During the reign of King Valens, the Arians persecuted and oppressed the Christians of Constantinople, exiling Bishop Evagrius and subjecting the faithful to severe hardships. In response, eighty worthy men, led by Urbanus, Theodore, and Medimnus, traveled to Nicomedia and appeared before the emperor, seeking his protection.
Filled with anger, Valens deceived them by sending them to the prefect Modestus with orders for their execution. Fearing the outrage of the people, the prefect placed them aboard a ship and, while pretending to send them into exile, secretly ordered that they be burned alive while still at sea.
The smoke rising from the burning ship resembled incense ascending to heaven, bearing the souls of the saints into the heavenly Kingdom of the Lord. Their martyrdom took place in 370 A.D.
