Saint Martyr Sukhi and his 16 companions, noble dignitaries at the court of the Albanian ruler, believed in the Savior and dedicated their lives to the service of God, after which they went to Mesopotamia, where they were baptized and were granted a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ.
During the baptism, the holy priest Chryzos gave all the saints new names, and after the martyrdom of Chryzos, Saint Sukhi became the spiritual leader of the brotherhood. They led a strict ascetic life, feeding on scant vegetation and cold spring water.
The pagan ruler of Albania, Datiianos, learned of their Christianity and tried to bring them back to their former faith, but they rejected all his entreaties. By the order of Barnapas, Saint Sukhi and his companions were subjected to tortures and burned. As they died, they sang the 21st Psalm, and their bodies were cut into pieces and scattered across Mount Sukaketi.
The sacred remains of the martyrs remained incorrupt until the 4th century, when they were buried by local Christians. At the site of their martyrdom, Saint Gregory, the Enlightener of Armenia, erected a church and founded a monastery, where a healing spring later appeared.
