Martyrs Zenobius and his sister Zenobia

Zenobius and Zenobia were a brother and sister of Aegae in Cilicia in the late third century, born of Christian parents and educated in medicine. Both were physicians who treated the sick of their city without payment, having taken to heart the example of the unmercenary saints. Zenobius was eventually elected bishop of Aegae and governed the small Christian community there through the early years of the Diocletianic persecution.

In 303 he was arrested under the imperial edict and brought before the proconsul Lysias for examination. Lysias, recognizing the bishop's distinguished family, attempted at first to spare him through threats and bribes; when these failed, he ordered Zenobius placed on a red-hot iron bed. Zenobia, learning that her brother was being tortured, came to the place of the torments to comfort him, and was at once arrested and placed on the same bed beside him.

After this and other torments, the two were beheaded together. Their joint feast falls on October 30.