August 22: Saint Agathonikos is celebratedtranslated

Today, August 22, the Church honors the memory of Saint Agathonikos and Saints Zoticus, Zenon, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severianus and other Martyrs who suffered with him. When Count Eutolmius was returning from his tour of Pontus, where he had gone to persecute Christians, he stopped at Karpi where he found Zoticus and killed him together with his disciples. There he learned that the prince of the city had been converted to Christianity by a certain Agathonikos. Then he arrested the prince and Agathonikos (who was from Nicomedia), and after punishing them together with other Christians, he then led them all to the king, who was in Thrace.

But on the road, near a village called Potamos, he killed Zenon, Theoprepius, Acindynus, and Severianus, because from the many wounds they had on their feet, they could no longer walk. When he arrived at the village of Ammus near Silyvria, by royal order he beheaded Agathonikos, the prince and the other Christians, just as he had them bound.

Thus, all followed the example of the slain Lamb, Christ, and they will be worthily numbered with those who will be "written in the Lamb's book of life"...