Martyr Sarbelius (Sarvil, Phiphailos)

Martyr Sarvil, known in Slavic tradition also as Fifail or Fafuil, was the pagan high priest of the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia. Influenced by the preaching of Bishop Barsimaeus, he converted to Christ and openly, publicly renounced the idols, bringing down upon himself the fury of the city authorities and his former co-religionists. Seized and brought to trial, he was subjected to cruel torture (according to various versions of the vita, his body was sawn) for refusing to return to paganism. His own sister Fiveya (Vivea), also converted to Christianity, shared his fate: according to some sources she was executed separately; according to others she was seized for gathering her martyred brother's blood. Both suffered a martyr's death in the early 2nd century (the exact year is not established with certainty in the sources — the reigns of both Trajan and Hadrian are mentioned). The principal sources for the vita are the "Acts of Sarvil" and the "Martyrdom of Barsimaeus." Their memory is kept on September 5/18.

NOTE: the image derives from the Menologion of Emperor Basil II — a manuscript dated approximately c. 1000-1025 (Basil II reigned 976-1025); the "985" date given in the original caption is not the generally accepted art-historical dating.