The military leader of the Roman army in the city of Sebastia was at that time an ardent champion of paganism, Agricolaus. Having learned that forty Christian soldiers were serving in his regiment (including Saint Valery), he demanded that they make sacrifices to pagan idols before military action. But the soldiers resolutely refused. Then they were thrown into prison.
Seven days later, having failed to get the holy warriors to renounce their faith in Christ, unable to sway them either with the offered honors and rewards or with the intimidation of torment, Agricolaus ordered them to be taken to a lake near the city of Sebastia. There the soldiers were stripped and placed on the ice in the middle of the lake. As a temptation, a bathhouse was heated on the shore for those ready to renounce their faith. It was very cold, a strong wind was blowing, but the saints bravely endured the torment, sang sacred psalms and prayed to the Lord to strengthen them. Only one of them could not stand the test and ran to the shore, to the bathhouse, but, as soon as he stepped on the threshold, he fell dead.
In the middle of the night, a light shone over the holy martyrs and melted the ice. The prison guard Aglaius, who was guarding the martyrs, saw crowns falling from Heaven on their heads. Shocked by what he saw, he threw off his clothes and ran towards them shouting: “I am a Christian,” thus increasing the number of martyrs to forty.
The next day, the guards, surprised that the holy warriors did not freeze overnight, attributed this to magic and subjected them to new tortures: their legs were broken with an iron hammer. Then the bodies of the Sebaste martyrs were burned and the remains were thrown into the river.
After some time, the holy martyrs appeared to Bishop Peter of Sebaste in a dream with a request to find their remains at the bottom of the river and bury them. Arriving at the river at night, the bishop saw a miracle: the bones of the martyrs shone in the water like stars! They collected them and buried them with honor. Subsequently, particles of the found relics of the holy forty martyrs were taken to many places and became the subject of veneration by Christians.
The names of the holy forty martyrs: Cyrion, Candide, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragd, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutyches, John, Xanthius, Ilian, Sisinius, Haggius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecditus, Lysimachus , Alexander, Elijah, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nicholas, Valery, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Meliton, Aglaius.
What a miracle happened
Saint Valery of Sebaste, like other martyred warriors, demonstrated the miracle of Christian feat. In the name of Christ, they courageously accepted a mortal test when, on a frosty night, they were placed naked on the ice in the middle of a lake. Their body froze, but their hearts burned with the love of Christ. By supporting each other, despite suffering, they glorified the name of the Lord.
And then a Divine sign followed. In the midst of the midnight darkness, an unearthly light suddenly shone over the martyrs, and crowns descending from Heaven descended on their heads. One of the guards, seeing this miracle, was so shocked that, declaring himself a Christian, he hastened to take off his clothes and join the holy martyrs. He accepted the crown from which one of the forty of little faith evaded, running out of the lake due to cowardice. And this test of faith of the Christian warriors ended with the triumph of the victory of the spirit. Forty martyrs entered the lake with the flame of faith and love, and forty came out with victorious crowns.
And the miracles didn't end there.
After martyrdom, forty holy warriors appear in a dream to the Bishop of Sebaste and order him to take their drowned relics from the river. But how to find what is hidden underwater in an unknown place? For true faith, nothing is impossible. The bishop and his brothers go to the river at night, without any lamps, not knowing how the treasure will be found. And the relics of the martyrs themselves appear to them at the bottom of the river, shining like stars. Believers easily collect them as a precious treasure, as encouragement for many for Christian deeds.
The holy martyrs sacrificed their very lives in the name of Christ, and His love could not help but manifest His special signs before His beloved.
Meaning of the icon
The icon of Valery of Sebaste displays the face of one of the forty martyrs who accepted death in the name of Christ. This holy image is an example of unbreakable fortitude, devotion to faith, and Christian achievement. The icon reminds believers of the important commandment of Christ: “He who endures to the end will be saved.”
Brief Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychia, Heraclius, Smaragda, Eunoikos, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutychius, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ekdicia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
In 313, im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Ve-li-kiy under-pi-sal-lawed the freedom of the faith. His co-principal im-per-ra-tor Li-ki-niy also signed this law, but in the areas under his control the go-not Christian language pro-dol-zha-li. Around 320, in the city of Se-va-stia, in Ar-me-nia, there was a hundred Roman army. In the army there are 40 vo-i-nov-khri-sti-an, originally from Cap-pa-do-kii (now in the territory of Turkey). Chief Ag-ri-ko-lai forced them to sacrifice to idols, but they refused.
Then-and-new are-sto-va-li and connected-with-us to the lake near the city of Se-va-stia. Hundred-I-la winter, ve-che-re-lo. Once again, you stood in an ice-covered lake. A terrible cold chilled the members of the holy men, and they began to freeze. This was especially difficult for them, because they had placed it on the shore of the lake for temptation. le-na warm ba-nya. Whoever wanted to save his life had to declare to the guard that he had renounced Christ, and then he could fight go to a warm bath and warm up. All night long we bravely brave the frosty frost, encouraging each other and singing sacred hymns to God .
Early in the morning, one of the warriors could not stand the suffering. He came out of the lake and hurried to the bathhouse. But as soon as the warm air touched his body, he fell dead. Soon after this, the prison guard Ag-laiy saw how over the mu-che-ni-ka-mi, left-shi-mi-sya in the lake, for- An unearthly light began to shine. Ag-layi was so shocked by this miracle that, declaring himself to be a Christian, he threw off his clothes and joined nil-xia to 39 mu-che-ni-kam. Mu-chi-te-li, who came a little later, saw that in-and-now-Christians were not only not frozen, but , you see, they got warm. That's when mu-chi-te-li mo-lo-ta-mi pe-re-bi-they go-le-ni and threw into the fire, and then charred ko-sti mu-che-ni-kov dumped into the river.
Three days later, the mu-che-ni-ki appeared to Episcopal Se-va-stiy Peter and told about their progress. Ep. Peter collected their bones and buried them with honor. The names of the mu-che-ni-kovs were preserved: Ki-ri-on, Kan-did, Domn, Is-i-hiy, Irak-liy, Sma-ragd, Ev-no-ik, Valent, Vi-vi-an, Claudius, Priscus, Fe-o-dul, Ev-ti-hiy, John, Xan-fiy, Ili-an, Si-si-niy, Ag-gey, Ae- tiy, Flavius, Aka-kiy, Ek-de-kiy, Li-si-mah, Alexander-sander, Iliy, Gor-go-niy, Fe-o-phil, Do-mi-ti-an, Ga- ii, Leon-tiy, Afa-na-siy, Kirill, Sa-ker-don, Ni-ko-lay, Va-le-riy, Filik-ti-mon, Se-ve-ri-an, Khu- di-on, Me-li-ton and Ag-lai. Pa-myat 40 mu-che-ni-kov from-no-sit-sya to the circle of the most revered holidays. On the day of their remembrance, March 9, the stern guest of Ve-li-ko-go came and finally Li-tour- gya of the Pre-sacred gifts.
Complete Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdas, Eunoices, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutyches, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ecdycia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
In 313, Saint Kon-stan-tin the Great issued a decree, in accordance with which Christ allowed us to have our -they have faith and they are equal in rights with the pagans. But his co-principal Li-ki-niy was a convinced pagan and in his part of the empire he decided to is-co-re-thread Christians. sti-an-stvo, which is significant, has spread there. Li-ki-niy went to war against Kon-stan-ti-na and, fearing from me, decided to cleanse his war from Christianity. sko.
At that time, in the Armenian city of Se-va-stia, one of the military leaders was Ag-ri-ko-lay, a zealous side-nickname of the language. Under his leadership there were friends from the co-cap-pa-do-ki-tsev, brave-and-new, whom you went along be-di-te-la-mi from many battles. All of them would have been a-na-mi. When they refused to make a sacrifice to the pagan gods, Ag-ri-ko-lay imprisoned them in that tsu. We indulged in diligent prayer and one day heard a voice: “Who endured to the end, he saved sen will-det."
The next morning they were again brought to Ag-ri-ko-bark. This time the pagan nickname used flattery. He began to praise their courage, youth and strength, and again invited them to renounce Christ and thereby gain honor and ras-po-lo-same-go im-per-ra-to-ra. Again, hearing a refusal, Ag-ri-ko-lay ordered for-to-be-in-new. One day, the eldest of them, Ki-ri-on, said: “I-m-pe-ra-tor did not give you the right to lay eyes on us.” . Ag-ri-ko-lay was embarrassed and came away from-ve-sti in the dark without shackles.
Seven days later, the noble dignitary Lisiy arrived in Se-va-stia and arranged a trial of the military. The saints are firm from the very beginning: “Take not only our military rank, but also our lives, there is nothing for us.” "before the birth of Christ God." That's when Li-siy ordered to beat the holy mu-che-ni-kovs with stones. But the stones are the same; the stone thrown by Li-si-em fell in the face of Ag-ri-ko-bark. Do you really understand that there is some kind of invisible force protecting the saints? In the meantime, we spent the night in prayer and again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: " He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. new".
The next day, the trial before the mu-chi-te-lem and before the interrogation was repeated, but they remained adamant.
It was one hundred winter, there was a strong frost. Saints once again, led to the lake, which is not far from the city, and stayed under guard on ice for the whole night. In order to break the will of the mu-che-ni-kov, it’s not possible to go on the be-re-gu race-to-pi-li ba-nyu. At the first hour of the night, when the cold became unbearable, one of the warriors could not stand it and ran to the bathhouse, but As soon as he crossed the threshold, he fell dead. At the third hour of the night the Lord sent a message from the ra-du to the mu-che-ni-kam: unexpectedly it became light, the ice melted, and - Yes, the lake has become warm. All the guards were asleep, only one, named Agla-y, was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a light crown had appeared above the head of each mu-a-man. Agla counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. Then Agla woke up the rest of the guards, threw off his clothes and told them: “And I am a hri-sti-a-nin!” - and joined the mu-che-niks. Standing in the water, he prayed: “Lord God, I believe in You, in Whom these vo-ys believe- yut. Join me with them, so that I may be able to suffer with Your servants.”
The next morning, I was surprised to see that the men were alive, and their guard Agla-y Stand with them and glorify Christ. That's when you first came out of the water and beat them. During this torturous execution, the mother of the youngest of the warriors, Me-li-to-na, convinced her son not to fear sew and endure everything to the end. Te-la mu-che-ni-kov went to the forest and was taken to the burning place. Young Me-li-ton was still breathing, and he was left lying on the ground. Then the mother picked up her son and carried him on her shoulders after the cart. When Me-li-ton took his last breath, his mother laid him down in the forest next to the bodies of his saints spo-mov-ni-kov. The bodies of the saints were burned on the pyre, and the charred bones were thrown into the water for Christ's sake. didn't we collect them?
Three days later, the mu-che-ni-ki appeared in a dream to blessed Peter, the episcopal Se-va-stiy, and in Should he give their remains for burial? The bishop, with several kli-ri-ka-mi, collected the remains of the glorious mar- ri-ks and disposed of them with honor.
See also: in the book of St. Di-mit-ria of Ro-stov.
Prayers
Troparion to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
Through the illnesses of the saints, who suffered for You,/ I pray, O Lord,/ and heal all our illnesses,// O loving man, we pray.
Translation: With the sufferings of the saints, which they endured for You, be propitiated, O Lord, and heal all our illnesses, we pray to You, O Lover of Mankind.
All-honorable passion-bearers, / fourty warriors of Christ, / fortresses of armor, / through fire and water passed through / and by the Angel, fellow citizens, / with them, pray to Christ for those who are praised by faith Those who honor you./ Glory to Him who gave you strength,/ glory to Him who crowned you,// glory To the one who gives you healing to everyone.
Translation: Martyrs revered by all, forty soldiers of Christ, strongly armed (by faith), you have passed through fire and water and become fellow citizens of the angels, with them pray to Christ for all who glorify you with faith. Glory to Him who gave you strength, glory to Him who crowned you, glory to Him who through you gives healing to all.
Troparion to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
The four ten martyrs of Christ, / who suffered courageously in the city of Sebaste, / who passed through fire and water, / who entered into eternal rest, / pray for us to the Lord / for life in peace Well, he will preserve // and save our souls, like the Lover of Mankind.
Translation: Forty martyrs of Christ, who courageously suffered in the city of Sebastia, passed through fire and water, and entered eternal rest, pray to the Lord for us, may He preserve life in peace and save our souls, as a Lover of mankind.
Kontakion to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
All the hosts of the world have left,/ cling to the Lord in Heaven,/ the fourty passion-bearers of the Lord,/ who have passed through fire and water, blessed ones,/ deservedly received glory from Heaven/ There are many crowns.
Translation: Leaving all your service in the earthly army, you united in Heaven with the Lord, forty of the Lord, who passed through fire and water, blessed ones, you deservedly received glory from Heaven and many crowns.
Prayer to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
Oh, holy, glorious passion-bearers of Christ, four ten, in the city of Sebastia Christ for the sake of those who courageously suffered, through fire and water they passed through, and as friends of Christ to the rest of the Heavenly Tsa The zeal has come, and you have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race: especially for those who worship to your holy memory, and to those who call upon you with faith and love. Ask the all-merciful God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love for each other, we will boldly present ourselves to the Last Judgment of Christ, and through your intercession We will stand before the right hand of the Righteous Judge. To her, pleasers of God, be our protector from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the roof of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our lives, and thus we will glorify the great What is the most venerable name of the All-Effective Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy One Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Canons and Akathists
Akathist to the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Kontakion 1
The fourty chosen passion-bearers of Christ, in the city of Sebaste, who passed through fire and water and entered into eternal rest, we praise you, our intercessors, with songs. But you, who have great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling to you with love:
Ikos 1
Angels of God, guardians of the human race, seeing your bold confession of Christ before the tormentor, invisibly strengthening you for the suffering feat. We, who have accomplished this feat of goodness, joyfully cry out to you:
Rejoice, the angels rejoiced at the bold confession of Christ;
Rejoice, having astonished your tormentors with your wondrous patience.
Rejoice, having put the devil to shame through your sufferings;
Rejoice, having armed yourself with the invincible power of Christ against the invisible enemy and all his evil deeds, you have overcome the machinations.
Rejoice, decoration of the innumerable martyr’s face;
Rejoice, powerful helpers of the militant Churches on earth.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the bestial tormentor the faith of the martyrs, imprison them; The gracious Lord visited His servants, praising the firstfruits of their feat and admonishing them to unflaggingly complete it, for only the one who endures to the end is crowned in the Kingdom of Heaven and is honored with the angels’ song: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The Divine Mind received Christ from Him who appeared to you, strengthened itself in the suffering struggle, holy passion-bearer, and imputed the reproach of Agricola the tormentor into praise for itself. For this reason we cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who have acquired the right mind of the knowledge of God and who have completely surrendered your will to the will of God;
Rejoice, you who have counted all the delights of the world and military glory for Christ’s sake as nothing.
Rejoice, you who did not listen to the caresses of the tormentor and who were not afraid of his terrible reprimands;
Rejoice, Christ’s imprisonment for the sake of those who endured.
Rejoice, visited by the Savior of the world in chains, comforted by good words from Him and strengthened for the feat;
Rejoice, for with faith you comfort those who honor you in sorrow and deliver them from troubles.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High has made you, holy passion-bearers, strong in speech before the ungodly, and also not tolerating your insolence, the proud tormentor threw you back into prison, in a state of joyful flowing, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Possessed, passion-bearers, in the prison of your fellow-sufferer Kirion, good for yourself as a teacher, strengthened in the faith of Christ and, having recently been brought to trial, you fearlessly present yourself to Prince Lysias and Agricolaus to the governor, wisely reproaching their wickedness. For such your boldness we bring you great praise:
Rejoice, clothed in the armor of the faith of Christ and covered with the shield of His grace;
Rejoice, you who loved the only Christ above all others and for the sake of His command you despised the lawless tormentors.
Rejoice, you who preached the power of Christ before the wicked and demonstrated the omnipotence of God;
Rejoice, for even throwing stones will not touch you.
Rejoice, for by the power of God I return to those who throw;
Rejoice, for even now with your prayers to God you are repelling the arrows of the enemy from us.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 4
Breathing in a storm of anger against Christ, the proud Fox threw the sufferers into prison, in which Christ appeared again, encouraging, comforting them and promising incorruptible crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven; They, having heard this, joyfully shouted to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard the tormenting, firm confession of the passion-bearers of Christ, I was condemned to stand an all-night vigil in the cold lake; They, having the fire of Divine love in their hearts, were not afraid of the fierce scum, but unanimously glorified God, going to suffer. We, marveling at their patience, call Sitsa:
Rejoice, good-victory confessors of Christ;
Rejoice, destroyer of idolatry.
Rejoice, having through the patience of cruel torment entered into eternal rest;
Rejoice, having gained indescribable benefits through the diseases of suffering.
Rejoice, dear and strong and forty stones;
Rejoice, you who strengthen and illuminate the Church of Christ.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 5
The God-bearing stars of Christ appeared to the saints, shining in the cold of the night in Lake Sebastia, who were not deceived by the warm bath of temptation, but from the angels I bowed to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen the saints, as if one fell away from them, fearing the filth of the night, and hiding in a warm bath and dying, I cried out to the Lord with warmth, that He might strengthen them in the struggle of suffering and glorify His name. We call you Sitse:
Rejoice, glorious victorious ones, victorious over all the machinations of the opposing forces;
Rejoice, you who stood by the lake all night.
Rejoice, you who called upon the Lord with one voice;
Rejoice, for in your patience the Lord sent speedy help to you.
Rejoice, for the Divine light shines from heaven upon you;
Rejoice, you who have received crowns of light from heaven.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 6
The preachers of the wondrous miracle, the guards, who were in the baths, told how in the night the light of heaven in the lake of the martyrs melted the ice and turned the cold into warmth, having heard the hedgehog, the torment was inflamed with anger, not knowing how to sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Having risen in the lake to the heavenly light, the grace of God arose in the heart of one from the guards, as if he, having taken off his robe, was cast into the lake by the holy martyr, filling the place of the fallen, and thus the prince of darkness was put to shame, rejoicing at the diminishment of the face of the sufferers; and now we cry out this:
Rejoice, Christ's passion-bearers, for through your prayers and patience you have turned the joy of the devil into sorrow;
Rejoice, you who delivered him faithfully from malice and deceit.
Rejoice, having been enlightened in the cold water by the grace of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, for by your standing in the lake of the mental serpent you crushed the head.
Rejoice, full of the Pentecostals, having cheerfully presented yourself to Christ;
Rejoice, through faith, patience and suffering of Christ, for the sake of inheriting the bliss of paradise.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 7
Although the miraculous sufferers wanted to preserve their faith in Christ immaculately, military glory and the caresses of the tormentors, they imputed nothing and all the fierce torment, like disembodiment, endured, chanting to the all-powerful man-lover God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The tormentor’s new and final thoughts are the suffering of the holy martyr, so that their legs will be crushed like gold, even though the sufferers have endured valiantly. And so, having completed the martyrdom, he gave up his souls in the hand of God and received incorruptible crowns from Him. We exclaim in praise of them:
Rejoice, beautiful shoots of the garden of Jesus, cut not with axes, but with hammer;
Rejoice, dear vessels of God’s grace, for the contrition of the name of Christ.
Rejoice, you who have gloriously ended your suffering feat;
Rejoice, you have been received into cohabitation from the faces of the Angels.
Rejoice, from the prophets and apostles, as those who followed in their footsteps were kindly met;
Rejoice, great glory to the entire Christian race.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 8
The wonderful mother of Saint Meliton, alone from the face of the sufferers, showed strange love for children and undaunted valor; Seeing the bodies of the martyrs, she was taken to be burned, her son, still alive, was treacherously abandoned, taking him on her shoulder, and she, having given up her spirit, presented herself with the rest to Christ God, singing to Him in joy: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All bestiality showed torment, when the holy commanded the bodies of the martyrs to be burned with fire and their ashes thrown into the river, so that their memory would be destroyed from man, otherwise they would be put to shame, but I glorified the Lord to eternal generations before Angels and men. For this reason we cry out to them:
Rejoice, in the words of the psalmist, you who have passed through fire and water;
Rejoice, fellow members of Christ's passion.
Rejoice, for through your suffering deed you have confounded the enemies of the Church of Christ and strengthened the faithful in the faith;
Rejoice, vigilant prayer books for the Christian race.
Rejoice, you who dwell forever in the abodes of the Heavenly Father;
Rejoice, you who ask the Lord for the welfare of the world through your intercession.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 9
All Christians were greatly surprised at how the bones of the holy martyrs miraculously shone brightly at night in the mouth, and honestly gathered, at the behest of the saints, generous healings were given to the faithful, so that we sing to God, wondrous in His saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The ancient Vetia, illuminated by the Spirit of God, prophetically spoke about the death of the faithful in the Psalter: “I passed through fire and water, and brought us to rest.” You, holy martyrs, have accomplished this deed. For this reason we cry out to you in praise:
Rejoice, having fulfilled David’s prophecy;
Rejoice in your sufferings, like gold in a furnace, purified.
Rejoice, you who have kept the faith of Christ to the end;
Rejoice, for by your intercession to God you save us from troubles.
Rejoice, you who help us in sorrows and needy situations;
Rejoice, you who teach the salvation of souls.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 10
You are naturally a great helper of our salvation, holy passion-bearers, and we also diligently resort to you; Help us, by your intercession to the Lord, to spend the remaining time of our earthly life in repentance, piously and in all circumstances to gratefully cry out to the Provider God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
With a wall of your prayers, protect us, passion-bearers of Christ, from all the evils and snares of the enemy, so that we protect you and bless you by name:
Rejoice, Kirion, Candida and Domna, teacher of the Divine Scriptures;
Rejoice, O Angie and Aetie of glory, with your souls flying like eagles to heaven.
Rejoice, Athanasius, Aglaia, Viviana and Gorgonia, who loved Christ God;
Rejoice, Ekdite, Gaia, Eunoices, Eutyches, Dometians and Joannas, who laid down their souls for Christ.
Rejoice, Hesychius, Heraclius, Cyril, Claudius, Lysimachus and Leontius, who have received heavenly blessings;
Rejoice, Eliana and Elijah, the prophet Elijah, who was jealous of the glory of God.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 11
We offer songs of praise to you, holy martyrs, because for the love of Christ you did not spare your flesh and magnified the triumph of faith with your blood; Likewise, your memory, like the brightest lamps of faith, shines forever in the Church, illuminating the meanings of the faithful who sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Illuminated by the light of heaven, with intelligent eyes we behold you, glorified passion-bearers of Christ, who stand before the throne of the Most Holy Trinity and boldly bring prayers for peace; We also cry out to you in prayer and praise:
Rejoice, passion-bearers of Christ Nicholas, Priscus, Smaragd, Sakerdon, Severians and Sisinii, glorious conquerors of the evil of the enemy;
Rejoice, Philokgimon and Theophilus, who accomplished the work of Divine love.
Rejoice, Khudione, Xanthie and Flavius, warriors of Christ's goodness;
Rejoice, Melitone, Theodula and Valens, most faithful servants of the Most High God.
Rejoice, martyrs of Christ Valeria, Alexandra and Akaki, most zealous in fulfilling the commandments of the Lord;
Rejoice, through your spring memory you proclaim to us the spring of Christ’s eternal bliss.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 12
The Xiropotamian monastery is abundantly filled with grace, possessing your venerable relics, glorified martyrs and wonderworkers. In the same way, fill us, who brighten your memory, with the grace of God with your prayers, so that we sing miracles to the giver of God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your honorable suffering, holy martyrs, we praise the Lord, who strengthened you and crowned you with incorruptible crowns in heaven, and as saints of God and our warm intercessors before Him, we praise this:
Rejoice, fourty unshakable pillars of Christ’s Church;
Rejoice, for you illuminate all the ends of the earth with your glorious memory.
Rejoice, for in your bodily weaknesses you have shown great strength of spirit;
Rejoice, for in the labors of fasting and prayer you console and strengthen us.
Rejoice in the city of Sevastistem, like the mental sun, shining through suffering;
Rejoice, temples and abodes of saints dedicated to your name, vigilant patrons.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Kontakion 13
Oh, holy passion-bearers of Sevastia, the flattery of the evil one and the glorious victorious ones! By your intercession with the Lord, ask us for victory over harmful passions and worldly pride, so that, having lived in repentance, we will be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, always gratefully singing to God for you: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times. Then the 1st Ikos “Angels of God...” and the 1st Kontakion “The Chosen Passion-Bearers...”
Prayer to the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Oh, the holy and glorious passion-bearers of Christ, the fourty, in the city of Sebastia, who courageously suffered for Christ, who passed through fire and water and entered into the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven, with the Angels and all the saints, brightly rejoicing! You, as friends of Christ, have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race, especially for those who honor and call upon you with faith and love. In the same way, we, who celebrate your holy memory, warmly cry out: ask us from the generous Lord for forgiveness of our sins, voluntary and involuntary, so that we may live the remaining time of our earthly life in repentance and keeping the commandments of God, always remembering death and righteous judgment, when it will be given to each according to his business. For you, glorious martyr, in the rank of war for the name of Christ, have fought hard and unanimously and have diligently laid down your souls for Him, so help us to remain firm and unshakable in the Orthodox faith. She, saints of God, be our protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the roof of your holy prayers we will be preserved from all evils even until the last day and hour of our death, and thus we will glorify for you the All-Holy, Worshipful Name of the Almighty Trinity, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
The prayer is different
Oh, the holy and glorious passion-bearers of Christ, the fourty, in the city of Sebastia, for the sake of Christ, who courageously suffered, through fire and water, and who, as friends of Christ, entered into the rest of the Heavenly Kingdom, have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race: especially for those who honor the holy memory yours, and those who call you with faith and love. Ask the all-generous God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love for each other, having lived with each other, we will boldly appear before the terrible judgment seat of Christ, and through your intercession we will appear at the right hand of the righteous Judge. To her, saints of God, be our protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life, and thus glorify the great and venerable name of the all-powerful Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer three
Oh, passion-bearers of Christ, who courageously suffered in the city of Sevastia, we earnestly resort to you, as our prayer books, and ask: ask the All-Bountiful God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love for each other, we will live with boldness before the terrible judgment. We will stand before Christ and your intercession at the right hand of the Righteous Judge. To her, God's servants, awaken us, God's servants (names), protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life, and thus glorify the great and venerable name of the Almighty Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Canon One of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Song 1
Irmos:
The God-crowned regiment sings the martyrs of Christ, with God-inspired hymns, forty years, brightly triumphant in the memory of the year, for it has been glorified.
On earth they have rejected all names, desiring the forty-name title of Christ, in which they now live in the Highest.
Those who are in Christ, having hated the flesh and the world, have put off the old man with the clothes of time, and have put on the clothes of incorruptibility.
Theotokos: Who, having uttered Thy worthiness, will be able to conceive more than a word? For you gave birth to God in flesh, the Most Pure One, who appeared to us, the Savior of us all.
Song 3
Irmos:
The army, and life, and the beauty of the body, and wealth were despised, the blessing of the forty of Christ was inherited instead of all.
With stones mercilessly forty times commanded by tormenting blows, thrown by the Spirit of God at the commanding ones, I returned.
He speaks against Samago, who created the blasphemy with the tormenting lips of the serpent, but that god-fighting mouth against the martyrs is crushed with stones.
Theotokos: Without a seed in the womb of God you conceived and, having given birth, indescribably incarnated, they do not dare to look upon the Unworthy, Pure, Heavenly powers, Ever-Virgin.
Sedalen, voice 8
Song 4
Irmos:
“You are injuring your mind,” the sufferers say, “you are prostrating strange futility in vain, you most godless ones.
Swords, and beasts, and fire, and the cross of the saints of Christ, persecutors prostrate.
“The fire of Gehenna is terrible for us,” say the sufferers, “but we will not be afraid of the present, like slander.
Let the hands be taken away, and the foot be burned, - I cry to the saints, - for this incorruptibility we will receive again.
Theotokos: We pray to Thee, Most Pure One, conceived without seed by God, to pray ever for Thy servants.
Song 5
Irmos:
Through the fury of the maddened persecutors, the sufferers under the air in the cold, condemned to communion, sang songs of thanksgiving to God.
Rejoicing, the fourty martyrs of Christ, having endured the painful ice, standing in the lake, are strengthened by the hope of the Divine crowns.
Laughter is offered by the forty martyr of Christ, having previously been strangled by the serpent nesting in the waters, having lost its pernicious beard fortress.
Theotokos: To you, who gave birth to Christ, the Creator of all, we call: Rejoice, Pure One, rejoice, you who shone the Light for us, rejoice, you who contained the Incontainable God.
Song 6
Irmos:
Joyfully, the evil one began to delight, as from two ten Judas was accursed, and from Eden the man who fell away from forty.
He who is cold and staggers in vain, just as Matthew and Matthew were the first to be a thief, is now the tormentor of the one who is condemned by his title.
He is wise and worthy of weeping, for having sinned in both bellies, he was melted by fire and returned to the unquenchable fire.
Theotokos: Without artifice, O Virgin, Thou didst give birth to the eternal Virgin, revealing the true Divinity, Thy Son and God, images.
Kontakion, tone 6
Ikos
Song 7
Irmos:
The crowns, the guardian of the fourty, were horrified in vain, and, having rejected the love of life, they looked up with the zeal of Thy revealed glory, and with the martyrs, they said: Blessed art thou, O God of our father.
A soul has flowed into the bathhouse, the life-loving one is being killed; the lover of Christ, the most powerful predator ever seen, was like the martyrs in the baths of incorruption: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
To the mental fire kindled in the minds of the forty, the many-witted insanity of the ungodly fell, like some kind of wax melting. To you, Christ, I sing: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
How very bright and beautiful, O Christ, is the power of Thy Cross, which the forty martyrs weaved with opposite crowns. For water and fire that have passed, in incorruption they call: blessed art thou, O God of our father.
Theotokos: Thy bush Moses in Mount Sinai, burning with fire, Pure, foreseeing, bearing the unbearable dawn of the indescribable Being, united by the debility of the flesh, united in it by the holy Hypostases.
Song 8
Irmos:
The enemy, having frantically suffered and destroyed every building, is ashamed of all, for the forty unceasingly sing to the Lord and extol to all ages.
Unmercifully for Christ, your bodies were broken, the burnt offering was offered to God divinely, and the angels rejoice everlastingly, O martyrs, singing to Christ forever.
The fortress of meaning, which you gave birth to, the Christ-loving mother, who bears the fruit of piety, bears the fruit of the martyr, worthy of the sacred rites of Abraham.
It is rightly flowing towards unceasing life, O son, make a procession, - the Christ-loving mother cries out to the Christ-loving child, - I cannot tolerate the second thing for you, the hero of Christ to appear.
Theotokos: Who in the bosom of the Father sits inseparably the Son, dwelling in Thy material womb, Pure One, we sing, O Virgin Bride of God, and extol to all ages.
Song 9
Irmos:
For Christ, having been exposed and beaten like a stone, the airy winter endured, the water ice and the crushing of the lands and, scorched by fire, in the river rapids you shine from afar, like the luminaries, the forty martyrs.
The rod of Divine power, having acquired the cross, the fourty sufferers cry out to Christ: O Lord, Omnipotent and Conqueror, let us be crowned with Thy hand, and let us all continually magnify Thee with songs.
As the ice is painful, as the cruelty is so immeasurable, even as you have endured the scum, but paradise is sweet, for Abraham’s bosom of the patriarch warms you in the eternal villages, fourty martyrs.
Having conquered through suffering and received crowns from the Divine Right Hand of the Lady, now pray to grant peace to the world and salvation to us, fourty martyrs.
Theotokos: Bride of the Mother of the Virgin, Thy angelic multitude pray to the Son, accept our prayer, the only hope of the faithful, and grant peace to the world and to us, who love You, salvation.
Svetilen
Canon of the Second Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Song 1
Irmos: Come, people, let us sing a song to Christ God, who divided the sea and taught the people, even as he learned from the work of Egypt, for he was glorified.
Now make God for us, fourty martyrs, a blessing with your prayers, with pure hearted love for those who call you.
In the Heavens of the three-solar radiance, illuminating dawns, forty, on the lands frozen with winter misfortunes, cover us, you who sing.
Indestructible to piety and unshakable to the Church, you have taken away the forty, Christ-named title of the fiercely troubled one who is now at peace.
Theotokos: Above all things, above all things, you gave birth to the Creator and the Lord, the flesh that was for our sake, man, the Virgin Mother of God, the Inexperienced Mother.
Song 3
Irmos: Establish us in You, Lord, by the Tree of Slaying Sin, and plant Your fear in the hearts of us who sing of You.
The martyr's army and the crowned martyr's crown, O Lady of the coming, save those who praise you forever.
Overwhelmed by the flood of passions and the wave of fierce misfortunes, we resort to you, the forty soldiers of Christ.
In the depths of Abraham, warm yourself and adorn yourself with glorious clothing, and pray for the resolution of the winter-related circumstances.
Theotokos: Be confirmation, refuge, and protection, Virgin Bride of God, to those who resort to You by faith and confess The Mother of God.
Sedalen, voice 8
For Christ, having fought as a martyr, having overthrown the enemy in suffering, you have fulfilled the deeds of the prophet’s words: for through fire and water you have borne courageously, having found peace, incorruptible life. Having also adorned your heavenly crowns, rejoice from the faces of the bodiless, blessed passion-bearers of great praise, pray to Christ the God of sins to grant forgiveness to those who honor your holy memory with love.
Song 4
Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the hearing of Your gaze and glorified You, the only One who loves mankind.
Enlightenment for us, martyrs, is quicker from God, for we are clothed in an unseen radiance.
God's chosen one, pray, crowned martyr of the cathedral, deliver from the troubles of those who praise you.
Unapproachable light, holy ones, you have been honored to see Christ, those who exist in darkness are worthy to shine.
With illuminating, glorious, mental instruction of Christ, guide us towards the Divine dawn.
Theotokos: Eloquently, O Pure One, incarnated from Thy womb, we glorify Thee as the Mother of God.
Song 5
Irmos: Light to the Giver and Creator of ages, O Lord, instruct us in the light of Your commandments: unless it be You, we know no other god.
The heretical fury is fourty, and now deliver the honorable Church of Christ, in which it was born, to such dignity and glory as before.
Having appeared to us, the forty God-given martyrs of Christ, the fire-visionary lamps, enlighten the faithful of piety on the path of salvation.
Leave the earth for the canopy of Heaven, O martyr, where Christ the Hero is to come, grant me divine joy.
Theotokos: As incomprehensible and inconceivable to everyone, O Lady, a mystery beyond the mind, O Young Lady, of Thy Divine Nativity, for Thou hast truly given birth to God for us.
Song 6
Irmos: I was lying in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy mercy: from aphids, O God, lift me up.
The watchful and sober guardian of the human race appeared, the power, and the prayer book of prayers, and the helpers of the sad ones appeared.
With your unapproachable, radiant kindnesses in the Church of Christ, all-praised, temptations will be delivered with love from those who worship you.
The enraged tormentors of all ages, consumers of charms, are quicker, and now help us quickly and wake up the wall.
Theotokos: I have placed my trust in You, Mother of the Ever-Virgin, for my salvation and in You, the Representative of my life, who is firm and unshakable.
Kontakion, tone 6
All the army of the world is left, cling to the Lady of Heaven, fourty passion-bearers of the Lord, having passed through fire and water, in bliss, they have worthily received glory from Heaven and many crowns.
Ikos
He who sits on the throne is unapproachable, who stretched out the Sky like a skin, and established the earth, and who gathered the waters into their hosts, all of those who do not exist, who created being, and I give breath and life to everyone, who receives singing from the Archangel, and is worshiped from Angels, and is glorified by all, To Christ the Almighty, the Creator and our God, I fall, unworthy, offering my prayer, asking words of grace: that I may piously sing to the saints, who Himself have shown to be victors, bestowing upon them glory from Heaven and many crowns.
Song 7
Irmos: I serve the golden image in the field of Deira, three of Your youths, heedless of the godless command, cast into the middle of the fire, watered, on the waist: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
This is a bright summer of your memory, all richness, enlightening the distant shining light of Lent. With this celebration of faith we sing with you: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
The resolver of the passions and the lamp, shining from afar, the purification of the world, the destruction of the delights, the great voice of the truth of the preacher, the driver of lies, appeared to everyone, singing: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.
The mental luminary, shining to us, appears, martyrs, saving those overwhelmed and instructing those floating, lives agitated by the storm, chanting to Christ: blessed art thou, God of our fathers.
Redly desired by God and the Angel, the forty God-gathered, and God-inspired, and most luminous militia, the Divine and terrible all-armor, crying out and saying: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Theotokos: The Lamp of Light, and the cloud is bright, and the sacred place appears, Unartificed, for the saints of the Holy Word are received beyond words. As we sing, we cry: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers.
Song 8
Irmos: Into the fiery furnace of the Jewish youth who descended and turned God into flames, sing the works of the Lord, and exalt them to all ages.
Having transformed into a truer life, now more hidden about Christ, towards a winter and painful death, goodness will be firmly given to us, asking for salvation and forgiveness.
Having passed from earth to Heaven, you crowned sufferers, martyr of the Church, victorious faces, misfortunes, passions, circumstances of deliverance and salvation, ask us.
Breaking the bonds of death, the Savior, the sufferer of victory gave up to death, forty bo, warmed by the scum, asking for the belt and salvation of all the faithful.
Adversities of adversity, attacks of passions, demons of temptation The Divine passion-bearer, through prayer, takes away the face of those who sing of Christ forever.
Theotokos: Those who were slain and brought to the dust of death and corruption, you raised, O One, the Head of life, Christ our God, the Lady Virgin, the Pure Mother of God.
Song 9
Irmos: From God, God the Word, who came with ineffable wisdom to renew Adam, who ate into the corruption of the fallen, from the holy Virgin, who inexpressibly incarnated us for the sake of faith, we magnify us with one wise songs.
You have been granted the pre-natural dawn, and unspeakable joys, and glory, but now, with the love of those who honor you, you will deliver adversity, troubles, and wickedness, O warriors of Christ, fourty martyrs.
The strength, the abundance, the Divine from Heaven received and the fortress, the prisoners of Christ, the flattery, the expelling quickly, driving away all the fickle darkness of idols and enlightening the world, the fourty martyrs.
Having been adorned with the kindness of honest torment and the Divine participant in the former nature, you truly rejoice, having dissolved into the brightest and purest Light, warriors of Christ, fourty martyrs.
Now, standing before Christ with pious boldness and from there, the Divinity is illuminated with light, glory, praising you with the dawn, be illuminated by the triscenium, diligently pray, fourty martyrs.
Theotokos: Having appeared, O Virgin, to my soul the darkness of Thy light with immaterial brilliances illuminated the door of the Divine Light and the eternal fire to be delivered, O Pure One, through faith and love with the songs of Thee magnified.
Svetilen
The four-strong tenth, the victorious regiment, the army of the holy martyrs, we will praise worthily, having confounded the hostile regiments with fire, and cold, and water, and received crowns of glory from Christ the Savior.
Detailed description from several sources: “Saint Valery prayer to him” - in our non-profit weekly religious magazine.
Material: brass, hot enamels
: Saint Valery of Sebastia is one of the forty Sebastian martyrs, to whom people turn with prayer for forgiveness of sins in repentance, for protection from enemies and troubles. The icon of the saint will protect the house from floods and fires. If your legs hurt, ask the martyr Valery of Sebaste for help. His image will help you find your lost item. As a heavenly patron, the saint will help a man named Valery resist temptations and relieve him of self-doubt.
Saint Valery of Sebaste is a symbol of pure faith. Prayer before his icon helps to resist temptations, strengthen oneself in patience, steadfastness in following the truth, and love for God. We can resort to his prayerful help in case of spiritual despondency, cowardice or doubt in our abilities.
:
Passion-bearers of all honor, fourty warriors of Christ, the firmament of the armorer: for through fire and water they passed through, and fellow citizens were swifter than the Angel. With them, pray to Christ for those who praise you with faith: glory to Him who gave you strength, glory to Him who crowned you, glory to Him who gives you healing to all.
Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name), as I diligently resort to you, a quick helper and prayer book for my soul.
The Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyr Valery of Sebaste was established by the Orthodox Church on March 9/22.
Life of the Holy Martyr Valery of Sebaste
What a miracle happened
And the miracles didn't end there.
The icon of Valery of Sebaste displays the face of one of the forty martyrs who accepted death in the name of Christ. This holy image is an example of unbreakable fortitude, devotion to faith, and Christian achievement. The icon reminds believers of the important commandment of Christ: “He who endures to the end will be saved.”
Submitting an order. Please wait.
Thank you for the order! We will contact you shortly
There was a problem sending your order. Please try again..
Please fill out all fields of the form before submitting.
Saint Valery of Sebaste
Saint Valery of Sebastia is one of the forty Sebastian martyrs, to whom people turn with prayer for forgiveness of sins in repentance, for protection from enemies and troubles. The icon of the saint will protect the house from floods and fires. If your legs hurt, ask the martyr Valery of Sebaste for help. His image will help you find your lost item. As a heavenly patron, the saint will help a man named Valery resist temptations and relieve him of self-doubt.
Prayer to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
Oh, holy, glorious passion-bearers of Christ, the forty, in the city of Sebastia for Christ’s sake, who courageously suffered through fire and water and, like friends of Christ, entered into the peace of the Heavenly Kingdom, have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race, especially for who honor your holy memory and call you with faith and love. Ask the All-Bountiful God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love, friend, for each other, we will boldly appear at the Last Judgment Court of Christ and through your intercession we will appear at the right hand of the Righteous Judge. She, saints of God, be our protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life and thus glorify the great and venerable Name of the Almighty Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Valery of Sebastia (d. about 320) - one of the forty Martyrs of Sebastia.
The Forty Martyrs of Sebastia are Christian soldiers who accepted martyrdom for their faith in Christ in Sebastia (Little Armenia, modern Turkey) in 320 at Licinia. The Orthodox Church commemorates them on March 22 (March 9 according to the Julian calendar).
On March 9, 1230, the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan II Asen defeated the army of Theodore Komnenos and captured him with his family and most of the army. Ivan II Asen attributed his victory to the intercession of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. As gratitude, the king built or renovated the temple that was on this site (remains not fully understood) and consecrated it in honor of the Forty Martyrs, and also left a significant inscription on the column of this church in memory of the glorious victory.
Orthodox icons and prayers
Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.
Name day of Valery according to the Orthodox calendar
"Save me, God!". Thank you for visiting our website, before you start studying the information, we ask you to subscribe to our VKontakte group Prayers for every day. Also add to the YouTube channel Prayers and Icons. "God bless you!".
Valery is considered one of the very popular male names. Until the mid-20th century, it was practically not used in the world and was more common among the clergy and monks. Orthodox believers have patron saints of this name, and on the day of their memory, men with this name celebrate their name day.
According to the Orthodox calendar, Valery’s name day is celebrated more than once a year, and each time the memory of different saints is honored. The name day date depends on what date the person was born. The name given at baptism influences the character and destiny of a person.Values name and character traits of a person
The name Valery is of Latin origin and means “strong,” that is, in good health. However, Valery the man has a very complex character. He is very stubborn and has difficulty connecting with others. At the same time, he easily lives in new places and fills his life with interesting moments.
Valeria the woman is better suited for family life, since men with this name are not always faithful and often have several partners. Valera loves himself very much, so he offends his wives and children, and their marriages often break up.
In life, Valeria tries to achieve their goals, but they do not like to take risks. They are very diligent in their work and are ready to complete any difficult tasks.
Angel Valery Day according to the church calendar
When is Valeria's Angel Day celebrated? They choose a day of remembrance of a saint with the same name, which is close to his birthday. There are several such days a year.
You can congratulate Valery on his name day in verbal form. At the same time, the text must be selected carefully, because they pay special attention to what is said. Therefore, in order to avoid further awkwardness, you can use already prepared congratulations. On the day of their angel, Valeria prays to her patron and always comes to church.
May the Lord protect you!
Watch also the video about the Day of the Angel Valery and the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste:
Valery
The name Valery is derived from the Latin word "valeo", which means "to be strong or healthy." In the Christian Saints, several saints bear the name Valery. One of them is glorified among the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste - this Valery Sevastiysky.
All of them were born in Cappadocia and served in the Roman army, which in 320 stood near the town of Sebastia. The boss Agricola began to demand from his subordinates that they begin to worship pagan idols, but they refused. Then the martyrs were stripped and sent to the frozen lake. Everyone was given the opportunity to renounce Christ. All you had to do was leave the lake and go into a warm bathhouse, which was placed next to the place of torture. Only one out of forty could not stand it and ran for a warm shelter. But I didn’t have time to get closer to him, because... fell dead to the ground. Then one of the Roman guards named Aglaius, seeing the courage and steadfastness of those who remained, believed in the Lord. Without hesitation, he joined the sufferers for Christ. After some time, the atheists broke the legs of the standing men and burned them.
Another saint who was named Valery is Valery Militinsky. He suffered during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. At one time, he issued a decree that residents should worship idols. But in Armenia and Cappadocia, people increasingly believed in Christ. Rumors about this reached the godless ruler, then he ordered his army to exterminate all believers. Among the soldiers was the martyr Valery, but he refused to do this. Together with 30 other faithful Christians, he was imprisoned; during interrogation, they once again confirmed that they would never worship pagan cults. The angry ruler ordered them to be executed, but first to be brutally tortured and tormented. In 298 they were brutally killed by cutting off their heads. Their bodies were secretly taken by Christians and buried. After some time, they were found incorruptible.
There are few saints bearing the name Valery in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, but they were all distinguished by true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, whoever you choose as your heavenly patron, trust in his help. Yes, the Lord God will help you through the prayers of our saints.
Below we provide a list of all saints named Valery. Dates are indicated according to the new style.
Orthodox Church calendar
Yearly calendar
About the calendar
Divine services
Bible readings
Calendar
Days of special remembrance of the dead 2017
Days of remembrance of the newly deceased
Subscription
Martyr Valery of Sevastia
Memorial Days:
Brief Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychia, Heraclius, Smaragda, Eunoikos, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutychius, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ekdicia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
Articles about the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
Then the soldiers were arrested and tied up and taken to a lake near the city of Sebastia. It was winter, it was getting dark. The soldiers were placed naked in an ice-covered lake. A terrible cold shackled the members of the holy martyrs, and they began to freeze. This torment was especially difficult for them, because a warm bath was placed on the shore of the lake for temptation. Anyone who wanted to save his life had to tell the prison guard that he had renounced Christ, and then he could enter a warm bath and warm up. All night the warriors bravely endured the bitter cold, encouraging each other and singing sacred hymns to God.
Early in the morning one of the warriors could not stand the suffering. He left the lake and hurried to the bathhouse. But as soon as the warm air touched his body, he fell dead. Soon after this, the prison guard Aglaius saw an unearthly light shine over the martyrs who remained in the lake. Aglaius was so shocked by this miracle that, declaring himself a Christian, he threw off his clothes and joined the 39 martyrs. The torturers, who arrived a little later, saw that the Christian soldiers not only did not freeze, but, apparently, even warmed up. Then the torturers broke their legs with hammers and threw them into the fire, and then threw the charred bones of the martyrs into the river.
Complete Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdas, Eunoices, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutyches, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ecdycia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
The next morning the soldiers were again brought to Agricolaus. This time the pagan used flattery. He began to praise their courage, youth and strength and again invited them to renounce Christ and thereby gain the honor and favor of the emperor himself. Hearing a refusal again, Agricolaus ordered the soldiers to be chained. However, the eldest of them, Kirion, said: “The Emperor did not give you the right to put shackles on us.” Agricolaus was embarrassed and ordered the soldiers to be taken to prison without shackles.
Seven days later, the noble dignitary Lysias arrived in Sebastia and held a trial of the soldiers. The saints firmly answered: “Take not only our military rank, but also our lives, for us there is nothing more precious than Christ God.” Then Lysias ordered the holy martyrs to be stoned. But the stones flew past their target; a stone thrown by Lysias hit Agricolaus in the face. The torturers realized that the saints were protected by some invisible force. In prison, the soldiers spent the night in prayer and again heard the voice of the Lord comforting them: “He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns.”
It was winter, there was severe frost. They stripped the holy warriors, led them to a lake located not far from the city, and placed them under guard on ice for the whole night. To break the will of the martyrs, a bathhouse was lit nearby on the shore. In the first hour of the night, when the cold became unbearable, one of the warriors could not stand it and ran towards the bathhouse, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, he fell dead. At three o'clock in the morning, the Lord sent consolation to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warm. All the guards were asleep, only one named Aglaius was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a bright crown had appeared over the head of each martyr. Aglaius counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. Then Aglaius woke up the rest of the guards, took off his clothes and told them: “And I am a Christian!” - and joined the martyrs. Standing in the water, he prayed: “Lord God, I believe in You, in whom these soldiers believe. Join me to them, so that I may be worthy to suffer with Your servants.”
The next morning the torturers were surprised to see that the martyrs were alive, and their guard Aglaius was glorifying Christ with them. Then the soldiers were taken out of the water and their legs were broken. During this painful execution, the mother of the youngest of the warriors, Meliton, urged her son not to be afraid and to endure everything to the end. The bodies of the martyrs were placed on chariots and taken to be burned. Young Meliton was still breathing, and he was left lying on the ground. Then the mother picked up her son and carried him on her shoulders after the chariot. When Meliton breathed his last, his mother laid him on a chariot next to the bodies of his holy companions. The bodies of the saints were burned at the stake, and the charred bones were thrown into the water so that Christians would not collect them.
Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to Blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and ordered him to bury their remains. The bishop and several clergy collected the remains of the glorious martyrs at night and buried them with honor.
Troparion of the 40 martyrs who suffered in Lake Sebaste
Through the illnesses of the saints, who suffered for You, / beg, O Lord, / and heal all our illnesses, / Lover of humanity, we pray.
Passion-bearers of all honor, / the fourty soldiers of Christ, / the firmament of the armor, / for they passed through fire and water, / and fellow citizens faster than the Angel, / with them, pray to Christ for those who praise you with faith. / Glory to Him who gave you strength, / glory to Him who crowned you, / glory to Him who bestows healing to you all.
Troparion of 40 martyrs who suffered in Lake Sebaste
The fourty passion-bearers of Christ, / who suffered courageously in the city of Sebastia, / who passed through fire and water, / who entered into eternal rest, / pray for us to the Lord, / so that he may preserve our lives in peace, / and save our souls, as a Lover of Mankind.
Kontakion of 40 martyrs who suffered in Lake Sebaste
All the armies of the world have left, / cling to the Lady of Heaven, / the fourty passion-bearers of the Lord, / having passed through fire and water, blessed ones, / worthily received glory from Heaven / and many crowns.
Prayer to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
Oh, holy, glorious passion-bearers of Christ, the forty, in the city of Sebastia for Christ’s sake, who courageously suffered through fire and water and, like friends of Christ, entered into the peace of the Heavenly Kingdom, have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race, especially for who honor your holy memory and call you with faith and love. Ask the All-Bountiful God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love, friend, for each other, we will boldly appear at the Last Judgment Court of Christ and through your intercession we will appear at the right hand of the Righteous Judge. She, saints of God, be our protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life and thus glorify the great and venerable Name of the Almighty Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Canons and Akathists
Akathist to the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
The fourty chosen passion-bearers of Christ, in the city of Sebaste, who passed through fire and water and entered into eternal rest, we praise you, our intercessors, with songs. But you, who have great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling to you with love:
Angels of God, guardians of the human race, seeing your bold confession of Christ before the tormentor, invisibly strengthening you for the suffering feat. We, who have accomplished this feat of goodness, joyfully cry out to you:
Rejoice, the angels rejoiced at the bold confession of Christ;
Rejoice, having astonished your tormentors with your wondrous patience.
Rejoice, having put the devil to shame through your sufferings;
Rejoice, having armed yourself with the invincible power of Christ against the invisible enemy and all his evil deeds, you have overcome the machinations.
Rejoice, decoration of the innumerable martyr’s face;
Rejoice, powerful helpers of the militant Churches on earth.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Seeing the bestial tormentor the faith of the martyrs, imprison them; The gracious Lord visited His servants, praising the firstfruits of their feat and admonishing them to unflaggingly complete it, for only the one who endures to the end is crowned in the Kingdom of Heaven and is honored with the angels’ song: Alleluia.
The Divine Mind received Christ from Him who appeared to you, strengthened itself in the suffering struggle, holy passion-bearer, and imputed the reproach of Agricola the tormentor into praise for itself. For this reason we cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who have acquired the right mind of the knowledge of God and who have completely surrendered your will to the will of God;
Rejoice, you who have counted all the delights of the world and military glory for Christ’s sake as nothing.
Rejoice, you who did not listen to the caresses of the tormentor and who were not afraid of his terrible reprimands;
Rejoice, Christ’s imprisonment for the sake of those who endured.
Rejoice, visited by the Savior of the world in chains, comforted by good words from Him and strengthened for the feat;
Rejoice, for with faith you comfort those who honor you in sorrow and deliver them from troubles.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
The power of the Most High has made you, holy passion-bearers, strong in speech before the ungodly, and also not tolerating your insolence, the proud tormentor threw you back into prison, in a state of joyful flowing, singing to God: Alleluia.
Possessed, passion-bearers, in the prison of your fellow-sufferer Kirion, good for yourself as a teacher, strengthened in the faith of Christ and, having recently been brought to trial, you fearlessly present yourself to Prince Lysias and Agricolaus to the governor, wisely reproaching their wickedness. For such your boldness we bring you great praise:
Rejoice, clothed in the armor of the faith of Christ and covered with the shield of His grace;
Rejoice, you who loved the only Christ above all others and for the sake of His command you despised the lawless tormentors.
Rejoice, you who preached the power of Christ before the wicked and demonstrated the omnipotence of God;
Rejoice, for even throwing stones will not touch you.
Rejoice, for by the power of God I return to those who throw;
Rejoice, for even now with your prayers to God you are repelling the arrows of the enemy from us.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Breathing in a storm of anger against Christ, the proud Fox threw the sufferers into prison, in which Christ appeared again, encouraging, comforting them and promising incorruptible crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven; They, having heard this, joyfully shouted to God: Alleluia.
Having heard the tormenting, firm confession of the passion-bearers of Christ, I was condemned to stand an all-night vigil in the cold lake; They, having the fire of Divine love in their hearts, were not afraid of the fierce scum, but unanimously glorified God, going to suffer. We, marveling at their patience, call Sitsa:
Rejoice, good-victory confessors of Christ;
Rejoice, destroyer of idolatry.
Rejoice, having through the patience of cruel torment entered into eternal rest;
Rejoice, having gained indescribable benefits through the diseases of suffering.
Rejoice, dear and strong and forty stones;
Rejoice, you who strengthen and illuminate the Church of Christ.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
The God-bearing stars of Christ appeared to the saints, shining in the cold of the night in Lake Sebastia, who were not deceived by the warm bath of temptation, but from the angels I bowed to God: Alleluia.
Having seen the saints, as if one fell away from them, fearing the filth of the night, and hiding in a warm bath and dying, I cried out to the Lord with warmth, that He might strengthen them in the struggle of suffering and glorify His name. We call you Sitse:
Rejoice, glorious victorious ones, victorious over all the machinations of the opposing forces;
Rejoice, you who stood by the lake all night.
Rejoice, you who called upon the Lord with one voice;
Rejoice, for in your patience the Lord sent speedy help to you.
Rejoice, for the Divine light shines from heaven upon you;
Rejoice, you who have received crowns of light from heaven.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
The preachers of the wondrous miracle, the guards, who were in the baths, told how in the night the light of heaven in the lake of the martyrs melted the ice and turned the cold into warmth, having heard the hedgehog, the torment was inflamed with anger, not knowing how to sing to God: Alleluia.
Having risen in the lake to the heavenly light, the grace of God arose in the heart of one from the guards, as if he, having taken off his robe, was cast into the lake by the holy martyr, filling the place of the fallen, and thus the prince of darkness was put to shame, rejoicing at the diminishment of the face of the sufferers; and now we cry out this:
Rejoice, Christ's passion-bearers, for through your prayers and patience you have turned the joy of the devil into sorrow;
Rejoice, you who delivered him faithfully from malice and deceit.
Rejoice, having been enlightened in the cold water by the grace of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, for by your standing in the lake of the mental serpent you crushed the head.
Rejoice, full of the Pentecostals, having cheerfully presented yourself to Christ;
Rejoice, through faith, patience and suffering of Christ, for the sake of inheriting the bliss of paradise.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Although the miraculous sufferers wanted to preserve their faith in Christ immaculately, military glory and the caresses of the tormentors, they imputed nothing and all the fierce torment, like disembodiment, endured, chanting to the all-powerful man-lover God: Alleluia.
The tormentor’s new and final thoughts are the suffering of the holy martyr, so that their legs will be crushed like gold, even though the sufferers have endured valiantly. And so, having completed the martyrdom, he gave up his souls in the hand of God and received incorruptible crowns from Him. We exclaim in praise of them:
Rejoice, beautiful shoots of the garden of Jesus, cut not with axes, but with hammer;
Rejoice, dear vessels of God’s grace, for the contrition of the name of Christ.
Rejoice, you who have gloriously ended your suffering feat;
Rejoice, you have been received into cohabitation from the faces of the Angels.
Rejoice, from the prophets and apostles, as those who followed in their footsteps were kindly met;
Rejoice, great glory to the entire Christian race.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
The wonderful mother of Saint Meliton, alone from the face of the sufferers, showed strange love for children and undaunted valor; Seeing the bodies of the martyrs, she was taken to be burned, her son, still alive, was treacherously abandoned, taking him on her shoulder, and she, having given up her spirit, presented herself with the rest to Christ God, singing to Him in joy: Alleluia.
All bestiality showed torment, when the holy commanded the bodies of the martyrs to be burned with fire and their ashes thrown into the river, so that their memory would be destroyed from man, otherwise they would be put to shame, but I glorified the Lord to eternal generations before Angels and men. For this reason we cry out to them:
Rejoice, in the words of the psalmist, you who have passed through fire and water;
Rejoice, fellow members of the passion of Christ.
Rejoice, for through your suffering deed you have confounded the enemies of the Church of Christ and strengthened the faithful in the faith;
Rejoice, vigilant prayer books for the Christian race.
Rejoice, you who dwell forever in the abodes of the Heavenly Father;
Rejoice, you who ask the Lord for the welfare of the world through your intercession.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
All Christians were greatly surprised at how the bones of the holy martyrs miraculously shone brightly at night in the mouth, and honestly gathered, at the behest of the saints, generous healings were given to the faithful, so that we sing to God, wondrous in His saints: Alleluia.
The ancient Vetia, illuminated by the Spirit of God, prophetically spoke about the death of the faithful in the Psalter: “I passed through fire and water, and brought us to rest.” You, holy martyrs, have accomplished this deed. For this reason we cry out to you in praise:
Rejoice, having fulfilled David’s prophecy;
Rejoice in your sufferings, like gold in a furnace, purified.
Rejoice, you who have kept the faith of Christ to the end;
Rejoice, for by your intercession to God you save us from troubles.
Rejoice, you who help us in sorrows and needy situations;
Rejoice, you who teach the salvation of souls.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
You are naturally a great helper of our salvation, holy passion-bearers, and we also diligently resort to you; Help us, by your intercession to the Lord, to spend the remaining time of our earthly life in repentance, piously and in all circumstances to gratefully cry out to the Provider God: Alleluia.
With a wall of your prayers, protect us, passion-bearers of Christ, from all the evils and snares of the enemy, so that we protect you and bless you by name:
Rejoice, Kirion, Candida and Domna, teacher of the Divine Scriptures;
Rejoice, O Angie and Aetie of glory, with your souls flying like eagles to heaven.
Rejoice, Athanasius, Aglaia, Viviana and Gorgonia, who loved Christ God;
Rejoice, Ekdite, Gaia, Eunoices, Eutyches, Dometians and Joannas, who laid down their souls for Christ.
Rejoice, Hesychius, Heraclius, Cyril, Claudius, Lysimachus and Leontius, who have received heavenly blessings;
Rejoice, Eliana and Elijah, the prophet Elijah, who was jealous of the glory of God.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
We offer songs of praise to you, holy martyrs, because for the love of Christ you did not spare your flesh and magnified the triumph of faith with your blood; Likewise, your memory, like the brightest lamps of faith, shines forever in the Church, illuminating the meanings of the faithful who sing to God: Alleluia.
Illuminated by the light of heaven, with intelligent eyes we behold you, glorified passion-bearers of Christ, who stand before the throne of the Most Holy Trinity and boldly bring prayers for peace; We also cry out to you in prayer and praise:
Rejoice, passion-bearers of Christ Nicholas, Priscus, Smaragd, Sakerdon, Severians and Sisinii, glorious conquerors of the evil of the enemy;
Rejoice, Philokgimon and Theophilus, who accomplished the work of Divine love.
Rejoice, Khudione, Xanthie and Flavius, warriors of Christ's goodness;
Rejoice, Melitone, Theodula and Valens, most faithful servants of the Most High God.
Rejoice, martyrs of Christ Valeria, Alexandra and Akaki, most zealous in fulfilling the commandments of the Lord;
Rejoice, through your spring memory you proclaim to us the spring of Christ’s eternal bliss.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
The Xiropotamian monastery is abundantly filled with grace, possessing your venerable relics, glorified martyrs and wonderworkers. In the same way, fill us, who brighten your memory, with the grace of God with your prayers, so that we sing miracles to the giver of God: Alleluia.
Singing your honorable suffering, holy martyrs, we praise the Lord, who strengthened you and crowned you with incorruptible crowns in heaven, and as saints of God and our warm intercessors before Him, we praise this:
Rejoice, fourty unshakable pillars of Christ’s Church;
Rejoice, for you illuminate all the ends of the earth with your glorious memory.
Rejoice, for in your bodily weaknesses you have shown great strength of spirit;
Rejoice, for in the labors of fasting and prayer you console and strengthen us.
Rejoice in the city of Sevastistem, like the mental sun, shining through suffering;
Rejoice, temples and abodes of saints dedicated to your name, vigilant patrons.
Rejoice, holy fourty martyrs of Sebastia, glorified wonderworkers.
Oh, holy passion-bearers of Sevastia, the flattery of the evil one and the glorious victorious ones! By your intercession with the Lord, ask us for victory over harmful passions and worldly pride, so that, having lived in repentance, we will be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, always gratefully singing to God for you: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times. Then Ikos 1 “Angels of God. " and Kontakion 1 "The Chosen Passion-Bearers. »
Prayer to the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Oh, the holy and glorious passion-bearers of Christ, the fourty, in the city of Sebastia, who courageously suffered for Christ, who passed through fire and water and entered into the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven, with the Angels and all the saints, brightly rejoicing! You, as friends of Christ, have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race, especially for those who honor and call upon you with faith and love. In the same way, we, who celebrate your holy memory, warmly cry out: ask us from the generous Lord for forgiveness of our sins, voluntary and involuntary, so that we may live the remaining time of our earthly life in repentance and keeping the commandments of God, always remembering death and righteous judgment, when it will be given to each according to his business. For you, glorious martyr, in the rank of war for the name of Christ, have fought hard and unanimously and have diligently laid down your souls for Him, so help us to remain firm and unshakable in the Orthodox faith. She, saints of God, be our protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the roof of your holy prayers we will be preserved from all evils even until the last day and hour of our death, and thus we will glorify for you the All-Holy, Worshipful Name of the Almighty Trinity, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
The prayer is different
Oh, the holy and glorious passion-bearers of Christ, the fourty, in the city of Sebastia, for the sake of Christ, who courageously suffered, through fire and water, and who, as friends of Christ, entered into the rest of the Heavenly Kingdom, have great boldness to intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for the Christian race: especially for those who honor the holy memory yours, and those who call you with faith and love. Ask the all-generous God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love for each other, having lived with each other, we will boldly appear before the terrible judgment seat of Christ, and through your intercession we will appear at the right hand of the righteous Judge. To her, saints of God, be our protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life, and thus glorify the great and venerable name of the all-powerful Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer three
Oh, passion-bearers of Christ, who courageously suffered in the city of Sevastia, we earnestly resort to you, as our prayer books, and ask: ask the All-Bountiful God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love for each other, we will live with boldness before the terrible judgment. We will stand before Christ and your intercession at the right hand of the Righteous Judge. To her, God's servants, awaken us, God's servants (names), protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life, and thus glorify the great and venerable name of the Almighty Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Canon One of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Irmos:
The God-crowned regiment sings the martyrs of Christ, with God-inspired hymns, forty years, brightly triumphant in the memory of the year, for it has been glorified.
On earth they have rejected all names, desiring the forty-name title of Christ, in which they now live in the Highest.
Those who are in Christ, having hated the flesh and the world, have put off the old man with the clothes of time, and have put on the clothes of incorruptibility.
Theotokos: Who, having uttered Thy worthiness, will be able to conceive more than a word? For you gave birth to God in flesh, the Most Pure One, who appeared to us, the Savior of us all.
Irmos:
The army, and life, and the beauty of the body, and wealth were despised, the blessing of the forty of Christ was inherited instead of all.
With stones mercilessly forty times commanded by tormenting blows, thrown by the Spirit of God at the commanding ones, I returned.
He speaks against Samago, who created the blasphemy with the tormenting lips of the serpent, but that god-fighting mouth against the martyrs is crushed with stones.
Theotokos: Without a seed in the womb of God you conceived and, having given birth, indescribably incarnated, they do not dare to look upon the Unworthy, Pure, Heavenly powers, Ever-Virgin.
Sedalen, voice 8
Irmos:
“You are injuring your mind,” the sufferers say, “you are prostrating strange futility in vain, you most godless ones.”
Swords, and beasts, and fire, and the cross of the saints of Christ, persecutors prostrate.
The fire of Gehenna is terrible for us, say the sufferers, but we will not be afraid of the present, like slander.
Let your hands be taken away, let your foot be burned, - I cry out to the saints, - for this incorruptibility we will receive again.
Theotokos: We pray to Thee, Most Pure One, conceived without seed by God, to pray ever for Thy servants.
Irmos:
Through the fury of the maddened persecutors, the sufferers under the air in the cold, condemned to communion, sang songs of thanksgiving to God.
Rejoicing, the fourty martyrs of Christ, having endured the painful ice, standing in the lake, are strengthened by the hope of the Divine crowns.
Laughter is offered by the forty martyr of Christ, having previously been strangled by the serpent nesting in the waters, having lost its pernicious beard fortress.
Theotokos: To you, who gave birth to Christ, the Creator of all, we call: Rejoice, Pure One, rejoice, you who shone the Light for us, rejoice, you who contained the Incontainable God.
Irmos:
Joyfully, the evil one began to delight, as from two ten Judas was accursed, and from Eden the man who fell away from forty.
He who is cold and staggers in vain, just as Matthew and Matthew were the first to be a thief, is now the tormentor of the one who is condemned by his title.
He is wise and worthy of weeping, for having sinned in both bellies, he was melted by fire and returned to the unquenchable fire.
Theotokos: Without artifice, O Virgin, Thou didst give birth to the eternal Virgin, revealing the true Divinity, Thy Son and God, images.
Kontakion, tone 6
Irmos:
The crowns, the guardian of the fourty, were horrified in vain, and, having rejected the love of life, they looked up with the zeal of Thy revealed glory, and with the martyrs, they said: Blessed art thou, O God of our father.
A soul has flowed into the bathhouse, the life-loving one is being killed; the lover of Christ, the most powerful predator ever seen, was like the martyrs in the baths of incorruption: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
To the mental fire kindled in the minds of the forty, the many-witted insanity of the ungodly fell, like some kind of wax melting. To you, Christ, I sing: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
How very bright and beautiful, O Christ, is the power of Thy Cross, which the forty martyrs weaved with opposite crowns. For water and fire that have passed, in incorruption they call: blessed art thou, O God of our father.
Theotokos: Thy bush Moses in Mount Sinai, burning with fire, Pure, foreseeing, bearing the unbearable dawn of the indescribable Being, united by the debility of the flesh, united in it by the holy Hypostases.
Irmos:
The enemy, having frantically suffered and destroyed every building, is ashamed of all, for the forty unceasingly sing to the Lord and extol to all ages.
Unmercifully for Christ, your bodies were broken, the burnt offering was offered to God divinely, and the angels rejoice everlastingly, O martyrs, singing to Christ forever.
The fortress of meaning, which you gave birth to, the Christ-loving mother, who bears the fruit of piety, bears the fruit of the martyr, worthy of the sacred rites of Abraham.
It is rightful to unceasing life, O son, make a procession, - the Christ-loving mother cries out to the Christ-loving child, - I cannot tolerate the second thing for you, to appear to the heroic Christ.
Theotokos: Who in the bosom of the Father sits inseparably the Son, dwelling in Thy material womb, Pure One, we sing, O Virgin Bride of God, and extol to all ages.
Irmos:
For Christ, having been exposed and beaten like a stone, the airy winter endured, the water ice and the crushing of the lands and, scorched by fire, in the river rapids you shine from afar, like the luminaries, the forty martyrs.
The rod of Divine power, having acquired the cross, the fourty sufferers cry out to Christ: O Lord, Omnipotent and Conqueror, let us be crowned with Thy hand, and let us all continually magnify Thee with songs.
As the ice is painful, as the cruelty is so immeasurable, even as you have endured the scum, but paradise is sweet, for Abraham’s bosom of the patriarch warms you in the eternal villages, fourty martyrs.
Having conquered through suffering and received crowns from the Divine Right Hand of the Lady, now pray to grant peace to the world and salvation to us, fourty martyrs.
Theotokos: Bride of the Mother of the Virgin, Thy angelic multitude pray to the Son, accept our prayer, the only hope of the faithful, and grant peace to the world and to us, who love You, salvation.
The four-strong tenth, the victorious regiment, the army of the holy martyrs, we will praise worthily, having confounded the hostile regiments with fire, and cold, and water, and received crowns of glory from Christ the Savior.
Canon of the Second Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Irmos: Come, people, let us sing a song to Christ God, who divided the sea and taught the people, even as he learned from the work of Egypt, for he was glorified.
Now make God for us, fourty martyrs, a blessing with your prayers, with pure hearted love for those who call you.
In the Heavens of the three-solar radiance, illuminating dawns, forty, on the lands frozen with winter misfortunes, cover us, you who sing.
Indestructible to piety and unshakable to the Church, you have taken away the forty, Christ-named title of the fiercely troubled one who is now at peace.
Theotokos: Above all things, above all things, you gave birth to the Creator and the Lord, the flesh that was for our sake, man, the Virgin Mother of God, the Inexperienced Mother.
Irmos: Establish us in You, Lord, by the Tree of Slaying Sin, and plant Your fear in the hearts of us who sing of You.
The martyr's army and the crowned martyr's crown, O Lady of the coming, save those who praise you forever.
Overwhelmed by the flood of passions and the wave of fierce misfortunes, we resort to you, the forty soldiers of Christ.
In the depths of Abraham, warm yourself and adorn yourself with glorious clothing, and pray for the resolution of the winter-related circumstances.
Theotokos: Be confirmation, refuge, and protection, Virgin Bride of God, to those who resort to You by faith and confess The Mother of God.
Sedalen, voice 8
For Christ, having fought as a martyr, having overthrown the enemy in suffering, you have fulfilled the deeds of the prophet’s words: for through fire and water you have borne courageously, having found peace, incorruptible life. Having also adorned your heavenly crowns, rejoice from the faces of the bodiless, blessed passion-bearers of great praise, pray to Christ the God of sins to grant forgiveness to those who honor your holy memory with love.
Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the hearing of Your gaze and glorified You, the only One who loves mankind.
Enlightenment for us, martyrs, is quicker from God, for we are clothed in an unseen radiance.
God's chosen one, pray, crowned martyr of the cathedral, deliver from the troubles of those who praise you.
Unapproachable light, holy ones, you have been honored to see Christ, those who exist in darkness are worthy to shine.
With illuminating, glorious, mental instruction of Christ, guide us towards the Divine dawn.
Theotokos: Eloquently, O Pure One, incarnated from Thy womb, we glorify Thee as the Mother of God.
Irmos: Light to the Giver and Creator of ages, O Lord, instruct us in the light of Your commandments: unless it be You, we know no other god.
The heretical fury is fourty, and now deliver the honorable Church of Christ, in which it was born, to such dignity and glory as before.
Having appeared to us, the forty God-given martyrs of Christ, the fire-visionary lamps, enlighten the faithful of piety on the path of salvation.
Leave the earth for the canopy of Heaven, O martyr, where Christ the Hero is to come, grant me divine joy.
Theotokos: As incomprehensible and inconceivable to everyone, O Lady, a mystery beyond the mind, O Young Lady, of Thy Divine Nativity, for Thou hast truly given birth to God for us.
Irmos: I was lying in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy mercy: from aphids, O God, lift me up.
The watchful and sober guardian of the human race appeared, the power, and the prayer book of prayers, and the helpers of the sad ones appeared.
With your unapproachable, radiant kindnesses in the Church of Christ, all-praised, temptations will be delivered with love from those who worship you.
The enraged tormentors of all ages, consumers of charms, are quicker, and now help us quickly and wake up the wall.
Theotokos: I have placed my trust in You, Mother of the Ever-Virgin, for my salvation and in You, the Representative of my life, who is firm and unshakable.
Kontakion, tone 6
All the army of the world is left, cling to the Lady of Heaven, fourty passion-bearers of the Lord, having passed through fire and water, in bliss, they have worthily received glory from Heaven and many crowns.
He who sits on the throne is unapproachable, who stretched out the Sky like a skin, and established the earth, and who gathered the waters into their hosts, all of those who do not exist, who created being, and I give breath and life to everyone, who receives singing from the Archangel, and is worshiped from Angels, and is glorified by all, To Christ the Almighty, the Creator and our God, I fall, unworthy, offering my prayer, asking words of grace: that I may piously sing to the saints, who Himself have shown to be victors, bestowing upon them glory from Heaven and many crowns.
Irmos: I serve the golden image in the field of Deira, three of Your youths, heedless of the godless command, cast into the middle of the fire, watered, on the waist: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
This is a bright summer of your memory, all richness, enlightening the distant shining light of Lent. With this celebration of faith we sing with you: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
The resolver of the passions and the lamp, shining from afar, the purification of the world, the destruction of the delights, the great voice of the truth of the preacher, the driver of lies, appeared to everyone, singing: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.
The mental luminary, shining to us, appears, martyrs, saving those overwhelmed and instructing those floating, lives agitated by the storm, chanting to Christ: blessed art thou, God of our fathers.
Redly desired by God and the Angel, the forty God-gathered, and God-inspired, and most luminous militia, the Divine and terrible all-armor, crying out and saying: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Theotokos: The Lamp of Light, and the cloud is bright, and the sacred place appears, Unartificed, for the saints of the Holy Word are received beyond words. As we sing, we cry: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers.
Irmos: Into the fiery furnace of the Jewish youth who descended and turned God into flames, sing the works of the Lord, and exalt them to all ages.
Having transformed into a truer life, now more hidden about Christ, towards a winter and painful death, goodness will be firmly given to us, asking for salvation and forgiveness.
Having passed from earth to Heaven, you crowned sufferers, martyr of the Church, victorious faces, misfortunes, passions, circumstances of deliverance and salvation, ask us.
Breaking the bonds of death, the Savior, the sufferer of victory gave up to death, forty bo, warmed by the scum, asking for the belt and salvation of all the faithful.
Adversities of adversity, attacks of passions, demons of temptation The Divine passion-bearer, through prayer, takes away the face of those who sing of Christ forever.
Theotokos: Those who were slain and brought to the dust of death and corruption, you raised, O One, the Head of life, Christ our God, the Lady Virgin, the Pure Mother of God.
Irmos: From God, God the Word, who came with ineffable wisdom to renew Adam, who ate into the corruption of the fallen, from the holy Virgin, who inexpressibly incarnated us for the sake of faith, we magnify us with one wise songs.
You have been granted the pre-natural dawn, and unspeakable joys, and glory, but now, with the love of those who honor you, you will deliver adversity, troubles, and wickedness, O warriors of Christ, fourty martyrs.
The strength, the abundance, the Divine from Heaven received and the fortress, the prisoners of Christ, the flattery, the expelling quickly, driving away all the fickle darkness of idols and enlightening the world, the fourty martyrs.
Having been adorned with the kindness of honest torment and the Divine participant in the former nature, you truly rejoice, having dissolved into the brightest and purest Light, warriors of Christ, fourty martyrs.
Rating 4.1 votes: 11Fatherland of St. Hiero was the second (ve-li-kaya) Cap-pa-do-kiya; he was born in the city of Ti-an from the blessing and bo-go-bo-language of a ma-te-ri named Stra-to- no, to the kingdom of im-per-ra-to-row Dio-kli-ti-a-na and Mak-si-mi-a-na, which both were zealous for the clone-ni-ka-mi of idols and go-ni-te-la-mi chri-sti-an.
When it dawned on them that they lived in the region of Ar-menia and Kap-pa-do-kii -per-ra-tor-skim decrees from-ka-zy-va-sya on-the-thread-of-idols, then they-after-many-things- the marriage of two lu-ka-lovs, devoted to the language, the same-hundred husbands, Ag-ri-ko-laya and Li-ziya, and from the great-vi-li firstly in Ar-men-niu, and secondly in Kap-pa-do-kiyu, when they were, firstly, executed -sti-an, those who do not agree with worshiping idols, and, secondly, enlist all husbands and young, strong in body and capable of military service.
Arriving in Kap-pa-do-kiya, Lizius began to look for people fit for the war in every possible way. By the way, he was informed about Hieron as a healthy, strong and special person -my husband. Lyzius immediately sent to take him and bring him. The messengers did not find Hiero at home: he was at work in the field. They went there and wanted to grab him; but Hieron, having learned that he was being taken for military service, decided to go with them, considering it to be harmful to Christ. It is important to have fellowship and serve together with idols. They wanted to take him by force, but the once-angry Hieron grabbed him by the hand and began beat them; he turned out to be so much stronger that they fled, and he chased them like a lion chases goats. The races that they shared with them gathered again, one-on-one, in one place. They felt ashamed of each other, that not only could they not defeat one person, but they would also be driven out. They were afraid to return to the one who sent them, with empty hands and talking among themselves, that if they go back without Hiero, then not only will they be ridiculed by everyone for the fact that one person defeated them all , but also a hundred for cowardice. That's why they called their comrades for help and for the second time in even greater numbers rushed to Hiero on the. Hearing about this, he took a friend from seven-twenty Christian husbands and hid with them in -ho-div-shu-yu-si-near-si-pe-sche-ru and from-there-from-ra-stung on-pa-de-niya the wasp-div-shih of his tongues. The latest news from his boss is that Hieron and other christs are behind the It's in the cave, and they can't take it. The boss sent them to help them even more vo-and-newly, and yet they couldn’t do anything, because, Fearing Jero, no one dared even come close to the entrance to the cave. Then the chief sent one of Jero-n’s friends named Ki-ri-ak to them. Ki-ri-ak, having arrived at the place, we have to move away from the cave, since Jero-na, go-vo- he said, you can only take it with meekness and good will, and not with force. When the soldiers left, Ki-ri-ak went to Jero-nu and convinced him not to resist the authorities and go for- write to the military service. With his peaceful be-seed, he calmed Hieron, took him out of the cave and took him to his house to ma-te-ri - the old and next -sing to the widow. She began to cry loudly for her son, calling him the support of her old age and the light of her blind eyes and I realized that there was only one consolation in my sad widowhood. Meanwhile, the soldiers surrounding Hieron forced him to go with them. Having said goodbye to the crying mother, to the family and to the acquaintances who had gathered there, Hieron praised took with him one of his relatives named Viktor and went to the city of Me-li-ti-nu together with the vo- and-on-mi, with-pro-leader-da-e-my two-of-his-and-mi close-kin-n-ka-mi Mat-ro-ni-a-nom and An -that-neither-and some-other-gi-mi eat-but-ver-tsa-mi. Put-ni-ki didn’t make it to Me-li-ti-nu before the sun set and but-what-you-were at the place where their night had fallen. But someone dressed in white clothes appeared to the blessed Jero and told him in a meek voice full of love: “Salvation, Hieron, I give you good news! You are going the right way, because you are going to stand up for the King of Heaven and you will not soon die for earthly glory. then... Soon you will go to the King of Heaven and receive honor and glory from Him for your deeds.”
These words filled Jero's heart with unspeakable joy.
When he disappeared, Hieron woke up and joyfully announced to his friends and relatives who were with him: “I learned the secret... God's blessing came to me and now I am happily walking on the path ahead of me. Only one true treasure, one true inheritance, only one true wealth, these are those who are hidden in heaven; nevertheless, earthly blessings do not bring any benefit to those who receive them: “What is the benefit for a person, es- will he win the whole world, but harm his own soul? For me, there is nothing before and better soul... Until a hundred times, I spent my life on service su-e-te, now I go to God. There is only one thing that confuses me - the sadness of my ma-te-ri, an old and weak widow, deprived of light eyes and not having any strength or steps for herself. But I am going to die for Christ and to Him, the Father of orphans and widows, I entrust my mother.”
Having said this, Hieron shed a few tears for his ma-te-ri and set off on his way. In Me-li-tin, Saint Hieron, together with other three-three-three-christ-a-na-mi, was imprisoned in prison. Here he spoke to his convicts: “Listen, friends and brothers, to my something that will be useful to you not in this life, but in the future. All gods are looking not for earthly temporal blessings, but for future eternal blessings. Have you heard that this morning they want to force us to not make sacrifices to the false pagan gods: we won’t believe but, don’t bow to idols and don’t sacrifice to them, it’s better to sacrifice praise to the truth To our God and to Him we lift up our prayers, having heard them, He will give us the strength to persevere and be strong. it is necessary to re-re-not-sti-mu-che-niya and grant us a blessed end.”
Hearing Hiero with one soul: “Your words are sweet to us, like honey! You tell us what is really useful and savior for us, and we all wish it would be better to die for Christ, why, having bowed down to idols, live in su-e-th.”
Those guards informed us about such a solution to Lizia’s imprisonment. The next morning, he ordered the holy monks to be brought from prison to his court, stood them in front of him and asked with anger:
What kind of demon led you to the crazy decision to rebel against the authorities and disobey the Tsar’s rule - who cares about the great gods?
We, of course, would be mad-ts-mi and ig-rush-koy be-sam, - are we saints, - if only for honor, for- ba-yu-sh-yu-to-one-only-to-God, who has made de-re-withered and stony pro-from-ve-de-ni-hands -lo-ve-che-skih. But now we act wisely, for we worship the Creator of all, who created heaven and earth with His word. them and brought them from non-existence into being by the spirit of His mouth.
At this time, one of those present at the trial pointed Lysia to Jero and said: “Here is the one who opposed your according to the slates, and everything you heard about was done by him.”
Lyzius, looking at Hieron, asked where he was from, and when Hieron named his fatherland and place of birth -niy, asked him again:
It was you who stood up to the Tsar's government, relying on your physical strength, and beat those sent for it. battle in-and-new?
Yes, I,” the courageous Hieron said boldly, “shouldn’t I see those who hate You, Lord?” di, and don’t rebel against You (). That's why I beat them up and drove them away like cowardly hares.
Hearing these words, Liziy became angry and, not giving due courage and strength to Hiero, cursed him for disobedience and said: “Your recklessness has driven you to such insolence that you have disobeyed the royal ruler.” Le-niya, didn’t s-kor-sya and my-e-ka-zu and beat-up those sent by us. For this, I command that your impudent hand be cut off up to the elbow, as if it were your crazy head.”
And then St. Jero’s hand was cut off, and the other saints, at the behest of the same man, -angryly for a long time.
Then all of them were again thrown into the dark and brought the blessing of God, who helped them beat them in the wrong way. suffer such torment for His holy name. But one of them, the above-mentioned Viktor, a relative of St. Jerome, was weakened by the kindness he received from him. Having eaten and died even more in the future, he secretly called to himself the official who kept the record of the capture. venerable and devoted mu-che-ni-yam Christian, and uni-woman begged to delete his name, Vik-to-ra, from the register. these names of the prisoners who are guarding for Christ, and he promised to give him one thing for this. Purchased and promised to him as a gift, the official fulfilled Viktor’s request, and uni-lived his name in the register. -si and no-whose you-pu-stole him from the dungeon. But Viktor, having left prison, soon died and, thus, lost his property, his life, and much-needed crown.
When morning came, Saint Hieron learned about what had happened and, full of endless sadness, sobbed loudly about his I eat like-no-ke, exclaiming: “Alas, Victor! what did you do? Oh, what a great price you drank from! Why did you give yourself into the hands of the enemy? Why the shame of fleeing before a person's crown of glory? Why did you give eternal life for a temporary one? Why did the temporary relief become more and more gratifying to me? Oh, how you are embarrassed by the short-term suffering from minor wounds, which are nothing before the torment forever, wait for you according to God’s judgment!”
Having lamented his fall from the face of a much-needed-of-thing, Saint Hieron called to him two of his relatives An- to-niya and Mat-ro-ni-a-na, who followed him, and told them: “You listen to my last will and , returning from here, bring it into use. I give my property, located in Pi-si-dia, to my sister Fe-o-ti-mia, so that she, receiving from him what is necessary for pro-pi-ta-niya, so-ver-sha-la po-mi-no-ve-nie for me on the day of my death. Nevertheless, I leave the rest of my property to my mother due to her widowhood and orphanhood; give her also my dear hand and tell her to send a letter to the head of the state. Ro-da An-ki-ry, vel-may-no-go Ru-sti-ka, give her a house in Va-di-san, where let her be on-the-same hand.” .
Having left such a thing behind his kin, blessed Hieron calmly awaited his tormented end. chins. And so on the fifth day, Lysias again sat down in the judge’s seat and, calling the saints, began to force them to bow to the idols. For a long time he tried to please and threaten to turn them away from Christ, but he had no success even then when he dreamed of beating them without mercy, he fell, and then condemned them to be beheaded with a sword. After many torments, the holy martyrs were condemned to death. Preceded by the blessed Jero-no, they are on the way to the place of kaz-nor gladly sang the words of the psalm: “Bla- women who are blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord under him” (). Arriving at the place of execution, they bowed down and prayed to the Lord: “Lord Jesus Christ , receive soul-shi na-shi!
Then their holy heads were truncated with a sword.
An-to-niy and Mat-ro-ni-an turned to Lizius with a request to allow them to take the body of their relatives Jero-na and, to -when Lyzius did not agree, they begged him to give them, at least, the entire head of Jero-n. He told them that he would give the head only for an amount of gold equal in weight to it. An-to-niy and Mat-ro-ni-an were very sad that they did not have as much gold as they demanded for the head Li-ziy, although, without doubt, is an honest head of much-che-ni-ka and st-and-la incomparably before. That's when God put it in the heart of one god and a man I know, named Hri-za-fiy, to give you a purchase for the head of the holy mu-che-nik Hiero: he gave Lysia as much gold as the weight of the head, and, having taken it, he kept it with him with honor. The one-hundred-loving Lizius then began to look for the saint’s hand, counting for it too get some gold; but An-to-niy and Mat-ro-ni-an, having learned about this, but whose be-zha-li went to ro-di-nu, took the holy hand with them, and they -la - him and other holy mu-che-niks, de-headed along with him, other Christians, having taken secretly, by rowing- or in a hidden place. Mentioned brothers, brought the hand of St. Jero-n to his mother Stra-to-ka, handed her the holy thy remains. The mother, taking the truncated hand of her beloved son for the sake of Christ, washed her with her -la-ma-te-rin-sky forehead-behind him and put-cla-dy-va-la to his eyes. Rejoicing for her son and at the same time being overcome by natural grief, she spoke with her tears: “Lo- My be-less son, whom I gave birth to alive and well! Now I have only a small part of your dead body, but the greater the sorrow it arouses in me. Alas, my son! Ro-di-la I you in pain, vo-pi-ta-la in labors, hoping to have support in you in old age, under- support in pain, consolation in sorrow, and, instead of that, I lost you, the light of my blind eyes. But why am I crying when I should be happy and happy that I am the mother of a man, that I am from -Of the fruit of your womb to God, that you, beloved son, died differently from the way people usually die? After all, the death of a man, such as you died, leads to many and great benefits! But, when you leave me, don’t leave me alone, my son, and in your prayers, intercede for me before Lord, for whom you shed your blood, so that he would quickly free me from this difficult and abundant all- ki-mi be-da-mi life.”
After this cry, the saint's hand was never lived in that place, where he himself was blessed. lil point out, and put into use everything assigned to them. And Khri-za-fiy, who gave a golden ransom for the head of St. Jerome, after a few time built a church on me -Where were the holy mu-che-ni-ki, and with honor lived in it the head of the mu-che-ni-ka, glorified- singing the Holy Trinity.
In the Orthodox tradition, name days are given more attention than birthdays. This is no coincidence, because even in the pre-revolutionary years, children were called by church names, choosing the name of one or another saint. In the Orthodox calendar you can see the memory of two Valerievs. Accordingly, name days are celebrated on November 20 and March 22.
Martyr Valery Melitinsky
On November 20, the Holy Church commemorates thirty-four Christians who suffered persecution and torment during the reign of the Roman Empire by Bishop Diocletian. It is believed that Emperor Diocletian was the most cruel persecutor of Christians. During his reign (IV century), thousands of believers in Christ were tortured and suffered violent death.
One of these is the holy martyr Valery. He was part of the military squad led by Hieron. The soldiers served at the court of Emperor Diocletian. For refusing to make sacrifices to the pagan gods, Hieron and his comrades were tortured and then imprisoned. Seeing the steadfastness of the righteous, the emperor ordered the death of Christians. The holy martyr Valery, among others, was killed by beheading with a sword.
Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
The second saint, bearing the name Valery, is one of the forty Sebastian martyrs. This saint was also a warrior. The Sebastian passion-bearers suffered in the 4th century in Armenia. The city of Sebastia became the last earthly refuge of confessors of the Christian faith.
The holy martyrs served in the royal army, whose commander was the pagan Agricolaus. Despite the good service, Agricolaus decided to punish his warriors for professing Christianity. The saints were forced to renounce Christ, but after a decisive refusal, it was decided to torture the righteous so that the latter would “come to their senses” and move away from the path of “wickedness.”
The martyrs were stripped and placed naked overnight in Lake Sebaste. In March the weather was cool: the water in the lake was still covered with a thin crust of ice. To tempt and cause more suffering, a bathhouse was installed on the shore of the lake. However, the saints endured the torment. Only one of the passion-bearers could not bear the cold: he ran to the bathhouse, but fell dead right before entering it.
The Lord showed a miracle: at night 40 crowns descended from heaven onto the holy martyrs. Seeing this phenomenon, one of the soldiers confessed himself to be a believer in Christ and jumped into the lake instead of the man who died in front of the bathhouse.
In the morning, the saints were brought before the torturers and again forced to renounce their faith. After confessing Christianity, the saints were ordered to be put to death. The Sebastian martyrs had their legs broken with a hammer, and then burned, and their bones thrown into the river. After this, the local bishop had a sleepy vision of the sufferers, who indicated the location of their relics. This is how the holy relics of the great ascetics were discovered, parts of which are located in different places around the world.
