Name Mar Qardagh Died Erbil, Iraq | Major shrine Erbil | |
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Venerated in Chaldean Catholic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Syro-Malabar Church Feast Friday of the 14th week after the Pentecost | ||
Rase qametha go omra mar odisho mar qardagh go borken germany 04 08 2013
Mar Qardagh (Syriac: ܡܪܝ ܩܪܕܐܓ), was a Sassanid prince who was martyred for converting to Christianity.
Contents
- Rase qametha go omra mar odisho mar qardagh go borken germany 04 08 2013
- Syamida omra mar odisho mar qardagh go borken germany 04 08 2013
- Life
- References
Syamida omra mar odisho mar qardagh go borken germany 04 08 2013
Life
Qardagh was born to a pagan noble family in the Sassanid Empire during the 4th century. When Qardagh was 25 years old, Shapur II visited his parents’ estate and was impressed with Qardagh’s handsome appearance and athleticism. Qardagh was appointed as a governor for a large region in northern Persia, there he met Abdisho (ܥܒܕܝܫܘܥ) and converted to Christianity.
Upon returning home Qardagh was rejected by his family and under pressure from the religious elite, Shapur sentenced him to be stoned. Qardagh fled with a small army to the mountains where he was able to repel the Persians for months. One night Saint Stephen appeared to him and told him that it was better to give his life for his faith than to continue fighting. He surrendered to the king and it was his own father who threw the first stone.
He was buried in Arbil, Adiabene where a church holding his relics was later constructed.