Zeno and Zenas

Holy Martyrs Zeno and Zenas were killed in the year 304. Zeno was a Roman officer in the city of Philadelphia of Arabia, and Zenas was his servant. When the persecution of Christians began in the time of the Emperor Maximian, Saint Zeno appeared before the commander Maximus, confessed his faith in Jesus Christ and advised Maximus to accept Christianity too. For this the commander grew angry and threw Zeno into prison. When Zenas visited his master in prison, he too was seized and arrested. Then both were tortured for faith in Jesus Christ and finally thrown into a fire over which the pagans poured oil. Their remains were gathered by Christians. The Serbian Church commemorates them on 22 June by the old calendar (5 July by the new).