Iona Saint, one of the first 11 martyrs in Persia Date of Birth: . Country: Dive

1. Saint Jonah the Martyr
2. Torture and Martyrdom
3. Legacy
4. Saint Jonah is commemorated on March 28 (Old Style).

Saint Jonah the Martyr

Saint Jonah was one of the first eleven martyrs of Persia during the reign of King Shapur II in 327. He and his friend Barachisius, both rural villagers, were arrested while visiting imprisoned Christians.

Torture and Martyrdom

Jonah was subjected to brutal torture by local authorities. He was severely beaten, dragged across a frozen lake, his fingers and tongue were cut off, and his scalp was peeled. Despite these horrific injuries, according to Christian tradition, he remained unharmed.

Jonah was then placed in a boiling cauldron of tar, but he miraculously escaped unscathed. Finally, he was placed in a wooden press and sawn in half.

Legacy

The martyrdoms of Jonah and Barachisius, along with nine other Christians who had been executed a few days earlier, were chronicled by Isaiah, a government official. Their martyrdom is recorded in both Western and Eastern medieval sources, and a canon was composed by Saint Joseph the Hymnographer.

Saint Jonah is commemorated on March 28 (Old Style).