Skip to content

St. Nerses (Narses) and Joseph

Facts

Death: 343

Author and Publisher - Catholic Online
Printable Catholic Saints PDFs
Shop St. Nerses (Narses) and Joseph

Nerses, a native of Shiarchadata, Persia (Iran), was bishop of the Persian diocese of Sahgerd in the province of Beht Garmai. The Persian king Sapor II passed through Sahgerd in the course of his continuing persecution of Christians. Nerses and a disciple of his named Joseph were brought before the king. Upon seeing the eighty-year-old bishop, Sapor was moved to compassion for the elderly prelate and his much younger disciple. The king thereupon offered to reward Nerses with riches if he would agree to adore the sun. The bishop answered that it was unthinkable for him to "tear asunder" his Christian faith by offering worship to a mere creature, the sun. Angered by this reply, Sapor threatened Nerses with immediate death if he did not obey his order to adore the sun. The bishop replied that, although the king had the power to kill them, "You could not sever us from our God." Both Nerses and Joseph were put to death by the sword.

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.