The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste – Mar 9

The liturgical calendar of the Indian Orthodox Church commemorates the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste on March 09. Emperor Constantine, in AD 313, had issued a decree of religious tolerance, that Christianity was an official religion and gave them freedom of worship, through the Edict of Milan. However, seven years later, in AD 320 Emperor Licinius, Constantine’s co-ruler, was a pagan and against the spread of Christianity in that region, while not approving of the inclination that Constantine had for Christianity, he unleashes persecution against Christians in his part of the Empire. The ruler forced his people to renounce their faith and bow down to the pagan gods. However, forty soldiers refused to offer the sacrifice to the pagan gods, as ordered by emperor Licinius and the then Governor Agricola of Armenia was confronted with mutiny.

In the twelfth legion called “Fulminata,” stationed near Sebaste in Armenia, (present day Turkey) were forty devout Christian soldiers that formed an elite bodyguard.  St. Gregory of Nyssa and Procopius say they were of the ‘The Lightning or Thundering Legion’. They were of different countries but enrolled in the same troop; all young, comely, brave, and robust, and were become considerable for their services. This legion was famous under Marcus Aurelius, for the miraculous rain and victory obtained by their prayers.

Agricola, having signified to the army the orders of the emperor Licinius for all to sacrifice them. These forty went boldly up to him, and said they were Christians, that no torments should make them ever abandon their holy religion. They were given two alternatives: ‘Either offer sacrifice to the gods and earn great honors, or, in the event of your disobedience, be stripped of your military rank and fall into disgrace’. The governor, finding them all resolute, asked them to be torn with whips, and their sides to be rent with iron hooks; after which they were loaded with chains, and committed to jail. That night they strengthened themselves singing psalms and praying. At midnight they were filled with holy fear upon hearing the voice of the Lord. “Good is the beginning of your resolve, but he who endures to the end will be saved.” They prepared themselves for the trail of martyrdom.

After some days, Licinius, their general, coming from Caesarea to Sebaste, re-examined them.  But the soldiers were adamant and refused to sacrifice. To do so was to betray their faith in Christ. “But what about your comrades?” asked Agricola. “Consider–you alone of all Caesar’s thousands of troops defy him! Think of the disgrace you bring upon your legion!” “To disgrace the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is more terrible still,” replied the men. Exasperated, the governor threatened to flog and torture them. The soldiers stood firm, although they knew he would carry out his threat and no less generously rejected the large promises made them than they despised the torments they were threatened with. The governor, highly offended at their courage, and that liberty of speech with which they accosted him, devised an extraordinary kind of death, which, being slow and severe, he hoped would shake their constancy.

The next day, a cold winter chilly, day, the soldiers were led to a lake, with a frosty wind blowing. The soldiers were stripped of their clothes and ordered to stand through the night in the freezing waters. These forty soldiers refused to offer the sacrifice ordered by emperor Licinius. Boldly the men answered, “Nothing you can offer us would replace what we would lose in the next world. As for your threats– we despise our bodies when the welfare of our souls is at stake.”

Agricola ordered hot baths placed around the pond. He thought, surely the warm water would lure the men off the ice! They were told: “you may come ashore when you are ready to deny your faith”. To tempt them fires were built on shore, with warm baths, blankets, clothing, hot food and drinks close by. But, the crisp night air carried a prayer to all ears: “Lord, there are forty of us engaged in this battle; grant that forty may be crowned and not one be wanting from this sacred number.” As night deepened, thirty-nine men stood firm while one broke and ran to the shore. Scarcely had he reached the baths, however, than he dropped to the ground and died. Seeing this, the rest of the soldiers prayed more earnestly to God. Their prayer was heard, in the third hour of the night a warm light bathed the holy martyrs and melted the ice. By this time one of the guards who were keeping watch of the prisoners had fallen asleep. The guard who was still awake had been amazed to witness the death of the soldier who had fled to the baths and to see that those in water were still alive. Now, seeing this extra ordinary light, he glanced upwards to see where it came from and saw thirty-nine radiant crowns descending into the heads of the saints. Immediately, his heart was enlightened by the knowledge of the truth. He roused the sleeping guard and throwing off is clothes, ran into the lake shouting for all to hear, “I am a Christian too”. His name was Aglaius, and he brought the number of martyrs once gain to forty.

The next morning the evil judges came to the lake and were enraged to find that not only were the captives still alive, but that one of the guards had joined them. The martyrs were then taken back to prison and subjected to severe torture. The bones of their legs were crushed by sledgehammers. They all gave up their souls to god. The funeral pyre burned out leaving only the martyr’s bones. Knowing that Christians would collect these relics to the eternal glory of the martyrs and their God, the judges ordered them to be thrown into the nearby river. The youngest and last of these forty soldiers to die was named Melitho. His mother, who was standing by, took him in her arms and carried him to the place where the other martyrs were being burned. He died in her arms. She then laid him with the other martyrs, to be thrown into the fire.

That night, however, the holy martyrs appeared to the blessed bishop of Sebaste and told him to recover the bones from the river. Together with some of his clergy, the bishop went secretly that night to the river where the bones of the martyrs shone like stars in the water, enabling them to be collected to the very last fragment. So also do the holy martyrs shine like stars in the world, encouraging and inspiring believers everywhere to be faithful to Christ even to the end. They all were soldiers in their secular profession and martyrs to death in Christ, St George, St Demetrius, St. Sergius and St. Bacchus. Being enrolled in the military, they all could have had a glorious career; but nothing stopped them from choosing Christ over the worldly lures and achievements.

Thus, the feast of forty martyrs of Sebaste is celebrated on 9^th March, every year. May their prayers and intercessions be a fortress for us all! Those noble soldiers of the Master of all let us honor, for they were united by their faith as they passed through fire and water, and being enlisted by Christ they entered to divine refreshment. Now those pious warriors stand and intercede with Christ God for those who cry out. Glory to Him that hath given you strength. Glory to him that hath crowned you. Glory to Him that made you wondrous, Holy Forty Martyrs.