200 Martyrs of Sinope

The 200 Martyrs of Sinope are remembered on 7 April. They came to believe in Christ through Saints Rufinus and Aquilina and were put to the sword. A note in Lavriotic Codex 170 says that they lived in the time of the Emperor Decius (249-251) and all bound themselves to remain in the faith in Christ. The emperor sent soldiers to seize Saint Christopher and bring him to trial for his confession. Seeing the wonders that the saint wrought at the invocation of Christ's name, they all cried out: "Great is the God of the Christians, and Him alone we serve." The emperor shut Christopher in a dark prison and ordered them brought to judgment. Rufinus answered in the name of all that they confess Christ for the kingdom promised to the elect. The emperor grew angry and ordered their bodies cut limb from limb with the sword; so they were perfected in martyrdom.