Holy Martyrs, the Seven Brothers: Orentius, Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus and Longinus the Soldier (IV)

The holy Martyrs, the seven brothers Orentius, Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus and Longinus, were Roman soldiers and served in the imperial army. In the reign of Maximian (284–305) the Scythians attacked the Greeks. Orentius was ordered to fight Marotus, the chieftain of the Scythians, a man of astonishing bodily strength. The soldier, distinguished by boldness and strength, put his hope in Christ together with his six brothers; now too he asked God for help and defeated the hitherto unconquered chieftain of the Scythians. This victory decided the outcome of the battle: the Scythians turned back. The emperor made ready to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the pagan gods and called for the victor, Orentius, as well. The saint refused to take part in the sacrifice and boldly confessed that he believed in Christ God and served Him alone. Neither promises of honour and wealth nor threats could bend the confessor. Then the cruel and ungrateful autocrat ordered him to be exiled to the Caucasus together with his brothers. On the way all of them died. First, on 22 June, Eros died at Parembole; then Orentius commended his soul to the Lord. They tied a stone to his neck and sank him in the sea. The Archangel Raphael brought him out onto the shore at the city of Rhizaeum, and there he died. Pharnacius died on 3 July at Kordyle; Saints Firmus and Firminus on 7 July at Aspara, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea; and Saint Cyriacus at Ziganeus, on 14 July. The seventh brother, Longinus, gave up his soul on board ship. A storm cast the ship ashore at the city of Pitsunda, and the saint’s body was committed to the earth there.