Martyr Sabbas Stratelates “the General” of Rome and 70 soldiers with him

Sabbas was a Goth by birth and served as a military commander (stratelates) in Rome under Emperor Aurelian. He visited Christians in prison, helped them from his own means and, according to his Life, had power over evil spirits. When he was reported as a Christian, he declared his faith before the emperor, undid his officer's belt and threw it down.

He was hung up, beaten, burned and thrown into boiling pitch, from which, as the Life tells, he came out unharmed. Seeing this, seventy soldiers declared themselves Christians and were beheaded. Sabbas was jailed, and after a second trial was thrown into a river and drowned, about 272.