Zanitas and Lazarus of Persia

Zanitas and Lazarus of Persia (died March 27, 326) were martyrs of the Christian church.[1][2]

They were monks.[3] With their companions Maruthas, Narses, Helias, Mares, Abibus, Sembeeth, and Sabas, were arrested and imprisoned at Bardiaboch,[4][5] during the persecutions of Persian king Shapur II. After being comforted and inspired by Jonas and Barachius, they withstood torture and were killed on March 27, 326.

In 339 Shapur II began the second and fiercest persecution of Christians in the Parthian kingdom. This persecution lasted for 40 years until Shapur died in 379 Historian Socrates records 16 thousand unnamed Christians killed at this time including 22 bishops and hundreds of clergy Traditions records that brothers Jonas and Barachisius heard about the persecution, went to Bardiaboch, where the 9 were awaiting execution. they visited the monks in jail on the eve of the execution and found they had been tortured. Jonas and Barachisius gave comforting words to the prisoners and were themselves executed days later. The 11 were buried by Habdisotes,[6] a notable Christian of that town.[7]

They are commemorated as pre-congregational saints in the Roman Catholic Church on March 27.[8]

References
  1. Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.
  2. Augustin Lubin, The maps are Roman festivals (Lambert, 1660) p354.
  3. The Ecclesiastical History of sozomenus.
  4. Bardiaboch is today a small village to the east of Dihok, Iraq north of Mosul.
  5. Verhaer Francis, John Molanus, Saints history Omnivm nationvm, Ordinvm And Temporvm, (John Vvilhelmvm Friessem, 1675) p 195.
  6. Possibly Isaiah, son of Hadaba in the hagiography of Lazarus.
  7. http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/zanitas
  8. Saint Lazarus of Bardiaboch.


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