Страдание тысячи святых мучеников и Азата

The saving day of Holy and Good Friday has arrived, when Christians, celebrating, glorified and thanked Christ, who endured redemptive suffering for our sake. On this day Bishop Simeon was captured and put to death. After this, starting from the day of Good Friday, for ten days they began to take and put to death all Christians 2554. At the same time, these holy martyrs, numbering a thousand people, were captured, and with them the eunuch 2555 Azat, who occupied a high position at the royal court and enjoyed the special love and respect of King Sapor. During interrogation, they all boldly confessed their faith in Christ and were immediately all executed for this 2556. Sapor was greatly upset by the death of Saint Azat. After his death, he issued an edict by which he forbade putting Christians to death, and this edict was in force for some time 2557. The Persian king Sapor II in 343 imposed a special edict on the Christians of his kingdom for their refusal to support the ancient religion of Zoroaster with large taxes compared to previous ones, and when they refused these taxes, he considered this an indignation and opened a cruel persecution first against the Christian clergy, and then against all Christians. Eunuch from Greek. language means "bed keeper." This was the name given to the special court officials who were in charge of the royal bedroom. Usually they were the closest persons to the king. The death of the holy martyrs falls on April 13–23, 344. It is known that the persecution of Christians in Persia continued until the end of the reign of Sapor, until 381. You might be interested in: