Photius of Nicomedia

Holy Martyr Photius of Nicomedia was the nephew of the holy martyr Anicetus, both natives of Nicomedia. They died for Christ in the year 305, in the time of the emperor Diocletian (284-305).

Anicetus, a military official, rebuked Diocletian, who had set instruments of torture in the city square to frighten Christians. Angered, Diocletian ordered the saint tormented and then thrown to the beasts. But the lion let loose grew gentle and fawned about him. Suddenly a strong earthquake began, the temple of Hercules fell and many pagans perished under the collapsed city wall. The executioner raised the sword to cut off the saint's head, but fell senseless himself. They put Anicetus on the wheel and scorched him with fire, but the wheel stopped and the fire went out. They threw him into a cauldron of boiling tin, but the tin cooled. So the Lord kept His servant to strengthen many. The martyr's nephew, Saint Photius, greeted the sufferer and, turning to the emperor, said: Idolater, your gods are nothing. The sword raised over the new confessor struck the executioner himself.

The martyrs were shut in prison. After three days Diocletian urged them to worship the gods, promising to glorify and enrich them. The martyrs answered that he should perish with his honour and wealth. Then they were tied by the feet to wild horses, but the saints, dragged over the ground, remained unharmed. Nor did they suffer in the red-⁠hot bath, which collapsed. At last Diocletian ordered a huge furnace lit, and a multitude of Christians, inspired by the struggles of Photius and Anicetus, stepped into it themselves, saying: We are Christians. All died with prayer on their lips. The bodies of Anicetus and Photius were not harmed by the fire, not even their hair. Seeing this, many of the pagans believed in Christ. The saints are commemorated on 25 August.