Sabbas Stratelates
Encyclopedia
Saint Sabbas Stratelates (Sava Stratelat, Sabas Stratilat, Savva Stratilatus), Sabbas the General of Rome (d. 272, Tiber River, Rome
) — early Christian warrior saint and martyr, was Roman military general under emperor Aurelian
. He is the 'twin' of Saint Sabbas the Goth. His martyrdom was followed by 70 Roman soldiers.
Saint Sabbas Stratelates came from a Gothic tribe
. For his bravery he attained the high rank of military commander or stratelates
, and he served under the Roman emperor Aurelian (270-275). From his youth, Sabbas was a Christian and he fervently followed the commands of Christ. He helped the needy, and visited Christians in prison. Saint Sabbas had the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick and casting out demons in the name of Christ.
Looking on at his torments, seventy soldiers came to believe in Christ. They were beheaded by the sword. St Sabbas was thrown in prison. At midnight, while he was praying, Christ appeared to the martyr and shone on him the light of His Glory. The Savior bade him not to fear, but to stand firm. Encouraged, the Martyr Sabbas underwent new torture in the morning, and was drowned in a river in 272.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) — early Christian warrior saint and martyr, was Roman military general under emperor Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
. He is the 'twin' of Saint Sabbas the Goth. His martyrdom was followed by 70 Roman soldiers.
Saint Sabbas Stratelates came from a Gothic tribe
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
. For his bravery he attained the high rank of military commander or stratelates
Stratelates
Stratēlatēs was a Greek term designating a general, which also became a honorary dignity in the Byzantine Empire. In the former sense, it was often applied to military saints, such as Theodore Stratelates....
, and he served under the Roman emperor Aurelian (270-275). From his youth, Sabbas was a Christian and he fervently followed the commands of Christ. He helped the needy, and visited Christians in prison. Saint Sabbas had the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick and casting out demons in the name of Christ.
Martyrdom
When the emperor learned that Saint Sabbas was a Christian, he demanded that he apostatize. The martyr threw down his military belt and declared that he would not forsake his faith. They beat him, burned him with torches, and threw him into a cauldron with tar, but the martyr remained unharmed.Looking on at his torments, seventy soldiers came to believe in Christ. They were beheaded by the sword. St Sabbas was thrown in prison. At midnight, while he was praying, Christ appeared to the martyr and shone on him the light of His Glory. The Savior bade him not to fear, but to stand firm. Encouraged, the Martyr Sabbas underwent new torture in the morning, and was drowned in a river in 272.
Memory
- May 7 - in Russian, Ukrainian and Serbian Orthodox Churches that use old calendar
- April 24 - in new calendar churches
External links
- Serbian Orthodox Church: The Holy Martyr Sabbas Stratelates (April 24)
- OCA: Lives of all saints commemorated on April 24: Martyr Sava Stratelates "the General" of Rome
- Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester: The Holy Martyr Sabbas Stratelates
- Catholic saints: St. Sabas
- (in Russian) Martyr Sabbas Stratelates