Zenobius and Zenobia | |
|---|---|
| Martyrs | |
| Born | 3rd century AD |
| Died | c. 290 AD Aegae, Cilicia, Roman Empire |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church Catholic Church |
| Feast | 30 October |
The Holy MartyrsZenobios and Zenobia (diedc.290; Greek:Ζηνόβιος καὶ Ζηνοβία; occasionally (and incorrectly) Σινόβιος καὶ Σινοβία; Latin: Zenobius et Zenobia, Slavonic: Зиновій и Зиновія) are recognized byEastern Orthodox Church and theRoman Catholic Church; their day isOctober 30.[1][2][3][4]
According to the Byzantinehagiography, Zenobius and his sister Zenobia were fromAegae,Cilicia. Zenobios was a physician and because of his divine healing powers he was consecrated bishop of Aegae. They were tortured and beheaded around 290, duringDiocletian's persecutions.[5][6]
It has been argued that the characters are mythological, possibly arisen from the confusion of the reading ofmartyrologies.[7]Hippolyte Delehaye suggested a possible compilation by an unknown hagiographer who put together parts from the hagiography ofSaints Cosmas and Damian with mentions of various saints namedZenobios/Zenobius.[1]