In 313, Saint Constantine the Great issued a decree according to which Christians were allowed freedom of religion, and they were equal in rights with pagans. But his co-ruler Licinius was a staunch pagan and decided to eradicate Christianity from his part of the empire, which had spread significantly there. Licinius was preparing for war against Constantine and, fearing treason, decided to purge his army of Christians.
At that time, in the Armenian city of Sebaste, one of the military leaders was Agricolai, a zealous supporter of paganism. Under his command was a squad of forty Cappadocians, brave warriors who emerged victorious from many battles. They were all Christians. When the soldiers refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Agricolaus imprisoned them. The soldiers devoted themselves to fervent prayer and one night they heard a voice: "He who endures to the end will be saved."
The next morning, the soldiers were brought back to Agricolaus. This time, the pagan used flattery. He began to praise their courage, youth, and strength, and again suggested that they renounce Christ and thereby gain the honor and favor of the emperor himself. When Agricolaus again heard the refusal, he ordered the soldiers to be chained up. However, the eldest of them, Cyrion, said, "The Emperor did not give you the right to put shackles on us." Agricolaus was embarrassed and ordered the soldiers to be taken to the dungeon without shackles.
Seven days later, a noble dignitary, Lysias, arrived in Sebastia and held a trial of the soldiers. The saints answered firmly: "Take not only our military rank, but also our lives, for us there is nothing more precious than Christ God." Then Lysias ordered the holy martyrs to be stoned. But the stones missed their target; the stone thrown by Lysias hit Agricolaus in the face. The tormentors realized that some invisible force was protecting the saints. The soldiers spent the night in prayer in the dungeon and again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: "Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive incorruptible crowns."
The next day, the trial before the tormentor and the interrogation were repeated, but the soldiers remained adamant.
It was winter, and there was a severe frost. The holy warriors were stripped, led to a lake near the city, and placed under guard on the ice for the entire night. To break the will of the martyrs, a sauna was melted nearby on the shore. In the first hour of the night, when the cold became unbearable, one of the soldiers could not stand it and ran to the bathhouse, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, he fell dead. At three o'clock in the morning, the Lord sent joy to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warm. All the guards were asleep, but only one named Aglaius was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a bright crown appeared above the head of each martyr. Aglaius counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. Then Aglaius woke up the other guards, took off his clothes and told them, "And I am a Christian!" and joined the martyrs. Standing in the water, he prayed: "Lord God, I believe in You, whom these warriors believe in. Join me to them, so that I may be worthy to suffer with Your slaves."
The next morning, the torturers were surprised to see that the martyrs were alive, and their guard Aglaius was praising Christ with them. Then the soldiers were taken out of the water and their shins were broken. During this painful execution, the mother of the youngest of the soldiers, Meliton, urged her son not to be afraid and to endure everything to the end. The bodies of the martyrs were placed on chariots and taken to be burned. Young Meliton was still breathing, and they left him lying on the ground. Then the mother picked up her son and carried him on her shoulders after the chariot. When Meliton breathed his last, his mother laid him on a chariot next to the bodies of his holy companions. The bodies of the saints were burned at the stake, and the charred bones were thrown into the water so that Christians would not collect them.
Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to Blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and commanded him to bury their remains. The bishop and several clerics gathered the remains of the glorious martyrs at night and buried them with honor.