THE NINE HOLY MARTYRS

August 1

From the Prologue

The names of these martyrs were: Leontius, Attus, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesitheus, Cyriacus, Menaeus, Catunus and Eucleus. Leontius was a carpenter and the others were farmers. Because of their bold confession of the Faith of Christ and because of their destruction of the temple of Artemis, they were cruelly tortured and beheaded in Perga of Pamphylia during the reign of Diocletian and became heirs of the Kingdom of Christ.

HYMN OF PRAISE

THE HONORABLE CROSS OF CHRIST

The Honorable Cross of Christ

Before it, all honorably prostrate,

By the power of the Cross of Christ

From temptation, we are redeemed.

The Holy Cross is mightier than the demons

And from every earthly king,

From sickness, the Cross saves

And from the assaults of barbarians.

Prince Andrew, by the power of the Cross

Enslaved lands, saved,

King Manuel, by the power of the Cross

The Saracens, gloriously destroyed.

From the armies of pagans,

From the tyrannical conquerors,

From all evils demonstrated that

The power of the Cross is mightier.