Saint Thebes was a deaconess in the church of Cenchrea, an eastern port of Corinth. She mainly helped women in the Christian community. Through her, the apostle Paul sent his message to the Roman Christians and recommended her as a devoted helper to many Christians and to himself. She is the first woman with such a ministry mentioned in the New Testament (Rom. 16:1-2).
Saint Antimus of Nicomedia lived in the second half of the 3rd century. He was a native of the city of Nicomedia in Asia Minor, which, as the capital of the Eastern Roman emperors, gave too many martyrs for the faith.
As a child Antim received a good Christian upbringing. And when he became a man, with his great virtues he attracted the attention of other Christians, who found him worthy of a priest and later a bishop.
But Antimus took over the management of the Nicomedia Church in a difficult time for Christians. Emperor Maximian lived in that city at that time. And when his opponents set fire to his palace, fanatical pagans blamed the Christians for it. A cruel persecution began against the Church. They captured and mercilessly killed Christians as dangerous enemies of the state. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, about 2,000 followers of Christ were burned in the city, a large number of Christians were thrown into prisons, tortured and killed.
In this dangerous time, by God’s suggestion, Bishop Antim moved away to a village, from where he ruled the diocese. He sent letters with which he comforted and strengthened the believers. He also wrote letters to the imprisoned Christians, but one of them was captured and handed over to Maximian. And he, enraged, sent 20 horsemen to find and bring Antimus. The bishop appeared before the persecutors, boldly confessed his faith and endured all the tortures with fortitude. Finally he was cut with a sword. This happened in 303.
Source: BTA, Prof. Ivan Zhelev
2023-09-03 07:06:05
#commemorate #saints
