Orthodox Christians celebrate feast of Forty Martyrs

The Orthodox Christians observe the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste or the Holy Forty feast on March 22. The Forty Martyres are venerated because they died for their Christian faith, priest Ioan Ciuntu, bishop of Saint Teodora de la Sihla Church based in Chisinau, has told Info-Prim Neo. “This feast falls during Great Lent so that the endurance of the martyrs will serve as an example to the faithful to persevere throughout the forty days of the fast in order to attain heavenly reward,” said the priest. Forty soldiers who had openly confessed themselves Christians were condemned by the prefect to be exposed naked upon a frozen pond near Sebaste on a bitterly cold night, that they might freeze to death. Among the confessors, one yielded and, leaving his companions, sought the warm baths near the lake which had been prepared for any who might prove inconstant. One of the guards set to keep watch over the martyrs beheld at this moment a supernatural brilliancy overshadowing them and at once proclaimed himself a Christian, threw off his garments, and joined the remaining thirty-nine. Thus the number of forty remained complete. At daybreak, the stiffened bodies of the confessors, which still showed signs of life, were burned and the ashes cast into a river. Christians, however, collected the precious remains, and the relics were distributed throughout many cities. The feast day of the Forty Martyrs is intentionally placed that it will fall during Great Lent. There is an intentional play on the number forty being both the number of martyrs and the days in the fast. There is a pious custom of baking "skylarks" (pastries shaped like skylarks) on this day, because people believed that birds sing at this time to announce the arrival of spring. Forty "skylarks" are prepared in honor of the Forty Martyrs. People consider that the Forty Martyrs are the protectors of farmers and vegetation. Another tradition says the people should give alms on this day.