The holy confessors were headed by Leontius, Mauricius, Daniel, Anthony and Alexander, and were distinguished by their virtuous life. The procurator of the Armenian district, Licius, before whom the holy confessors presented themselves, was amazed at the directness and bravery of those who voluntarily doomed themselves to torture and death. He tried to persuade them to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the saints remained steadfast. They refuted all the arguments of the governor, pointing out to him all the falseness of faith in the vile and vice-filled pagan gods, leading those that worship them to ruin. The procurator gave orders to beat the confessors about the face with stones, and then shackle and imprison them.

In prison the saints rejoiced and sang the Psalms of David. Saint Leontius was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

St Leontius inspired and encouraged the brethren, preparing them to accept new tortures for the true Faith, and telling them of the bravery of all those formerly that had suffered for Christ. In the morning, after repeated refusals to offer sacrifice to the idols, the saints were again given over to torture.

The procurator Licius, before whom the holy confessors appeared, was amazed at the bravery of those who voluntarily condemned themselves to torture and death. He tried to persuade them to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the saints remained steadfast. They refuted all the governor's arguments, pointing out to him the folly of believing in the vile pagan gods. The procurator ordered the confessors to be tortured and imprisoned.

In prison the saints rejoiced and sang the Psalms of David. St Leontius inspired and encouraged the brethren, telling them of the bravery of all those who had formerly suffered for Christ. In the morning, after repeatedly refusing to offer sacrifice to the idols, the saints were tortured again.

St Leontius, seeing the intense suffering of the martyrs and worrying that some of them might falter and lose faith, prayed to God that there might be a quick end of the matter for all. St Leontius saw the intense suffering of the martyrs and worried that some of them might falter and lose faith. Therefore, he prayed to God that their end would be swift.

Saint Mauricius was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

Saint Daniel was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

Saint Anthony was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

Saint Alexander was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

St Sisinius was one of the Forty-five Martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

Saint Meneus was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

Saint Belerad (Virilad) was one of the forty-five martyrs of Nicopolis, Armenia who suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty people appeared voluntarily before their persecutors, in order to confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom.

When the holy martyrs sang Psalms at midnight, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to them, and the prison blazed with light. The angel declared to the martyrs that their contest was near its end, and their names already were inscribed in Heaven. Two of the prison guards, Meneus and Virilad, saw what was happening and believed in Christ. On the following morning, the governor decided to put the martyrs of Christ to death. After beastly tortures they burned them in a fire, and threw their bones in a river. Pious people found the relics, gathered them up and saved them. Later on, when freedom had been bestown to the Church of Christ, a church was built on this spot in the name of the holy 45 Martyrs.