Saint Marutha was Bishop of Tagrith (Martyropolis), a city which he founded between the Byzantine Empire and Persia. He was famed for his knowledge and his piety, he wrote about the martyrs, and he suffered for his faith in Christ under the Persian emperor Sapor. He also left behind other works in the Syrian language, among which the most famous are: “Commentary on the Gospel,” “Verses of Marutha,” “Liturgy of Marutha” and “The 73 Canons of the Ecumenical Council at Nicea” (325) with an account of the acts of the Council.

In the year 381 St Marutha participated in the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, and later in 383 the Council of Antioch.

At the beginning of the fifth century he became an envoy between the courts of Constantinople and Persia, successfully securing peace between the two empires. In 410 (some sources say 414) he persuaded King Yezdgerd to issue an edict of toleration securing the freedom of worship for the Christian community in the empire. The powerful Magi were intensely jealous of Marutha’s intimacy with Yezdgerd, and made numerous attempts to have him shamed, even killed. Each time however, Marutha cleverly uncovered their schemes before the King. Marutha rebuilt Christian churches razed during the persecution by the Persian ruler Sapor. He also located relics of saints who had suffered martyrdom and transferred them to Martyropolis. He died there in 422.

Traditionally his commemoration is on 16 February, however, that is the day we commemorate Francis Hudor so Marutha had to be moved. Given that yesterday was the feast of James the Persian – whose own experiences were affected by Marutha’s earlier activities – it seemed logical to place him here.

Otherwise todays commemorations are: Stephen the New – an 8th century monk who suffered, and was stoned to death by the iconoclasts; and Irenarchus a martyr of the Diocletian persecution. It is said that while ministering to confessors in prison, he witnessed the fortitude of a group of women being tortured. This compelled him to confess his faith in Christ and resulted in his own turture and martyrdom.