Agapius, Atticus, Carterius, Styriacus, Tobias, Eudoxius and Nictopolion

The Holy Martyrs Agapius, Atticus, Carterius, Styriacus (Styrax), Tobias (Pactobius), Eudoxius and Nictopolion, together with their companions, were soldiers martyred at Sebaste. They are venerated as martyrs. The Orthodox Church commemorates on 15 March the Holy Martyrs Agapius and his Seven Companions, and a Serbian source gives 3 (16) September. Our sources do not agree about either the day or the year.

According to one source they were soldiers burned at the stake at Sebaste in the year 315, in the reign of the emperor Licinius. The same source says that in the Menaion for 15 March it is stated that Agapius and his seven companions were beheaded on 24 March 304. The Serbian source places their suffering in the time of the persecution of Decius and Licinius, and the burning at the stake in 315.

Because of the spread of the Christian faith, which was then forbidden, they were arrested by order of the emperor by the governor Marcellus and subjected to torments. He put them in prison, where he handed them over to the tormentors, who beat them with oxhide thongs on the back and belly. During the torments the governor addressed Saint Carterius: You have taught the people not to obey the imperial commands. He answered: I did not teach the people to oppose the emperor, but taught them to believe in the immortal King, Christ. After that the saints Styriacus, Pactobius and Nictopolion were brought in, who in the same way confessed Jesus Christ as God. For this they were beaten again with stakes and put to other torments. In the end all were condemned to be burned.