Manuel

Holy Martyr Manuel was one of three Persian brothers, Manuel, Sabel and Ismael, put to death for faith in Christ in the year 362 at Chalcedon, in the time of Emperor Julian the Apostate. They are commemorated on 17 June (new style).

The brothers were of noble Persian stock: the father was a pagan, the mother a Christian, and she baptized them and raised them in the faith. Having become soldiers, they were sent by the Persian king Alamundar as envoys to make peace with Julian. Julian received them with honour, but when they refused to take part in a pagan sacrifice, he shut them up as criminals, breaking the law of envoys. Seeing the firmness of their faith, he subjected them to cruel tortures: they were hung, nailed by hands and feet, nails were driven into their heads and sharp splinters under their nails. Throughout the tortures they glorified God. In the end their heads were cut off with the sword. Julian ordered the bodies burned, but an earthquake opened the earth and received them; after two days, at the prayer of the Christians, the earth gave them back, fragrant. Many pagans, seeing the wonder, believed in Christ. Their relics worked miracles.