Medimnus of Constantinople

Holy Martyr Medimnus of Constantinople, also called of Nicomedia, was one of the eighty clergy who suffered at Nicomedia in the time of the Arian emperor Valens (364-378 or 379), together with Urban and Theodore. What is told belongs to the whole company.

The Arians had driven the Orthodox bishop Evagrius out of the Church of Constantinople, and Christians who would not accept their error they cast into prison and mocked. The Orthodox, at the end of their patience, resolved to ask the emperor for protection and sent to him an embassy of eighty men of the clergy, headed by Urban, Theodore and Medimnus. Valens heard them with anger but hid his fury and secretly summoned the prefect Modestus, commanding him to kill them. Modestus spread a rumour that the envoys were being sent into exile, put them aboard a ship and ordered the sailors to set it on fire on the open sea. The ship burned and was carried by the waves for a time, until it reached the place called Dakizis, where it was wholly consumed with the holy martyrs (around the year 370).

The Azbyka page says nothing particular of Medimnus beyond this. He is commemorated on 18 September, in the new style.