Martyrs Nestor, Tribimius, and those with them

Commemorated on March 1.

The Holy Martyrs Nestor, Tribimius, Marcellus, and Anthony of Perge (Pérgē) in Pamphylia (Pamphylίa) 1 lived during the reign of the impious Emperor Decius. 2 As Christians, they fearlessly preached Christ, therefore the pagans denounced them to the governor of the region. The latter immediately sent a large detachment of soldiers with orders to arrest them and bring him before him for judgement. When the Holy Martyrs were brought to trial, the governor commanded that all the instruments of torture should be laid out before them in order to frighten them and force them to renounce their Christian Faith. But when they saw them, they cried out with a loud voice: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ" (Romans 8:35), and they did not cease to glorify the Lord.

Then the governor ordered them to be stripped naked and beaten mercilessly with dry ox sinews, after which they were suspended from a tree and their bodies were flayed until their entrails were exposed. Finally, convinced that the Saints were unshakable in their faith in Christ, the governor ordered the executioners to take them down from the tree. After they gave thanks to God, the Saints were beheaded. Thus these Holy Martyrs were executed and thereby inherited the Kingdom of Heaven.

1 The city of Perge was located in the region of Pamphylia, located in the southern part of Asia Minor on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. 1 The Roman Emperor Decius reigned from 249-251, and was a fierce persecutor of Christians.