The Martyr Peter Abessalomites (Aneiakos)

Commemorated on January 12

      The Martyr Peter Abessalomites (Aneiakos) was a native of the village of Aneia in Palestine. During the time of a persecution against christians he was arrested and brought to the governor of Palestine. In vain did the judge and the people urge him to honour the pagan gods to escape torture. "I then truly shalt have mercy on myself, when I neither recant the Gospel nor offer sacrifice to idols", – answered the saint, and he was burned at the stake.
      In some mesyatseslavs saints-lives his memory is inserted twice: 12 January as the martyr Peter Abessalomites, and 13 January – as Peter Aneiakos, since it was mistakenly assumed that these were different persons.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.