The Orthodox Church commemorates today the memory of Martyr Sebastiani, as well as the memory of Great-martyr Arethas, who lived and died in Ethiopia during the 6th century.
The Orthodox Church also commemorates many other martyrs, of all ages, who refused to deny Christ and were slaughtered by idolaters. For example, a very moving case is the one of a mother, unknown to us but known to God, whose infant was thrown into the fire by her persecutors.
The mother, to avoid being caught and disgraced by the pagans, decided to throw herself into the fire. She and her infant became martyrs.
By Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria
SOURCE: Church of Cyprus