Holy Martyrs: the Forty Virgins and Ammon the Deacon, Their Teacher (4th c.) — September 1 / September 14 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 1 according to the Julian Calendar (September 14 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyrs, the Forty Virgins and Ammon the Deacon, their teacher.

The Holy Martyrs, the Forty Virgins and Ammon the Deacon, suffered martyrdom at the beginning of the 4th century, in the time of Emperor Licinius (307–324), in the city of Adrianople in Macedonia. The governor Babdus subjected them to cruel tortures and then sent them to another tormentor in Heraclea. There too the lambs of Christ valiantly confessed the true God and firmly refused to offer sacrifice to false gods. For this, by order of the impious ruler, Saint Ammon and with him eight of the virgins were beheaded, ten were burned, and the rest were pierced with swords.