Zeno of Nicomedia

Holy Martyr Zeno of Nicomedia was a soldier and was stoned and then beheaded for boldly rebuking Emperor Maximian, in the time of Diocletian's persecution, together with Bishop Anthimus of Nicomedia and other martyrs.

The persecution grew harsher after a fire broke out in the imperial palace at Nicomedia and the pagans accused the Christians of setting it on purpose. They were cruel beyond measure: in Nicomedia alone, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, up to twenty thousand people at prayer were burned in the church. Yet the Christians confessed their faith and accepted death. Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Peter, Indes and Gorgonius died in various ways: some cut with the sword, others burned, buried alive under earth or drowned. Zeno was stoned and then beheaded. At that time there also perished at the hands of the pagans the former priestess, the virgin Domna, and Euthymius, who had taken care that the bodies of the martyrs be buried. Bishop Anthimus kept hidden in a nearby village, at the request of his flock, and from there urged the faithful in letters to stand firm. A letter sent by the deacon Theophilus was intercepted and brought to the emperor; Theophilus died under torture without revealing the bishop's hiding place. In time Maximian learned where he was and sent soldiers. On the road they met the bishop, who was not recognized, called them, fed them a meal and told them who he was. They, amazed, wished to leave him and say they had not found him, but the bishop did not accept the lie; the soldiers believed and were baptized. Before the emperor, who set instruments of torture before him, Anthimus said that one who wishes to die for Christ is not frightened by them. He was cruelly tortured and beheaded, glorifying God to his last breath (in the year 302).

Saint Zeno is commemorated on 10 January and on 16 September, in the new style, together with Anthimus and the others.