4th century
Saints Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Anempodistus
Christian officials at the court of the Persian king Shapur II who, according to the Synaxarion, were put to death by sword and fire in the 4th century for confessing Christ.
Biography
Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Anempodistus were officials at the court of the Persian king Shapur II. In 330, after confessing that they were Christians, they were arrested, severely scourged and thrown into a great fire; according to tradition, their prayers brought on a storm that put out the flames, which frightened Shapur and led him to delay their execution.
A few days later they were brought before the king again, who, seeing that they would not change their minds, beheaded Aphthonius first and then Elpidephorus, after the latter declared that Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life". Their example strengthened the rest, and Shapur finally ordered them all thrown together into a burning furnace.