Saint Anthimus of Nicomedia

Anthimus came from Nicomedia and, thanks to his piety and teaching, the city's Christians persuaded him to become a priest and later their bishop.

During Diocletian's persecution in 303 the main church of Nicomedia was destroyed and persecution of Christians followed. According to tradition, Anthimus took refuge in the village of Omana, where he helped those being persecuted, and when soldiers arrived to search for him he first hosted them without revealing who he was, winning them over to the faith.

He was eventually arrested and, when he refused to sacrifice to the gods despite threats of torture, he was cruelly tortured and beheaded. Later sources place his martyrdom somewhat later, around 311-312, under the persecution of Maximinus.