As bishop of Magydus, in the Roman province Pamphylia (now Turkey), Nestor was forced to deal with an edict from Emperor Decius, requiring all citizens to sacrifice to Roman gods and produce a certificate to that effect or suffer imprisonment and torture. Many Christians turned to pagan ways to save themselves, but Nestor would not, though he did send many of people into hiding. After his arrest, he was tortured by order of the governor, who hoped to curry the emperor’s favor. When Nestor told his torturers he would be ever with Christ, they crucified him. According to tradition, pagans and Christians knelt together in prayer during his martyrdom.
