Baring-Gould’s sources: Greek Menssa and Menology, Arabic and Russian Kalendars. Modern Roman Martyrology. In introducing the names into the latter a slight inaccuracy crept in: Photius was called Photinus. Authority: — The Greek Acts, amplified or rewritten. J HOTIUS and Anicetus were two Christians of Nicomedia; Photius was the nephew of Anicetus. In 303, when Diocletian was at Nicomedia, he issued his proclamations against the Christians. In a loud voice Anicetus declared that he despised the threats of the emperor, and that nothing would make him abandon Christ.

Anicetus was at once arrested, and ordered to be thrown to a lion in the amphitheatre. But the savage beast, instead of devouring him, crept up to him, and licked his face. At this moment the young Photius, leaping over the barriers, ran across the arena, and kissed his uncle. The emperor ordered both to prison, and they remained incarcerated for three years, forgotten. In 305 Diocletian [Roman emperor 284–305, who began the ‘Great Persecution’ of Christians in 303] abdicated the purple, and retired into Dalmatia. Either just before he left Nicomedia, or after, under a governor especially bigoted against the Christians, Anicetus and Photius were drawn out of prison, and thrown into the furnace heating the public baths of Nicomedia.