The Church commemorates Martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, Elpidephorus, Anempodistus, and Aphthonius. We also commemorate Martyrs Eudoxios and Agapios.
Acindynus, Pegasius, and Anempodistuswere King Sapor’s courtiers, and in 330 AD they confessed their faith in the Lord. After their confession, they were arrested and beaten with whips, in order to deny the Lord. Despite their torments, they never gave in for they had understood the true meaning of the Incarnation of Jesus, God the Son.
They were then forced to enter the flames of a great fire. They prayed to God to send rain and to put out the fire and their prayers were heard. This miracle led to the postponement of the death penalty and, by the light of the Holy Spirit, Aphthonius, who was pagan, became Christian and was baptized.
However, after a few days, Aphthonius had his head cut off, as he did not deny the Lord and said that paganism would not last thanks to the omnipotence of God.
Elpidophorus also remained steadfast in his faith in the Savior Christ. Despite the efforts to make him deny the Lord, he answered that he believed in Christ, as He was “the way and the truth and the life.” Thus, they ordered to kill him along with seven thousand other Christians.
Akindynos, Pigasios, and Anebodistos were thrown into a pit with beasts, but the beasts remained harmless and calmly confronted them. This miracle led the king’s mother to the Church and to embrace Christianity. In the end, the Witnesses were thrown into a fiery furnace to receive the amaranth crown of glory.
Source: Church of Cyprus