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Elesbaan, who also bore the given name “Kaleb”, was the king of Axum, an Ethiopian kingdom that was quite powerful in the sixth century, when Elesbaan ruled. The otherwise peaceful king was prevailed upon by Emperor Justin the Elder to declare war against a nearby kingdom, whose throne had been usurped by a Jewish convert who proceeded to persecute the Christian populace. King Elesbaan led his forces to a swift and righteous victory, restoring the Christian faith in that kingdom. Elesbaan himself laid the cornerstone for the rebuilding of the cathedral, and placed a good Christian native on the throne, who ruled with the counsel of the restored archbishop, St. Gregentios. Eventually, King Elesbaan handed over the rule of Axum to his devout son, and sent his own crown to be kept in Jerusalem, before secretly leaving his palace at night to become a hermit. He lived the rest of his life in a solitary cell in a mountaintop monastery, subsisting on bread and water, sleeping on a mat, and living a life of prayer and penance. He died in the middle of the sixth century, and was added to the Roman Martyrology about a thousand years later, even though he reigned during the beginning of Ethiopia’s fall into heresy.
THE vigil of the holy apostles Simon and Jude.
At Avila, in Spain, the Saints Vincent, Sabina and Christeta, who were first stretched on the rack in such a manner that all their limbs were dislocated; then stones being laid on their heads, and their brains beaten out with heavy bars, they terminated their martyrdom under the governor Dacian.
At Tilchatel, St. Florentius, martyr.
In Cappadocia, the holy martyrs Capitolina, and Erotheides, her handmaid, who suffered under Diocletian.
In India, St. Frumentius, bishop. While he was a captive there he was consecrated bishop by St. Athanasius, and preached the Gospel in that country.
In Ethiopia, St. Elesbaan, king, who, after having defeated the enemies of Christ and sent his royal diadem to Jerusalem, in the time of the emperor Justin, led a monastical life, as he had vowed, and went to his reward.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.