20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia
Encyclopedia
The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia allegedly died in Nicomedia
in Bithynia
during the rule of Emperors Diocletian
and Maximian
in the early fourth century. However, the persecution by Maximian and Diocletian lasted only between 303 and 305 (at which point Diocletian retired); this would require at least 200 martyrdoms every week.
A number of those executed, men, women, and children died by capital punishment
, while others were burned alive according to accounts.
These saint
s of the early Church
are commemorated 28 December in the Eastern Orthodox Church
, and by the Byzantine Catholic and Latin Rite Catholic Churches.
Nicomedia
Nicomedia was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus . After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most...
in Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
during the rule of Emperors Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
and Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
in the early fourth century. However, the persecution by Maximian and Diocletian lasted only between 303 and 305 (at which point Diocletian retired); this would require at least 200 martyrdoms every week.
A number of those executed, men, women, and children died by capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, while others were burned alive according to accounts.
These saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s of the early Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
are commemorated 28 December in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
, and by the Byzantine Catholic and Latin Rite Catholic Churches.