Kontakion in the First Tone Bound fast with chains of love, thou didst mightily sunder the wickedness of hatred with manifest courage, and hence, O Nicephorus, when the sword had cut off thy head, thou wast shown to be a godly Martyr of Jesus, our Incarnate Saviour; pray Him for us who honor thy glorious memory.

Nicephoros the Martyr of Antioch

Reading from the Synaxarion:

This Martyr, who was from Antioch in Syria, contested during the reign
of Gallienus, about the year 260. Through the working of the evil
one, his friendship with a certain Christian priest named Sapricius
was turned to bitter hatred. Nicephorus, repenting of his enmity,
tried both through intermediaries and in person to be reconciled with
Sapricius, but to no avail. Later, when the persecution broke out under
Valerian and Gallienus, Sapricius was seized as a Christian. When Saint
Nicephorus learned that Sapricius had been arrested by the pagans and was
enduring torments for Christ, he sent intermediaries to Sapricius, begging
his forgiveness; but Sapricius would not forgive him. Later, as
Sapricius was being taken to beheading, Nicephorus, hoping that Sapricius,
at his end, in such a holy hour, would at last forgive him, met him
on the way, fell before him, and fervently asked his forgiveness;
but Sapricius forgave him not. Wherefore, though Sapricius had
passed through many sufferings, and the crown of martyrdom was now
awaiting him, because he disdained the chief commandments of love and
forgiveness, the grace of God, which had been strengthening him in his
torments, departed from him, and he told his executioners he would
sacrifice. Nicephorus immediately confessed Christ before them, and being
himself beheaded, took the crown that Sapricius had cast away.

Should the Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple fall on
this day the service to Saint Nicephorus is chanted on the 8th.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the
prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal
God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants
and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ
God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.