Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
| Forty Martyrs of Sebaste | |
|---|---|
| Saint | Forty Martyrs of Sebaste |
| Stage | Saints |
| Birthdate | Various (3rd Century) |
| Birthplace | Unknown, likely various places in the Roman Empire |
| Birth Coordinates | |
| Deathdate | March 9, 320 |
| Death Place | Sebaste, Lesser Armenia (modern-day Sivas, Turkey) |
| Death Coordinates | |
| Cause of Death | Hypothermia, Martyrdom |
| Notable Location 1 | Lake near Sebaste where they were martyred |
| Notable Location 1 Coordinates | |
| Notable Location 2 | |
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| Notable Location 3 | |
| Notable Location 3 Coordinates | |
| Notable Location 4 | |
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| Notable Location 5 | |
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| Beatification Date | Not formally beatified |
| Beatified by | |
| Beatification Location | |
| Canonized | Yes (traditional recognition) |
| Canonization Date | Not formally canonized |
| Canonized by | |
| Canonization Location | |
| Miracle 1 | One soldier's death upon renouncing faith, another's conversion and immediate martyrdom |
| Miracle 2 | |
| Miracle 3 | |
| Feast Day | March 9 (Eastern Orthodox), March 10 (Roman Catholic) |
| Profession | Soldiers in the Roman Army, Legio XII Fulminata |
| Religious Affiliation | Early Christians |
| Patronage | Soldiers, policemen, memory, resistance to persecution |
| Attributes | Group of forty soldiers, often depicted on a frozen lake, sometimes with angels or a crown of martyrdom |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs, Sebaste (destroyed); relics also in various places like Constantinople and Rome |
| Additional Veneration | Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, some Protestant denominations |
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste were a group of Roman soldiers who suffered martyrdom for their Christian faith in 320 AD under Emperor Licinius. These soldiers from the Twelfth Legion, known as the Fulminata, refused to offer sacrifices to Roman gods, leading to their execution on a frozen lake in Sebaste, Lesser Armenia.
Their steadfastness in faith, even in the face of death by exposure to the cold, has made them symbols of unity, faith, and resistance against religious persecution. Their story is one of the most celebrated in Christian martyrology, inspiring both art and liturgy across centuries.
Biography
Birth
Born in various parts of the Roman Empire in the third century, their precise origins are not well-documented.
Early Life
They were likely young men when they joined the military, a common path for many during the Roman period.
Occupation
Soldiers in the Legio XII Fulminata, stationed in Armenia.
Vocation
Their Christian faith became their ultimate vocation, leading to their martyrdom when they chose to die rather than renounce Christ.
Death
They were martyred by being left on a frozen lake to die from exposure to the cold in Sebaste on March 9, 320 AD.
Significant events
- Refused to offer sacrifices to Roman gods, leading to their condemnation.
- One soldier betrayed his faith but died immediately upon seeking warmth, while a guard converted and joined them, keeping their number at forty.
Death
They were martyred by freezing to death on a lake, symbolizing their endurance and faith.
Canonization
Servant of God
Their recognition as saints was traditional, not formal, stemming from their martyrdom.
Venerable
Not applicable as this title is part of a later canonization process.
Beatification
Not formally beatified; their martyrdom was their beatification in the eyes of the early Christian community.
Canonization
Recognized as saints traditionally, without a formal canonization process.
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable.
Miracle for canonization
Not applicable.
Other notable miracles
- The miraculous conversion of the guard who joined them, maintaining their number at forty.
- The immediate death of the apostate soldier upon renouncing his faith.
Patronage
They are patrons of soldiers, policemen, memory, and those facing persecution for their faith.
Feast day
The feast day of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste is celebrated on March 9 in the Eastern Orthodox Church and on March 10 in the Roman Catholic Church.
Veneration
Veneration includes liturgical celebrations, icons, and the preservation of their relics in various locations. They are particularly revered in Eastern Christianity, where their story is celebrated through hymns and prayers.
Books
Written about the saints
- Various hagiographies and martyrologies recount their story, often found in collections like the "Synaxarion" or "Menologion".
Written by the saints
No known writings by the Forty Martyrs exist.
External links
- Catholic Online - The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
- Wikipedia - Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese - Forty Martyrs of Sebaste