St. Theopemptus was the

Bishop of Nicomedia The Metropolis of Nicomedia ( el, Μητρόπολις Νικομηδείας) was an ecclesiastical territory (metropolis) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in northwestern Asia Minor, modern Turkey. Christianity spread in Nicomedia ...

and a

Hieromartyr In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, a hieromartyr is a martyr (one who dies for his beliefs) who was a bishop or priest. Analogously, a monk who is a priest is known as a hieromonk. See also *New Martyr The title of New Martyr or Neomartyr ( el ...

, under the rule of

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

. He is known for being one of the first victims of

religious persecution Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or a group of individuals as a response to their religion, religious beliefs or affiliations or their irreligion, lack thereof. The tendency of societies or groups within soc ...

. He is said to have refused to obey the emperor's order to worship an idol of

Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...

. He was punished by being thrown into a fiery

furnace A furnace is a structure in which heat is produced with the help of combustion. Furnace may also refer to: Appliances Buildings * Furnace (central heating): a furnace , or a heater or boiler , used to generate heat for buildings * Boiler, used t ...

, in a manner similar to the story of

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hebrew names Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are figures from the biblical Book of Daniel, primarily chapter 3. In the narrative, the three Hebrew men are thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King o ...

. But, by the power of God, he was kept alive. The emperor came and checked the furnace at night, and he saw Theopemptus alive and praying.

claimed the miracle was because of magic. He deprived Theopemptus of food and drink for twenty-two days, but, by another miracle of God, he was kept alive and healthy. The emperor called upon the renowned sorcerer Theonas to overcome Theopemptus's 'mystical powers'. Theonas tried several times to poison Theopemptus, but each time the poison left him unharmed. Upon seeing that Theopemptus was still healthy, Theonas converted to Christianity, and was imprisoned together with Theopemptus, who proceeded to baptize and instruct him in the ways of Christ. Theopemptus changed Theonas's name to Synesios. Diocletian tried again to convert Theopemptus to paganism. Upon seeing that he would not convert, the emperor tortured and beheaded him. Theonas, likewise, refused to worship idols and was buried alive in a deep ditch.

References

External links

*{{cite web, url=http://www.oca.org/FSLivesAllSaints.asp?SID=4&M=1&D=5, title=Lives of all saints commemorated on January 5, website=Oca.org, accessdate=19 April 2018 3rd-century births 4th-century deaths 3rd-century bishops in Roman Anatolia 4th-century bishops in Roman Anatolia 4th-century Christian martyrs People executed by the Roman Empire 4th-century executions Christian martyrs executed by decapitation Bishops of Nicomedia