of St. Helladius, the memory also is celebrated in the fasti of some on this day; but with the Menaea and the new Anthology and others, we referred him to the preceding day XXVII of May.
[2] Gilbert Genebrard, a Theologian of Paris, and Regius Professor of Hebrew letters, by his writings most known to the world, before the Davidic Psalms illustrated by him prefixed four Calendars, of the Hebrews, of the Syrians, of the Greeks, and the Roman: That, says he, against the Innovators, and in Genebrard in celebrating the feasts of the Saints the concord of the Churches may be beheld. But he prefaces that the Calendar of the Greeks of the whole year, which they call the Menology, contains the memories of the Saints, whom the Greeks every year, on anniversary days celebrate. And that Menology the said Genebrard interpreted, in which, on this XXVIII of May, these words only are read: Niceta Bishop of Chalcedon. Joannes Molanus, in his Additions to Usuard, to the Saints added by him adjoins letters, that it may be indicated to the reader whence he took them: where the letter G signifies the commemorations of the Saints of the whole year, and Molanus. just as they with the supplications of the same Saints are had in the Greek Menology or Horologion. Thence therefore Molanus on this day has these things: On the twenty-eighth day, of the holy Father Niceta, and the holy Hieromartyr Helladius. In all these the first grade of authority obtains the Typicum of St. Sabas; although that which we now have under that name was often augmented, just as the Breviary and Missal of Milan, is said to be used according to the custom or after the manner of St. Ambrose; and just as the ancient Breviary of Toledo, commonly called St. Isidore's or the Mozarabic, even after it was by the command of Francis Ximenes the Archbishop augmented and printed. This change also and interpolation notwithstanding, it is proved, that at least when the Codices were written, whence the impression of the Typicum is taken, a cult of this kind prevailed and obtained in Palestine, and so before several centuries.
[3] It can however not undeservedly be asked, how mention of St. Niceta is not had in the Manuscript Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople, and other Menaea taken thence, Perhaps he died in the Holy Land, since so near to it was the city of Chalcedon. But it seems it can be answered, that perhaps St. Niceta, a peregrination to the Holy places being undertaken, there in some monastery lived a private man, and ended his day holily, and miracles being wrought began to be venerated publicly, the people of Chalcedon meanwhile solicitous about seeking nothing concerning him; as those who, he departing, or even abdicating his own grade, chose another, nor further cared to learn anything about him: especially since no Life of him written was extant, which should make his name celebrated outside the Holy Land; in the 8th or 9th century. just as in a similar case it would have happened to St. John the Silentiary, from Bishop of Cologne in Armenia a Monk of the Laura of St. Sabas, had not Cyril written his Life which we illustrated on May XIII. For the rest from that very defect of a Life, we draw a suspicion, that this Saint was not very ancient; but perhaps in the time of the Iconoclasts, wearied of the most disturbed state of his Church, betook himself into Palestine; when there too the Christian cause was collapsing, the Saracens prevailing more and more, and holding the cities and all the fortified places in the East: and so it would be permitted to refer him to the VIII or IX century.