Euthymius of Nicomedia

Holy Martyr Euthymius of Nicomedia suffered in the time of the persecution of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305), together with Bishop Anthimus, the deacon Theophilus and the other martyrs of the city: Dorotheus, Mardonius, Mygdonius, Peter, Indes, Gorgonius, Zeno and the virgin Domna.

After a fire broke out in the imperial palace at Nicomedia, the pagans accused the Christians of deliberate arson and treated them with unheard-⁠of cruelty: on a Christmas Day, in one church, up to twenty thousand worshippers were burned. The Christians were not frightened but confessed their faith and died for Christ. Euthymius and the virgin Domna, a former pagan priestess, took care that the bodies of the martyrs were buried, and were killed by the pagans.

Bishop Anthimus hid, at the request of his flock, in a village near by and wrote from there to the Christians, strengthening them in the faith. A letter carried by the deacon Theophilus fell into Maximian's hands; Theophilus died in torment without revealing the place. Maximian nevertheless learned the hiding place and sent soldiers, whom Anthimus entertained and then told who he was; they believed and were baptized, but the bishop made them carry out their order. He was tortured and beheaded, in 302.

The Synaxarion commemorates Euthymius on 10 January and on 16 September (new style).