Feb. 16 – Martyrs Pamfil, Valens, Paul

Life of the Holy Martyrs Pamfil, Valens, Paul, and Those with Them

During the reign of the persecutor of Christians Diokletian, in Palestinian Caesarea there lived the renowned presbyter Pamfil—famous both by birth and by education—who devoted himself to correcting the text of Holy Scripture. With him were the deacon Valens and the citizen Paul. They turned many pagans to Christ. The governor of Caesarea, Urban, ordered them seized, tortured, and then thrown into prison. There also were imprisoned five Christian brothers who called themselves by the names of the prophets: Iliya, Ieremiya, Isaiya, Samuil, and Daniil.

All of them were brought before the new governor Firmilian and condemned to be beheaded by the sword. Upon hearing this sentence, the servant of presbyter Pamfil, Porfiriy, approached Firmilian with a request for permission to bury the martyrs; but Firmilian handed him over to be burned. A certain renowned soldier Seleuk showed compassion for the martyric death of Porfiriy; Firmilian ordered him executed as well. His own servant Feodul, for showing compassion to the martyrs, he crucified on a cross. Finally, he burned the twelfth martyr Iulian for the reason that, upon seeing the bodies of the executed martyrs thrown out to be devoured by wild beasts, he kissed them and praised the martyrs themselves.

For four days the bodies of the martyrs lay exposed, and neither birds nor beasts dared to touch them. Then the faithful buried them. Where the relics of these holy martyrs now rest is unknown.

The Venerable Marufa

The venerable Marufa was bishop of the city of Martyropolis in Mesopotamia, on the border between the Greek and Persian empires, and he was distinguished for his learning and piety. He was present at the Second Ecumenical Council against Macedonius, who demeaned the Holy Spirit by calling Him not God but a creature of God.

He wrote about the martyrs who suffered for the Christian faith under the Persian king Sapor, and he transferred the remains of many of them to Martyropolis. Emperor Feodosiy the Younger sent him several times to the Persian king Izdegerd to conclude peace between the empires. Marufa healed Izdegerd himself and his son from a grave illness which the Persian magi had been unable to cure. After this, Izdegerd began to hold Marufa in especial honor; and Marufa, making use of this favor, obtained permission for Izdegerd to allow the free preaching of the Christian faith in Persia.

Saint Marufa reposed around the year 422. His relics were later transferred to Egypt and placed in the Skete monastery of the Mother of God.