{{Infobox saint | honorific_prefix = Saint | name = Agathonicus |image=Saint Agathonikos of Nikomedeia Mosaic Medallion, Chora.jpg| residence = Nicomedia, Roman Empire<br />(modern-day İzmit, Turkey) | venerated_in = {{unbulleted list|Catholic Church|Eastern Orthodox Church}} | feast_day = {{unbulleted list|August 21/22}} }}
'''Saint Agathonicus''' (Greek: Αγαθόνικος) was a 3rd-century citizen of Nicomedia.<ref name=orthodox>{{cite web|title=Lives of all saints commemorated on August 22|url=http://oca.org/FSLivesAllSaints.asp?M=8&D=22|publisher=Orthodox Church in America|accessdate=20 December 2012}}</ref> While living in Greece, he taught the Greeks about Christianity. Meanwhile, the imperial governor began persecuting Christians, following the orders of Emperor Maximian.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13692d.htm Pétridès, Sophrone. "Selymbria." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 19 Dec. 2012]</ref> In this persecution, Agathonicus' companion Zoticus was seized in Carpe, and his followers were crucified. He was sent to Nicomedia, where Agathonicus and his companions Princeps, Theoprepius, Acyndinus, Severian, Zeno, along with many others, were then taken to Byzantium.<ref name=brady>{{cite web|last=Brady|first=John|title=Orthodox Saints for August|url=http://abbamoses.com/months/august.html|work=God is Wonderful in His Works: Orthodox Resources|accessdate=20 December 2012|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103055408/http://www.abbamoses.com/months/august.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On this journey, many of the companions died from exhaustion and abuse, and the others were killed in Chalcedon. The survivors were taken to Thrace in Selymbria, where, after being tortured in front of the Greek Emperor, were beheaded.
Their feast day is August 21 in the Catholic<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roman Martyrology 2004 (August) |url=https://gcatholic.org/saints/data/martyrology2004-8c.htm |access-date=2026-01-28 |website=gcatholic.org}}</ref> and August 22 Eastern Orthodox Churches.
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:3rd-century Christian saints Category:Saints from Roman Anatolia