The sufferings of the holy martyrs Frontace, Severinus, Severian and Silanus

Saint Frontace, Severinus, Severian and Silanus were sent by the first Petragorian bishop Fronton to preach the word of God.

and said, "Tell us by what authority you did these things. You robbed the temple of your goddess Jephthah and took her sacrifices".

Why do you question us, O Ecemon, when you are a stranger to the divine goodness? Are you not yet about to destroy the good? Then, before you begin to carry out your purpose, consider who created your soul and body? For the Gentile idols are the work of hands, which can neither benefit nor be made.

"I see", said Squiridone, "that you are insolent and talkative, having been taught every vain thing by your Master". "Our words are fulfilled in truth", replied Severinus and Severianus, "but you worship idols, which are stones set up by demons; they are deaf, dumb and empty. "Quit your reasoning", interrupted Squiridone, "and if you want to stay alive, sacrifice to the gods".

"Our gain is to live and die for Christ", said Frontace. Then the Ecumenical Patriarch turned to Silas, who could play the harp and the lyre, and asked him, "And you, young man, why don't you sacrifice to the gods?" "I am ready", said Saint Silas, "to sacrifice myself to my Lord Jesus Christ, who by the grace of baptism has washed the world from the stain of sin".

"Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit". (Matthew 28:19) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned". (Mark 16:16) In the same way, if you believe and are baptized, you will be saved; if you do not, you will be condemned.

And the king was wroth, and commanded them to be taken out of the city, and to be tormented with the most cruel tortures; and they thrust iron nails into the heads of the martyrs, like crowns of thorns, and nailed them to a cross, and there were nine nails upon the heads of every man.

And when the king saw that they were not able to persuade the saints, he commanded their heads to be cut off, and the holy martyrs, kneeling down on the ground and committing their souls to God, were put to the gallows, and suffered martyrdom for the name of Christ.

But the power of God wrought a miracle, and the bodies of the saints, when the Holy Ghost came upon them, were quickened, and every man took his head in his hands, and stood up without any help from man, and came to the river which is called Il.

And when they had crossed the river, they went up into a high hill, and came to the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which the holy bishop Fronton prayed, and the holy martyrs went into the church, and bowed their heads before the bishop, and laid their bodies on the ground, and died again.

Then the holy bishop Fronton, with the presbyter Anian and the participation of a large crowd, with reverence and singing, buried Frontacius, Severinus and Silanus in the above-mentioned church.

The holy martyrs who suffered under Roman Emperor Claudius [Roman Emperor Claudius reigned from 41 to 54 A.D.] glorified our Lord Jesus Christ by their works and their firm confession, to whom be honor and glory forever. Amen.