Lazarus of Persia

Holy Martyr Lazarus of Persia was one of the martyrs Zanithas, Lazarus, Maruthas, Narses, Elias, Marinus, Abibus, Sivethius and Sabbas, found in prison in Persia, whom the brothers Jonah and Barachisius urged to remain steadfast in the faith. The Azbyka page honours them all together.

Jonah and Barachisius were Christian brothers from the village of Jasa in Persia, in the time of King Shapur (310-331), a cruel persecutor of Christians. Learning that Christians were being tormented in the city of Beth Lapat, they went there, found in prison the martyrs Zanithas, Lazarus, Maruthas, Narses, Elias, Marinus, Abibus, Sivethius and Sabbas and strengthened them to hold to the Christian faith to the end. The brothers were seized and brought to trial before the Persian princes Masdraph, Siroph and Marmisius, who began to force them to worship the sun, fire and water. The holy martyrs firmly confessed their faith in Christ and refused the pagans' demand, and so were subjected to cruel tortures.

Saint Jonah was the first to suffer: they tied him to a tree and beat him for a long time, then dragged him over the ice of a frozen lake, cut off the fingers of his hands and feet, cut out his tongue, flayed the skin of his head and at last sawed him in two and threw the body into a ditch. On the hands of Saint Barachisius they put chains heated red-⁠hot, poured molten tin into his nose, ears and mouth, tormented him bound to a turning wheel, and he gave up his spirit to God after boiling pitch was poured into his mouth. The bodies of the holy martyrs Jonah, Barachisius and the other sufferers were buried by a devout Christian named Audisot.

Saint Lazarus is commemorated on 10 April, in the new style. His name is not in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.