August 4: Memory of the Holy Seven Children in Ephesustranslated

Today, August 4, our Church honors the memory of Saint John the Younger, the holy martyr Ia and the 9,000 martyrs plus her, as well as the holy Seven Children in Ephesus (Antoninus, Dionysius, Hexacustidian, Iamblichus, Constantine, Maximilian and Martinian), who awoke from a long sleep. We also celebrate the collection of the holy relics of the Holy Martyr Eudokia, whose memory is commemorated on March 1. The Seven Holy Children, whose names are: Maximilian, Iamblichus, Martinianus, Dionysius, Antoninus (or John), Constantine and Hexacustodianus, lived in the years of the emperor Decius.

When quiet persecutions broke out against the Christians, the seven girls distributed their property to the poor, left the city and hid in a cave until the persecution ended. That way they would not be forced to deny their faith. But when they realized that their persecutors were approaching their shelter, they prayed to God during the night to die so as not to fall into the hands of their persecutors. God heard their prayer and in the morning they slept without waking up. The king discovered their hiding place and ordered to block with…