Holy Martyr Sava Stratelates

Life

In the time of Emperor Aurelian this glorious Sava lived in Rome and held the rank of commander. He was of Gothic origin. He frequently visited Christians in the prisons and helped them with his possessions. Because of his great purity and fasting, God granted him authority over unclean spirits. When he was accused as a Christian, he boldly stood before the emperor, cast down his military belt before him, and publicly confessed Christ the Lord. He was tortured with various torments: flogged, scraped with iron, and burned with candles. But he did not succumb to these deadly torments, and appeared alive and well. His companions, the soldiers, seeing plainly that God was helping Sava, received the Christian faith. Seventy of them in number were immediately beheaded by order of the emperor. To the holy Sava, Christ the Lord Himself appeared in prison in a great light and strengthened His Martyr. After this Sava was condemned to death by drowning. He was cast into a deep river, where he surrendered his soul to God, in the year 272. And his soul departed to the Lord, to Whom he had remained faithful through many torments.

From the Hymn of Praise

### SAINT THOMAS THE FOOL FOR CHRISTHoly Thomas feigns the madmanFor the sake of Christ his Savior,But within his heart he praises God,The One Creator of the world.