Nikita (Niphont) Alfanov

Holy Venerable Nikita (Niphont) Alfanov is one of the five Alfanov brothers, also called Sokolnitsky, monks of Novgorod in the fourteenth century.

With his brothers Cyril, Nikephoros, Clement and Isaac he led a pious life and founded the Sokolnitsky community. According to the chronicles, in 1389 they built a wooden church of Saint Nicholas on Falcon Hill and set up the monastery. The brothers were kin to Jacob Anfal, also called Alfan, who withdrew to the Dvina to flee slander over his ties with Moscow. Because of this kinship the venerable ones passed through many troubles and were purified for eternity by their innocent suffering.

A Tale about the holy brothers recounts the miracles that flowed from their relics. When a fire destroyed the Sokolnitsky monastery, the relics were taken to the Saint Anthony Monastery on 4 May 1775. Their memory is set for 4 May (in the old style) and for the third Sunday after Pentecost, in the Synaxis of the Saints of Novgorod; the page now gives 17 May and 11 July, in the new style.