Augustine Sokolovski
In the Great Persecution of the Emperor Diocletian suffered many Christians. Among the martyrs of this persecution there are many well-known and revered names. Quite a lot of martyrs suffered in the city of Nicomedia, modern Turkish Izmit, in the historical region of Bithynia, in Asia Minor. In Orthodox liturgical calendars they are called: “Martyrs of Nicomedia.” They are commemorated on different days throughout the year. Each time these are special groups of saints.
At the turn of the 3rd–4th centuries, Nicomedia was the capital of the Roman Empire, since the emperor often stayed there. That was the rule. Therefore, both he and his court sought to deal a crushing blow to the Christians exactly in the capital. The persecution was supposed to be sudden, the executions were cruel, and the massive scale of bloodshed was intended to be frightening.
First, Bishop Theopemptus, Theonas, a former sorcerer who converted to faith at the sight of his perseverance in torment, four royal dignitaries, and their guard Peter, were killed; Along with the dignitaries were executed their wives.
At the sight of such a great suffering, the servants and household members of these new Christian martyrs not only did not rush to flee, and this was, apparently, the calculation of the pagans, but they themselves came to their executioners in the desire to suffer for Christ. The confession of faith of the holy martyrs has been preserved: “We are Christians and desire, together with our masters, who commanded us in this life, to receive an incorruptible crown in the future life.”
Recent Bolshevik persecutions, as well as literary evidence about it, have preserved the memory of the treacherous betrayal of servants, who in large numbers betrayed their superiors. The example of the holy ancient martyrs teaches us to truly love and appreciate our superiors, especially when they are believing Orthodox Christians, and to believe in retribution and eternal life truly, and not superficially, to really believe, like little children believe our adult words.