St. Arethas
St. Arethas and his Companions were Arab Christians from Najran, an ancient city in southern Arabia (modern-day Saudi Arabia), martyred in 523 AD for their steadfast faith in Christ. St. Arethas, born Al-Harith bin Ka’b in 427 AD, served as the governor of Najran until his martyrdom at the age of ninety-five. His Hellenized (Greek) name, Arethas, meaning “tiller of the soil,” symbolizes his deep-rooted faith, which endured through intense persecution.
The persecution began when the Himyarite king Dhu Nuwas, who had converted to Judaism, sought to eradicate Christianity from his kingdom. After failing to breach the fortified walls of Najran, Dhu Nuwas tricked the city’s elders into opening the gates, at which point he gave the Christians an ultimatum: renounce their faith in Christ, or die by fire and sword. He sent a cross-bearing messenger with the warning, “Whosoever will not show insult to this sign shall be destroyed by fire and sword.”
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The Christians of Najran, led by St. Arethas, refused to deny Christ. As a result, priests, deacons, nuns, and laypeople were thrown into a fiery trench, known in later Arabic tradition as al-ukhdud. Others were tortured or executed in various brutal ways. St. Arethas, due to his advanced age, had to be carried to his execution and was beheaded along with 340 of his followers. Altogether, more than 4,000 Christians were martyred.
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Before his death, St. Arethas encouraged his fellow believers, proclaiming, “to die for Christ is to find life,” and he prophesied that God would rebuild the Christian community in the land of Himyar, “as a vine pruned at the correct time gives a good yield of fruit, God will multiply the Christian population [in this city] … the church which has been burned down will be raised up.”
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​The news of the massacre spread quickly, shocking the Christian world. The Byzantine Emperor Justin I sent an emissary to the Axumite king Caleb, who later launched a successful expedition to liberate Najran.
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St. Jacob of Serugh, bishop of the Syriac Church, in an impassioned letter to the Himyarite Church, praised the perseverance of the Christians of Najran and extolled the virtues of the martyrs. His words offered solace and encouragement to the beleaguered community, recognizing their steadfast faith in the face of immense persecution. St. Jacob’s letter not only acknowledged their sacrifice but also underscored the spiritual triumph of the martyrs, whose witness for Christ became an enduring testament to their unwavering devotion. Through this letter, he affirmed the martyrs’ place in the history of Christian sanctity and inspired future generations to honor their memory.
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In the years following King Caleb’s reconquest, pilgrimages to Najran became common among Arab Christians, who venerated the martyrs’ relics housed in a martyrion (shrine). This devotion flourished for nearly a century, with the shrine serving as a focal point for Christian worship and remembrance. However, with the rise of Islam and the subsequent banishment of Christians from Arabia, this veneration came to an end, and the Christian presence in the region diminished significantly. Despite this, the memory of St. Arethas and his companions endured, preserved in the traditions of both the Byzantine and Latin Churches.
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The Byzantine Church, which later became the Orthodox Church, highly revered St. Arethas as a Great Martyr (Greek: megalomartyr), while the Roman Catholic Church continues to commemorate the martyrs on October 24th. St. Arethas and his companions are unique as the only Arab saints from the Arabian Peninsula listed on the Roman martyrology.
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Their veneration in the Latin Church was revived in modern times by the late Bishop Camillo Ballin, who established a parish in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia dedicated to the Martyrs of Najran in 2011. This revival culminated in the 2023 extraordinary jubilee celebrating the 1500th anniversary of their martyrdom, reaffirming the martyrs’ enduring significance as symbols of courage, faith, and devotion to Christ. The jubilee not only honored their sacrifice but also renewed their place in the spiritual life of the Church in Arabia where their legacy continues to inspire and strengthen the faithful.
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Today, St. Arethas and the martyrs of Najran remain an important part of Christian heritage in the Arabian Peninsula, embodying perseverance and devotion in the face of persecution. Their martyrdom stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of early Arab Christians who chose to uphold their beliefs despite immense suffering. Their story continues to inspire Christians in the region, reminding them of the strength that faith can offer in times of trial.