THE VENERABLE MARTYRS OF THE MONASTERY OF ST

May 16

From the Prologue

During the reign of Emperor Heraclius, about the year 610 A.D., forty-four monks from the monastery of St. Sabas the Sanctified near Jerusalem suffered for the Faith of Christ. Their heroism and sufferings were recorded by the eyewitness, St. Antiochus (December 24).

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT NICHOLAS, NEO-MARTYR

Nicholas the martyr, for Christ suffered

And by painful patience, overcame the devil;

And to deny his Savior, the hero did not want,

But glorified God as long as he had a voice;

And in his heart, he glorified Him when his voice gave out

And for greater sufferings, from his enemies begged.

Cruel as wolves, the Turks beat him,

Every inhuman suffering, they put him through. And finally, his holy head, they beheaded.

Into the green grass, the head rolled,

The saint's head, with light radiated;

And a Christian in silk, wraps this head

And in church he brought it, for many, to be a remedy,

The disfigured to heal, the blind and the insane.

On all sides, God punished the unbelievers,

And the faithful Nicholas, eternally glorified.