On March 9, the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church commemorate the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste. One of the most well-documented martyrdom cases, the deaths of 40 Capadocians in 320 A.D., marked a turning point in the history of the early Church and Rome.
Context of Christianity
In 313 A.D., St. Constantine the Great issued a decree that recognized Christianity as a legitimate religion in the Western Roman Empire. Co-Emperor Licinius, however, did not grant Christians religious freedom in the East. In 320 A.D., Licinius decreed that soldiers should weed out the Christians in the imperial army, fearing mutiny.
Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, carried out Licinius’ orders and commanded his troops to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods of Rome.
The Thundering Legion
The 40 martyrs of Sebaste were distinguished Roman Christian soldiers who were renowned for their fighting on the battlefield. When Agricola commanded his troops to perform sacrifices, the 40 were unbending.
“We will not sacrifice,” they said. “To do so is to betray our faith.”
Intending to persuade the 40 elite imperial soldiers, Agricola attempted to bribe them with military promotions and recognition if they only renounced Christ. When the soldiers once again refused, Agricola threatened the soldiers with torture and death.
The soldiers replied: “You can offer us nothing that would replace what we would lose in the life to come. We have learned to deny our bodies where our souls are at stake.”
Resolute in their decision, the 40 would-be martyrs stood firm in their faith.
Accounts vary on whether or not the soldiers were also flogged or stoned during interrogations. But what is known is that the soldiers were locked in prison and Agricola designed a plan to test their faith.
Trial of Faith
The soldiers were to be stripped bare in the dead of winter and forced to stand in a frozen lake at night. All the while, braziers, and warm baths were kept at the edge of the lake to entice the soldiers to relent.
The martyrs did not wait for their torturers to strip them of their clothing. Instead, they removed their clothing themselves, encouraged one another, and prayed “Lord, we are forty engaged in this contest. Grant that forty may receive crowns and that we may not fall short of that sacred number.”
During the first night, one soldier surrendered. He renounced his faith, and upon his entrance into the bath on the shore, he was struck dead from shock.
40 Crowns
Aglaius was a Roman soldier who had been watching the trial from the beginning. When he saw the first soldier lose courage, he had a vision in which he saw crowns set above the heads of the 39 soldiers on the lake. Upon seeing the vision, Aglaius immediately stripped naked, pronounced faith in Christ, and joined the remaining martyrs on the lake.
“Lord God, I believe in You, in Whom these soldiers believe,” Aglaius said. “Add me to their number, and make me worthy to suffer with Your servants.”
After three days and three nights, most of the soldiers had died or were on the verge of death. On the fourth day, the remaining soldiers were led out of the water, their legs broken, and their bodies thrown into a fire.
The mother of the youngest martyr, Miletus (Meliton), carried his body behind the wagon of his fallen comrades. Once he drew his last breath, he too was thrown into the fire.
Relics of the Martyrs
The remains and ashes were collected and thrown into a nearby river to deprive the Christian community the right of burying their dead. However, several bones were recovered and turned into religious relics for the early Church.
Modern-day Christians also welcome the Spring season and commemorate these martyrs by baking pastries that resemble skylarks.
The names of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste are:
Cyrion (or Quirio), Candidus, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunocius (Or Eunicus), Valens, Vivianus, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutychius, John, Xanthius, Helianus, Sisinius, Aglaius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdicius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion, Aglaius, and Miletus (Meliton).
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