Martyr Тарах Аназарвский

Saint Tarachus of Anazarbus (d. 304) was one of the Three Martyrs of Cilicia, who suffered together with Saints Probus and Andronicus under Emperor Diocletian. Tarachus, a native of Claudiopolis, was an elderly retired Roman soldier (about 60 years old), formerly known by the military name Victor. Probus came from Side in Pamphylia, while Andronicus was a young man from a distinguished Ephesian family. Brought before the tribunal at Tarsus in Cilicia, the saints firmly confessed their faith in Christ; when urged to sacrifice to idols, Tarachus declared that he offered sacrifice to the One True God with a pure heart. For this the governor subjected them to brutal torture and finally had them thrown to wild beasts at Anazarbus, but the animals would not touch them. The martyrs were then put to death by the sword and their bodies cut to pieces. Their trial and sufferings are preserved in unusual detail in the "Acts of Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus" — one of the most historically valuable surviving records of a martyr's interrogation. The Church commemorates them on October 12 (Old Style) / October 25 (New Style).