Holy Martyrs: the Forty Virgins and Ammon the Deacon, Their Teacher (IV)

The holy Martyrs, the forty virgins and Ammon the deacon, died as martyrs at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of the Emperor Licinius (307–324), in the Macedonian city of Adrianople. The governor Babdus brought cruel torments upon them, and then sent them to another tormentor in Heraclea. There too the lambs of Christ boldly confessed the true God and firmly refused to offer sacrifice to the false gods. For this, by order of the godless ruler, Saint Ammon and eight virgins with him were beheaded, ten were burned, and the rest were pierced with swords.