The Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus

Life

A great persecution of Christians occurred during the time of Emperor Decius. The emperor himself came to Ephesus, and there arranged a pompous and noisy celebration in honor of dead idols — and also a terrible slaughter of Christians. Seven young men, soldiers, abstained from the vile sacrifices and fervently prayed to the one God to save the Christian race. They were sons of the most prominent leaders of Ephesus, and their names were: Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinianus, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus, and Antoninus. When they too were denounced before the emperor, they withdrew to a mountain behind Ephesus called Ochlon, and there hid in a certain cave. When the emperor learned of this, he ordered that the cave be walled shut. But God, by His far-reaching providence, let a wondrous and long-lasting sleep fall upon the youths. The imperial courtiers Theodore and Rufinus, secret Christians, arranged for a small copper coffer with lead tablets to be walled in as well, on which were inscribed the names of these youths and their martyric death during the reign of Emperor Decius. More than two hundred years passed from that time. During the time of Emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450), a great controversy arose concerning the resurrection of the dead, for there were some who doubted the resurrection. And Emperor Theodosius was in great sorrow over this dispute among the faithful, and he prayed to God that God might in some way reveal the truth to men. At that same time of turmoil in the Church, shepherds of a certain Adolius, who owned the mountain of Ochlon, began building sheepfolds and took stone after stone from that cave. Then the youths awoke from their sleep, young and healthy, just as they had been when they fell asleep. And this miracle was proclaimed on all sides, and even Emperor Theodosius himself came with a great retinue and with tender emotion spoke with the youths. After a week they fell asleep again in the sleep of the dead, to await the general resurrection. The emperor wished to place their bodies in golden coffins, but they appeared to him in a dream and told him to leave them on the earth as they had been and as they had lain down.

From the Hymn of Praise

When the last rays reddened the west,The Seven Youths prayed to God,That on the morrow they might again find themselves alive and well,To go before Emperor Decius and endure their torments.