Achatius of Ararat lived in the 2nd century and was a Roman legion commander. In the Roman Catholic Church he is the patron saint against fear of death. However, its historical identity is controversial. According to legend, he was crucified on Mount Ararat with 10,000 other legionaries in about 135, because the soldiers no longer wanted to worship the Roman gods. His anniversary is June 22. In the Eastern Orthodox Church his feast day is March 31. Achatius of Ararat and the 10,000 martyrs were used as an inspiring example in the 11th-13th centuries for the crusaders who fought Moorish rule in Southern Europe and marched to Jerusalem. Achatius of Ararat is sometimes confused with Achatius of Constantinople, who was also a legion commander and suffered a martyrdom.
Contents
- Achatius of Ararat – patron saint against fear of death
- The Battle of the Euphrates
- Legio VI Ferrata (Iron Legion)
- Heavenly help
- Mount Ararat
- The death of Achatius and the 10,000 martyrs
- Crusader time
- Worship
- Fourteen Emergency Helpers
- Attributes and iconography
- Patronage of Achatius of Ararat
Achatius of Ararat – patron saint against fear of death
Achatius of Ararat was a Cappadocian, but according to some sources of Armenian descent. The name is Latinized and comes from the Hebrew word achaz , which means steadfast in God. He died on the cross in ca. 135 with 10,000 other legionnaires on Mount Ararat, a legendary and Biblical mountain where Noah’s Ark is said to have foundered. The mountain is located in the east of present-day Turkey, on the border with Armenia.
Achatius of Ararat. Sculpture in St. Achatius, Mainz-Bretzenheim (Zahlbach) / Source: Schuppi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Gruesome fate
The story of Achatius of Ararat cannot be verified historically and is therefore considered a legend. Nevertheless, he was canonized, but even that fact cannot be confirmed. The fact that he is the patron saint against the fear of death has to do with his steadfastness while he and his companions faced a gruesome fate.
The Battle of the Euphrates
The crucifixion of an almost entire legion took place against the backdrop of the Roman-Parthian Wars (66217). Emperor Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrian (76138) ruled from 117 to 138 and wanted to put an end to Roman expansionism by declaring the Euphrates the definitive border of the Roman Empire in the Middle East. In collaboration with vassal kings in that area, a relatively peaceful period emerged, at least for what it was worth. After all, there were constant disturbances. Hadrian had recruited 9,000 legionaries, recruited from the surrounding vassal kingdoms, to suppress a rebellion at the upper Euphrates.
Legio VI Ferrata (Iron Legion)
It is not known to what extent regular Roman legions were also deployed to avenge the revolt. However, it is known that the Legio VI Ferrata (Iron Legion) was based in those areas. In any case, in about 135 the recruited army of almost 10,000 soldiers was confronted with an impressive army of reportedly a hundred thousand rebels. Hadrian then ordered the Roman legion to withdraw for the time being otherwise it would be guaranteed to be defeated. Legend does not explain why Achatius was so eager to continue the battle and thus ignored Hadrian’s orders, other than that he trusted the gods and made many sacrifices.
Heavenly help
The fear among the legionnaires would have been enormous, as the force majeure was staggering. When the need was greatest and the battle was about to begin, an angel appeared to Achatius. It is not known whether it was one of the archangels who offered him a way out in a vision. The angel promised Achatius victory if he and his legionaries would convert to Christianity. According to some sources, it was the bishop of Toledo who baptized the men just before the battle and who was ultimately crucified with them. The legionnaires gave great credence to Achatius’ vision. They may have considered it the last straw. After a short battle, Achatius and his men miraculously won the battle. It is not known how the victorious army had proceeded tactically and strategically.
Achatius of Ararat, the martyrdom of the saint and the 10,000 martyrs. Image shows the thorns into which the legionaries were thrown. Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht / Source: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Mount Ararat
After the victory at the Euphrates, Achatius led his troops to Mount Ararat, where, according to legend, seven angels stayed among them and taught them about Christianity. Without the legionnaires being supplied and rationing the little food they had, the angels prepared them for a new battle. The struggle of Jesus Christ and the willpower and motivation to follow in His footsteps.
Emperor Hadrian Meanwhile, Emperor Hadrian had sent emissaries to Mount Ararat, curious to know how Achatius was ‘by all the gods!’ could have won this unequal battle. Apparently the fact that the 9,000 legionnaires had become Christians was more important than that the rebels had been defeated. Hadrian enlisted the help of seven vassal kings who reportedly raised an army of five million soldiers to change Achatius and his followers. Thus Hadrian checkmated Achatius. Achatius was called to account while an angel convinced him in a vision that the angelic hosts would be with him to strengthen him. The vassal kings continuously persuaded Achatius that it would be better to worship the Roman gods again.
The death of Achatius and the 10,000 martyrs
Emperor Hadrian put Achatius on the spot: return to the old faith or die a gruesome martyrdom. Achatius and his men did not flinch. First an attempt was made to stone the entire surrounded, tired and now needy and therefore weakened legion of 9,000 men, but the stones returned like boomerangs in mid-air and landed on the stones. Other soldiers stood ready with whips, but their arms became weak. Then each Christianized legionnaire had a crown of thorns placed on his head. According to other sources, they were thrown one by one into heaps of thorns and thus impaled. When 1,000 soldiers defected to the converted legion, Hadrian had them all crucified on Mount Ararat. While they hung there, Achatius loudly and incessantly prayed the profession of faith, audible to everyone. After a short time an earthquake followed and the now deceased martyrs fell from their cross. According to legend, angels appeared and ensured that all martyrs were buried respectfully.
Crusader time
This heroic, epic story was told over and over again in the 11th-13th centuries, during the Crusader period. From the account of the patron saint Achatius of Ararat, the crusaders could draw courage and inspiration in their fight against the Moors and their campaigns against the Muslim domination of Jerusalem.
Martirio de San Acacio, by anonymous painter from Toledo (Spain) / Source: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain), onclick=,openImage(this);,>Achatius of Ararat, crucifixion of the saint. Martirio de San Acacio , by anonymous painter from Toledo (Spain) / Source: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Worship
June 22 is the Roman Catholic anniversary, or feast day, of Achatius of Ararat and the 10,000 martyrs. March 31 is observed in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Achatius is said to have been canonized in the early centuries of Christianity. However, the feast day of Achatius was deleted in 1969 during the calendar reform. The story of the 10,000 martyrs was compiled and recorded in the Legenda Aurea in the 13th century, according to some sources in the 12th century .
Fourteen Emergency Helpers
Achatius of Ararat is still venerated, especially in Spain and Italy. In the official Martyrologium Romanum of the Roman Catholic Church, Achatiius’ account is not mentioned nor included in the current Calendarium , after the reform in 1969. This may have to do with the fact that the story lacks any historical basis. The Roman chroniclers also did not mention the incident on Mount Ararat. Nevertheless, the veneration of Achatius of Ararat is widespread. Perhaps because this patron saint and the 10,000 martyrs are part of the Fourteen Emergency Helpers, also called the Fourteen Holy Helpers. They are saints to whom one can turn when the need is greatest. Usually all saints from that group are invoked at the same time. This may have its origins in the religious struggle against the plague epidemics.
Attributes and iconography
Achatius of Ararat is often depicted as a nobleman, legionnaire, crusader, but sometimes also as a bishop. The latter may have to do with the mistaken identity of the martyr Achatius of Constantinople (feast day May 8) and some other bishops, including Achatius of Melitene (feast day April 17). The attributes of Achatius of Ararat are the lance, the sword ( gladius ), a crown of thorns and a crucifix, often also with a banner (legionary), and in his hand a branch of thorns, as according to some sources he was impaled by it.
Patronage of Achatius of Ararat
The most important intercession concerns fear of death and devastating doubt. But also rescue from danger in general, in hopeless situations, the prevention and bearing of serious illnesses and comfort during the dying process. In Orthodox Christian teaching, his intercession shortens the suffering in purgatory.
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