In the second century, in the Roman Empire, being a Christian meant walking on a knife blade. During the time of Emperor Hadrian, Christians were persecuted, tortured, and exhibited in the arena against wild animals. Therefore, believers in the Savior gathered secretly, prayed away from people’s eyes and glorified the Lord in deserted places. But there were circumstances when the question stood on the edge: either betray your faith or accept death.
In the family of slaves Zoe and Esper had 2 sons. Parents, deeply believing Christians, raised their sons in piety. They have always followed Christ’s teaching in everything. When the grown-up children began to persuade their parents to flee from their master Catal, Zoya refused. She said that
Their purpose is to serve the master.
Alas, they failed to avoid the requirements to follow pagan customs. Parents and children refused to eat sacrificial meat, openly admitting that they were Christians. Then Catal decided to force him to give up faith in Christ. Persuasion, demands, intimidation did not help. catal
He ordered the children to be tortured in front of their parents. God gave them the strength to endure all their suffering. Then the owner ordered to torture the parents. But the pain and suffering did not turn Zoe and Esper away from Christianity. Angry Catal ordered to throw the whole family into the oven. The fire broke out brightly and from
There was angelic singing. The souls of the sufferers were carried to heaven. What was the astonishment of the Romans when the bodies were removed from the oven intact.
Attempts to keep this event a secret have failed, and from those very days people admire the feat of the martyrs Zoe, Esper, Theodoulus and Kiriac.
Memorial Day
May 15
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
