St. Benjamin
Benjamin the Deacon
Feast day: March 31
Birth: 329
Death: 424/421 on March 31
Yezdigerd (Isdegerdes), the king of Persia, put an end to the cruel persecution of Christians under his father Sapor (Shapur) II, and there followed 12 years of peace. Bishop Abdas then burned down the Pyraeum, or Temple of Fire, the chief object of worship of the Persians. The king threatened to destroy all Christian churches unless Abdas rebuilt it. The bishop refused, and the king put him to death and initiated a general persecution of Christians, which continued for forty years and intensified under his son Varanes. An account of the terrible cruelties was given by a contemporary, Theodoret .
Benjamin, a Persian deacon, was beaten and imprisoned for a year for preaching Christianity during the persecution. He was released at the request of the Emperor of Constantinople, who promised he would stop preaching to Varanes' courtiers. As soon as he was released, Benjamin again began proclaiming the Gospel, was arrested and tortured after he said that he would not be silent if again released.
At his trial, he asked the king what he would think of a subject who would renounce his allegiance and join in a war against him. The king ordered reeds thrust under his nails and into the most tender parts of his body and then withdrawn. After this was repeated several times, a knotted stake was inserted into his bowels to rend and tear him. He expired in terrible agony
Benjamin the Deacon
Feast day: March 31
Birth: 329
Death: 424/421 on March 31
Yezdigerd (Isdegerdes), the king of Persia, put an end to the cruel persecution of Christians under his father Sapor (Shapur) II, and there followed 12 years of peace. Bishop Abdas then burned down the Pyraeum, or Temple of Fire, the chief object of worship of the Persians. The king threatened to destroy all Christian churches unless Abdas rebuilt it. The bishop refused, and the king put him to death and initiated a general persecution of Christians, which continued for forty years and intensified under his son Varanes. An account of the terrible cruelties was given by a contemporary, Theodoret .
Benjamin, a Persian deacon, was beaten and imprisoned for a year for preaching Christianity during the persecution. He was released at the request of the Emperor of Constantinople, who promised he would stop preaching to Varanes' courtiers. As soon as he was released, Benjamin again began proclaiming the Gospel, was arrested and tortured after he said that he would not be silent if again released.
At his trial, he asked the king what he would think of a subject who would renounce his allegiance and join in a war against him. The king ordered reeds thrust under his nails and into the most tender parts of his body and then withdrawn. After this was repeated several times, a knotted stake was inserted into his bowels to rend and tear him. He expired in terrible agony
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