{"id":10436,"date":"2021-10-18T21:32:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T01:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10436"},"modified":"2021-10-18T21:32:27","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T01:32:27","slug":"st-peter-news-october-18-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-october-18-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News October 18, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
\nSixth Sunday of Luke<\/h2>\n

Great-Martyr Arethas (al-Haarith) and companions in Arabia, Martyr Sebastiana of Heraclea; Righteous Elesbaan, King of Ethiopia<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

Great-Martyr Arethas<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

These Martyrs contested for piety’s sake in the year 524 in Najran, a city of Arabia Felix (present-day Yemen). When Dhu Nuwas, ruler of the Himyarite tribe in south Arabia, and a Judaizer (convert to Judaism), took power over King Elesbaan of Ethiopia who ruled in that area, he sought to blot out Christianity, especially at Najran, a Christian city. Against the counsels of Arethas, Governor of Najran, the city surrendered to Dhu Nuwas, who immediately broke the word that he would come in peace which he had given and sought to compel the city to renounce Christ.<\/p>\n

The tyrant first wreaked his wrath on the holy bishop Paul, who had died two years before. He had his tomb opened and ordered his holy and much venerated relics to be burnt. He went on to burn all the priests, monks, nuns and clergy in the city, to the number of 477 persons. Then he beheaded 127 pious layfolk who offered their life to Christ.<\/p>\n

Then, led by Saint Arethas, 340 Christians were brought before the tyrant. Arethas had to be carried to the place of judgement, for so distressed was he at seeing in his old age such torments raining down upon his fellow-citizens, that his strength left him. Yet he still showed confidence and courage before the King, and meekly and calmly he encouraged his companions to reach perfection by way of martyrdom and to do so joyfully in the name of the Lord that they may enter into His joy in glory. The people wept at his speech and all embraced one another with tears, giving each other a holy kiss. Arethas was beheaded first, and after all the people anointed their foreheads with his blood, they met their death with joy.<\/p>\n

After the men had been slain, all the free-born Christian women of Najran were brought before the tyrant and commanded to abjure Christ or die; yet they rebuked the persecutor with such boldness that he said even the men had not insulted him so contemptuously. So great was their faith that not one woman was found to deny Christ in all Najran, although some of them suffered torments more bitter than most of the men.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Read more on the Mystagogy<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Services Next Week<\/h2>\n