Avim the Maccabee

Holy Martyr Avim the Maccabee is one of the seven Maccabee brothers, martyrs of the Old Testament, who suffered with their mother, Solomonia, and their teacher, Eleazar, in the year 166 before Christ, in Judea. They are commemorated on 14 August. Of Avim it is known only that he was one of the seven.

Eleazar was a priest and teacher of the Law, who had reached great old age, of dignified appearance and known for wisdom and piety. They brought him to a tormentor and forced him to eat swine's flesh, forbidden by God in the Old Law. Eleazar chose to die a martyr's death for the Law of God rather than keep a shameful life, displeasing to God, through breaking it. In the midst of the torments, when he was nearing death from his wounds, he said with a groan that the Lord, Who has perfect knowledge, knew that he could escape death, but accepted harsh sufferings and endured them willingly out of the fear of God.

The seven pupils of Eleazar were also seized, the Maccabee brothers Avim, Antoninus, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonas, Alimus and Marcellus, together with their mother, Solomonia. They were brought to the lawless king and were also forced to eat the forbidden food. One of them, speaking for all, answered that they would rather die than transgress the laws. The king ordered his tongue cut out, his skin flayed and his hands and feet cut off, before the eyes of the other brothers and of their mother. The young man, deprived of all his limbs but still breathing, was thrown into an enormous pan, heated red-⁠hot in the fire. After the first had died, the second was brought out for mockery and suffered in the same way. With his last breath he told the tormentor that he was depriving them of the present life, but the King of the world would raise those who died for His laws, to eternal life. When they tormented the third and wished to cut out his tongue, he put it out at once and held out his hands without fear, saying bravely that he had received them from God and for His laws did not spare them, and from Him hoped to receive them again. Even the tormentors marvelled at the young man's courage. Then three more Maccabee brothers received a glorious martyr's end. To the seventh, the youngest, their mother, Saint Solomonia, said to look at heaven and earth and to know that God made everything from nothing, and so the human race was made; not to fear this murderer, but to show himself worthy of his brothers and accept death, so that she might receive him back, by God's mercy, together with his brothers. After her sons the mother also died, giving thanks joyfully to God that she and her children had laid down their souls for the Law of the Lord Almighty.