Abdelas of Seleucia

Holy Hieromartyr Abdelas of Seleucia was a priest and a companion in suffering of Bishop Simeon of Seleucia-⁠Ctesiphon, in the persecution of the Persian king Shapur II (310-381). He is commemorated on 30 April, in the company of Simeon, Abdelas, Ananias and many others.

Bishop Simeon had been accused of ties with the Greek state and of acting against the king. In 344 a royal decree laid a heavy levy on the Christians. Some refused to pay it, the matter was called rebellion, and the king began a fierce persecution. Simeon was taken to trial in iron fetters, together with two priests, Abdelas and Ananias. The saint did not bow even before the king and confessed that he could not renounce his God. The king urged him to bow to the sun, threatening that otherwise he would destroy Christianity in the land. The saint remained unmoved and was led to prison.

The king later ordered all the Christians in the prison put to the sword before the bishop. They went without fear, blessed by Simeon, and bowed their own heads under the sword. Among the first to be beheaded was the priest Abdelas, the bishop's companion. When the turn of Ananias came, he trembled, and the official Pusicus, a secret Christian, encouraged him aloud and so gave himself away, suffering with his daughter, Askitreia. The last to be beheaded was Bishop Simeon, on 13 April 344. The executions continued all through Easter week, until 23 April, and the sources speak of a thousand martyrs, then a hundred more, and a hundred and fifty more.