Vivian of Sebaste

Holy Martyr Vivian of Sebaste is one of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Christian soldiers frozen in a lake in Armenia about the year 320, in the time of Emperor Licinius.

In 313 Emperor Constantine the Great signed the law of freedom of faith, a law Licinius also signed, but in his lands the persecution continued. About the year 320, in the city of Sebaste in Armenia, a Roman army was quartered, in which there were forty Christian soldiers from Cappadocia. The commander Agricolaus pressed them to sacrifice to idols, but they refused. They were arrested and led bound to a lake near the city. It was winter and evening was coming. The soldiers were set naked on the ice. The terrible frost gripped their limbs, and on the shore, as a temptation, a warm bath had been set: whoever wanted to save his life had to tell the guard that he had renounced Christ. All night the soldiers bore the cold with courage, encouraging one another and singing hymns.

In the morning one of them could bear it no longer, came out of the lake and ran toward the bath, but as the warm air touched him he fell dead. Soon the guard Aglaius saw an unearthly light over the martyrs who remained in the lake, confessed himself a Christian, undressed and joined the thirty-⁠nine. The tormentors, coming, found them not frozen but apparently warmed. Then they broke their shins with hammers and threw them into the fire, and the burned bones into the river. After three days the martyrs appeared to Bishop Peter of Sebaste and told him of their struggle; the bishop gathered their bones and buried them with honor. Their names have been preserved, among them Vivian. The memory of the Forty is among the most honored feasts; on their day, 9 March (old style), the strictness of Great Lent is relaxed and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served.

Saint Vivian is commemorated on 22 March, in the new style, that is 9 March in the old style.