Holy Martyrs: Sixty-two Presbyters and Three Hundred Laymen Slain by the Arians in Africa (+477)

The holy Martyrs, sixty-two presbyters and three hundred laymen, suffered in Africa in 477. In the reign of the Emperor Zeno (475–491), Huneric (477–484), ruler of the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, with the support and encouragement of Arian bishops, began to persecute the Orthodox. When the believers had gathered in one of the churches to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in secret, barbarian horsemen fell upon them. Some of the worshippers saved themselves by flight, but three hundred Christians, firmer in the true faith, gave themselves up to the enemy of their own will. The godless first tortured them and then beheaded them. Of the sixty-two presbyters two were burned, and the others had their tongues cut out; but by God’s grace they still went on preaching and exposing the false teaching of the Arians.