During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Licinius, who ruled the eastern part of the Byzantine Empire, Saint Leontius and several of his friends reported to the Armenian governor Lisinius in Nicopolis that they were Christians. After a long argument about religion, Lisinius beat them and threw them into prison, where they were not allowed to eat or drink. The Christian woman Vlasiana used to add water to them through the prison window. An angel of God also appeared to them in the dungeon, to comfort and strengthen them. When the trial was about to take place, two jailers came to Lisinius as converted Christians, as well as many others - a total of 45 of them. The judge sentenced them to death by first cutting off their hands and feet with an ax, and then throwing them into the fire. This sentence was carried out literally in 319.

Venerable Antonije of Kievo-Pecherski. The transmission of the honorable Riza of our Lord Jesus Christ.