Bishop Acacius of Amida/Diyarbakir (d. AD 425)

Acacius served as the bishop of Amida (modern Diyarbakir) in Mesopotamia for 25 years, from 400 to 425. At that time, there were seven thousand Persian prisoners who were captured by the Romans and held in Amida. Filled with compassion, Acacius sold the church’s gold and silver vessels and purchased clothing and food for the prisoners. He gave them supplies when they were able to return to Persia (modern Iran). The freed prisoners told Persia’s ruler about the love that Acacius had shown them. Acacius’ kindness helped bring an end to the war between the Persian and Roman empires, and Christians were given new freedoms in the areas controlled by the Persians. He died in 425.