Theophilus of Nicomedia

Holy Hieromartyr Theophilus of Nicomedia was a deacon who died under torture because he would not reveal the hiding place of his bishop, Saint Anthimus, in the persecution in the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, around the year 302.

The persecution grew harsher after a fire broke out in the imperial palace at Nicomedia. The pagans blamed the Christians for the arson and treated them with unheard-⁠of cruelty: in Nicomedia alone, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, up to twenty thousand worshippers were burned in the church as they prayed. These deeds did not frighten the Christians, who confessed their faith and accepted death for Christ. So suffered the saints Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Peter, Indes and Gorgonius, some beheaded, some burned, buried under earth or drowned in the sea. The soldier Zeno was stoned and then beheaded for boldly rebuking Maximian. At the same time died Domna, a former pagan priestess, and Euthymius, who had taken care that the bodies of the martyrs were buried.

Bishop Anthimus, who shepherded the Church of Nicomedia, hid in a village nearby at the request of his flock. From there he wrote letters to the Christians urging them to stand firm in the faith and not to fear torments. One of the letters, sent by the deacon Theophilus, was intercepted and carried to the emperor Maximian. Theophilus was interrogated and died under torture without showing his tormentors where the bishop was.

After a time Maximian nevertheless learned where Anthimus was and sent soldiers after him. On the road they met the bishop himself but did not recognize him. The saint called them to him, gave them a meal and then told them that he was the one they sought. The soldiers believed in Christ and were baptized, yet the bishop still made them carry out their orders. Before the emperor, who had the instruments of torture laid out before him, Anthimus said that he would not frighten one who himself wished to die for Christ. He was cruelly tormented and beheaded with the sword, glorifying God to his last breath.

Saint Theophilus is commemorated on 10 January and on 16 September.