Martyr
Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica
† ок. 306
Also known as: Нестор Фессалоникийский, Мч. Нестор Солунский
A young Christian of Thessalonica and disciple of St Demetrius who, with his blessing, defeated the emperor's champion Lyaeus and was beheaded under Maximian.
The Martyr Nestor suffered in Thessalonica under Emperor Maximian Herculius at the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th century. He is mentioned in every version of the Passion of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica.
Maximian, a zealous pagan and persecutor of Christians, loved gladiatorial games and brought to Thessalonica an invincible giant named Lyaeus, who threw his defeated opponents from a high platform onto sharp stakes; Christians were often forced to fight him. The young Christian Nestor, a disciple of Demetrius, visited him in prison and asked for his prayers. Demetrius blessed him with the sign of the cross and foretold that he would defeat Lyaeus and suffer for Christ. Calling on "the God of Demetrius", Nestor threw the giant onto the stakes. The enraged emperor had Nestor beheaded at the Golden Gate of the city, and Demetrius was executed soon afterwards.
The Church commemorates Nestor on 27 October (9 November New Style), the day after the feast of St Demetrius.