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Thursday, November 12
Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite
Sinaxarion

Martyr

Pegasius of Persia

Christian of Persia, martyred for the faith of Christ.

Feast
November 2old style November 15
Era
unknown
Order
Martyrs

Life

Holy Martyr Pegasius of Persia was an official at the court of the Persian king Shapur II (310-381) and a secret Christian, together with Acindynus and Anempodistus. Aphthonius and Elpidephorus, who suffered in the same trial, are commemorated with them.

When the king began a persecution of the Christians, some envious people denounced them. Brought to judgment, Saints Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity without fear. The king ordered them beaten with whips; the tired executioners were replaced twice, but the martyrs uttered no cry. The king himself fainted from the strain and all thought him dead, until the saints called upon God and he recovered. He ascribed this to sorcery and ordered them hung above a fire, to be choked with smoke. By their prayers the fire went out and the ropes came apart, and they spoke to him of Christ, who works such wonders.

Enraged, the king blasphemed the Name of the Lord and the saints said that his mouth should fall silent; he lost his voice and was thrown into confusion. Saint Acindynus, moved by pity, released him in the Name of the Lord. But once again the king took it all for sorcery. He had them stretched on a grill of iron over a fire, but rain came down and put out the flames. Seeing these wonders, many believed in Christ. One of the executioners, Aphthonius, asked the saints' pardon publicly and went courageously to death for Christ. The official Elpidephorus and the king's mother also confessed the one true God.

The king ordered the martyrs killed, and as they were led outside the walls an immense crowd of Christians accompanied them, glorifying Christ. The soldiers cut down all of them, up to seven thousand, and among them Elpidephorus died. Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were burned the next day, together with the king's mother. The Christians who came quietly by night found the bodies of the saints untouched by the fire and buried them with honour.

St Pegasius is commemorated on 15 November, in the new style.

Commemorated the same day November 2