Hieromartyr Theopemptus, Bishop of Nicomedia

Hieromartyr Theopemptus was bishop of Nicomedia during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, openly opposing idolatry and refusing to sacrifice to Apollo at the emperor's demand.

He was thrown into a heated furnace but emerged unharmed by the power of God; that night Diocletian himself personally checked the furnace and found the bishop alive and praying. Attributing this to sorcery, the emperor had him starved and deprived of water for 22 days — and again he survived. A renowned sorcerer, Theona, was then summoned to "break the spell" on the bishop: he prepared poisoned bread, then a stronger poison, but Theopemptus ate both unharmed, at which Theona himself came to believe in Christ.

Imprisoned together with the bishop, Theona was catechized and baptized by him with the name Synesius ("the wise"). The next morning Diocletian again pressed Theopemptus to recant; upon his refusal, he subjected him to new severe tortures, after which the bishop was beheaded.

His feast is kept on January 5/18, on the eve of Theophany.