When Emperor Diocletian came to Nicomedia to exterminate the Christians, Anicita, one of the mayors, came before him, confessed his faith in Christ and denounced the idols. The enraged emperor ordered his tongue to be cut out, but Anicita, by the power of God, continued to speak. After that, the temple of Hercules was destroyed. Seeing all this, Anicita's relative Photius approached him, kissed him and declared himself a Christian. The emperor ordered him to be beheaded immediately, but the executioner, raising his hand against Photius, stabbed himself with a sword. They spent 3 years in prison, and then they were thrown into a huge fiery furnace. Many other Christians voluntarily entered the furnace with them. They suffered around 305. They are invoked in prayers during the consecration of oil and water.

Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Koman. Assumption Fast.