Urban, Theodore, Medimnus and Companions

The Holy Martyrs Urban, Theodore, Medimnus and Companions, eighty in number, suffered at Nicomedia in the time of the Arian emperor Valens (364-378), around the year 370. The Arians drove the Orthodox bishop Evagrius out of Constantinople and cruelly persecuted the Christians who would not accept their heretical teaching. The faithful decided to ask the emperor for help and sent an embassy of nearly eighty chosen clergy, headed by Urban, Theodore and Medimnus. Hearing their just complaint, the unbelieving emperor was angered but restrained his wrath. He secretly summoned the eparch Modestus and ordered him to kill the whole embassy. Modestus let it be said that the envoys would be exiled, then put them on a ship and ordered the sailors to set the ship on fire on the open sea. The Church of Georgia commemorates them on 5 September (old style; 18 September new style).