Martyrs of Samosata

The holy martyrs of Samosata were seven Christians executed in the year 297 at Samosata (today in Turkey) because they would not take part in a pagan festival. The Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates them on 29 January by the old calendar, which is 11 February by the new.

The seven, Abibus (Habib), Hyperichius, Jacob, Paragnus, Philotheus, Romanus and Julian, refused to take part in the pagan festival in honour of the victory of the emperor Maximian over the Persians. For this they were put to death.

Philotheus and Hyperichius were nobles, and the others were young men of noble family. The pagans killed them by a terrible death, driving nails into the head of each. They suffered honourably and entered eternal joy.

Other lists give other days of commemoration: 9 December, 26 October and 27 October (in the Armenian Church).