# Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Martyrium quadraginta martyrum*
- Date: 4th–5th century (disputed)
- Source: Oscar von Gebhardt, ed., Ausgewählte Märtyrerakten (Berlin: Karl Curtius, 1902), item XVII, pp. 171–181 (OCR made for this site)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/
- Passages: 14

## Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (title)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-0
- Source: Gebhardt, 171
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Title of the account.

### Greek text

Μαρτύριον τῶν ἁγίων τεσσαράκοντα τῶν ἐν Σεβαστείᾳ μαρτυρησάντων.

### English translation (Claude)

Martyrdom of the holy Forty who bore witness at Sebasteia.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. pref. (Gebhardt, 171; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0).

## 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-1
- Source: Gebhardt, 171
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Forty Cappadocian soldiers refuse to sacrifice under Licinius and are imprisoned.

### Greek text

Κατὰ τοὺς καιροὺς Λικινίου τοῦ βασιλέως ἦν διωγμὸς μέγας τῶν Χριστιανῶν, καὶ πάντες οἱ εὐσεβῶς ζῶντες ἐν Χριστῷ ἠναγκάζοντο ϑύειν τοῖς ϑεοῖς, Ἀγρικολάου ἡγεμονεύοντος, λοιμοῦ καὶ ὠμοτάτου ὄντος καὶ ἐντρεχοῦς πρὸς τὴν τοῦ διαβόλου ὑπουργίαν. οἱ οὖν Χριστιανοὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ στρατιᾷ ὄντες πάντες ἠναγκάζοντο ϑύειν. ἦσαν οὖν στρατιῶται ἐκ τῆς Καππαδοκῶν χώρας ἐν νουμέρῳ ἑνὶ ζῶντες εὐσεβῶς κατὰ ϑεόν, τὸν ἀριϑμὸν τεσσαράκοντα, ἀήττητοι καὶ ἀκαταγώνιστοι ἐν πολέμοις, ὧν τὰ ὀνόματά εἶσιν ταῦτα: Δομετιανὸς Ἡσύχιος Σμάραγδος Μελίτων Ἡράκλειος Ἀλέξανδρος Εὐτύχιος Λυσίμαχος Ἀϑανάσιος Κύριλλος Εὐνοϊχὸς Σευηριανὸς Ἐχδίκιος Ἀκάκιος Ἰωάννης Σακέρδων Γοργόνιος Οὐαλέριος Ἡλιανὸς Σισίνιος Ἀγγίας Φιλοχτήμων Οὐάλης Κλαύδιος Πρίσκος Φλάβιος Ἀέτιος Χουδίων Θεόδουλος Ἡλίας Ξανϑιος Γάϊος Κυρίων Βιβιανὸς Δόμνος Εὔτυχος Λεόντιος Νίκαλλος Κάνδιδος Θεόφιλος. οὗτοι χρατηϑέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος ἠναγκάζοντο ϑύειν τοῖς δαίμοσιν. ἤρξατο οὖν ὃ ἡγεμὼν λέγειν αὐτοῖς. Τὸ σύμφωνον ὑμῶν ἐν πολέμοις ἐπιδείξαντες καὶ διὰ τῆς ὁμονοίας τὴν νίκην ἀεὶ ἀμφοτέρῳ τῷ στρατοπέδῳ παρασχόντες, δείξατε καὶ νῦν τὴν συμφωνίαν ὑμῶν καὶ πείσϑητε ὁμοθυμαδὸν τοῖς τοῦ βασιλέως νόμοις καὶ ϑύσατε τοῖς ϑεοῖς πρὸ τῶν κολάσεων. ἀποχρίνονται oí ἅγιοι καὶ λέγουσιν τῷ τυράννῳ" Ei ὑπὲρ ϑνητοῦ βασιλέως πολεμοῦντες ἐνικῶμεν, ὡς σὺ μαρτυρεῖς, πόσῳ γε μᾶλλον ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀϑανάτου ἀγωνιζόμενοι νικήσομέν σου τὴν κακότεχνον γνώμην. Ἀγρικόλαος ὁ ἡγεμὼν λέγει. Ἓν ἐκ τῶν δύο πρόχειται ὑμῖν" ἢ ϑύσαντας τοῖς ϑεοῖς προκοπῆς καὶ τιμῆς ἀξιοῦσϑαι, ἢ μὴ πεισϑέντας ἀφαιρεϑῆναι τῆς ζώνης καὶ τῆς στρατείας. σκέψασθε οὖν καὶ ἐχλέξασϑε τὸ συμφέρον ὑμῖν. οἱ ἅγιοι λέγουσιν" Τὸ συμφέρον ἡμῖν κύριος μεριμνήσει. ὁ ἡγεμὼν λέγει· Μὴ πολυλογεῖτε, ἀλλὰ αὔριον προσελϑόντες ϑύσατε τοῖς ϑεοῖς. καὶ ἐχέλευσεν αὐτοὺς βληϑῆναι ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ. εἰσελϑόντες δὲ ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ ἔχαμψαν τὰ γόνατα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐδεήϑησαν τῷ κυρίῳ λέγοντες Ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς, κύριε, ἀπὸ πειρατηρίων καὶ ἀπὸ σκανδάλων τῶν ἐργαζομένων τὴν ἀνομίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

In the times of the emperor Licinius there was a great persecution of the Christians, and all who lived godly lives in Christ were being compelled to sacrifice to the gods, while Agricolaus was governor, a pestilent and most cruel man, adept in the service of the devil. So the Christians in the army were all being compelled to sacrifice. Now there were soldiers from the land of the Cappadocians in one unit, living godly lives according to God, forty in number, unbeaten and unconquerable in war, whose names are these: Domitian, Hesychius, Smaragdus, Meliton, Heraclius, Alexander, Eutychius, Lysimachus, Athanasius, Cyril, Eunoicus, Severian, Ecdicius, Acacius, John, Sacerdon, Gorgonius, Valerius, Helianus, Sisinius, Angias, Philoctemon, Valens, Claudius, Priscus, Flavius, Aetius, Chudion, Theodulus, Elias, Xanthius, Gaius, Cyrion, Vivianus, Domnus, Eutyches, Leontius, Nicallus, Candidus, Theophilus. These were seized by the governor and were being compelled to sacrifice to the demons. The governor began to say to them, “You have shown your concord in war, and through your unity you have always given victory to the whole army; show your concord now too: obey the emperor's laws with one accord and sacrifice to the gods before the punishments begin.” The saints answered and said to the tyrant, “If, fighting for a mortal king, we conquered, as you testify, how much more, contending for the immortal King, shall we conquer your evil-crafted purpose.” Agricolaus the governor said, “One of two things lies before you: either to sacrifice to the gods and be thought worthy of promotion and honor, or, if you do not obey, to be stripped of your belt and your military service. So consider and choose what is to your advantage.” The saints said, “The Lord will take thought for what is to our advantage.” The governor said, “Do not talk so much; come tomorrow and sacrifice to the gods.” And he ordered them to be thrown into prison. Entering the prison, they bent their knees and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Deliver us, Lord, from trials and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.”

### Scripture references

- 2 Tim 3:12: echo, medium confidence
- Ps 141:9 (140:9 LXX): allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “All who lived godly lives in Christ”: cf. 2 Tim 3:12. The closing prayer echoes Ps 141:9 (LXX 140:9). The list of names differs slightly from that in the Testament of the Forty.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 1 (Gebhardt, 171; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/1).

## 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-2
- Source: Gebhardt, 171
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In prison the Forty sing Psalm 91 and Christ appears to them.

### Greek text

Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης ἤρξαντο ψάλλειν τὸν ψαλμὸν τοῦτον" Ὃ κατοικῶν ἐν βοηϑείᾳ τοῦ ὑψίστου, ἐν σκέπῃ τοῦ ϑεοῦ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αὐλισϑήσεται" ἐρεῖ τῷ κυρίῳ ἀντιλήπτωρ μου εἶ xai καταφυγή μου, ὁ ϑεός μου, ἐλπιῶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ" ὅτι αὐτὸς ῥύσεταί με ἐκ παγίδος ϑηρευτῶν καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου ταραχώδους. καὶ διελθόντες τὸν ψαλμὸν προσηύξαντο, καὶ ἀναστάντες πάλιν ἔψαλλον μέχρι μεσονυκτίου. προηγεῖτο δὲ αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς ψαλμοῖς ὁ ἅγιος Κυρίων, ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν οἱ ἅγιοι Κάνδιδος καὶ Δόμνος. καὶ ἐπιφανεὶς αὐτοῖς ὃ σωτὴρ εἶπεν. 'H πρόϑεσις ὑμῶν καλή, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ ὑπομείνας εἰς τέλος, οὗτος σωϑήσεται. πάντες δὲ ἤκουσαν τῆς φωνῆς ταύτης, καὶ γενόμενοι ἔμφοβοι ἄυπνοι διετέλουν ἕως ὄρϑρου.

### English translation (Claude)

When evening came they began to sing this psalm: “He who dwells in the help of the Most High will lodge in the shelter of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord, ‘You are my helper and my refuge, my God; I will hope in him.’ For he will rescue me from the snare of the hunters and from a troubling word.” And when they had gone through the psalm they prayed, and rising they sang psalms again until midnight. Saint Cyrion led them in the psalms, and Saints Candidus and Domnus in the responses. And the Savior appeared to them and said, “Your purpose is good; but he who endures to the end will be saved.” All heard this voice and, filled with fear, stayed awake until dawn.

### Scripture references

- Ps 91:1 (90:1 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- Matt 10:22: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 91:1–3 (LXX 90:1–3); Matt 10:22.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 2 (Gebhardt, 171; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/2).

## Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-3
- Source: Gebhardt, 173
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The governor flatters the Forty; Candidus mocks his name; Cyrion encourages them.

### Greek text

Μετακαλεσάμενος δὲ ὃ ἡγεμὼν πάντας τοὺς φίλους αὐτοῦ ἐχέλευσεν ἀχϑῆναι τοὺς ἁγίους. καὶ ἐλϑόντες οἱ τεσσαράκοντα ἔστησαν ἔμπροσϑεν τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, καὶ ἤρξατο λέγειν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἡγεμών. Ὃ ἔχω εἰπεῖν οὐ πρὸς χάριν λέγω, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἔστιν. ὅσοι στρατιῶταί εἶσιν ὑπὸ τὸν αὐτοχράτορα, οὐκ εἰσὶν καϑʼ ὑμᾶς οὐδὲ οὕτως σοφοί, οὐδὲ οὕτως ὡραῖοι, οὐδὲ οὕτως ἀγαπώμενοι ἡμῖν" μὴ οὖν τὴν ἀγάπην εἰς μῖσος μετενέγκητε. τοῦτο γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔστιν τὸ μισῆσαι καὶ τὸ ἀγαπῆσαι. Κάνδιδος λέγει: Καλῶς ἐπεχλήϑη τὸ ὄνομά σου ᾿Αγρικόλαος " ἄγριος γὰρ ei κολακευτής. ὁ ἡγεμὼν λέγει: Οὐκ εἶπον ὅτι ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν τὸ μισῆσαι καὶ τὸ ἀγαπῆσαι; Κάνδιδος εἶπεν" ᾿Επειδὴ ἐν ἡμῖν ἔστιν τὸ μισῆσαι καὶ τὸ ἀγαπῆσαι, σὲ μισοῦμεν καὶ τὸν ϑεὸν ἡμῶν ἀγαπῶμεν. σὺ οὖν, ἄγριε, μισούμενε ὑπὸ τοῦ ϑεοῦ ἡμῶν, μὴ αἱροῦ ἀγαπᾶν ἡμᾶς, ἀνόσιε καὶ βάσκανε καὶ κεκαλυμμένε ὑπὸ τοῦ σκότους, ἀγριώνυμε. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼν καὶ βρύξας ὡς λέων ἐκέλευσεν δεϑῆναι αὐτοὺς καὶ συρέντας ἀχϑῆναι ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ. ὁ ἅγιος Κυρίων λέγει" Οὐχ ἔλαβες ἐξουσίαν κολάζειν ἡμᾶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπερωτᾶν. τότε φοβηϑεὶς ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἐκέλευσεν ἀνέτως αὐτοὺς ἀπαχϑῆναι ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ, παραγγείλας ᾿Αγλαΐῳ τῷ καπικλαρίῳ ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν αὐτούς" ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοῦ δουκὸς παρουσίαν. Δι᾽ ὅλης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ δι᾽ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς ἐδιδάσχοντο ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Κυρίωνος. ἔλεγεν γὰρ αὐτοῖς" Κατ᾽ οἰκονομίαν ϑεοῦ ἑταῖροι ἐγενόμεϑα ἐν τῇ προσκαίρῳ ταύτῃ στρατείᾳ" μὴ οὖν ἀποχωρισϑῶμεν ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων, ἀλλ ὡς ἐζήσαμεν ὁμοψύχως καὶ ὁμοφρόνως, οὕτως καὶ μαρτυρήσωμεν, καὶ ὡς ἐνταῦϑα δόχιμοι ἐγενόμεϑα τῷ προσκαίρῳ βασιλεῖ, οὕτως σπουδάσωμεν δόκιμοι εὑρεϑῆναι τῷ ϑεῷ τῷ μεγάλῳ βασιλεῖ.

### English translation (Claude)

The governor called together all his friends and ordered the saints to be brought. The forty came and stood before the governor, and the governor began to speak to them: “What I have to say I do not say to please you, but as it is: of all the soldiers under the emperor, none are like you—none so wise, none so handsome, none so loved by us. Do not, then, turn love into hatred; for it rests with you whether we hate or love.” Candidus said, “Your name was well given, Agricolaus; for you are a wild flatterer.” The governor said, “Did I not say that it rests with you to hate and to love?” Candidus said, “Since it rests with us to hate and to love, we hate you and love our God. So you, wild one, hated by our God, do not choose to love us, you impious, envious man, wrapped in darkness, you of savage name.” Hearing this, the governor gnashed his teeth like a lion and ordered them to be bound and dragged off to prison. Saint Cyrion said, “You have not received authority to punish us, but to question us.” Then the governor, afraid, ordered them to be taken back to prison without bonds, charging Aglaius the jailer to guard them securely; for he was awaiting the arrival of the dux. Through the whole day and the whole night they were taught by Saint Cyrion. For he said to them, “By God's dispensation we became comrades in this temporal service; let us not be separated from one another, but as we have lived with one soul and one mind, so let us also bear witness; and as here we proved ourselves to the temporal king, so let us be eager to be found approved by God, the great King.”

### Translation notes

- The pun: Agricolaus (Ἀγρικόλαος) is heard as ἄγριος (“wild”) plus κόλαξ (“flatterer”). The dux was the military commander of the region.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 3 (Gebhardt, 173; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/3).

## 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-4
- Source: Gebhardt, 173
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Cyrion recalls God's help in battle and leads them in Psalm 54.

### Greek text

Διελθουσῶν δὲ ἡμερῶν ἑπτὰ καὶ ὄντων τῶν ἁγίων ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ, παρεγένετο καὶ ὁ δοὺξ ἀπὸ Καισαρείας. καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν Σεβαστείαν, καὶ καϑίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος μετὰ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐχέλευσεν ἀχϑῆναι τοὺς ἁγίους. ἀγομένων δὲ αὐτῶν παρῄνει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἅγιος Κυρίων λέγων" ᾿Αδελφοί, μὴ φοβηϑῶμεν. οὐχὶ ὅταν ἐν πολέμοις εὑρέϑημεν ἐπεκαλούμεϑα τὸν ϑεὸν καὶ ἐβοήϑει ἡμῖν καὶ ἐνικῶμεν; μνημονεύετε ὅτε συνήψαμεν ἐν τῷ μεγάλῳ πολέμῳ, καὶ πάντες ἔφυγον καὶ ἡμεῖς μόνοι οἱ τεσσαράκοντα μέσον αὐτῶν εὑρέϑημεν, καὶ μετὰ δαχρύων ἐπεκαλεσάμεϑα τὸν ϑεόν, καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ ϑεὸς δύναμιν, καὶ τοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν ἀπεκτείναμεν, τοὺς δὲ ἐδιώξαμεν, καὶ εἷς ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπλήγη ἐκ τοῦ τοσούτου πλήϑους. νῦν οὖν τρεῖς εἶσιν οἱ πολεμοῦντες ἡμᾶς" ὁ σατανᾶς καὶ ὁ δοὺξ καὶ ὁ ἡγεμών. ὅλως δὲ εἷς ἐστιν καὶ οὗτος ἀόρατος· ὁ οὖν εἷς, ἵνα τοὺς τεσσαράκοντα νικήση; μὴ γένοιτο, μή. παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἐπικαλεσώμεϑα ὡς πάντοτε καὶ νῦν τὸν ϑεόν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἡμῶν ἅψηται κολαστήρια οὔτε βάσανοι οὔτε δεσμά. οὐχὶ πάντοτε ὅταν ἠρξάμεϑα πολεμεῖν, ἐλέγομεν τὸν ψαλμὸν τοῦτον" Ὁ ϑεός, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου σῶσόν με, καὶ ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου κρινεῖς με. ὁ ϑεός, εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου, ἐνώτισαι τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου; καὶ τὰ νῦν τοῦτον εἴπωμεν τὸν ψαλμόν͵ καὶ ἀκούει ἡμῶν ὁ ϑεὸς καὶ βοηϑεῖ ἡμῖν. καὶ ἀγόμενοι πρὸς τοὺς τυράννους τοῦτον ἔλεγον τὸν ψαλμόν.

### English translation (Claude)

When seven days had passed, with the saints in prison, the dux arrived from Caesarea. Coming to Sebasteia and taking his seat on the tribunal with the governor on the eighth day, he ordered the saints to be brought. As they were being led, Saint Cyrion exhorted them, saying, “Brothers, let us not be afraid. Did we not, when we were in battle, call on God, and he helped us and we conquered? Remember when we joined battle in the great war, and all fled, and we forty alone were left in the midst of them; with tears we called on God, and God gave us strength, and some of them we killed and others we pursued, and not one of us was struck by so great a multitude. Now three are those who fight against us: Satan, the dux, and the governor. Yet in truth there is only one, and he is invisible: shall the one, then, conquer the forty? May it never be—never! So I urge you: let us call on God now as always, and no punishments or tortures or bonds will touch us. Did we not always, when we began to fight, say this psalm: ‘O God, save me by your name, and in your power you will judge me. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth’? Let us say this psalm now too, and God hears us and helps us.” And as they were led to the tyrants they said this psalm.

### Scripture references

- Ps 54:1 (53:3 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 54:1–2 (LXX 53:3–4).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 4 (Gebhardt, 173; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/4).

## 5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-5
- Source: Gebhardt, 173
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The torturers strike one another and the dux strikes the governor; the Forty stand firm.

### Greek text

Καὶ πάντες συνῆλϑον ϑεωρῆσαι. σταϑέντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἔμπροσϑεν τοῦ δουχὸς καὶ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, ἀτενίσας εἰς αὐτοὺς ὁ δοὺξ εἶπενʼ Οὗτοι ἀναγκασϑῆναι ϑέλουσιν, ἵνα περισσοτέρας τιμῆς ἀξιωϑῶσιν. εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς Ἕξετε παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ τιμὰς μεγίστας καὶ δωρεὰς πλείους τῶν ἄλλων· λοιπὸν ἕν ἐκ τῶν δύο πρόκειται ὑμῖνʼ ἢ ϑύσαντας τοῖς ϑεοῖς μεγίστων δωρεῶν καὶ τιμῆς ἀξιωϑῆναι, ἢ μὴ πεισϑέντας ἀφαιρεϑῆναι τῆς ζώνης καὶ τῆς στρατείας καὶ ἐντεῦϑεν ἤδη παραδοϑῆναι ταῖς τιμωρίαις. Κάνδιδος λέγειʼ Δέχου καὶ τὰς ζώνας ἡμῶν καὶ τὰ σώματαʼ οὐδὲν γὰρ ἡμῖν Χριστοῦ προτιμότερον. τότε ὁ δοὺξ ἐχέλευσεν λίϑοις τὰς ὄψεις αὐτῶν δέρεσϑαι. Κάνδιδος λέγει. Ὁδηγὲ τοῦ σκότους καὶ πάσης ἀνομίας διδάσκαλε, ἐπιχείρησον τοῦτο ποιεῖν καὶ ὄψει τὴν τιμωρίαν σου. βρύξας δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼν κατὰ τῶν ὑπουργούντων στρατιωτῶν εἶπενʼ Ὦ κάκιστοι ὑπηρέται, διὰ τί τὸ τάχος οὐ ποιεῖτε τὰ κελευόμενα ὑμῖν; ἐπάραντες δὲ οἱ ὑπηρέται τοὺς λίϑους ἀλλήλους ἔτυπτον. οἱ δὲ ἅγιοι ἰδόντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἐθαρσοποιήϑησαν. ὑπερζέσας δὲ τῇ χολῇ ὁ δοὺξ ἄρας λίϑον ἵνα κρούση ἕνα τῶν ἁγίων, κατὰ τῆς ὄψεως τοῦ ἡγεμόνος ἤνεγκεν τὸν λίϑον καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτοῦ τὴν ὄψιν. ὁ ἅγιος Κυρίων λέγει᾽ Οἱ πολεμοῦντες ἡμᾶς καὶ οἱ ἐχϑροὶ ἡμῶν αὐτοὶ ἠσϑένησαν καὶ ἔπεσαν᾽ ὄντως ἡ ῥομφαία αὐτῶν εἰσέλϑοι εἰς καρδίαν αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τόξα αὐτῶν συντριβείη. ὁ ἡγεμὼν λέγει· Μὰ τοὺς ϑεούς, ἐνταῦϑα γοητεία τις προεχώρησεν. ὁ ἅγιος Δόμνος λέγει· Μὰ τὸν ϑεόν, ὁ ἡμέτερος ϑεὸς προεχώρησεν, τὰ γὰρ ἀναίσχυντα πρόσωπα ὑμῶν τὰ λαλοῦντα κατὰ τοῦ ϑεοῦ ἀδικίαν ἀτιμίας ἐπλήρωσεν᾽ οὐκ αἰσϑάνη, βύϑιε καὶ σκοτεινὲ διάβολε καὶ ἀλλότριε τῆς ἀληϑείας; ὁ χορηγὸς τῶν σχανδάλων, ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ διαβόλου σὺ εἶ, ᾿Αγρικόλαε, καὶ ἡ οὐρὰ Λυσίας ὁ δοὺξ ὁ σὺν σοί. ὑμεῖς οἱ δύο ὑπηρέται ἐστὲ τοῦ σατανᾶ. ἐπεὶ οὐ πείϑει ὑμᾶς ἡ πρώτη ἀρχὴ τῶν βασάνων, ἐπιχειρήσατε καὶ πρὸς δευτέραν. οἱ ὑπηρέται λέγουσι τοῖς ἁγίοις· Ἀπονενοημένοι καὶ πάσης τῆς τῶν ϑεῶν εὐμενείας ἐχϑροὶ καὶ ἀλλότριοι, διὰ τί οὐ ϑύετε τοῖς ϑεοῖς; ὁ ἅγιος Κυρίων λέγει": Ἡμεῖς ἑνὶ προσοικειούμεϑα ϑεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, σπουδάζοντες πληρῶσαι τὴν προϑυμίαν τοῦ δρόμου τῆς ἀϑλήσεως ἡμῶν καὶ τοὺς στεφάνους δέξασθαι τῆς ἀφϑαρσίας, νικήσαντες ὑμῶν τὴν κακότεχνον ἐπίνοιαν.

### English translation (Claude)

And everyone gathered to watch. When they stood before the dux and the governor, the dux gazed at them and said, “These men want to be compelled, so that they may be thought worthy of greater honor.” And he said to them, “You will have from me the greatest honors and gifts beyond the rest. Now then, one of two things lies before you: either to sacrifice to the gods and be thought worthy of the greatest gifts and honor, or, if you do not obey, to be stripped of your belt and your military service and from now on be handed over to punishments.” Candidus said, “Take both our belts and our bodies; for nothing is more precious to us than Christ.” Then the dux ordered their faces to be beaten with stones. Candidus said, “Guide of darkness and teacher of all lawlessness, try to do this, and you will see your own punishment.” The governor, gnashing his teeth at the soldiers serving him, said, “You worthless servants, why do you not quickly do what you are ordered?” The servants raised the stones—and struck one another. The saints, seeing what had happened, took courage. The dux, boiling over with rage, picked up a stone to strike one of the saints, but brought the stone down on the governor's face and smashed his face. Saint Cyrion said, “Those who fight against us, our enemies, have themselves grown weak and fallen; truly may their sword enter their own heart, and may their bows be broken.” The governor said, “By the gods, some sorcery has been at work here.” Saint Domnus said, “By God, it is our God who has been at work; for he has filled with dishonor your shameless faces that speak injustice against God. Do you not perceive it, you devil of the deep and dark, stranger to the truth? The leader of stumbling blocks, the head of the devil, are you, Agricolaus, and the tail is Lysias the dux who is with you. You two are servants of Satan. Since the first onset of the tortures did not persuade you, try the second as well.” The servants said to the saints, “Desperate men, enemies and strangers to all the favor of the gods, why do you not sacrifice to the gods?” Saint Cyrion said, “We are bound as kin to one God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, eager to complete with zeal the course of our contest and to receive the crowns of incorruption, having conquered your evil-crafted design.”

### Scripture references

- Ps 27:2 (26:2 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- Ps 37:15 (36:15 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 27:2 (LXX 26:2); Ps 37:15 (LXX 36:15). Some witnesses name the dux Lysimachus instead of Lysias.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 5 (Gebhardt, 173; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/5).

## Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste 6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-6
- Source: Gebhardt, 176
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In prison the Forty sing Psalm 123 and Christ encourages them.

### Greek text

Τότε ὁ δοὺξ ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς ἀπαχϑῆναι ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ, ὅπως σχέψηται τὰ περὶ αὐτῶν. εἰσελϑόντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ φυλαχῇ ἤρξατο ὁ ἅγιος Κυρίων ψάλλειν σὺν πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς. Πρὸς σὲ ἦρα τοὺς ὀφϑαλμούς μου, τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ" ἰδοὺ ὡς ὀφϑαλμοὶ δούλων εἰς χεῖρας τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν, ὡς ὀφϑαλμοὶ παιδίσκης εἰς χεῖρας τῆς κυρίας αὐτῆς, οὕτως οἱ ὀφϑαλμοὶ ἡμῶν πρὸς κύριον τὸν ϑεὸν ἡμῶν, ἕως οὗ οἰκτειρῆσαι ἡμᾶς. ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, κύριε, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς τοῦ ψαλμοῦ ἐστιχολόγουν. καὶ μετὰ τὴν προσευχὴν περὶ ὥραν ἕκτην τῆς νυκτὸς φῶς ἐγένετο περὶ αὐτούς, ἐμφανισϑέντος αὐτοῖς τοῦ σωτῆρος καὶ λέγοντος᾽ Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ κἂν ἀποϑάνῃ ζήσεται. ϑαρσεῖτε, μὴ φοβεῖσϑε αὐτῶν τὰς βασάνους, πρόσκαιροι γάρ εἰσιν· ὑπομείνατε μικρόν, νομίμως ἀϑλήσατε, ἵνα στεφανωϑῆτε. διῆγον δὲ καὶ τὴν νύχτα ἐκείνην ἀγαλλιώμενοι ἐπὶ τῇ προτροπῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

### English translation (Claude)

Then the dux ordered them to be taken off to prison, so that he might consider their case. When they had entered the prison, Saint Cyrion began to sing psalms with all of them: “To you I lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has pity on us. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.” And they recited the rest of the psalm verse by verse. After the prayer, about the sixth hour of the night, a light shone around them, as the Savior appeared to them and said, “He who believes in me, though he die, shall live. Take courage; do not fear their tortures, for they last only for a time. Endure a little while; contend according to the rules, that you may be crowned.” And they spent that night too rejoicing at Christ's encouragement.

### Scripture references

- Ps 123:1 (122:1 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- John 11:25: quotation, high confidence
- 2 Tim 2:5: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 123:1–3 (LXX 122:1–3); John 11:25; 2 Tim 2:5.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 6 (Gebhardt, 176; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/6).

## 7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-7
- Source: Gebhardt, 176
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Forty are set naked on the frozen lake, with a heated bath nearby for any who yield.

### Greek text

πρωΐας δὲ γενομένης, τῇ ἐνάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, ἐκέλευσαν ἐκβληϑῆναι αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς καὶ ἀχϑῆναι. καὶ σταϑέντες ἔμπροσϑεν τῶν τυράννων εἶπον" Ὃ ϑέλετε ποιεῖν ποιεῖτε. ἐφάνη δὲ καὶ ὁ διάβολος τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ κατέχων μάχαιραν, τῇ δὲ ἀριστερᾷ δράκοντα" ἔλεγεν δὲ πρὸς τὸ οὖς ᾿Αγρικολάου· Ἐμὸς εἶ, ἀγωνίζου. ἐκέλευσεν δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼν δεϑέντας αὐτοὺς καὶ σχοινισϑέντας εἰς τοὺς τραχήλους ἄγεσθαι πάντας ὁμοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν λίμνην. ἔστιν δὲ ἐν τῇ Σεβαστείᾳ λίμνη ἔχουσα ὕδωρ πολύ" κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον, ὅτε οἱ ἅγιοι ἐμαρτύρησαν, εἶχεν κρύος μέγα. ἀγαγόντες δὲ αὐτοὺς ἔστησαν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς λίμνης γυμνούς. ἦν γὰρ καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ χειμέριος καὶ ἡ ὥρα δριμυτάτη, πρὸς ἑσπέραν γὰρ ἦν ἤδη ἡ ἡμέρα. παρεκατέστησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς φύλακας στρατιώτας καὶ τὸν καπικλάριον. ἐγγὺς δὲ τῆς λίμνης ἦν βαλανεῖον, ὃ καὶ ἐξεπύρωσαν, ὅπως ἐάν τις ϑέλῃ ἐξ αὐτῶν παραβῆναι, προσφύγῃ τῷ βαλανείῳ.

### English translation (Claude)

When morning came, on the ninth day, they ordered them to be brought out of the prison and led in. Standing before the tyrants they said, “Do what you want to do.” And the devil appeared too, holding a sword in his right hand and a serpent in his left; and he said into Agricolaus's ear, “You are mine; fight on.” The governor ordered them to be bound, roped together by their necks, and all led together to the lake. There is a lake at Sebasteia with much water, and at the time when the saints bore witness it was in hard frost. They led them there and stood them naked in the middle of the lake. For the air was wintry and the hour most bitter, since the day was already turning toward evening. They set soldiers as guards over them, and the jailer. Near the lake there was a bath, which they also heated, so that if any of them wished to transgress, he might take refuge in the bath.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 7 (Gebhardt, 176; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/7).

## 8

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-8
- Source: Gebhardt, 176
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: One soldier deserts to the bath and dies; the rest pray from the frozen lake.

### Greek text

Ὥρᾳ δὲ πρώτῃ τῆς νυχτὸς ἐσφίγγοντο ὑπὸ τοῦ κρύους οἱ ἅγιοι καὶ περιταϑέντα τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν διερρήγνυντο. εἷς δέ τις ἐκ τοῦ ἀριϑμοῦ τῶν τεσσαράκοντα λιποτακτήσας προσέφυγεν τῷ βαλανείῳ, καὶ ἁψάμενος τῆς ϑέρμης εὐθέως διελίϑη, καὶ οὕτως ἀπέδωκεν τὴν ψυχήν. οἱ δὲ ἅγιοι ἰδόντες ἐκεῖνον λιποτακτήσαντα εἶπαν ὡς ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος μιᾷ φωνῇ Μὴ ἐν ποταμοῖς ὠργίσϑης, κύριε; ἢ ἐν ποταμοῖς ὁ ϑυμός σου; ἢ ἐν ϑαλάσσῃ τὸ ὅρμημά σου; ὁ γὰρ ἀποχωρισϑεὶς ἀφʼ ἡμῶν ὡς ὕδωρ ἐξεχύϑη καὶ διεσκορπίσϑη πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ. ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐ μὴ ἀποστῶμεν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἕως οὗ ζωώσεις ἡμᾶς, καὶ τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐπικαλεσόμεϑα· ὃν ὑμνεῖ πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις, δράκοντες καὶ πᾶσαι ἄβυσσοι, πῦρ, χάλαζα, χιών, χρύσταλλος, πνεῦμα καταιγίδος, τὰ ποιοῦντα τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ" ὃ περιπατῶν ἐπὶ ϑαλάσσης ὡς ἐπὶ ἐδάφους καὶ ἀγριαινομένην αὐτὴν τῷ νεύματι τῆς χειρός σου καταπραΰνων. καὶ νῦν ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, κύριε, ὁ ἐπακούσας ᾿Ιακὼβ προσευχομένου φεύγοντος τὴν ἀπειλὴν Ἠσαῦ" ὁ τῷ Ἰωσήφ συμπραϑεὶς καὶ σώσας αὐτόν· ὁ ἐπακούσας Μωῦσέως διδόντος σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ἐν Φαραὼ καὶ ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ, ῥηγνύντος τὴν ϑάλασσαν καὶ ἐν ἐρήμῳ ὁδηγοῦντος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ· ὁ ἐπακούσας τῶν ἁγίων σου ἀποστόλων, καὶ ἡμῶν ἐπάκουσον, κύριε, καὶ μὴ καταποντισάτω ἡμᾶς καταιγὶς ὕδατος μηδὲ καταπιέτω ἡμᾶς βυϑός, ὅτι ἐπτωχεύσαμεν σφόδρα. βοήϑησον ἡμῖν, ὁ ϑεὸς ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ὅτε ἔστημεν ἐν βυϑῷ ϑαλάσσης καὶ ἐβάφησαν οἱ πόδες ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ αἵματι ἡμῶν᾽ ἐλάφρυνον τὸ βάρος ἡμῶν καὶ τὴν πικρίαν τοῦ ἀέρος, κύριε ὁ ϑεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ γνώτωσαν πάντες ὅτε πρὸς σὲ ἐκεκράξαμεν καὶ ἐσώϑημεν, ἐπὶ σοὶ ἠλπίσαμεν καὶ οὐ κατησχύνϑημεν.

### English translation (Claude)

At the first hour of the night the saints were gripped by the frost, and their bodies, frozen stiff, began to crack open. One of the number of the forty deserted his post and fled to the bath; and as soon as he touched the heat he dissolved, and so gave up his soul. The saints, seeing him desert, said as from one mouth, with one voice: “Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Or is your wrath against the rivers, or your onrush against the sea? For he who separated himself from us was poured out like water, and all his bones were scattered. But we will not depart from you until you give us life, and we will call on your name—you whom all creation hymns, dragons and all deeps, fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy wind, which do your word; you who walk on the sea as on dry ground and calm it with a nod of your hand when it rages. And now you are the same, Lord, who heard Jacob praying as he fled from the threat of Esau; who was sold together with Joseph and saved him; who heard Moses as he worked signs and wonders in Egypt, against Pharaoh and his people, as he split the sea and led his people in the wilderness; who heard your holy apostles: hear us too, Lord, and let not the storm of water drown us, nor the deep swallow us, for we have become very poor. Help us, O God our Savior, for we have stood in the depth of the sea, and our feet have been dipped in our own blood. Lighten our burden and the bitterness of the air, Lord our God, and let all know that we cried to you and were saved; we hoped in you and were not put to shame.”

### Scripture references

- Hab 3:8: quotation, high confidence
- Ps 22:14 (21:15 LXX): allusion, high confidence
- Ps 80:18 (79:19 LXX): allusion, medium confidence
- Ps 148:7: allusion, high confidence
- Gen 32:11: allusion, medium confidence
- Gen 37:28: echo, low confidence
- Exod 14:21: allusion, medium confidence
- Ps 69:15 (68:16 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- Ps 79:8 (78:8 LXX): allusion, high confidence
- Ps 22:5 (21:6 LXX): allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The prayer weaves together Hab 3:8; Ps 22:14 (LXX 21:15); Ps 80:18 (LXX 79:19); Ps 148:7–8; Gen 32:9–12; Ps 69:15 (LXX 68:16); Ps 79:8–9 (LXX 78:8–9); Ps 22:5 (LXX 21:6). “Frozen stiff” renders a doubtful word (περιταθέντα, probably for περιπαγέντα).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 8 (Gebhardt, 176; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/8).

## Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste 9

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-9
- Source: Gebhardt, 178
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The jailer sees thirty-nine crowns descend and joins the martyrs.

### Greek text

Καὶ ὡς περὶ ὥραν τρίτην τῆς νυχτὸς ἥλιος ἔλαμψεν περὶ αὐτοὺς ϑερμὸς ὡς ἐν ϑέρει καὶ ἐλύϑη τὸ κρύος καὶ ἐγένετο τὸ ὕδωρ ϑερμόν. πάντες δὲ οἱ φυλάσσοντες αὐτοὺς ὕπνῳ κατείχοντο, μόνος δὲ ὁ καπικλάριος ἦν γρηγορῶν καὶ ἀκροώμενος προσευχομένων αὐτῶν καὶ ἐννοῶν πῶς ὁ προσφυγὼν τῷ βαλανείῳ εὐϑέως ἀπὸ τῆς ϑέρμης ἐτελεύτησεν, καὶ οὗτοι μέχρι τοῦ νῦν ζῶσιν, καὶ ὁρῶν τὸ φῶς περὶ αὐτούς, ἀτενίσας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἰδεῖν πόϑεν τὸ φῶς, εἶδεν στεφάνους κατερχομένους τὸν ἀριϑμὸν τριάκοντα ἐννέα, καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων: Τεσσαράκοντά εἰσιν, πῶς ὁ εἷς στέφανος λείπει; καὶ ἔγνω ὅτι ὁ προσφυγὼν τῷ βαλανείῳ οὐ συγκατηριϑμήϑη μετὰ τῶν τεσσαράκοντα. καὶ ἐξυπνίσας τοὺς φύλακας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ ῥίψας τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς ὄψεις αὐτῶν εἰσεπήδησεν εἰς τὴν λίμνην κράζων καὶ λέγων. Κἀγὼ Χριστιανός εἰμι. καὶ εἶπεν· Κύριε ὁ ϑεός, πιστεύω εἰς σέ, εἰς ὃν xoi οὗτοι ἐπίστευσαν, κἀμὲ σὺν αὐτοῖς καταρίϑμησον καὶ καταξίωσόν με βασάνων καὶ πειρατηρίων, ἵνα κἀγὼ δόκιμος εὑρεϑῶ.

### English translation (Claude)

About the third hour of the night a sun shone around them, warm as in summer; the ice melted and the water became warm. All those guarding them were held fast by sleep; only the jailer was awake, listening to them praying and considering how the one who had fled to the bath died at once from the heat, while these were alive until now. And seeing the light around them, he looked up to heaven to see where the light came from, and he saw crowns coming down, thirty-nine in number. He reasoned within himself, saying, “There are forty; how is one crown missing?” And he realized that the one who had fled to the bath had not been counted with the forty. He woke the guards who were with him, threw his clothes in their faces, and leapt into the lake, crying out and saying, “I too am a Christian.” And he said, “Lord God, I believe in you, in whom these men too believed; count me with them, and count me worthy of tortures and trials, that I too may be found approved.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 9 (Gebhardt, 178; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/9).

## Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste 10

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-10
- Source: Gebhardt, 179
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Satan laments his defeat; Cyrion praises God for completing the forty.

### Greek text

Ὁ δὲ σατανᾶς ἡττηϑεὶς καὶ μεταβαλὼν ἑαυτὸν εἰς ἄνδρα, δήσας ἑαυτοῦ τὰ γόνατα ταῖς χερσὶν ἔλεγεν ἔμπροσθεν πάντων᾽ Οὐαί μοι, νενίκημαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἁγίων ἀνδρῶν καὶ γέγονα πᾶσιν κατάγελως" οὐκ ἔσχον ὁμοψύχους ὑπουργούς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἡττήϑην. καὶ νῦν διαστρέψω τὴν καρδίαν τῶν ἀρχόντων καὶ καύσω τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν καὶ εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν ῥίψω. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσω ἵνα λείψανον αὐτῶν μὴ εὑρεϑῆ. ὁ δὲ ἅγιος Κυρίων εἶπεν: Τίς ϑεὸς μέγας ὡς ὁ ϑεὸς ἡμῶν, ἢ εἰς ϑεὸς πλὴν τοῦ ϑεοῦ ἡμῶν; σὺ εἶ ὁ ϑεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ϑαυμάσια μόνος" τοὺς γὰρ καϑ' ἡμῶν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐποίησας καὶ τὸν χωρισμὸν τῆς τετάρτης δεκάδος ἀνεπλήρωσας καὶ τὸν σατανᾶν κατήσχυνας. καὶ ἤρξαντο ψάλλειν. Σῶσόν με, κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος.

### English translation (Claude)

Satan, defeated, changed himself into a man, and clasping his knees with his hands he said before all, “Woe is me, I have been conquered by the holy men and have become a laughingstock to all. I did not have like-minded servants; otherwise I would not have been defeated. And now I will twist the hearts of the rulers, and I will burn their bodies and throw them into the river; and I will do this so that no relic of them may be found.” Saint Cyrion said, “Who is a great God like our God, or who is God except our God? You are the God who alone does wonders; for you have turned those against us into those for us, filled the gap in the fourth ten, and put Satan to shame.” And they began to sing, “Save me, Lord, for the godly man has come to an end.”

### Scripture references

- Ps 77:13 (76:14 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- Ps 18:31 (17:32 LXX): allusion, medium confidence
- Ps 72:18 (71:18 LXX): allusion, medium confidence
- Ps 12:1 (11:2 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 77:13–14 (LXX 76:14–15); Ps 18:31 (LXX 17:32); Ps 72:18 (LXX 71:18); Ps 12:1 (LXX 11:2).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 10 (Gebhardt, 179; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/10).

## 11

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-11
- Source: Gebhardt, 179
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The martyrs' legs are broken; they die singing Psalm 124.

### Greek text

Πρωΐας δὲ γεναμένης ἤλθον οἱ ἀσεβέστατοι τύραννοι καὶ εἶδον τὸν καπικλάριον σὺν αὐτοῖς ὄντα καὶ ἐμάνθανον παρὰ τῶν στρατιωτῶν τί ἰδὼν ἐποίησεν τοῦτο. λέγουσιν αὐτοῖς οἱ στρατιῶταιʼ Ἡμεῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἀπενεχρώϑημεν, ἐκεῖνος δὲ διʼ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς ἐγρηγόρει, καὶ ἄφνω ἐξύπνισεν ἡμᾶς καὶ εἴδομεν φῶς μέγα περὶ αὐτούς" ἐκεῖνος δὲ εὐϑέως ῥίψας τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ εἰσεπήδησεν εἰς αὐτοὺς κράζων καὶ λέγων" Κἀγὼ Χριστιανός εἰμι. πλησϑέντες δὲ ϑυμοῦ οἱ τύραννοι ἐκέλευσαν συρέντας αὐτοὺς ἀχϑῆναι ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν xai βάκλοις τὰ σκέλη αὐτῶν κατεαγῆναι. ἑνὸς δὲ ἡ μήτηρ προσεκαρτέρεν αὐτοῖς" ἦν γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτῆς νεώτερος ὑπὲρ πάντας, καὶ ἐφοβεῖτο μήπως δειλανδρίση, καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν πάντοτε ἠτένιζεν, ἐχτείνουσα εἰς αὐτὸν τὰς χεῖρας καὶ λέγουσα Τέκνον γλυκύτατον, ἔτι μικρὸν ὑπόμεινον, ἵνα τέλειος γένη" μὴ φοβοῦ, ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς παρέστηκεν βοηϑῶν σοι. κατακλώμενοι δὲ οἱ ἅγιοι καὶ ἀποδιδόντες τὰς ψυχὰς ἔλεγον. 'H ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὡς στρουϑίον ἐρρύσϑη ἐκ τῆς παγίδος τῶν ϑηρευόντων᾽ ἡ παγὶς συνετρίβη καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐρρύσθημεν" ἡ βοήϑεια ἡμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν. καὶ πάντες ὁμοῦ εἰπόντες τὸ ἀμὴν ἀπέδωκαν τὰς ψυχάς.

### English translation (Claude)

When morning came the most impious tyrants came and saw the jailer with them, and they learned from the soldiers what he had seen to make him do this. The soldiers said to them, “We were dead with sleep, but he was awake through the whole night; and suddenly he woke us and we saw a great light around them; and at once he threw off his clothes and leapt in among them, crying out and saying, ‘I too am a Christian.’” Filled with rage, the tyrants ordered them to be dragged off to the shore and their legs broken with clubs. The mother of one of them stayed close by them; for her son was the youngest of all, and she feared he might lose heart. She kept her eyes always on him, stretching out her hands to him and saying, “Sweetest child, endure a little longer, that you may be made perfect; do not be afraid, for see, Christ stands by to help you.” As their legs were being broken and they were giving up their souls, the saints said, “Our soul has been rescued like a sparrow from the snare of the hunters; the snare is broken and we are rescued. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” And all together, saying the Amen, they gave up their souls.

### Scripture references

- Ps 124:7 (123:7 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 124:7–8 (LXX 123:7–8).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 11 (Gebhardt, 179; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/11).

## 12

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-12
- Source: Gebhardt, 179
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Meliton's mother carries him after the wagons; he dies, and the bodies are burned.

### Greek text

Ὁ δὲ υἱὸς ὁ παραινούμενος ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς ὀνόματι Μελίτων ἔτι ἐμπνέων ἦν. καὶ ἐχέλευσαν οἱ τύραννοι ἀχϑῆναι ἁμάξας καὶ ἐπιτεϑῆναι τὰ σώματα τῶν ἁγίων, καὶ ἤνεγκαν παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἀφέντες τὸν νεώτερον, προσδοκῶντες ζῆν αὐτόν. ἡ δὲ μήτηρ ϑεασαμένη μόνον αὐτὸν καταλειφϑέντα, ἀποριψαμένη τὴν γυναικείαν ἀσϑένειαν καὶ ἀναλαβοῦσα ἀνδρεῖον φρόνημα καὶ ἰσχύν, ἀραμένη τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων γενναίως ταῖς ἀμάξαις ἐπηκολούϑει. βασταζόμενος δὲ ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς ὁ νεανίσκος ἀπέδωκεν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ χαίρων. ἐνέγκασα δὲ αὐτὸν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ ἔρριψεν ἐπάνω αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐξάψαντες πυρὰν κατέκαυσαν τὰ σώματα τῶν ἁγίων.

### English translation (Claude)

The son whom his mother was exhorting, named Meliton, was still breathing. The tyrants ordered wagons to be brought and the bodies of the saints to be placed on them, and they carried them to the bank of the river, leaving the youngest behind, expecting him to live. But his mother, seeing him left alone, cast off a woman's weakness and took up a manly spirit and strength; she lifted her son onto her shoulders and nobly followed the wagons. As he was being carried by his mother, the young man gave up his soul rejoicing. His mother brought him and threw him on top of them; and they lit a pyre and burned the bodies of the saints.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 12 (Gebhardt, 179; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/12).

## Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste 13

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/0/#p-13
- Source: Gebhardt, 180
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The remains, thrown into the river, are recovered by Bishop Peter.

### Greek text

Καὶ σκεψάμενοι πρὸς ἀλλήλους οἱ τύραννοι εἶπον. Ταῦτα τὰ λείψανα ἐὰν οὕτως ἀφῶμεν, ἀροῦσιν αὐτὰ οἱ Χριστιανοὶ καὶ πληρώσουσιν ὅλον τὸν κόσμον. δεῦτε οὖν ῥίψωμεν αὐτὰ εἰς τὸν ποταμόν. καὶ ξύσαντες καὶ κοσμήσαντες τὸν τόπον τὰ λείψανα τῶν ἁγίων ἔρριψαν εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν τὸν σύνεγγυς. συνήχϑησαν δὲ τὰ λείψανα τῶν ἁγίων πρὸς τὸν κρημνόν, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῶν ἐμείωσεν ὃ ποταμός. μετὰ δὲ ἡμέρας τρεῖς ἀπεκαλύφϑη τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ τῆς πόλεως Πέτρῳ ὅτι" Εἰσὶν πεφυλαγμένα τὰ λείψανα ἡμῶν ἐν τῷδε τῷ ποταμῷ, ἐλϑὲ οὖν διὰ νυκτὸς καὶ ἔκβαλε ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ" καὶ παραλαβὼν ὁ ἐπίσκοπος κληρικοὺς ἄνδρας εὐλαβεῖς, ἐλϑὼν ἔστη παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τοῦ ποταμοῦ, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔλαμπον τὰ λείψανα τῶν ἁγίων ἐν τῷ ὕδατι ὡς φωστῆρες, καὶ εἴ που ὑπελείφϑη λείψανον, διὰ τοῦ φέγγους κατεμηνύετο. καὶ οὕτως ἀνελόμενοι τὰ λείψανα τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων ἀπέϑεντο ἐν γλωσσοκόμοις. οὕτως ἀϑλήσαντες καὶ τελειωϑέντες λάμπουσιν ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ· ϑεῷ πιστεύσαντες, Χριστὸν ὁμολογήσαντες, τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα μὴ ἀρνησάμενοι συνεδοξάσθησαν τῷ Χριστῷ μνήμην τῷ βίῳ καταλιπόντες ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς πατέρα καὶ υἱὸν καὶ ἅγιον πνεῦμαʼ ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

The tyrants consulted with one another and said, “If we leave these remains like this, the Christians will take them up and fill the whole world with them. Come, let us throw them into the river.” And having scraped and swept the place, they threw the remains of the saints into the river close by. But the remains of the saints gathered together at the bank, and the river carried none of them away. After three days it was revealed to the bishop of the city, Peter: “Our remains are kept safe in this river; come by night and take us out of the river.” The bishop took with him devout men of the clergy, came and stood at the edge of the river, and behold, the remains of the saints shone in the water like lights, and wherever any relic had been left behind it was revealed by the glow. And so they took up the remains of the holy martyrs and placed them in caskets. Having thus contended and been perfected, they shine as lights in the world: believing in God, confessing Christ, not denying the Holy Spirit, they were glorified together with Christ, leaving a memorial to the living for the salvation of all who believe in Father and Son and Holy Spirit; to whom be the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen.

### Scripture references

- Phil 2:15: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “Lights in the world”: cf. Phil 2:15.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 13 (Gebhardt, 180; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-quadraginta-martyrum/13).