stics
of the neighborhood, end certain monks and nuns belonging to his church,
to the amount of one hundred and twenty-eight persons. They were thrown
into dungeons, where, during five months' confinement, they suffered
incredible misery and torments. They were thrice called out, and put to
the rack or question; their legs were straight bound with cords, which
were drawn with so much violence, that their bones breaking, were heard
to crack like sticks in a fagot. Amidst these tortures the officers
cried out to them: "Adore the sun, and obey the king, if you would save
your lives." Sadoth answered in the name of all, that the sun was but a
creature, the work of God, made for the use of mankind; that they would
pay supreme adoration to none but the Creator of heaven and earth, and
never be unfaithful to him; that it was indeed in their power to take
away their lives, but that this would be the greatest favor they could
do them; wherefore he conjured them not to spare them, or delay their
execution. The officers said: "Obey! or know that your death is certain,
and immediate." The martyrs all cried out with one voice: "We shall not
die, but live and reign eternally with God and his Son Jesus Christ.
Wherefore inflict death as soon as you please; for we repeat it to you
that we will not adore the sun, nor obey the unjust edicts." Then
sentence of death was pronounced upon them all by the king; for which
they thanked God, and mutually encouraged each other. They were chained
two and two together, and led out of the city to execution, singing
psalms and canticles of joy as they went. Being arrived at the place of
their martyrdom, they raised their voices still higher, blessing and
thanking God for his mercy in bringing them thither, and begging the
grace of perseverance, and that by this baptism of their blood they
might enter into his glory. These prayers and praises of God did not
cease but with {436} the life of the last of this blessed company. St.
Sadoth, by the king's orders, was separated from them, and sent into the
province of the Huzites, where he was beheaded. He thus rejoined his
happy flock in the kingdom of glory. Ancient Chaldaic writers quoted by
Assemani say, St. Schiadustes, or Sadoth, was nephew to Simeon Barsaboe,
being son to his sister. He governed his church only eight months, and
finished his martyrdom after five months imprisonment, in the year 342,
and of king Sapor II. the thirty-third. These martyrs a