The Ancient Church

A Contemporary Icon of the Holy Forty Martyrs from St. Elizabeth’s Convent, Belarus  Edited by Bp. Joseph ( Ancient Church of the West )  In the days of Licinius, co-emperor with Constantine the Great, there arose a fierce persecution against the Christians in the Eastern Roman Empire. Among the legions stationed at Sebaste, a city of Armenia, there served forty soldiers of the Twelfth Legion, known as the “Thundering Legion.” These men were renowned for their valor and loyalty, but they were even more renowned for their steadfast faith in Christ.  When the order was given that all soldiers must offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, these forty refused. Led by their captain, Candidus, they declared before the tribune, “We are Christians, and we serve the King of Heaven.” The governor, Agricolaus, threatened them with torture and death, but they remained resolute.  Agricolaus, seeing their resolve, ordered that they be stripped of their armor and cast naked into a frozen...