Arsacius

Saint Arsacius was a soldier of Persian origin in the Roman army, then administrator of the emperor's estates. Becoming a Christian, he suffered much in the persecution of Licinius but did not renounce the faith and was in the end released from prison.

Afterward he lived for decades as a hermit in a tower near Nicomedia (today in Turkey). Receiving a vision that a disaster was about to strike the city, he went to the nearest church to warn the people, but was not heeded. Right after that a strong earthquake struck, in 358. The townspeople took shelter in his tower and found his body there: he had died in prayer, apparently on 24 August 358. Since then he has been known for the gift of prophecy and as a wonderworker through his prayers. He is sometimes confused with Cecropius, a bishop of Nicomedia. The Catholic Church commemorates him on 16 August. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.