Holy Martyrs Anicetas and Photius

Life

Emperor Diocletian once visited the city of Nicomedia with the evil intent of completely exterminating Christians there. And when he began mercilessly torturing and tormenting Christians, there appeared before him holy Anicetas, one of the city's leading men, who boldly confessed before the emperor his faith in Christ the Lord, God incarnate in the flesh for our salvation. Moreover, Anicetas denounced the idols as deaf and dumb stone, to which it is unworthy for a rational man to bow down. The enraged emperor ordered that his tongue be cut out. But Anicetas, by the power of God, continued to speak. Then they released a lion upon him, but the lion fawned about him. At that moment the temple of Hercules collapsed. Photius, a kinsman of Anicetas, seeing the miracles and the sufferings of Anicetas, kissed Anicetas, declared himself a Christian, and cried out to the emperor: "O idolater, be ashamed — your gods are nothingness!" The emperor ordered that he be immediately beheaded by the sword. But the executioner, having raised his hand against holy Photius, struck himself with the sword and died. After prolonged torments, they cast both of them into prison, where they languished for three years. Then they were brought out, an enormous furnace was heated, and they were thrown into the fire. Many other Christians — men, women, and children — voluntarily entered the fire with them. And from the fire there was heard the prayer of the Christians, giving thanks to God for a martyr's death. They all suffered around the year 305. Saints Anicetas and Photius are invoked in the prayers at the Anointing of the Sick and the Blessing of Water.

From the Hymn of Praise

People look at garments and face,But God looks at the soul and heart.Alexander the glorious was a charcoal-burner,A charcoal-burner's body is blackened with soot.