The Holy 156 Martyrs: Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Zeno the Presbyter, Patermuthius, Elias and Others (†c. 310) — September 17 / September 30 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 17 according to the Julian Calendar (September 30 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy 156 Martyrs of Palestine: Peleus and Nilus, bishops of Egypt, Zeno the presbyter, Patermuthius, Elias and those with them.

The holy one hundred fifty-six martyrs — Peleus and Nilus, bishops of Egypt, Zeno the presbyter, Patermuthius, Elias and others — suffered under Emperor Maximian Galerius (305–311). Most of the martyrs were Egyptians, though there were also Palestinians among them. They were seized by Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, and cruelly tortured: the eyes of the blessed ones were gouged out and the sinews of their feet were cut. At last one hundred of the martyrs were beheaded, and the rest were burned.