Cathedral Homilies

who boast in them, as if to show that they were not victorious in the contest through human strength, but through the strength of God. And when the tyrant heard that they were speaking in this manner, he commanded that they be scourged. And while they were being scourged, he said to them, "What did you say? What is it that you want now? For you have seen the power that rules over you. Come, listen to me, and sacrifice to the gods, and I will release you from these torments." The holy ones answered and said, "For us, death for the sake of Christ the Anointed One is life everlasting. And the torments you inflict are peace everlasting." And when the tyrant heard this, he commanded that they be shut up in the house of prisoners. And when they had entered the house of prisoners, they were there for days. And when they came out from there, they brought them before him. And he said to them, "Have you changed your mind, or not?"

At the time they came to him, there was no light. And he said to them, "Sacrifice to the gods, and I will release you from these torments." And the tyrant said to them, "How do you see that a light has appeared?" And the holy ones said to him, "The light of Christ has dawned upon us." And the tyrant said to them, "How do you see that a light has appeared?" And the holy ones said to him, "The light of Christ has dawned upon us." And the tyrant said to them, "How do you see that a light has appeared?" And the holy ones said to him, "The light of Christ has dawned upon us." And the tyrant said to them, "How do you see that a light has appeared?" And the holy ones said to him, "The light of Christ has dawned upon us." And the tyrant said to them, "How do you see that a light has appeared?" And the holy ones said to him, "The light of Christ has dawned upon us." And the tyrant said to them, "How do you see that a light has appeared?" And the holy ones said to him, "The light of Christ has dawned upon us."