Dometius of Persia
Encyclopedia
Saint Dometius the Persian (d. 363 AD) is venerated as a Christian
martyr
and saint
. According to tradition, he was martyred by lapidation during the reign of Julian the Apostate
with two companions. He was killed at Nisibis
in Mesopotamia
.
The name Domitius appears three times in the Roman Martyrology on different feast days (August 7, March 23, July 5); “it is uncertain that they were indeed the same person.”
Dometius of Persia was depicted in an 8th century fresco
in the church of Santa Maria Antiqua
, in Rome
. This may indicate that there were Greek-speaking monks at Santa Maria Antiqua, as evidenced by these frescoes, which not only depicted Dometius but also Saints Barachisius, Euthymius
, and Sabas of Palestine.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. According to tradition, he was martyred by lapidation during the reign of Julian the Apostate
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
with two companions. He was killed at Nisibis
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
.
The name Domitius appears three times in the Roman Martyrology on different feast days (August 7, March 23, July 5); “it is uncertain that they were indeed the same person.”
Dometius of Persia was depicted in an 8th century fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
in the church of Santa Maria Antiqua
Santa Maria Antiqua
The Ancient church of St Mary is a Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome, built in the 5th century in the Forum Romanum, and for long time the monumental access to the Palatine imperial palaces....
, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. This may indicate that there were Greek-speaking monks at Santa Maria Antiqua, as evidenced by these frescoes, which not only depicted Dometius but also Saints Barachisius, Euthymius
Euthymius the Great
Saint Euthymius , often styled the Great, was an Abbot in Palestine.Venerated in both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.-Biography:He was born in Melitene in Lesser Armenia...
, and Sabas of Palestine.