Ruhm the Noblewoman
Ruhm bint Azma, also known as Ruma, was a prominent and highly respected woman of wealth and social standing in Najran, and a relative of Saint Arethas. Her courageous story unfolds vividly amidst the persecution of Christians by King Dhu Nuwas.
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During this tumultuous period, Ruhm demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of severe adversity and torture alongside her fellow believers. Her unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to Christ exemplified the depth of her spiritual conviction.
According to the Second Letter of Symeon, after witnessing her Christian kinsmen being burned alive, Ruhm, along with her daughter and granddaughter, was brought before the king, adorned as if for a wedding feast. When pressured to renounce Christ to preserve her worldly honor, Ruhm boldly rejected the king’s demands. In the town marketplace, she fearlessly proclaimed, “God forbid! That shall never be! Nor will I deny Christ … He is God, Son of God, Creator of the world … True honor lies in confessing Christ with heart and mouth, even unto death for His Holy Name.”
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Ruhm’s resolve remained unwavering as she urged the king to execute them so they could join their brethren and her daughter’s father. In a chilling act of brutality, her daughter and granddaughter were slaughtered before her, and she was forced to drink their blood. When the king callously asked about the taste, Ruhm replied that it tasted like a pure and spotless offering to her soul.
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Facing her own imminent beheading, Ruhm addressed a crowd of mourning women with dignity and strength, calling on them to remain faithful to Christ until the end. She spoke with boldness and dignity: “Illustrious free women, who share my faith and live among us, Jews and Greeks, listen to what I say … May it not happen, Christ king of heaven, Son of God who sits above the Cherubim and is glorified by the Seraphim, that we deny your kingdom and divinity. But in peace shall rest Your people, all those who worship You and continue until the end in Your truth … I thank you, Son of God, that you have been good to your servant and judged me worthy to taste the sacrifice of my humble children.”
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Her unwavering faith and fearless proclamation deeply affected King Dhu Nuwas, who marveled at her beauty and steadfastness, despite his disdain for Christians. Dhu Nuwas swore to his generals, saying: “My soul is deeply saddened because of the beauty of this woman and her daughters. I have never seen anyone like her. I can only wonder at what makes Christians so deranged that they mistakenly believe in a man who calls himself God.”
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Ruhm’s life challenges us to contemplate courage, faith, and steadfastness in our own journey, urging us to uphold principles of compassion and resilience even in the most trying times. Her legacy is intertwined with the Martyrs of Najran, commemorated for their resolute commitment to their faith and their readiness to sacrifice everything for their beliefs. Her story continues to inspire and serve as a testament to the enduring power of faith in the face of persecution and adversity.