St Babylas of Nicomedia and the Eighty-four Youths with Him (+305–311)

Saint Babylas of Nicomedia and the eighty-four youths with him suffered for confessing Christ in the city of Nicomedia in the reign of the lawless Maximian (284–305; 307–310). When the emperor came to Nicomedia and began to persecute the faithful, the teacher Babylas, who was bringing up children in the love of the Saviour and in piety, was denounced together with other Christians. Saint Babylas boldly confessed the true faith before the godless ruler, for which cruel torments were brought upon him. During the torture the martyr cried out to God without ceasing: “I thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast made me, old and feeble, young again and strong.” The God-haters struck the Lord’s chosen one with stones and then threw him into prison. After this the saint’s disciples too were brought before the emperor, but neither affectionate admonitions nor promises of gifts could shake the youths’ faith. Two of them, Ammonius and Donatus, declared firmly: “We are Christians and will not offer sacrifice to demons!” Enraged by this unexpected answer from children, the autocrat ordered them all to be put to death by beheading together with their teacher. On his last journey Babylas gave thanks to the Lord in song.