sütitad

Sütitad is a minor saint in Christian tradition, worshiped mostly in Eastern European countries, particularly in Romania and Bulgaria. According to hagiographic accounts, Sütitad was a 4th-century martyr who lived during the Roman Empire's persecution of Christians. The details of his life remain unclear, but it is widely accepted that Sütitad was arrested, tortured, and eventually executed for refusing to renounce his faith.

Despite the scarcity of information about Sütitad's life, his cult gained significant popularity in the medieval period, especially among the Eastern Orthodox faithful. Many churches and monasteries were dedicated to his memory, often featuring icons and frescoes depicting his martyrdom. His feast day, May 16th, is still celebrated by some Eastern Orthodox churches, typically with prayer services, hymns, and almsgiving.

Sütitad is often categorized as a "martyr" or an "apostle" due to his supposedly unwavering commitment to his faith in the face of adversity. While the historicity of Sütitad's existence is uncertain, his iconography and devotional context suggest that he may have been inspired by a local or regional martyr from the first centuries of Christianity. The lack of undisputed historical evidence surrounding Sütitad has led some scholars to question the relevance of his cult, while others view him as a representative figure for the early Christian in martyrdom. The historic veracity of his story and the specifics of his cult remain matters of ongoing scholarly debate.