Sebaste...

Today is the Feast of the Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste.  It is important that we not forget accounts like this one, especially in a world that is ever moving away from Christian-centered and toward Christian-hostile.

For those unfamiliar with the Feast, in the year 320, these forty were martyred for refusing to deny their faith in Christ.  Constantine the Great ruled and had edicted that the Christian faith was to be recognized by the Roman Empire.  But his co-ruler, Licinius, was a pagan.  He was preparing to battle Constantine for control of the Empire, and he feared that Christians in his army could not be trusted against Constantine.  And so he set out to purge Christians from his army's ranks.  Within that army were forty members from Cappadocia, who had distinguished themselves in battle.  These were offered the ability to sacrifice to idols to prove their allegiance to Licinius.  When they refused, they were locked away in prison, where during the night they heard a voice saying, "Persevere to the end, and you shall be saved."  A week later they were tried for their refusal to follow orders, to which these brave souls answered, "Take not just our positions, but also our lives, for nothing is more precious to us than our Lord Jesus Christ!"

After several attempts to bring them to an end which by the grace of God failed, the forty were cast into a freezing lake, and a guard was set to prevent their exit.  Meanwhile, a warm bath house was placed as an enticement on the bank of the lake.  During the night, one of the forty could take no more and rand to the bath house, where he fell dead.  But later that night, a light appeared, and some of the ice in the lake melted, and it is said that the waters became warm.  And then one of the guards along the shore saw crowns appearing over the heads of those still in the waters.  At this, the guard, Aglaius by name, realized that the faith of those he was guarding was indeed the truth.  He took off his own uniform and said to his fellow guards, "I too am a Christian," and he joined the others in the lake, replacing the one who had left and perished.

In the morning, the remaining guards were surprised to find that the martyrs were still alive, and Aglaius was with them, glorifying Christ.  The remaining guards led the group from the waters, broke their legs, and carted them away to an awaiting fire, where their broken bodies were cast into the flames.  Later, their charred bones were thrown into the water so that other Christians would not gather them up in honor.  But three days later, Bishop Peter of Sebaste had this revealed to him in a dream, and with several clergy they went by night and gathered the remains and buried them with great honor.

Those who suffered were Cyrion, Candidus, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivianus, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutychius, John, Xanthias, Helianus, Sisinius, Angius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdicius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion, Aglaius, and Meliton.

It is right and proper for us to remember them - by name - on this day, for that which they did in following Christ has been repeated in the world since then, and will be so until our Lord returns.  We dare not forget those who suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and of never denying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  If any doubt that such sacrifice continues even to this very day, simply take a look at the other saints we commemorate on this day, March 9th.  The list includes the New Hieromatryr Archpriest Mitrophan Buchnoff of Voronezh (1931); the New Hieromartyrs Michael, Alexis, Demetrius, Sergius and Sergius - priests, Nicholas - deacon, Hieromartyr Iosaph, and virgin martyrs Natalia and Alexandra (1938).  Let there be no doubt that Christians still suffer for the sake of the Gospel and of our Lord - even to this very day.  There are Sebaste's throughout the world, and it is unfortunate that we need not look far to find them.  A quick trip to www.persecution.org, or to YouTube with searches to find such things as temples being destroyed and icons burned and trampled only reinforces that we are in a time when it is not inconceivable that we may be called upon to follow in the footsteps and the examples of people such as these.