Martyr Sarbelius of Edessa

Martyr Sarbelius (Sarvil) of Syria (Edessa) suffered in the early 2nd century (c. 101–115 AD) in the city of Edessa (Osroene, northern Syria) during the reign of Emperor Trajan. Before his conversion, Sarbelius was a pagan priest preparing to lead a great festival of idols. The bishop of Edessa, Varsimaeus, repeatedly came to him, urging him to abandon idolatry and warning him that he would answer to God for the many souls he had led astray. Moved by the bishop's words, Sarbelius came to believe in Christ and was baptized together with his sister Bebaia. When the regional governor learned of this, Sarbelius was arrested and subjected to severe torture: he was hoisted on the rack seven times, beaten with ox-sinews, scraped with iron claws, burned with candles, and finally had nails driven into his head before his skin was flayed. Seeing her brother's steadfastness, Bebaia openly confessed her own faith in Christ, for which she was seized, tortured, and beheaded; Sarbelius was then beheaded as well. The faithful secretly buried the martyrs' bodies in the tomb of Abshalama, Bishop of Edessa. His feast is kept on September 5/18.