Nine Martyrs of Perge

The Nine Martyrs of Perge in Pamphylia, Leontios, Attos, Alexander, Kindeos, Mnesitheos, Kyriakos, Mineon, Katounos and Eukles, were put to death at Perge in the reign of Diocletian (284 to 305). Eight of them were farmers by profession, and Mineon was a carpenter. They were Christians from their early childhood and remained so after reaching adulthood. One evening they all decided to suffer martyrdom for Christ, so they went to the pagan temple of Artemis and destroyed all the idols. After this they were arrested by the pagans, who questioned and tortured them: first they burned their sides, then scraped their flesh with iron claws, and finally took torches and stabbed them in the eyes. Then they were thrown into prison without food or water. After a while they were taken out and thrown into a cage of wild beasts to be devoured. Although the animals had not been fed, they sat calmly and did not approach the saints. Those who saw this miracle were astonished and shouted: "Great is the God of the Christians."

Then another miracle occurred: there was thunder, lightning flashed and rain began to fall, and at the same time a voice was heard inviting the saints to heaven. As soon as they heard it, they rejoiced. After this the tyrant became so angry that he ordered soldiers to behead them. In this manner the suffering of the nine saints came to an end, and they entered into the eternal Kingdom. They are commemorated on 1 August (new style; 14 August on the old calendar).