Feast Day ~ February 9
The stories of the martyrs which we read about in the many lives of the saints and which we hear read from the Roman Martyrology at every Vespers service are usually stories of constancy and steadfastness. The martyr has most often been a faithful Christian who was arrested by the authorities during one of the persecutions before Christianity became a legal religion. The martyr is described as declaring his belief in Jesus Christ and refusing to worship the pagan gods, thus gaining the crown of martyrdom at his execution.
But there are a few stories of sudden martyrdom, when a person declared his beliefs at the very moment of decision or when a missionary’s efforts were met with violent hostility. There is an even more unusual story of martyrdom recorded in the stories of the saints from around the year 260.
Sapricius, a priest of the city of Antioch, was very good friends with a layman of the city, Nicephorus. They were as close as brothers and spent many pleasurable hours of conversation together. But some hurtful thing happened between them which spoiled their friendship. Whether it was a strong disagreement or some wrong done by one to the other is not known, but the result was that the two could no longer abide each other’s company. They avoided all contact and even refused to speak to one another when they passed on the streets.
Nicephorus could soon bear this no longer and, examining his conscience, he decided to take the full blame and beg his friend’s forgiveness. He first sent some mutual friends to intercede on his behalf, but Sapricius refused to relent. He stubbornly held on to his hurt feelings which had now grown to hatred. Nicephorus tried to visit his former friend to plead his case himself but Sapricius refused to see him.
The Emperor Valerian began a new persecution of Christians in the year 257, ordering first that the clergy were to offer incense to the Roman gods. The priest Sapricius refused to do this and was soon arrested and thrown into prison. Nicephorus was so concerned for his former friend that he redoubled his efforts at begging for forgiveness. The Emperor now ordered the execution of those clergy who had refused to worship idols and, after enduring severe torture, Sapricius was bound and marched through the city to the place of execution, Nicephorus followed him the whole way, all the time imploring him to forgive and restore their love before he became a martyr for Christ’s sake. But Sapricius turned his face away from Nicephorus and would not be moved by his pleas, even as he contemplated his own death.
The soldiers leading the priest through the streets were highly amused by this strange man, Nicephorus. They laughingly told him that he was a great fool for wasting time trying to make amends with someone who was about to die. What difference would it soon make?
After turning away from the commands of our Lord to forgive his brother – not once, but seventy times seven – Sapricius then committed the ultimate sin. When he saw the executioner’s sword, his fear of death overcame him and he said that he would offer incense to the pagan gods if the soldiers would spare him. Having first hardened his heart against his friend, he now hardened his heart against God.
Nicephorus’ anxiety was even greater now for his friend who was in sight of the crown of martyrdom. He pleaded with him to remain steadfast. When the priest walked away, having saved his own life and lost his soul, Nicephorus cried out to the soldiers: “I am a Christian. I will not deny Christ. Let me die in this man’s place.” The soldiers, just wishing to finish the job they had been given to do, led Nicephorus to the executioner and to a crown of glory in God’s eternal kingdom.
Following Christ faithfully is something we struggle to do every day, in all relationships, in all the events of our lives. If we hope to be faithful in times of real crisis or persecution, we must be willing to follow His commandments by forgiving those who have wronged us. May we follow the example of St. Nicephorus and may he intercede for us.