Hieromartyr 3rd century

Martyrs Ananias the Presbyter Peter, and Seven Soldiers

died 295

A priest of Phoenicia, a jailer, and seven soldiers converted by his steadfastness, all martyred for Christ.

Feast Day

January 26

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Ananias the Presbyter, Peter, and Seven Soldiers of Phoenicia

Life

Ananias the Presbyter, Peter, and seven soldiers were a group of martyrs who suffered together in Phoenicia in the year 295, during the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian. They are commemorated jointly by the Orthodox Church on January 26. The account, as preserved in the synaxarion, presents the martyrdom of Ananias as the catalyst for the conversion and death of the eight men set to guard him.

Ananias, a priest, was arrested for confessing Christ and refusing to worship idols, and was brought before Maximus, the governor of Phoenicia. The tradition relates that he endured severe tortures and that his witness moved Peter, a prison guard, together with seven soldiers, to believe in Christ; all nine were ultimately put to death. As a clergyman martyred for the faith, Ananias is numbered among the hieromartyrs, while Peter and the soldiers are commemorated as martyrs.

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295 Martyrdom in Phoenicia Ananias is tortured under the governor Maximus; Peter and seven soldiers, converted by his witness, are drowned in the sea with him.

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Martyrdom

According to the synaxarion, Ananias was apprehended for confessing Christ and refusing to sacrifice to idols, and was examined by Maximus, the governor of the province. He is described as having been beaten with hammers and burnt with fire, after which salt was sprinkled on his scorched body. The tradition further relates that, through his prayers, a pagan temple and the idols within it were destroyed.

Peter, identified as the prison guard, and seven soldiers stationed to guard Ananias witnessed his sufferings and came to believe in Christ. After they too were subjected to lengthy torture, the nine were drowned in the sea. The sources place these events in Phoenicia in the year 295, within the wider Diocletianic persecution that ran during that emperor's reign (284-305).

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 26