Principal characters of a Christianized version of a legend of Buddha. Josaphat, son of a 4th-century king in India, who persecuted the Christians, was kept in seclusion to prevent his conversion, which had been foretold. Bar1aam, a hermit, succeeded in converting him. His father later became a Christian and surrendered his throne. After ruling for a while, Josaphat resigned the crown and joined Barlaam in the desert. The legend is widely diffused. Barlaam and Josaphat are mentioned in the Roman Martyrology, November 27,; in the Greek calendar, August 26,.