When Maximian returned victorious from the war with the Ethiopians and wished to offer thanksgiving sacrifices to the idols, he sent an order everywhere for the people to gather in Nicodemus to worship the pagan gods.
Antimus, bishop of Nicomedia, having heard of this order, gathered all the Christians in the church and all night, against the Nativity of Christ, served an all-night vigil and the Holy Liturgy and taught the people the faith of Christ.
Upon learning this, Maximian ordered that dry sticks and bushes be piled up from all sides around the great church and, setting them on fire, to burn all the Christians who were inside. As soon as this became known to the bishop, he hastened to baptize the announced ones and, having concluded the Divine Liturgy, he communed with the Holy Mysteries of all the Christians.
This happened in the year 302. With this terrible event, the crown of the most cruel persecution against Christians was placed, which lasted ten years and ended with the accession of Emperor Constantine.