Commemorated on October 24

Arethus lived in the Christian city of Najran in Arabia. He was of important status and monitored the city as well as the Christian faith. Arethus was 95 years of age and a kind man who guided those toward the proper path.

Najran held the old traditions of the Christian faith, and Saint Constantine the Great’s son, Constantius, gave money to this village and helped grow the Christian faith.

The King of Arabia, Dunaan, at this time was Jewish and did not want any Arabian land to be Christian. He set a law that if anyone followed Christ they would be killed.

Those in Nejran remained loyal to Christ and did not denounce their faith. The King, Dunaan, came to Nejran with a large portion of his army planning to bring the city to ruins.

When he approached the gates, he made known that anyone who denounced Christ and spoke against the cross, claiming it to be “a sign evil”, would be spared.

As Dunaan tried to get into Nejran, the villagers of Nejran professed their love of Christ and said to him they would never change their faith. He could not break down their fortress and began thinking of a different way to get inside.

Dunaan knew it would be hard to change the minds of these citizens, so he tricked those guarding the gate by proposing a compromise.He spoke to them kindly saying a that he admired their faith to Christ. He promised, under the providence of the Jewish God, he would bring no harm to the people of Nejran.

The guards trusted his word, and let him in. King Dunaan then had a meal with Arethas and a few other important men. He complimented then highly on their devotion to Christianity and even said he may too become Christian.

Arethas and his men were surprised, as this man had a wicked heart before and they thought maybe this was a miracle of God.He proposed that he would allow them to remain Christians as long as the citizens of Nejran paid a fee. Then he invited them to his home to celebrate in honor of the agreement.

When Arethas and the others arrived at Dunaan’s home, they sensed something bad was to come. The King immediately had them captured and imprisoned them.

The next day, he led his army of 12,000 back to Nejran and he commanded that his soldiers start a great fire, as a method of fearing the citizens. He also had his soldiers use other methods of killing.  From this, 477 of those he murdered were nuns, monks and clergy. He additionally killed 127 civilians.  

 Then Arethas and 300 other men were brought before the king. Dunaan asked again what Arethas had to say. Even in his old age, Arethas spoke calmly and boldly, professing that none of the citizens were going to change their faith as they all stand by Christ, the one True God.

Arethas also spoke to those with him and encouraged them saying, “Be brave, to die for Christ is an honor!” He then ordered that Arethus and all who were with him to be killed by the river nearby. After the soldiers brutally murdered them with swords, the river’s waters ran red.  

Dunaan then went around the Najran and spoke with the remaining citizens telling them that he did not wish for them to worship idols, or denounce God. The only thing he asked was that the citizens do not worship Jesus Christ. Dunaan believed Christ was merely a man, and not God.

The citizens of Negran were firm in their faith claiming that Christ was God, as he was the second part of the trinity and born of the Blessed virgin, the Theotokos, and was incarnate and became man. They spoke boldly saying “To die for Christ, is to gain everlasting life. “

Then Dunaan ordered that they all be put to death. In total, 4,299 men, women and children of all ages were killed.The river which Arethus and his men were killed healed many of illness for years to come.

We honor them today for their strength and loyalty to Christ!

Glory be unto God!!

Troparion & Kontakion

Troparion — Tone 1

Through the sufferings which Your holy martyrs Arethas and his companions / endured for Your sake, O Lord, / we beseech You, O Lover of mankind: / heal all of our infirmities.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Today the radiant feast of the passion-bearers Arethas and his companions / comes to us as a herald of joy; / as we celebrate it we glorify the Lord on high.