Nicanor (II)

Acts vi. 5, 6, &c.II. NICANOR, one of the seven first Deacons, who were appointed at Jerusalem¹ soon after the Descent of the Holy Ghost, upon occasion of the Division among the Believers into two Parties, those that spoke Greek, and those of Palestine, who spoke Hebrew or Syriac. The first complain’d that their Widows were neglected, in the Distribution of their daily Necessaries. To remedy this Evil the Apostles chose seven Persons, of the Number of which was Nicanor, to attend the Tables, and to make an equal Distribution of the daily Alms. Nothing particular is known of Nicanor. The Roman Martyrology says, that he obtained the Crown of Martyrdom the 10th of January, in the Island of Cyprus. The Greeks keep his Feast on the 27th of August, with that of the Saints Procorus, Timon, and Parmenas. Dorotheus says he was put to Death with many others the same Day as St. Stephen; which insinuates that he suffer’d Martyrdom at Jerusalem, and not in Cyprus. His Name is found in the Menæa on the 28th of December.

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