Martyr Benjamin the Deacon of Persia

Saint Deacon Benjamin lived during the reign of the Persian king Izdigerd. Having converted many Persians to Christianity, he was slandered, captured, and subjected to cruel tortures, spending two years in prison. A Greek, learning of his plight, asked the king to release Benjamin, promising that he would not convert Persians to Christianity. However, Benjamin refused this promise, stating that he could not hide the light received in the baptismal font. The king, unable to bear these words, ordered him to be pierced with spikes under his nails, and then subjected him to even greater tortures. In the end, the saint was pierced with a thick stake and surrendered his spirit to God in the year 421.