The Church commemorates the Holy Forty Martyrs.
The Forty Holy Martyrs were a group of Roman soldiers in the Legio XII Fulminata. They were arrested because they boldly confessed their steadfast Orthodox faith. They were brought to the ruler Agricola, who at first praised their valor if they renounced their faith and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Despite the pressures, the saints continued bravely and boldly to confess their faith in Christ.
When the ruler realized that he tried in vain to flatter them, he ordered that they be tortured and thrown into the frozen waters of lake of Sebastea.
At the time of the martyrdom, only one yielded and left his companions. Seeing the radiant crowns of holiness over the heads of the martyrs, one of the guards proclaimed himself a Christian. He also publicly confessed his faith in Christ, after having entered the lake with the remaining thirty-nine, thus receiving the wreath of martyrdom.
Source: Church of Cyprus