Saint Arethas the Great Martyr and “with him”
Date of celebration: 24/10
He was one of the dignitaries of the city of Negra in Ethiopia during the time of Justin (518 – 527 AD), Eleswaan of the Christian king of Ethiopia and Dunaan of the Jewish king of Homeritis. When the Ethiopian king Eleswaan subdued the Jewish king Dunaan, he stationed a garrison in the city.
Then the Jewish king rebelled, killed the guards and marched against Negra, which he captured, slaughtering many Christians. Among them Aretha, who, despite his old age, supported the Christians and urged them to martyrdom.