Holy Martyrs
Martyrs of Persia under Shapur II
Many Christians put to death in the 4th century on the orders of King Shapur II for refusing to renounce Christ.
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Life
The Martyrs of Persia under Shapur II are the Christians put to death in the fourth century on the orders of the Persian king Shapur II (309-379), because they would not renounce their faith. Historical accounts indicate that about sixteen thousand Christians may have suffered in that time.
The deeds of many of them were written down in dozens of Persian martyr acts, preserved from the time of the Persian empire, above all from the reign of Shapur. Among the martyrs was Simeon bar Sabbae, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, who suffered in 341.
The martyrs are remembered together in the Roman and the Orthodox calendars. The Roman Martyrology gives the days 6 April, 22 April and 9 May for different groups of martyrs.