The great friendship between the learned priest Sapricius and the simple citizen Nicephorus of Antioch somehow turned into hatred. The God-fearing Nicephorus over time tried to reconcile with the priest, but the latter stubbornly refused. Then the persecution of Christians began and Sapricius was sentenced to death. As he was being led to the execution site, Nicephorus walked with him and begged him to forgive him at least before his death. Sapricius would not even look back at him. Seeing the priest's proud heart, God did not accept his martyr's sacrifice. And at the last moment Sapricius denied Christ and worshiped idols. Nicephorus begged him not to do so, but in vain. Then Nicephorus cried out: “I am also a Christian, cut me off.” And so he suffered. This was in the year 260.

Holy Martyr Peter of Damascus.