Gurias of Edessa

Holy Martyr Gurias of Edessa was, together with his friend Samonas, a preacher of the Word of God in the time of the persecution of Christians under Emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311). Both were seized in the city of Edessa. When asked to sacrifice to the gods, the saints refused firmly and confessed their faith in Christ. For this they were subjected to terrible torments: they were beaten, hung by the hands with a heavy weight tied to their feet, and thrown into a cramped prison. The martyrs endured all with firmness and prayer. At night they were taken outside the city and beheaded, and Christians buried their holy bodies.

Many years later the last pagan emperor, Licinius (311-324), began a persecution of Christians. The deacon of the church of Edessa, Abibus, whom the emperor had ordered seized for his zeal in spreading the true faith, came of his own accord to the executioners, so that other Christians might not suffer in the search for him. The saint confessed his faith in Christ and was sentenced to burning. The martyr walked into the fire himself and, praying, gave up his spirit to the Lord. When the fire had died down, the saint's mother and relatives found his body untouched. The martyr was buried beside Saints Gurias and Samonas.

After the death of the saints, many miracles were worked for those who called on them for help with faith and love. Thus, once, a Gothic soldier, sent to Edessa, married a pious girl, Euphemia. Before this he swore to her mother Sophia, at the tomb of the martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, that he would do his wife no harm, would never offend her, but would love and honour her. At the end of his service, he took Euphemia with him and returned to his homeland. It turned out that he had deceived her: there he already had a wife. Euphemia became his slave and endured many insults and humiliations. When a child was born to her, the jealous Gothic woman poisoned it. Euphemia prayed to the holy martyrs, witnesses of the deceiver's oath, and the Lord delivered her from her sufferings and miraculously carried her to Edessa, where she met her mother. After a time the oath-⁠breaker was sent again to Edessa. The whole city learned of his deed, exposed by Sophia, and by order of the governor the Goth was put to death.

The holy martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus are known among Orthodox Christians as protectors of marriage and the happy family, and they are prayed to by one whose husband hates his wife without cause. In Moscow, in the church of Saint John the Warrior in Babyegorodsky Lane on Yakimanka, there is a side chapel of these saints. They are commemorated on 28 November (new style).