Orthodox believers celebrate August 25 the memory of the martyr Anikita and the martyr Photiuswho were related to each other – uncle and nephew.

Anikita, occupying a high position of a dignitary in the military service, exposed the emperor Diocletian. The latter placed various tools for torture, intimidation and execution of Christians in the city square. The enraged emperor ordered Anikita to be captured and tortured. Many tortures befell him: physical torment, meeting with wild beasts, wheeling, burning with fire, etc. Each time the saint remained unharmed, his executioners fell unconscious, and once a strong earthquake occurred, which buried many pagans under the city wall.

Nephew Photius always supported his uncle. He once told Diocletian that his gods were nothing. For this, he and Anikita were thrown into prison. A few days later, the king begged the martyrs to renounce their faith for the sake of the promised wealth, but even this did not change the minds of the saints. Because of the refusal, Anikita and Photiya continued to torture, tied to horses, closed in a hot bath. The last test was a huge furnace, into which entered not only Anikita and Photius, but also many Christians who were inspired by the deeds and steadfast faith of the martyrs. All of them died praying to the Creator, the bodies of the uncle and nephew were not harmed in the fire, even their hair remained intact. Many pagans, seeing this miracle, came to Christ.