The Seven Brothers of Lazia

The Seven Brothers of Lazia are the seven martyred brothers: Orentius, Cyriacus, Firminus, Firmus, Heros, Longinus, and Pharnacius. They were soldiers in the Roman Army, supposedly joined Diocletian's army at Antioch, saw service in Thrace, were condemned for their Christian faith and suffered martyrdom during the persecutions of co-Emperor Maximian.[1]

The Seven Brothers of Lazia
Martyrs
Died304
Venerated inEastern Orthodox Church
CanonizedPre-congregation
Feast24 June
Laz people

History

During the reign of Maximian (r. 284-305) Roman Anatolia faced Scythian invasion. Saint Orentius was ordered to fight against the Scythian warrior Marothom. Orentius defeated Marothom and thus stopped the Schytian invasion. The emperor intended to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods to celebrate the victory and invited Orentius. However, Orentius refused, explaining that he was a Christian. The Emperor gave orders to banish both the saint and his six brothers to the Caucasus. During the journey all seven brothers died from hunger or torture.[2]

Saints

Orentius, principal martyr; Longinus, final martyr; exiled to Pityus; and five others, all condemned at Satala.[3]

Saints Day Place of Martyrdom
Saint Heros 22 June Parembol
Saint Orentius 24 June Riza (Rize)
Saint Pharnacius 3 July Kordila (Sivri Kale)
Saint Firmus 7 July Apsaros (Gonio)
Saint Firminus 7 July Apsaros
Saint Cyriacus 24 July Zigania (Anaklia)
Saint Longinus 28 July Pityus (Bichvinta)

Cult

St. Orentius' cult and whole tale of the Seven Brothers which also figures in the Menologion of Basil II, represented a Byzantine attempt to incorporate the Laz and Abkhazians into Orthodoxy by the erection of the Metropolis of the Phasis (and later exarchate of Lazia), which is also paralleled by an attempt to discipline them.[3]

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References
  1. St. Orentius Catholic Online
  2. Martyr Orentius, one of the seven martyred brothers in Georgia Orthodox Church in America, oca.org
  3. A. Bryer and D. Winfield, The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos, pp.325-46
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