Acepsimas, Joseph and Aeithalas

Holy Hieromartyrs Acepsimas, Joseph and Aeithalas were martyrs of early Christian Persia, in the fourth century. Acepsimas was bishop in the city of Nesson in Persia, Joseph a priest in Beth Katuba in Adiabene, and Aeithalas a deacon. The Orthodox Church commemorates them together on 3 November (16 November by the new calendar).

Acepsimas lived from his youth in fasting and prayer. He suffered in the eightieth year of his life, confessing the Christian faith. Some years before his suffering a prophecy about it appeared. One day when he was sitting in his house, a boy of his was filled with a prophetic spirit, kissed him on the head and told him that this head was blessed, for it would receive torment for Christ. He rejoiced at the prophecy and answered that it should be according to the boy's word. Beside him sat his dear friend Joseph, according to the Serbian source bishop of the nearby city of Beth Katuba. Hearing the boy's words, he smiled and asked him whether he knew anything about him too. The boy, inspired by God, answered that he would not see his city again, but would die on the road, in the village of Etradan. The prophecy was fulfilled in both bishops: one died on the road, in the village mentioned, and the head of Bishop Acepsimas was granted the crown of martyrdom. The Serbian source calls Joseph now a bishop, now a priest.

The pagan king of the Persians, Shapur II, launched a great persecution of the Christians. He sent to all corners of his land the command that all who confessed Christ be put to death. Without mercy an innumerable number of Christians was then killed in cities and villages. Many of those in the royal palaces also suffered, among them the eunuch Azades, the king's favourite. Learning of the death of his favourite, the king grieved greatly and stopped the general slaughter: he ordered that only the leaders and teachers of the Christian faith be punished with death. At that time the holy Bishop Acepsimas was put to death.

A little later the priest Joseph, seventy years old, and the deacon Aeithalas were seized. After they refused to offer sacrifice to the idol, they were, after tortures, put to death. According to the Russian source, Joseph, an old man of seventy, a priest in Beth Katuba, was stoned in the year 377, in the time of the Persian king Shapur II, together with Bishop Acepsimas and the deacon Aeithalas.