Holy Martyrs Eugene, Candidus, Valerian and Aquila (III)

The holy Martyrs Eugene, Candidus, Valerian and Aquila were tortured in the reign of Diocletian and Maximian (284–305) by the military commander Lysias. When the persecution began, Valerian, Candidus and Aquila took refuge in the mountains: they chose to be among wild beasts rather than live with pagans. The saints were tracked down there too, brought into the city, and cruelly tortured for courageously confessing Christ: they were beaten with ox sinews, their bodies were slashed and salt was rubbed into the wounds. Eugene was seized a few days later and tortured in the same way. At last all four were thrown into a red-hot furnace. The martyrs, who survived unharmed, were beheaded.