10/30/2026 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Мчч. Зиновія і Зиновії
Свщмч. Олексія Зарицького
Hieromartyr Zenobios and his sister Zenobia
The Synaxarion (Lives of the Saints):
The Hieromartyr Zenobius, Bishop of Aegea, and his sister Zenobia suffered martyrdom in Cilicia in the year 285. Raised in the Christian faith by their parents, they lived pious and chaste lives. As adults, they gave away their inherited wealth to the poor. For his holy life and generosity, Zenobius received from the Lord the gift of healing and was chosen as bishop of the Christian community in Cilicia.
As bishop, Saint Zenobius zealously spread the Christian faith. During the persecution under Emperor Diocletian (284–305), he was arrested and brought before the governor Licius, who offered him life if he would worship the pagan gods.
Saint Zenobius replied, “This present life without Christ is death. It is better that I endure torment for my Creator and live eternally with Him than renounce Him for the sake of this life.”
By order of the governor, Zenobius was nailed to a cross and tortured. Seeing her brother’s suffering, Zenobia courageously confessed her own faith in Christ and was tortured as well.
Through the power of the Lord, both saints survived being placed on a red-hot iron bed and in a boiling kettle. They were eventually beheaded. The priest Hermogenes secretly buried their bodies in a single grave.
Saint Zenobius is invoked by those suffering from breast cancer.