Achatius of Armenia

Who they were

According to the passio, their leader was a Roman officer named Acacius, serving under the emperor Hadrian on a campaign in Armenia with ten thousand soldiers. After the army was defeated, an angel appeared and converted the whole army to Christianity. Though Hadrian welcomed the victory that followed, he was enraged to learn of their conversion and ordered all ten thousand crucified on Mount Ararat, summoning Rome's fiercest enemies, the Parthians and other Caucasian kings, to carry it out.

This group of martyrs remained in the Roman Martyrology until the edition before the Second Vatican Council, without naming their leader, and was removed in the new edition published by Pope John Paul II. Their relics were later distributed to many European cities, and their veneration came to be compared with that of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, with a proper Mass and Preface once granted for their feast.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Leader of the legendary Ten Thousand Martyrs crucified on Mount Ararat under Hadrian; feast 22 June.

Connected on this site

• John Paul II Saint
  “This group of martyrs remained in the Roman Martyrology until the edition before the Second Vatican Council, without naming their leader, and was removed in the new edition published by Pope John Paul II.” — this site's research