Nikon o Metanoite (Saint Nikon)

Nikon o Metanoite (?-998) was a Greek Orthodox monk born in Armenia.

Following the expulsion of the Arabs from Crete in 961, he became active as a preacher on the island, struggling to return recent converts to Islam back to Christianity. It was there that he acquired the nickname "metanoite" (Greek:"repent"), a word he used constantly in his sermons.

He ended his life in mainland Greece, in the province of Lakonia, where he exerted considerable influence on both clergy and laity, founding a large number of churches. As a result, after his sanctification by the Greek Orthodox Church, he eventually became patron saint of the town of Sparta. His feast is celebrated each year on November 23rd.