Vata’s life is a vivid example of how faith changes people. Vata was born in Persia, in a wealthy family. Got a good education. Lived under the laws of empire. In his time he got married and had children. But one day I heard a man talking about Jesus Christ. In an instant, everything changed. Vata understood that salvation is not in idols, Mithras or fire-worship. The only way to heaven is Christ. He left his family and joined the monastery. In the 4th century, Christianity was seen as a hostile religion not only in Rome but also in Persia. The Persian king Sapor II was particularly resentful of the religion, which spread rapidly. He ordered all the monasteries to be destroyed and the monks killed. Upon learning of this, the monks fled. Vata stayed. His faith burned so brightly that he decided to die a martyr. The soldiers ordered him to recognize Mitra as a god, but Vata stubbornly confessed the name of Christ.
He was tortured. They twisted their hands, dragged them on the ground, beat them with sticks. All this time Vata glorified the name of the Lord. Eventually, his head was cut off. It happened in the city of Nizivia in 364.
Memorial Day
May 14
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
