Today the Church honors the Martyrs of Najran.
The existence of a Christian community in the city of Najran in present-day southwestern Saudi Arabia is attested by several historical sources of the Arabian Peninsula, where it recorded as having been created in the 5th century AD or perhaps a century earlier. According to the Arab Muslim historian Ibn Ishaq, Najran was the first place where Christianity took root in South Arabia.
The Martyr Arethas and with him 4299 Martyrs suffered for the Lord Jesus Christ in AD 524. Arethas was prefect of the Christian city of Najran in Arabia. The Arabian Himyarite king named Dhu Nuwas decided to eliminate Christianity from the land. He issued an edict that all followers of Christ were to be put to death.
Because the inhabitants of Najran remained faithful to the Lord, Dhu Nawas came with a large army to destroy the city. At the city walls of Negran the king’s heralds announced that Dhu Nawas would only spare those who renounced Christ and referred to His Cross as a "sign of malediction."
Not daring to assault the Christian city by force, Dhu Nawas resorted to a ruse. He swore an oath that he would not force the Christians to renounce the Faith, but would merely collect a tribute from Najran. The inhabitants of the city would not heed the advice of Saint Arethas, and putting their trust in Dhu Nawas, they opened the city gates.
The very next day Dhu Nawas gave orders to light an immense fire and throw all the clergy of the city into it in order to frighten the rest of the Christians. 427 men were burned alive. He also threw the prefect Arethas and the other chief men into prison. Then the oppressor sent his messengers through the city to convert the Christians to Judaism. Dhu Nawas himself conversed with those inhabitants brought from the prisons, saying, "I do not demand that you should renounce the God of heaven and earth, nor do I want you to worship idols, I want merely that you do not believe in Jesus Christ, since the Crucified One was a man, and not God."
The holy martyrs replied that Jesus is God the Word, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Who for the salvation of mankind was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. Those suffering said, "We shall not abjure Christ, since He is Life for us. To die for Him is to find Life."
One of the named martyrs was Syncletica and her two daughters. He summoned Saint Syncletica and her daughters before him, and in urging her to forsake her "folly," he promised as reward to take her into the retinue of his wife.
"How can you not be afraid, O King, to speak evil of Him Who has given you both royal crown and life?" replied the holy martyr.
Dhu Nawas gave orders to lead Saint Syncletica and her daughters through the city as though they were criminals. Women, looking on at the disgrace of the saint, started crying, but she told them that this "shame" for her was dearer than any earthly honor.
Again they brought the martyr before Dhu Nawas, and he said, "If you wish to remain alive, you must renounce Christ."
"If I do, then who will deliver me from eternal death?" the saint asked. In a rage, the tormentor ordered that Saint Syncletica’s daughters be killed first, and then for the mother to be beheaded with a sword.
More than four thousand Christians, men, women, both the aged and children, from the city of Najran and surrounding villages suffered martyrdom for Christ.
Almighty God, who gave to your servants the Martyrs of Najran boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
