45 Martyrs of Nicopolis commemorated on July 10

The Orthodox Church marks July 10 each year to honour the 45 martyrs of Nicopolis in historic Armenia. According to tradition, the Christians were arrested during the reign of Roman emperor Licinius (308‑321) for refusing to worship pagan deities. They endured severe torture, had their hands and feet cut off, and were thrown into a fire—some dying while still alive. After the persecution ended, believers recovered their relics and erected a church in their memory.

The commemoration appears in the calendars of several rites—Orthodox, Greek‑Catholic and Roman‑Catholic—and is observed in churches across Romania, Greece, Spain, France and other Orthodox‑affiliated communities. The liturgical texts recall their steadfast faith and the miracles reported during their imprisonment, emphasizing unity and perseverance in belief.