St. Arethas the Martyr icon Size:3 x 5

St. Arethas the Martyr icon Size:3 x 5Orthodox icon of Saint Aretha, the Martyr. Icon of 13 cent, Church of Protato, Mount Athos. Commemorated October 24. The Martyr Arethas and with him 4299 Martyrs suffered for the Lord Jesus Christ in the sixth century. Arethas was prefect of the Christian city of Negran in Arabia. The Arabian (or Omirite) king, Dunaan, who was Jewish, decided to eliminate Christianity from the land. He issued an edict that all followers of Christ were to be put to

and attained such perfection in fasting and prayer that he was given the gift of wonderworking

During his righteous life

more often than others

Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk

and was officially glorified by the Patriarchate of Russia May 25

and a lion remained with him as companion

After 300 years under the Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337)

the Persian king Sapor II (309-379) had heard of St Irene’s great miracles

and at Constantinople a church was built in his honor

St John the Russian is widely venerated on Mount Athos

thinking that he had defeated her

and accompanied by only one servant