Akepsimas of Persia

The Holy Hieromartyrs Akepsimas of Persia, bishop, Joseph, presbyter, and Aeithalas, deacon, were the leaders of the Christian Church in the Persian city of Naesson and suffered in the time of King Shapur II.

The flock loved its bishop for his ascetic life and tireless pastoral work. Shapur ordered Christian clergy sought out and killed. Akepsimas was arrested, though he was already eighty years old, and brought to Arbela, before the judge Ardarkh, a pagan priest of the sun god. The old man refused to offer sacrifice to the Persian gods and was fiercely beaten and thrown into prison. The next day the priest Joseph, seventy years old, and the deacon Aeithalas were severely beaten and thrown into the same jail. For three years they were held in confinement, suffering hunger and thirst. When the king came to the temple of the god of fire, not far from Arbela, he wished to see the three martyrs. Exhausted and covered with festering wounds, they were brought before him. When asked to worship the pagan gods they refused, confessing their faith in Christ. The bishop was beheaded, and the priest and deacon were taken into the city to be stoned. Joseph's execution lasted several hours. A guard was set so that Christians could not take the martyr's body. On the fourth night a strong windstorm raged, lightning killed the guard, the wind tossed the stones about, and the body of Saint Joseph disappeared. Deacon Aeithalas was taken to the village of Patrias and stoned. Christians secretly buried his body. A tree grew on his grave, and its fruit brought healings.

The saints are commemorated on 3 November.