Acta Sanctorum

Nikanor

10 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
St. Nicanor, one of the original seven deacons of the apostolic church, venerated as a martyr in Cyprus. According to Galesinius, he preached the Gospel on Cyprus and was martyred under Emperor Vespasian around A.D. 76. The commentary discusses his feast days among Greeks and Latins and evaluates the dubious claim that he died alongside St. Stephen. 1st century

ON ST. NICANOR, MARTYR, ONE OF THE FIRST SEVEN DEACONS.

A.D. 76

Commentary

Nicanor, Martyr in Cyprus, one of the first seven Deacons (S.)

From manuscripts.

[1] In Cyprus, the feast day of Blessed Nicanor the Deacon, one of the first seven, is celebrated on January 10. He was admirable in the grace of faith and in virtue, and was most gloriously crowned. So report Usuard, Bellinus, the Roman Martyrology, Maurolycus, and others. The feast of St. Nicanor. Ado, Notker, and certain manuscripts add that he was reverently buried there. Galesinius writes: "In Cyprus, St. Nicanor, who, being one of those first seven Deacons, after preaching the Gospel on that island, was afflicted with many torments of various kinds on account of his faith in Jesus Christ under Emperor Vespasian, and received the crown of martyrdom." A manuscript Florarium states that he won the palm of martyrdom in the year of Christ 76, which was the seventh of Vespasian. Bede, the ancient Roman Martyrology, the German Martyrology, and others commemorate him on this day, as does Petrus de Natalis, book 2, chapter 62.

[2] Whether he was killed together with St. Stephen. It is paradoxical what the author of the booklet On the Seventy-Two Disciples, falsely attributed to St. Dorotheus, writes about him: "Nicanor, himself also one of the seven, died on the same day as his fellow deacon and protomartyr Stephen, along with two thousand others who believed in Christ." But the credibility of this author is doubtful in other matters as well; nor is it plausible that St. Luke would have passed over this in the Acts of the Apostles, who nevertheless testifies in chapter 8 that a great persecution arose against the Church, in which doubtless many were crowned with martyrdom.

[3] Venerated by the Greeks on July 28 and December 28. The Greeks on July 28 venerate the holy Apostles Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas in a single solemnity. The Menologion edited by Canisius reads: "The feast of the Blessed Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas. These, being from the number of the Holy Apostles, suffered persecution at the hands of the impious in various places on account of the preaching of the Christian faith, because they confessed that Christ the Lord was the Son of God and perfect man, and attained the crown of martyrdom." The Anthologion approved by Clement VIII and the Menaea contain nearly the same account. The Greek Horologion and Calendar, edited by Genebrard, state more briefly: "Of the Holy Apostles and Deacons Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas." The Latins celebrate St. Parmenas on January 23, killed at Philippi; Prochorus at Antioch on April 9; Timon at Corinth on the 19th of the same month.

[4] The same Menaea for December 28 contain the following: "On the same day, St. Nicanor the Apostle departed in peace." Lest this seem to contradict what has been said above, it should be noted that "to depart in peace" here means the same as to die piously and holily, whatever the manner of death may have been -- unless perhaps the reference is to some other Nicanor unknown to us.