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Arethas of Najran

6th century Miaphysite Christian leader in Najran

PersonhumanQ1565813

Also known as Aretas · Saint Arethas · Ḥārith ibn Kaʿb · Arethas

Born: 5th century
Died: 523
Birthplace: Najran
Place of death: Najran

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Arethas or Aretas, also known as Ḥārith ibn Kaʿb, was the leader of the Miaphysite Christian community of Najran in the early 6th century; he was killed during the persecution of Christians by the king of Yemen, Dhu Nuwas, in 523. News of this tragic story among the rest of the Christian persecutions quickly spread the surrounding areas until it reached the ears of Emperor Justin I of the Byzantine Empire and the Christian Kingdom of Aksum in Ethiopia, who sent in troops to depose Dhu Nuwas and end the persecution in Siege of Najran (523–525).

Overview

All data

30 statements · 13% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Sex or gender: male
Canonization status: saint
Feast day: October 24
Subject has role: martyr
3
Sources
1.Stated in Catalog of the German National LibraryRetrieved 2021-07-17
2.Stated in Integrated Authority FileRetrieved 2026-02-23
3.Stated in Integrated Authority FileRetrieved 2026-05-04
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Part of: Martyrs of Najran

Data quality

statements

13%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 18, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). Arethas of Najran (Q1565813). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/arethas-of-najran-Q1565813