Post by Διαμονδ on Mar 21, 2018 9:23:06 GMT
The Suffering of the Holy 40 Martyrs of the Sebaste:
-He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live- John 11:25
In 313, St. Constantine the Great issued a decree according to which Christians were allowed freedom of religion and they were equalized with the Gentiles. But his co-ruler Licinius was a convinced pagan and in his part of the empire decided to uproot Christianity, which significantly spread there. Licinius prepared for war against Constantine and, fearing betrayal, decided to purge his army of Christians.
At that time in one Armenian city of Sevastia, one of the commanders was Agricola, a zealous supporter of paganism. Under his command was a squad of forty Cappadocians, brave warriors who emerged victorious from many battles. All of them were Christians. When the soldiers refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Agricolaus imprisoned them. The wars were given in earnest prayer and one night they heard a voice: "He who endures to the end, he shall be saved."
The next morning, the soldiers again led to Agricola. This time the pagan flattered. He began to praise their courage, youth and strength and again invited them to renounce Christ and thereby gain the honor and favor of the emperor himself. Again hearing the refusal, Agricolai ordered the soldiers to be chained. However, the eldest of them, Kirion, said: "The emperor did not give you the right to impose chains on us." Agricolai was embarrassed and ordered the soldiers to be taken to prison without fetter.
Seven days later, a noble dignitary, Licinius , arrived at Sevastia and arranged a trial of the soldiers. The saints firmly replied: "Take not only our military rank, but our lives, for us there is nothing more precious than the Christ of God." Then Lysias commanded to beat the martyrs with stones. But the stones flew past the target; The stone thrown by Lysias fell into the face of Agricola. The tormentors realized that the Saints were shielded by some invisible force. In the dungeon the soldiers spent the night in prayer and again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, will live." Be daring and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns. "
The next day, the trial and interrogation before the torturer repeated, the soldiers remained adamant.
It was winter, it was very cold. The holy soldiers were undressed, led to a lake near the city, and put on ice all night. To break the will of the martyrs, not far on the shore, the sauna was melted. In the first hour of the night, when the cold became unbearable, one of the soldiers could not stand it and ran to the bathhouse, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, he fell down dead. At three o'clock in the morning the Lord sent relief to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warm. All the guards slept, only one, Aglaius, was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a bright crown appeared over the head of each martyr. Aglaius counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. Then Aglaius woke the rest of the guards, threw off his clothes and told them: "And I am a Christian!" - and joined the martyrs. Standing in the water, he prayed: "Lord God, I believe in You, in Whom these warriors believe. Join me to them, so I will be able to suffer with Your slaves. "
The next morning, the torturers saw with surprise that the martyrs were alive, and their guard Aglaius with them glorified Christ. Then the soldiers were led out of the water and killed their legs. During this painful execution, the mother of the youngest warrior, Meliton, persuaded her son not to fear and endure everything to the end. The bodies of the martyrs were put on chariots and taken to be burned. Young Meliton was still breathing, and he was left to lie on the ground. Then the mother raised her son and carried her after her chariot on her shoulders. When Meliton sighed, his mother put him on the chariot next to the bodies of his holy companions. The bodies of the saints were burned at the stake, and the charred bones were thrown into the water so that the Christians would not gather them.
Three days later the martyrs appeared in a dream to the blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and ordered him to give their remains to the burial. The bishop, with several clerics at night, collected the remains of the glorious martyrs and buried them with honor.
The Orthodox Church commemorates their memory on March 9 (22)
www.pravoslavie.ru/1661.html
-He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live- John 11:25
In 313, St. Constantine the Great issued a decree according to which Christians were allowed freedom of religion and they were equalized with the Gentiles. But his co-ruler Licinius was a convinced pagan and in his part of the empire decided to uproot Christianity, which significantly spread there. Licinius prepared for war against Constantine and, fearing betrayal, decided to purge his army of Christians.
At that time in one Armenian city of Sevastia, one of the commanders was Agricola, a zealous supporter of paganism. Under his command was a squad of forty Cappadocians, brave warriors who emerged victorious from many battles. All of them were Christians. When the soldiers refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Agricolaus imprisoned them. The wars were given in earnest prayer and one night they heard a voice: "He who endures to the end, he shall be saved."
The next morning, the soldiers again led to Agricola. This time the pagan flattered. He began to praise their courage, youth and strength and again invited them to renounce Christ and thereby gain the honor and favor of the emperor himself. Again hearing the refusal, Agricolai ordered the soldiers to be chained. However, the eldest of them, Kirion, said: "The emperor did not give you the right to impose chains on us." Agricolai was embarrassed and ordered the soldiers to be taken to prison without fetter.
Seven days later, a noble dignitary, Licinius , arrived at Sevastia and arranged a trial of the soldiers. The saints firmly replied: "Take not only our military rank, but our lives, for us there is nothing more precious than the Christ of God." Then Lysias commanded to beat the martyrs with stones. But the stones flew past the target; The stone thrown by Lysias fell into the face of Agricola. The tormentors realized that the Saints were shielded by some invisible force. In the dungeon the soldiers spent the night in prayer and again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, will live." Be daring and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns. "
The next day, the trial and interrogation before the torturer repeated, the soldiers remained adamant.
It was winter, it was very cold. The holy soldiers were undressed, led to a lake near the city, and put on ice all night. To break the will of the martyrs, not far on the shore, the sauna was melted. In the first hour of the night, when the cold became unbearable, one of the soldiers could not stand it and ran to the bathhouse, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, he fell down dead. At three o'clock in the morning the Lord sent relief to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warm. All the guards slept, only one, Aglaius, was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a bright crown appeared over the head of each martyr. Aglaius counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. Then Aglaius woke the rest of the guards, threw off his clothes and told them: "And I am a Christian!" - and joined the martyrs. Standing in the water, he prayed: "Lord God, I believe in You, in Whom these warriors believe. Join me to them, so I will be able to suffer with Your slaves. "
The next morning, the torturers saw with surprise that the martyrs were alive, and their guard Aglaius with them glorified Christ. Then the soldiers were led out of the water and killed their legs. During this painful execution, the mother of the youngest warrior, Meliton, persuaded her son not to fear and endure everything to the end. The bodies of the martyrs were put on chariots and taken to be burned. Young Meliton was still breathing, and he was left to lie on the ground. Then the mother raised her son and carried her after her chariot on her shoulders. When Meliton sighed, his mother put him on the chariot next to the bodies of his holy companions. The bodies of the saints were burned at the stake, and the charred bones were thrown into the water so that the Christians would not gather them.
Three days later the martyrs appeared in a dream to the blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and ordered him to give their remains to the burial. The bishop, with several clerics at night, collected the remains of the glorious martyrs and buried them with honor.
The Orthodox Church commemorates their memory on March 9 (22)
www.pravoslavie.ru/1661.html
