Michael of Armenia

Holy Martyr Michael of Armenia was abbot of Zobe Monastery near Sebastia in Armenia, and he died as a martyr with thirty-⁠six monks around the year 790.

They struggled there at the end of the eighth century, in the time of the Byzantine emperor Constantine VI and his mother, Empress Irene. When the land was invaded by the Hagarenes, that is the Saracens, the emir Alim seized the monastery and tried to persuade the monks to deny Christ and accept Islam. Strengthened from above, the holy fathers paid no heed to the words of the unbelievers. Standing among his monks, Michael encouraged them to face death courageously for Christ. First the monks were beheaded with swords, and then Michael was tortured and beheaded. So they all received crowns of glory from Christ.

They are commemorated on 1 October.