A deacon martyred for the faith in Persia in 424 A.D. during Christian persecution that lasted forty years by the Persian kings, he was imprisoned for his faith for a year and released with the help of Emperor Theodosius II, the Eastern Roman Emperor. However, it was conditioned that he no longer publicly proclaim his faith, but this he refused declaring that it was his duty to preach. He was then rearrested and then asked the king what his opinion was if any of his subjects renounced their allegiance to him and made war against him. Saint Benjamin said in this same way he could not renounce his allegiance to Christ. This enraged the king and Benjamin had to endure many cruel tortures, with reeds jammed under both his finger and toe nails and other parts of his body. He eventually died when a knotted stake was thrust into his bowels.
