The Orthodox Church celebrates the day of St. Martyr Nicephorus today. People who bear his name - in ancient Greek "victor", celebrate a name day.
The Christian Nicephorus and the priest Saprikius lived in the city of Antioch. The two were friends, but enmity separated them. After some time, Nicephorus realized how wrong these feelings were and sought forgiveness from his most faithful comrade ever. But Saprikius did not want to forgive him, writes Offnews.bg.
Then hard times came for Christians, as the emperor launched serious persecutions. As a priest, Saprikius was one of the first to be captured. He was subjected to immense torture, but he never denied Jesus Christ. For this he was sentenced to death.
On the way to the execution, Nicephorus came out from under the crowd and again asked for forgiveness from Saprikius with all his heart. However, the priest did not flinch even before his death. The servants raised the axe over his head, and then Nicephorus asked the condemned man for the third time to reconcile. He refused again, but at the same moment he denied Christ, due to his fear of death. Then Nicephorus asked him why he denied the faith of God and shouted that he himself was also a Christian.
Thus Saprikius was released, and Nicephorus was beheaded. After his death on February 9, the Church declared him a saint.