Akepsius of Arbela

Saint Akepsius of Arbela was a priest and suffered together with the deacon Aithalas, in Persia. They are commemorated on 24 December.

Akepsius had at first been a pagan priest in the city of Arbela. Hearing of the faith of Christ, he resolved to go to a Christian bishop, hoping to be cured of an illness that had struck him. The bishop taught him the Christian faith and way of life and healed him by his prayers. After that he returned to Arbela, was ordained a priest and began to preach and teach his fellow citizens piety. The governor of the region summoned him, ordered his ear cut off and put him in prison.

The deacon Aithalas was seized for confessing Christ, cruelly beaten and sent by the chief of the pagan priests to Akepsius in prison. Both were brought again before the ruler of the country, confessed again their faith in Christ and were condemned to be beheaded.