Name St. Arethas Role Martyr | ||
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Feast July 27; October 24; November 6 Great grandchildren Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Harith | ||
Grandchildren Al-Harith ibn Jabalah Children Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith | ||
St. Arethas or Aretas (Arabic: آل الحارث "al-Haarith") was the leader of the Christian community of Najran in the early 6th century, was executed during the persecution of Christians by the Jewish king Dhu Nuwas in 523. He is known from the Acta S. Arethae (also called Martyrium sancti Arethae or Martyrium Arethae) which exists in two recensions: the earlier and more authentic, which was found by Michel Le Quien(Oriens Christianus, ii. 428) and was subsequently dated as no later than the 7th century; the later, revised by Simeon Metaphrastes, dates from the 10th century. The Ge'ez and Arabic versions of the text were published in 2006 and the Greek version in 2007.
Feastday: 27 July (Roman Catholic Church) In Eastern Orthodox Church his feastday is 24 October (6 November O.C.).