In the great Antioch of Syria lived the presbyter Sapricius and the citizen Nikiphor, who were very close friends, but due to the envy of the devil, they fell into hatred towards each other. Nikiphor, realizing this, tried to reconcile with Sapricius, but he was unwilling to forgive. At that time, Sapricius was captured and brought before the governor, who commanded him to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. Sapricius, being a Christian, refused and bravely endured tortures, but at the moment of execution, under the pressure of hatred, he renounced Christ.
Nikiphor, seeing this, began to plead with Sapricius for forgiveness, and when he did not respond, he himself declared that he was a Christian and was ready to die in his place. The governor, learning about Nikiphor, ordered him to be beheaded. Saint Nikiphor accepted the martyr's death on February 9, rejoicing as he departed to Christ to receive the crown of victory.
