The Seven Sleepers of EphesusCOPYRIGHTED ART. Do not copy or deep-link to without prior permission from "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art.

August 4th
Troparion (Tone 4)
O miracle of faith! The seven holy youths remained in a cave as though in a royal palace and died without corruption. After many years they rose up from sleep to convince all men of the Resurrection. Through their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us all.

Emperor Decius went to Ephesus to hold a great pagan celebration and to slaughter the Christians there. Seven youths, who were all soldiers and sons of a high-ranking government official in the city, prayed for God to save the Christian people. They were accused before the Emperor, so they hid in a cave on Ochlon Hill outside Ephesus. The Emperor discovered their hiding place, so ordered the cave's only entrance to be walled in. But God caused a long-lasting sleep to fall on them. Imperial courtiers Theodore and Rufinus, who were secret believers, had plaques made with the names of the young men and their death by martyrdom under Decius and fastened them to the wall. Their names are Jambilicus, Martinian, Constantine (also known as Exacustodianus), Anthony, John, Dionysius & Maximillian. More than 200 years passed. During the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450), there was a controversy over the resurrection of the dead and Theodosius prayed that God would reveal the truth to the people. Some shepherds were building sheep pens by Ochlon and took the stones from the wall of the cave to build them. The youths woke up in full health, just as if they had only slept a night. The news of this miracle was broadcast so far that the Emperor himself came to meet them. He spoke with them privately. After a week, they entered the cave and fell asleep again, but this time it was the sleep of death. Theodosius wanted to build golden coffins for them, but they appeared to him in a dream and told him to leave them in the earth, as they had been, to await the General Resurrection.

This icon is by the hand of Paul Drozdowski of New Jersey. For a poem by Goethe on these men, click here.

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