Zeno of Philadelphia

Holy Martyr Zeno of Philadelphia lived at the beginning of the fourth century and was a Christian rich not only in money but also in piety. He came from Philadelphia in Arabia, today Amman. His servant Zenas was bound to him more by brotherly love than by service.

Zeno, burning with the desire to give himself entirely to spreading the Gospel, shared his goods among the poor and freed all his slaves. Zenas refused to leave his former master and asked to stay with him; Zeno accepted him as a friend and brother in Christ. In the year 303 the prefect Maximus began a persecution of Christians in Philadelphia. Zeno appeared before him and tried to show him the futility of his struggle against Christian truth; the prefect beat him and imprisoned him. When Zenas learned of it he ran to the prefect and begged him to free his master, but he too was imprisoned. After a few days both were beheaded.

Saints Zeno and Zenas are commemorated on 22 June (new style).