Sabbas the Goth

Sabbas the Goth
Saint Sabbas's martyrdom
Born334
Buzău river valley, Romania
Died372
Buzău river valley, Romania
Venerated inEastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
Feast12 April (Western Churches)
24 April[1] (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Sabbas the Goth (Romanian: Sava Gotul, Greek: Σάββας ο Γότθος; died 12 April 372) was a Christian martyr venerated as a saint.

Born in eastern Romania, Sabbas became a Christian in his youth. Fearing that Christianity would undermine Gothic culture, King Athanaric began a persecution of Christians. Sabbas refused to eat meat that had been sacrificed to the Gothic gods. He was arrested along with Sansalas the priest, and drowned. Basil of Caesarea later obtained his relics. The Passio of Sabbas gives some insight into Gothic life and culture.