From the Prologue of Ochrid
Brothers by birth. They were Roman soldiers in the time of Emperor Maximian. When the Romans were warring against the Scythians beyond the Danube, Saint Orentius went out to single combat against the Scythian giant Marotus and slew him. Because of this the whole Roman army was offering sacrifices to the gods, but Orentius with his brothers declared that they were Christians and could not offer sacrifices to deaf and dumb idols. Despite their military merits, they were condemned to exile in the Caspian regions, but on the way all seven, one after another, ended their lives from hunger and torments and departed to the Kingdom of Christ.
“Zechariah did not immediately believe the words of the messenger of God, and therefore his tongue was bound with muteness, and he remained mute until the eighth day after the birth of John.”
