died c. 308
Egyptian Christians who cared for imprisoned believers during Maximian's persecution and were arrested, tortured, and killed.
The Holy Martyrs Elias, Probus, and Ares of Cilicia
Elias, Probus, and Ares were three Christians, natives of Egypt, who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of the Roman emperor Maximian (305-313). They are commemorated together by the Orthodox Church on December 19. By the synaxarion's account, the three were arrested for ministering to fellow Christians who had been imprisoned for their faith, and after being subjected to torture they were put to death around the year 308.
According to the tradition preserved in the Greek synaxaria, the three had set out from Egypt toward Cilicia in order to minister to the martyrs and confessors held there. While passing through Ashkelon they were seized and brought before the governor Firmilianus, before whom they confessed their faith in Christ. Their commemoration belongs to the wave of suffering that fell upon Christians in Egypt and Palestine during the final great persecution before the peace of the Church.
After their confession and torture, the three did not all meet the same end: Ares completed his martyrdom by being cast into the flames, while Probus and Elias were beheaded by the sword. Because the early sources treat them as a single commemoration, the Church keeps their memory together on one day, and they are venerated jointly as holy martyrs.
Your holy martyrs Elias, Probus, and Ares, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
The defining act recorded of Elias, Probus, and Ares is their care for Christians held in prison during the persecution. In a time when assisting confessors of the faith could itself bring arrest, the three risked and ultimately gave their lives in this ministry. The synaxarion frames their death as the direct consequence of this service rather than of a chance denunciation.
The Greek tradition relates that the three Egyptians were traveling to Cilicia to minister to the martyrs there when they were seized at Ashkelon and brought before the governor Firmilianus. Having confessed Christ and endured torture, they were given over to death: Ares was cast into the flames, and Probus and Elias were beheaded. The year is given as about 308.
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