History of the Armenians, Volumes 2-3

"Unto thee, O Lord, have I lifted up the eye of my soul; as the eyes of a servant are to the hand of his masters, so the vision of my mind looks to thee."

And the psalm that follows... Having reached the place of completion, with joyous gladness, and lifting his hands to heaven, he said: "I thank thee, for you have heard my daily sighing and fulfilled my desires, and you have brought about the resolution of my bonds through the death of your holy witnesses. And you have made me worthy to die for your great name. Therefore, remember us, O Lord, for we die for your sake daily. And put to shame those who have puffed themselves up, wallowing in the earth, beast-minded, judgmental, lovers of the body, and wandering to the left side. Keep the children of your holy church undefiled, immovable as if upon the rock of faith. And at your second coming, make me worthy, on the heavenly road, to go forth to meet you in your heavenly tabernacles, as a child of light, to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever. Amen."

At that moment, the executioner-in-chief said to him in a rage: "You did not want to agree to my words, so now I shall go and carry out what has been ordered upon you."

And the Saint answered and said: "If it is your custom to disregard the commands of your overseer, it is impossible for me to transgress the commandment of my Heavenly King."

At that moment, the executioner-in-chief stripped his shoulders and brandished them, striking a little, according to the royal order, showing the spurting blood. He was not at all terrified. He said to him again: "What do you want?"

The Saint said: "Do whatever is your will."

And after that, he did not speak again. The executioner said again: "Oh you who are tormented, the day of bitterness has arrived for you, and again, the day of life, if you wish. Why then did you not choose life, but rather loved death?"

[The Saint] says...