Maurice of Nicopolis

Holy Martyr Maurice of Nicopolis was one of the forty-⁠five martyrs who suffered at Nicopolis, a city of Armenia, in the time of the emperor Licinius (307-324), co-⁠ruler with Constantine the Great. Licinius persecuted the Christians savagely in the eastern part of his realm and gave an order that all who would not return to paganism be tortured and killed.

When the persecution began at Nicopolis, more than forty disciples of Christ resolved to present themselves to the persecutors of their own will, to confess the Son of God and to accept the torments. The confessors were led by Leontius, Maurice, Daniel, Antony and Alexander, known for their virtuous lives. The governor Lysias was amazed at their unanimity and courage and tried to persuade them, but they rejected all his arguments, proving that the pagan gods were worthless. They were struck on the face with stones, then put in irons and thrown into prison.

In prison the saints rejoiced and sang the psalms of David. Leontius strengthened his brethren by telling them of the courage of those who had suffered before them. The next day, after a further refusal to sacrifice to idols, they were tortured again. At midnight, as they sang psalms, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the prison was filled with light. The angel told them that their struggle was nearing its end and that their names were written in heaven. Two jailers, Meneas and Viriladus, saw what happened and believed in Christ. After cruel torments the saints were burned in fire, and their bones were thrown into the river (around the year 318). Pious people found and kept them, and later, when the Church received freedom, a church was raised on that place in the name of the forty-⁠five martyrs.

Maurice is commemorated on 23 July, in the new style, with the other martyrs of Nicopolis.