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Martyrs of Persia and Saint Marcian of Cyrrhus · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Monday, november sixth, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember two groups of saints, the martyrs Ascendinus, Pegasius, Aphtonius, Elpidophorus, and Empodistus, and seven thousand others in Persia, and Saint Martian of Cyrus.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Asindinus and his companions lived during the reign of King Sapor II, who ruled Persia from three hundred ten to three hundred and eighty one.
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  SPEAKER_00: These saints were courtiers in the king's court, but secretly followed Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: When King Sapor began persecuting Christians, some pagans, jealous of these believers, accused them.
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  SPEAKER_00: The martyrs were brought before the king, they courageously confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity.
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  SPEAKER_00: In response the king ordered them to be whipped.
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  SPEAKER_00: King Sapor declared that saints Ascendinus, Pegasius, Animpidistus, and Elpedephorus would be beheaded.
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  SPEAKER_00: He also forbade Christians from burying their bodies.
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  SPEAKER_00: As they were led outside the city walls for execution, a large crowd followed, praising Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: On the king's orders, soldiers killed all the Christians in the procession, about seven thousand people, including Saint Elpidaphorus.
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  SPEAKER_00: The next day, Saints Asendinus, Pagasius, and Animpidistus were burned alive along with the emperor's mother.
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  SPEAKER_00: But when Christians came secretly at night to the place of execution, they found the martyrs' bodies untouched by fire.
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  SPEAKER_00: They buried them with great reverence.
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  SPEAKER_00: Turning now to Saint Martian of Cyrus, he lived in the fourth century and chose a life of solitude in the desert.
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  SPEAKER_00: He built a small cell where he lived many years in constant prayer and strict fasting.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Martian never lit candles at night while praying because his cell was filled with a divine light.
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  SPEAKER_00: After some years he accepted two disciples but continued to live as a hermit.
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  SPEAKER_00: The patriarch Flavian of Antioch and other bishops asked him to leave his solitude to help the Christian people, but he declined.
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  SPEAKER_00: Instead he taught those who came to him for guidance, and helped many turn away from heresy and return to the Orthodox faith.
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  SPEAKER_00: Before he died in 388, Saint Marcian told his disciple Eusebius to bury him secretly far from his cell.
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  SPEAKER_00: He wanted to avoid any honor or disputes over his relics.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember these saints for their courage, faith, and humility.
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  SPEAKER_00: May their example inspire us to remain steadfast in our faith and humble in our lives.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord, grant us the strength to confess you boldly like the martyrs.
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  SPEAKER_00: Help us to seek you in prayer and humility like Saint Martian.
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  SPEAKER_00: Guide us in faith and love all our days.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord, grant us the strength to confess you boldly like the martyrs.
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  SPEAKER_00: Help us to seek you in prayer and humility like Saint Martian.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.