Azas of Persia

Saint Azas the Martyr, deacon of Persia, was a deacon and martyr of the fourth century. He came from the village of Vithikora (or Bethnyri). The Church commemorates him on 10 April, together with the priest James.

In the Persian Empire persecutions of the Christians took place in the reign of Shapur II the Great, who died in 379. In one of them, in the year 332, Azas and the priest James were denounced as Christians and examined before the chief magus Achosharganes (or Argochaigar). Because they remained faithful to the confession of Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to the gods of the Persians, the gods of the sun and of fire, they were first beaten harshly and then left naked through the night, in bitter cold. In the morning they were asked: “Do you at last renounce Jesus?” The martyrs answered: “We want to die for Him.” Then the ruler gave the order and they were beheaded. They were declared saints by the Church, and their commemoration is kept together on 10 April.