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Martyr2nd century

Martyrs Sarbelus (Thathuil) & Bebaia of Edessa

died c. 116

Also known as Sarbelus · Sarbellus · Sharbel · Sarvillos · Tiphael · Thathuil

A former pagan priest of Edessa converted by Bishop Barsimaeus, blinded and tortured, and his companion, martyred under Hadrian (c. 116)

September 4New Calendar
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September 17Old Calendar
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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Thathuil and Bebaia of Edessa

Life

Thathuil and Bebaia were martyrs commemorated in Edessa (modern Şanlıurfa, Turkey) who suffered under the Emperor Hadrian around 116. According to the synaxarion tradition, Thathuil had served as a priest in the pagan religion of the city before his conversion to Christianity through the ministry of Bishop Barsimaeus of Edessa. After his conversion he was arrested, subjected to torture including blinding, and ultimately put to death for refusing to renounce his new faith. His companion Bebaia — identified in some sources as a kinswoman — was martyred alongside him.

Troparion & Kontakion3 hymnsReadHide
TroparionTone 4

Your holy martyrs Tathuil and Bebaia, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

Your holy martyr Sarbelus, O Lord,
through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Sarbelus;
extinguishing the allure of false gods,
you enlighten the faithful,
always interceding for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Contributions & Legacy

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Historical Context

The early Christian community in Edessa is attested from the late second and early third centuries, and the figure of Bishop Barsimaeus is associated with the consolidation of that community. The Edessene martyrology preserves accounts of several converts who suffered under the Roman administration of the region. Thathuil's story belongs to this cluster: a prominent pagan cult-official whose conversion represented both a personal transformation and a public rupture with the religious establishment of the city.

The sources for Thathuil and Bebaia are hagiographic rather than archival, and some details — including the precise relationship between Thathuil and Bebaia and the exact form of torture — vary across textual traditions. Their commemoration on September 4 is attested in the Orthodox synaxarion.

Companions1 figureShowHide
The bishop of Edessa who converted Thathuil to Christianity
Bishop Barsimaeus of Edessa
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Sources: Synaxarion
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SarbelusHigh PriestThe converted high priest of Edessa; also called Thathuil.Commemorated within this group
BebaiaHis sister, martyred with him.Commemorated within this group