The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Anthimus of Nicomedia

d. AD 303 (beheaded) · Bishop of Nicomedia · Martyr of the first edicts · Nicomedia

The Ante-Nicene Church

Who Anthimus of Nicomedia was

Bishop of the imperial capital when the Great Persecution broke out at his door — beheaded in its first wave, with a multitude of his flock burned or drowned in the purge that followed the palace fires.

Verified single attestation

Eusebius only (HE VIII.6, VIII.13); Lactantius leaves the Nicomedian clergy unnamed.

Also listed in martyrs, bishops beyond the great sees and the great persecution.

Common questions

When did Anthimus die?

Anthimus of Nicomedia is dated d. AD 303 (beheaded) in the archive, which places Anthimus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).

Which early sources mention Anthimus?

Anthimus of Nicomedia is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Anthimus from?

The archive associates Anthimus of Nicomedia with Nicomedia.

Who were Anthimus’ contemporaries?

The archive links Anthimus of Nicomedia to 3 other figures, including Emperor Diocletian, Lucian of Antioch and Dorotheus the Chamberlain. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (1)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Ecclesiastical History VIII.6

c. AD 325
Anthimus, who then presided over the church in Nicomedia, was beheaded; and with him a great multitude… whole families and multitudes were slain, some by the sword, some perfected by fire.
Eusebius of Caesarea · VIII.6 · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The one place the sources put Anthimus.

  1. 1Nicomedia

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