Страдание святого преподобномученика Вадима архимандрита

During the murder of the holy forty Persian martyrs, by order of King Sapor 2494, the holy Archimandrite Vadim was taken and imprisoned with seven of his disciples. This saint came from the city of Bethlapata (in Persia), from a very rich family, but when he decided to become a monk, he gave all his wealth to the poor and, having built a monastery outside the city, he lived in it virtuously, trying in everything to please God and fulfill His holy will. For he was a man full of grace and truth and a chosen vessel of God. This reverend father, led by Divine and perfect wisdom, ascended a deserted mountain and, dwelling on it, received a blessing from God his Savior and saw the face of the God of Jacob 2495. For Persia in those days he was like leaven, that leaven of martyrdom and firm confession of Christ, which confirmed the weak in the faith. He truly was a stone of faith, like the ancient Christians - a great priest of God, who guided many on the path of salvation, courageously and unshakably decided to suffer martyrdom for Christ and showed great zeal for God. He was clean from all filth and there was no place for any evil deed in him: selfishness was far from him, lusts had faded away and could not harm him. He was alien to any passion for acquisition and was incapable of being seduced by gold. Pride humbled himself before him, arrogance was trampled upon by him like dust, but poverty and meekness loved him. Truth came to him, and truth shone in him; love took possession of his will, and the world kissed him and rejoiced over him (cf. Ps. 85:11-12). Harmony and like-mindedness dwelt in his heart, and this man was filled with all the fruits of the righteous, and everyone was satisfied with his spiritual fruits. He spent four months in prison in chains, together with his disciples, and was subjected to severe beatings every day, but he endured them patiently, strengthened by hope and sincere faith in God. At that time there was a certain Nirsan, the head of the city of Aria in the Vidgermi region. This Nirsan was a Christian, and when the king forced him to worship the sun, he did not want to renounce the holy faith of Christ and was imprisoned. But then he weakened in spirit, was afraid of the torment that lay ahead of him, and did not remain fully in the confession of Christ, but, having loved this short-lived life and vain honor from the king, he lost Divine life and eternal glory. However, as the subsequent narrative will show, he did not have to take advantage of the pleasures of this world: avoiding martyrdom, he fell into torment and, seeking earthly glory, received dishonor for choosing a temporary and perishable king over a heavenly and eternal one, promising to do everything that King Sapor commanded. The king, having heard about his decision, was very happy and, remembering Saint Vadim, immediately ordered him to be freed from his shackles and brought to him from prison, saying to the nobles standing before him: – If Nirsan kills Vadim with his own hands, he will be freed from his bonds and receive all of Vadimovo’s property. These words of the king were immediately conveyed to Nirsan, and he agreed to exactly fulfill the royal will. Saint Vadim was brought to Nirsan, and the accursed Nirsan, taking a naked sword, prepared to kill the martyr of Christ, but, overwhelmed with fear, he became motionless, like a stone. Then Christ's servant, looking at him, said: “Has your anger reached such a degree, Nirsan, that you have not only renounced your God, but are also beginning to kill His servants?” Woe to you, unfortunate one! What will you do when you appear at the Last Judgment to give an answer to the eternal God? I am ready to die for my Christ, but I would not like to accept death at your hands. Nirsan was not ashamed of these words, but was not able to fulfill the royal order, and continued to stand in fear. Finally, having set his face like stone and hardened his heart like iron, he struck the martyr in the neck with his sword. But since the killer’s hands were shaking, he could not kill the saint right away; only after many blows did he barely cut off the saint’s head. In such suffering, the Monk Vadim betrayed his holy soul to God, and all the infidels who were present at his death were amazed at the patience of the martyr, for he, receiving repeated blows with a sword, stood motionless, like a pillar of stone. Everyone laughed at the murderer as if he were a coward and treated him with contempt. After a little time, Nirsan received a worthy retribution for his deeds: from many and various mental sufferings, he committed suicide in despair! Saint Vadim suffered martyrdom in Christ Jesus on the eighth day of April. His body, abandoned outside the city, was secretly taken by reverent men and buried with honor. And his seven disciples remained in prison and stayed there for four years, until the death of King Sapor. When they were released in peace, they were allowed to profess the Christian faith, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. On the same day, the memory of the holy martyrs: Disan the bishop, Mariab the presbyter, Avdies and the other two hundred and seventy who suffered from the Persian king Sapor in the years 362–364. Of course, the Persian king Sapor II, nicknamed the Great. Reigned from 310 to 381. You might be interested in: