Venerable Martyr Vadim

Life

In the time of the Persian King Sapor, Vadim also — the abbot of a monastery and a man renowned for his piety — was cast into prison together with seven of his disciples. With them in prison was also a certain Prince Nirsan, likewise a Christian. Every day they were led out and beaten. Prince Nirsan became frightened and promised to abandon the faith and bow down before the sun. This was pleasing to Sapor, who promised to give Nirsan, among other things, all the property of Vadim's monastery, if he would slay Vadim with his own hand. Nirsan agreed to this. With a trembling hand, terrified by the dignified countenance of Saint Vadim, he struck many times with the sword upon the neck of this holy man, until he barely succeeded in beheading him. But shortly thereafter Nirsan fell into despair and pierced himself with his own sword, receiving from himself the punishment for the murder of the righteous one. Saint Vadim suffered in the year 376.