Samonas of Edessa

Holy Martyr Samonas of Edessa suffered together with his friend Gurias in the time of the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311), and after them the deacon Abibus suffered, under Licinius. The three are venerated as protectors of marriage and the happy family.

Gurias and Samonas, two Christian friends, preachers of the Word of God, were seized at Edessa. When asked to sacrifice to the gods, they firmly refused and confessed Christ. They were subjected to cruel torments: beaten, hung by the hands with weights tied to their feet, thrown into a narrow prison. They bore everything with firmness and prayer. At night they were taken outside the city and beheaded, and the Christians buried their bodies. Many years later, the last pagan emperor, Licinius (311-324), began a persecution. The deacon of the church of Edessa, Abibus, whom the emperor had ordered seized for his zeal in spreading the true faith, came of his own will to the executioners, so that other Christians would not suffer in the search for him. He confessed Christ and was condemned to burning; the martyr entered the fire himself and gave his spirit to the Lord, praying. After the fire went out, his mother and relatives found the body whole, unharmed, and buried it beside the Holy Gurias and Samonas.

After their death many miracles took place for those who called on them for help with faith and love. Thus a Gothic soldier, sent to Edessa, married a pious maiden, Euphemia; before that he had sworn to her mother, Sophia, at the tomb of the martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, that he would do his wife no harm, never insult her, but love and honour her. At the end of his service he took Euphemia with him to his homeland, but he deceived her: at home he had a wife. Euphemia became his slave and endured many mockeries. When a child was born to her, the jealous Gothic wife poisoned it. Euphemia prayed to the holy martyrs, witnesses of the oath, and the Lord delivered her from her sufferings and carried her by miracle to Edessa, where she met her mother. After a time, the oath-⁠breaker was again sent to Edessa; the whole city learned of his deed, exposed by Sophia, and by the governor's order the Goth was executed.

The holy martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus are known among Orthodox Christians as protectors of marriage and the family, and prayer is made to them by those whose husband has hated his wife without cause. In Moscow, in the church of St John the Warrior in Babyegorodsky Lane, on Yakimanka, there is a side chapel of these saints.

St Samonas is commemorated on 28 November, in the new style.