Christ is Risen! He is truly risen!
Today the Holy Church honors the memory of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus, whose names are Theognes, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius and Philemon, who came from various places, but during persecutions they were all arrested in Cyzicus.
When the martyrs of the faith in the Risen Jesus Christ were led before the local ruler, they showed admirable courage and defended their faith with boldness and courage.
For this reason, in order to demoralize them, they were thrown into prison, where without water and bread they prayed and praised their Lord, who call on them to suffer for Him.
When the ruler went to the prison and asked them for the last time if they insisted on believing in Christ, they all replied “with one mouth and one heart” that they prefer martyrdom to reject the Maker and Creator and Savior of the world.
Enraged, the ruler immediately ordered their beheading, giving them the heavenly glory of the love of Jesus Christ.
Christian blood martyrs show the measure of endurance that characterizes man, who does not betray values and the sacred legacy.
This measure is maintained in the daily martyrdom of conscience, to which the Christian is subjected today, regardless of the conditions and laws of human societies.
Source: Church of Cyprus