Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

Contents

1. 0Title of the account.
2. 1Forty Cappadocian soldiers refuse to sacrifice under Licinius and are imprisoned.
3. 2In prison the Forty sing Psalm 91 and Christ appears to them.
4. 3The governor flatters the Forty; Candidus mocks his name; Cyrion encourages them.
5. 4Cyrion recalls God's help in battle and leads them in Psalm 54.
6. 5The torturers strike one another and the dux strikes the governor; the Forty stand firm.
7. 6In prison the Forty sing Psalm 123 and Christ encourages them.
8. 7The Forty are set naked on the frozen lake, with a heated bath nearby for any who yield.
9. 8One soldier deserts to the bath and dies; the rest pray from the frozen lake.
10. 9The jailer sees thirty-nine crowns descend and joins the martyrs.
11. 10Satan laments his defeat; Cyrion praises God for completing the forty.
12. 11The martyrs' legs are broken; they die singing Psalm 124.
13. 12Meliton's mother carries him after the wagons; he dies, and the bodies are burned.
14. 13The remains, thrown into the river, are recovered by Bishop Peter.