Day of Remembrance of the Martyr Nikander the Egyptian (28/03)

The memory of the holy martyr Nikander is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on March 28, new style. It is known that the holy martyr Nikander lived in the 3rd century and suffered in Egypt under Emperor Diocletian, who was known for his brutal persecution of Christians.

By vocation, Nikandr was a doctor and during persecution he visited prisoners in Christian prisons, provided them with free assistance, brought food, cared for the sick and infirm, and buried the dead.

One day he came to the place where the bodies of murdered Christian martyrs were thrown to be eaten by animals. Fearing to bury them during the day, Saint Nikander waited until nightfall and performed the burial ceremony under the cover of darkness.

Saint Nikander performed the ritual with all precautions so as not to be captured by the pagans, but... was noticed by some pagan. A denunciation immediately flew to Diocletian, and Saint Nicander was immediately captured and tortured.

Despite unprecedented torture, Saint Nikander did not renounce Christ, but, on the contrary, only by strengthening his faith in Christ, courageously and joyfully endured all the suffering he had suffered.

The life of Saint Nikander the Egyptian was cut short in 302.

604