early 4th century
Saint Irenarchus of Sebaste
A pagan of Sebaste who assisted the torturers of Christians and, moved by the endurance of seven women martyrs, confessed Christ and was beheaded around 303 under Diocletian.
Biography
Irenarchus came from Sebaste and was raised in a pagan family with a distaste for Christians; he even assisted their torturers during the persecutions. But his frequent contact with the martyrs, and especially the endurance of seven Christian women who withstood terrible torture without yielding, gradually changed his mind.
While those women were being tortured, Irenarchus openly confessed his faith in Christ. The confession cost him his life; he was beheaded in 303, under Diocletian, meeting death with joy.