Commemorated on September 3
He was born in Nicomedia, and was raised from childhood as a true Christian. “His body was mortified, his spirit humbled, his envy uprooted, his anger subdued, his sloth banished…He had love for all and peace with all; he was prudent with all, had zeal for the glory of God and was forthright with all.”
It is no wonder that a man with such virtues was appointed bishop. St. Anthimus governed as Bishop of Nicomedia during the cruel persecution of Christians under the villainous Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Streams of Christian blood were shed, especially in Nicomedia.
One year, on the Feast of Christ’s Nativity, twenty thousand martyrs were burned to death in one church (see December 28). This took place during the time of Anthimus’ episcopacy. Even so, the persecution did not end with this, but continued, and many Christians were cast into prison and kept there for torture and death.
St. Anthimus withdrew to the village of Semana, not because he was fleeing death, but in order to continue encouraging his flock in the feat of martyrdom, so that no one would fall away out of fear. One of his letters to the Christians in prison was intercepted and turned over to Emperor Maximian. The emperor dispatched twenty soldiers to find Anthimus and bring him to him.
The gray-haired and clairvoyant elder came out to meet the soldiers, brought them into his house and treated them as guests – and only then revealed that he was Anthimas, whom they were seeking.
The soldiers, astonished by Anthimus’ kindness suggested that he hide, saying they would tell the emperor that they could not find him. But Anthimus replied that he could not let himself transgress God’s commandment against falsehood to save his life, and he went with the soldiers.
Along the way, all the soldiers came to believe in Christ and were baptized by Anthimus. The emperor had Anthimus harshly tortured for a long time, and then had him beheaded with an axe. He glorified the Lord and went to rest at the beginning of the fourth century.
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 1
You protected your flock with your blood, / not fearing your adversaries. / Now you rejoice in heaven standing before the throne. / Glory to Christ who has strengthened you; / glory to your courage; / glory to your endurance, O holy Hieromartyr Anthimus!
Troparion — Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you became a successor to their throne. / Through the practice of virtue, / you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Anthimus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 4
Illustrious priest and steadfast martyr, / Anthimus, worthy of praise: / You assailed the worship of idols, / and championed your flock which fervently cries to you: / By your prayers deliver us from dangers!
Kontakion — Tone 4
Living honorably as a priest, / you completed the course of martyrdom; / you extinguished the worship of idols / and became a champion of your flock, divinely-wise one. / Therefore, we honor you, / mystically crying out: / “Through your prayers deliver us from calamity, ever-memorable Anthimus.”