April 27
Antimium (†303)
confessor of faith
In the year 303, the imperial palace of Nicomedia, Türkiye, the city where Diocletian lived, was destroyed by fire.
Biography
It could be that the cause had been a poorly extinguished fire or the distraction of a cook, but public opinion did not allow the investigation. It was soon assumed that the Christians were the culprits and a horrible massacre was carried out with them. All those who did not flee perished, some burned alive on immense pyres, others thrown into the sea. The three soldiers sent to search for Bishop Antimio had never seen him. It was he who received them when they arrived at the farm where he was hiding. "You don't know Bishop Antimius," he told them, "but I do know him and I will hand him over to you right away. But to celebrate such a happy event, let's sit at the table and eat together," and he had them served a very copious meal. Then he took the road with them to Nicomedia where the authorities cut off his head.
Practical advice
Whenever you have the opportunity, prudently fulfill a responsibility that others have entrusted to you, doing everything for the love of God.