Страдание святого мученика Иустина и дружины его

At a time when idolaters in all countries and cities, against pious and law-keeping Christians, issued an impious command that everyone who believes in Christ should be forced to sacrifice to idols, the holy martyrs Justin, Chariton and Charitha (the woman), Evelpist, Hierax, Paeon and Valerian were taken to Rome and presented to the court of the mayor Rusticus. He said to Justin: - Obey the gods and the king’s commands so as not to fall into condemnation. Saint Justin answered him: – No one can ever be condemned if he obeys the commandments of our Savior Jesus Christ. What doctrine do you adhere to? – asked the mayor. – I diligently studied all external teachings and achieved mastery in all knowledge, but then I joined the true Christian teaching, even if it was not approved by those who are mistaken in wrong wisdom. - So you, damned one, love teachings that are contrary to our wisdom? “Yes, I love you,” answered Saint Justin, “for I follow the fair teaching of Christians.” – The right teaching that we Christians inviolably observe is this: to know the one God, Creator and Maker of everything visible and invisible, and to confess the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, once foretold by the prophets, Who will come to judge the human race. He is the Preacher of salvation and the Teacher of those who wish to establish themselves in virtue. I, a weak man, the least of all, cannot speak with sufficient strength about His infinite Divinity, but I confess that this was predicted by the prophets: for many centuries they foretold the descent to earth of Him whom I called the Son of God. – Where do Christians converge? – Everyone comes where he wants and can. Do you think we're all going to one place? This is an impossible matter: for the Christian God does not dwell in any place, but, being invisible, fills heaven and earth; He is worshiped everywhere by the faithful, and His glory is proclaimed everywhere. – Still, tell us where you are going and where you are gathering your students. Justin answered: – Until now I was near the house of a certain Martin, at a bathhouse called Timiotini, but I came to the city of Rome for the second time, and I don’t know any other place besides the one named; I joined everyone who wanted to come to me to the true teaching. - So, are you a Christian? - asked Rustik. “Yes, I am a Christian,” answered Justin. Then the mayor turned to Khariton: – With the help of God, I am a Christian. Then Rustic asked the blessed wife Charita if she also followed the faith of Christ; Harita also declared herself a Christian, by the grace of God. Then Rustic asked Evelpist: “I am a royal slave,” he answered, “but, as a Christian, Christ Himself granted me freedom; By His mercy and grace I have become a participant in the same hope as those whom you see. Then the mayor asked Hierax if he, too, was a Christian. Hierax answered him: - Truly, I am a Christian, for I honor the same God and worship Him. – Did Justin make you Christians? – asked the mayor. – I have been and will be a Christian. Saint Peon, who was there, said: – Who taught you Christianity? “I received this good confession from my parents,” answered Peon. “And I received instruction in Christianity from my parents, and listening to the words of Justin, I became even stronger in the Christian faith. -Where are your parents? – asked the mayor: Then the mayor asked Hierax: – What country do your parents live in? – Our True Father is Christ, and our mother is faith in Him; my earthly parents passed away, but I came here from Iconium of Phrygia. The mayor turned to Valerian, urging him to answer: – Are you also a Christian and are not zealous for the gods? “And I am a Christian, I honor the one true God and worship Him, but I despise your gods.” Again the mayor turned to Justin: “Listen, you who are called eloquent and are considered a follower of the true teaching: if, starting from your head throughout your whole body, you are covered with sores, do you think through this you will enter heaven? – If I endure the torment you named, then I hope to receive the same reward from my Lord as is prepared for those who have preserved Christ’s teaching; for I know that God’s hidden grace awaits everyone who has lived piously and suffered in any way for God until the end of the whole world. To this, the mayor Rustik said: “So, do you think you will ascend to heaven and receive some reward from your God?” “I don’t believe so,” Justin objected, “but I know for sure and I hope so without a doubt.” “However, let’s get down to the task ahead of us: get together, and all together make a sacrifice to the gods.” - No one who thinks sensibly would want to lose piety and fall into error and lawlessness. Mayor Rustic said: “If you do not obey our commands, you will suffer torment without any mercy.” “We truly want to endure torment for our Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, for these torments give us salvation and boldness at His Last Judgment, at which, by the command of God, the whole world will appear. All the other holy martyrs said the same thing, adding: - Fulfill your intention quickly; We are Christians and will not sacrifice to idols. After hearing this, the mayor announced the verdict: - Those who do not want to sacrifice to the gods and obey the royal command will be punished with rods and taken to death by beheading, as Roman laws command. So the holy martyrs, glorifying God, were led to the usual place of execution, received wounds and, beheaded with an ax, ended their suffering in a saving confession. Then some of the faithful secretly took their honorable bodies and buried them in a worthy place, with the assistance of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him be glory forever and ever, amen. You might be interested in: