Wereka and Batwin

Wereka and Batwin (or Ouerkas and Bathouses) were two of several Christian Gothic martyrs burned alive in church by the local district royal officer and sacred pontiff, otherwise known as goði, *Wingureiks (or Wingourichos, or Jungerik) in the 370s. Both titles in the same manner that Athanaric himself had at a larger level.^[1]

Those killed included:

• Wereka or Ouerkas, a papa or presbyter,
• Batwin or Bathouses, a bilaifs or presbyter,
• Arpulas, a monk,
• Abippas, Hagias, Ruias, Egathrax, Eskoes, Silas, Sigetzas, Swerilas, Swemblas, Therthas, and Philgas, all laymen,
• Anna, Alas, Baren, Moiko, Kamika, Oneko, and Anemais, all laywomen,
• And the four children of Wereka and Batwin.

Gaatha, her daughter Doulkilla, and Wellas, brought their relics to Cyzicus between 383 and 392. Wellas was martyred after returning north of the Danube.

Wereka and Batwin are named in both Gothic and Greek sources, but the persecutor (Wingourichos), the other martyrs, and the others, are only named in Greek sources, which may err slightly in their transliteration of Gothic names.

They were recognized as saints, with a feast day of March 26 in the Arian^{[citation needed]} calendar, and October 23 in a Gothic calendar.

See also

Germanic Christianity

References

• Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.

1. ^ Heather and Matthews, Goths in the Fourth Century, p. 119.