Born in the first century in what is now Turkey, they were brother and sister and both had converted to Christianity. 

Little is known about Barbea but Sarbelius was a high priest. This was during the reign of Trajan, who was the first to successfully transition from soldier to Emperor and is considered one of the five “good Roman Emperors“. 

While history has been kind to Trajan he hated Christians and to be accused of being one during his reign was a death sentence. And, so it was for Sarbelius and Barbea. 

When they were arrested the soldiers beat them, ordering them to recant. When they refused to deny Jesus, they were tortured with hot irons and then executed. 

Saints Sarbelius and Barbea, please pray for us.