Lives and Martyrdoms of the Saints, Volume 1

He ordered him to be brought. And they took him and led him before him, and they forced him to renounce his faith and to worship the sun and the fire. And he, with god-wise words, rebuked their unbelief and said, "Gods who did not create the heavens and the earth shall perish from under the heavens. I do not confess the elements as God, nor do I offer sacrifice to ash and fire. Whatever you desire, do it quickly."

Then the lawless King Yazdegerd ordered that sharpened reeds be driven into his hands and feet, twenty-five in each. And the blood flowed like a gushing stream from his hands and feet and watered the earth. And again, they sharpened longer reeds and thrust them into the joints of his inner limbs, and frequently pulled them out and thrust them in again. And during such bitter and agonizing torments, he did not lose heart, nor was he afraid, but glorified God and gave thanks, and did not cease from giving thanks and praying. And he begged the executioners to loosen the torments a little and said, "Grant me a moment, for I have something to say to you." And they allowed him. Then he raised his hands toward heaven toward the east and began to pray, saying thus:

"Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Lord and Creator of all creatures, who sent your only-begotten Son, the radiance and image of your essence, who bears all things by the power of his word; who came and descended into the womb of the Virgin by your will, and truly assumed a body, not in appearance only; who appeared on earth and walked among men, and traveled through all the bodily passions of this life, and endured the cross and death. He was buried and rose on the third day, and ascended to you, Father, in heaven, where he was before. And he sent the Holy Spirit, the co-essential and co-eternal, into the world, by whom he made known your divinity. I beseech you, my Lord and God, give me the crown that I asked for, for you yourself know that I asked for it for myself, because with all my mind and soul and life I loved you, so that I may see you and be happy and find rest. And I shall remain no longer in the world..."