In the 3rd century, seven friends lived in Ephesus. They all came from noble families, and one, Maximilian, was the son of a ruler. Constantine, Antoninus, Dionysius, John, Jamblichus, Martinian and Maximilian were friends from childhood. In their youth, their friendship grew even stronger, so they all became followers of Christ. Friends did everything together. When the time came, they all joined the army. Emperor Decius Trajan was going on a military campaign in 250. Arriving at Ephesus, he organized a sacrifice to the pagan gods, and every warrior was to take part in it. Many warriors and residents of Ephesus gladly made sacrifices, but 7 young men refused to do so.
Decius did not have time to understand, he went on a hike. I didn’t take the boys with me. In fact, they were fired from the army.
Not knowing how things would turn out when the emperor returned, the young men took refuge in a cave near the city. Occasionally, one of them, most often Iamblichus, went to the city for food.
One day, Jamblichus brought news that the emperor was returning. This time he was in no hurry and ordered to find and bring to him for trial seven friends. After hearing this, the young men decided to come to the court. They were preceded by the emperor’s soldiers.
Finding out where the boys were hiding, they walled up the entrance to the cave.
The emperor rejoiced that he had suppressed dissent. Parents grieved over the untimely death of their children, and secret Christians, wrote the names of the young men and their history on tin tablets, put them in a casket and hid the casket among the stones that filled the entrance.
The story continued almost 200 years later, under the emperor Theodosius Calligraphus (401-450). During the construction work, the blockage was dismantled and 7 young men were found inside the cave, who woke up from sleep and began to gather for the court, which was planned 200 years ago.
Contemporaries found it hard to believe that young people spent so much time in the cave. But vintage coins, clothes and friends’ conviction that it was in the year 250, as well as a box with their names, made them change their minds. The bishop of Ephesus reported the miracle to the emperor. Theodosius led a strict life, devoted time to prayer, fasted a lot. Hearing of an extraordinary incident, he immediately went to Ephesus. The emperor spoke to the young men, admired their courage and amazed at how they could sleep for almost 200 years. Tradition says that after meeting the emperor, seven friends fell asleep again. They will only wake up after the second coming.
In the Russian Orthodox Church, boys are remembered twice. August 17, the day they fell asleep and November 4. According to legend, this is the date of their awakening.
Celebration
August 17
Charity foundHoly Land.
Soul investment!
