Martyrs The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

Nicomedia was the imperial residence of Emperor Diocletian and his co-emperor and fellow persecutor Galerius. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, approximately 20,000 Christians and catechumens gathered in Nicomedia's cathedral church. When the emperor learned of the assembly, he sent a herald ordering everyone to leave and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, threatening otherwise to burn the church down with the worshippers inside. All 20,000 who remained perished in the fire.

Tradition holds the building burned for five days, and when people later entered the smoking ruins, they reported a radiant light and fragrance rather than the smell of burnt flesh — taken as a sign of the martyrs' glorification. Among those commemorated by name alongside the group are Glycerius, Zeno, Theophilus, Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Indes, Gorgonius, Peter, Euthymius, Agathia, Domna, Theophila, and Antonina.

Their feast is kept on December 28/January 10.