The Martyrs of Hadiab (also spelled Adiabene) were a group of early Christian martyrs from the region of Adiabene, an ancient kingdom in what is now northern Iraq, particularly near Arbil (modern Erbil). This area was under the influence of the Persian Empire, particularly during the Sassanid period, and was known for both its Jewish and Christian populations.
The martyrdoms occurred primarily during the second and third centuries, as Christianity began to take root in the East. The most famous among these martyrs is St. Shmona (Symphorosa) and her seven sons, though some of the more detailed accounts stem from Syriac Christian traditions, which record the persecution of Christians in that region by Persian rulers who saw Christianity as a threat—partly due to its association with the Roman Empire, a political rival.
🕯️ The Core of Their Hagiography:
The Acts of the Martyrs of Hadiab recount a period of intense persecution, particularly under Persian kings such as Shapur I and later Shapur II, who tried to suppress Christianity’s growth. Among the notable martyrs mentioned in the Syriac tradition are:
- Mar Behnam and his sister Sarah (Sarra) – Royal children of a pagan king who converted to Christianity through the preaching of St. Matthew the Hermit. Upon their conversion and baptism, they were martyred by order of their father.
- St. Shamuna and her seven sons – Though this story echoes earlier Jewish martyr accounts like that in 2 Maccabees, Syriac Christian tradition places it in Adiabene and treats the mother and her sons as Christian martyrs.
- St. Mār Qardāgh – A noble Persian convert and martyr during Shapur II’s reign.
These martyrdoms are preserved especially in the Syriac martyrologies and were venerated in both Eastern Catholic and Oriental Orthodox traditions.
✝️ Theological and Spiritual Themes:
Their stories are marked by:
- Steadfast confession of faith in the face of imperial pressure to recant or offer sacrifice to pagan gods.
- Youthful courage, as many martyrs were young men or women, whose virtue and purity are emphasized.
- Familial holiness, especially in accounts of entire households being converted and martyred together.
📜 Legacy in the Church:
- Their feast days are observed in various Eastern calendars, particularly in the Syriac Churches.
- The Monastery of Mar Behnam, founded in the 4th century near Mosul, became a major pilgrimage site until it was desecrated in recent decades due to conflict.
- Though not prominent in the Roman Martyrology, their witness stands as part of the universal witness of the Church’s early martyrs in the East.