26 Martyrs in the Crimea

The 26 Martyrs in the Crimea, also called the Gothic martyrs, were Christians who suffered martyrdom in the Crimea in the second half of the fourth century. The source says they were Arians. They are remembered on 26 March.

In the fourth century some Goths began to convert to Christianity; King Athanaric, as his father before him, persecuted Christians, regardless of their teaching (there were, besides the Orthodox, also Audians and Arians, the latter thanks to the preaching of Ulfilas). The martyrs of this group were Arians. According to the hagiographies, Athanaric delegated the persecution to a general named Winguric (or Jungerich); he had a pagan statue placed on a cart and drawn between the tents the Christians used for their services; those who worshipped the idol were spared, and the others were burned alive in the tents. So three hundred and eight people perished, of whom the names of twenty-⁠six have come down to us: two priests, Bercus (Werkas) and Bathusius (Bathouses); one monk, Arpilus (Arpulas); eleven laymen, Abibus (Abippas), Agnus (Hagias), Reasus (Rhyias), Igathrax (Egathrax), Iscoeus (Iskous, Eskoes), Silas, Signicus (Sigetzas), Sonirilus (Swerilas), Suimbalus (Swemblas), Thermus (Therthas) and Phillus (Philgas); and laywomen, Anna, Alla (Alas), Larissa (Baren, Beride), Monco (Manca, Moiko), Uirko (Virko, Weko) and Animais (Animaida, Anemais). The names in the list are in part Gothic, in part Phrygian, Syriac and Cappadocian.

Later, in the time of Valentinian II and Theodosius (383 to 392), Gaatha, widow of another officer, a comrade of Winguric, gathered the relics of these martyrs and, accompanied by her daughter Dulcilla (Duklida) and a layman named Wella (Thyellas), took them to Cyzicus. Leaving Duklida there, Gaatha returned to Gothia; according to some sources, Wella was stoned there, while according to others those who suffered this martyrdom were Gaatha and her son Agathon.