The Holy Church celebrates the Holy Martyrs of Sebaste every Great Lent. And every day of the year, the daily readings from the Octoechos, or the Triodion, include prayers to the innumerable Martyrs of the Church throughout all times, who now offer up supplication before the Heavenly Altar of God for the us Christians on earth.

Why does the Holy Church place the example of the Martyrs before us every day of the year?

It must be because this battle is the basic fight that no Christian, however sinful, can afford to lose. When asked to offer us sacrifice to the idols, the Christian absolutely cannot agree. When the forty Martyrs were offered some small earthly comfort, such as entering a hot bathhouse (instead of, for example, being trapped in an icy lake), they absolutely could not accept it, because this action entailed collaborating with the Enemy, with the idolators, with the persecutors! One soldier, already frost-bitten and exhausted, gave in, and lost – everything….he lost his salvation, his eternal life in Heaven (despite not actually agreeing to bow down to idols – he just wanted to warm himself!), and he lost his earthly life, because his body was already damaged by frostbite.

Today, the Enemy is crafty. His earthly servants do not primarily ask us to bow down to physical idol statues (although this also occurs – in the many “eastern” and “contemplative” religious groups). Instead, he asks us to….just cooperate….just not make a fuss….just accept his honours, his bodily comforts….what harm does it do anyway?….if we do not agree with him in our soul?…..to be with him and with the majority of “peaceful” people…have pity on your body….on your youth….on your beauty….on your family….etc etc….

The Church commemorates innumerable Martyrs as Saints, for example under the Turkish yoke, who before their martyrdom were not monks or even very pious – instead, they were evident sinners. However, when asked to convert to another religion, to participate in a pagan festival, or to change some small part of Christian dogma, they did not agree! They joyfully went to their death for Christ!

And yet, modern pastors cooperate with heretics, so that they can live peacefully??? And modern Christians make seemingly small compromises in their daily life, so as not to upset the unbelievers? Some perhaps repent. But repentance – according to the Fathers, should be a change of life, not only a “private regret”.

May God grant that there will be thirty-nine other Christians with us on the day of our trial, and that we all stand together as in a single body, strengthening each other and faithful to the end before God!