Daniel of Nicopolis

Holy Martyr Daniel of Nicopolis is counted among the forty-⁠five martyrs who suffered in the Armenian city of Nicopolis, in the time of Emperor Licinius (307-324), co-⁠emperor of Constantine the Great. They are commemorated on 23 July: Leontius, Maurice, Daniel, Anthony, Alexander, Hianicetus, Sisinnius, Meneas, Viriladus and the others.

Licinius persecuted the Christians cruelly and issued in his eastern part a decree that all who would not return to paganism should be tormented and put to death. When the persecution began in Nicopolis, more than forty disciples of Christ resolved to appear before the persecutors of their own will, to confess openly their faith in the Son of God and to accept the torments. At their head were Leontius, Maurice, Daniel, Anthony and Alexander, known for their virtuous life. The governor of the Armenian region, Lysias, before whom they stood, was amazed at the unity and courage of people who condemned themselves to torments and death. He tried to persuade them to renounce Christ and sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the saints remained unmoved. They overturned all the governor's arguments, showing him how false was faith in the loathsome gods, full of passions, who lead to perdition those who bow to them. The governor ordered them struck on the face with stones, then put in fetters and thrown into prison.

In prison the saints rejoiced and sang the psalms of David. Saint Leontius encouraged and strengthened his brothers in the faith, preparing them for new torments, telling them of the courage of all who had suffered before for Christ. In the morning, after they again refused to sacrifice to the idols, the saints were given over again to torments. Saint Leontius, seeing the great sufferings of the martyrs and fearing that some of them might lose heart and faith, prayed to God to send all a swift end of their struggle.

At midnight, as the martyrs were singing psalms, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the prison was lit with light. The angel announced to them that their struggle was nearing its end and that their names were written in heaven. Two prison guards, Meneas and Viriladus, who saw what happened, believed in Christ. The next morning the governor resolved to put the witnesses of Christ to death. After cruel torments they were burned in fire, and their bones thrown into the river, around the year 318. Pious people found them, gathered them and kept them. Later, when the Church of Christ received freedom, a church was raised on that place in the name of the forty-⁠five martyrs.