Venerable Benjamin, Deacon of Persia

Holy Hieromartyr Benjamin, Deacon of Persia, suffered for Christ in the early fifth century during the persecution of Christians under the Persian shah Yazdegerd I (399–421). The persecution began with the execution of Bishop Abda and soon engulfed the entire Christian community of Persia. Deacon Benjamin, known for his zealous preaching of the Gospel and for converting many pagans, was imprisoned for about two years. Through the intercession of a Byzantine envoy he was released on condition that he cease preaching, but the saint could not remain silent about Christ and continued converting Persians to the faith. He was seized again and brought before Yazdegerd's successor, Shah Bahram V, in the city of Susa. When torture failed to make him renounce his faith, his tormentors finally impaled him on a stake, and the martyr gave up his soul to God.