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ABOUT this period they arrested Acepsimas the bishop, and many of
his clergy. After having taken counsel together, they satisfied
themselves with the hunt after the leader only; they dismissed the rest
after they had taken away their property. James, however, who was
one of the presbyters, voluntarily followed Acepsimas, obtained
permission from the Magi to share his prison, and spiritedly
ministered to the old man, lightened his misfortunes as far as he was
able, and dressed his wounds; for not long after his apprehension,
the Magi had injuriously tortured him with raw thongs in forcing him to
worship the sun; and on his refusal to do so had retained him again in
bonds. Two presbyters named Aithalas and James, and two deacons,
by name Azadanes and Abdiesus, after being scourged most injuriously
by the Magi, were compelled to live in prison, on account of their
opinions. After a long time had elapsed, the great Arch-Magi
communicated to the king the facts about them to be punished; and
having received permission to deal with them as he pleased, unless they
would consent to worship the sun, he made known this decision of
Sapor's to the prisoners. They replied openly, that they would
never betray the cause of Christ nor worship the sun; he tortured them
unsparingly. Acepsimas persevered in the manly confession of his
faith, till death put an end to his torments. Certain Armenians,
whom the Persians retained as hostages, secretly carried away his body
and buried it. The other prisoners, although not less scourged,
lived as by a miracle, and as they would not change their judgment,
were again put in bonds. Among these was Aithalas, who was stretched
out while thus beaten, and his arms were torn out of his shoulders by
the very great wrench; and he carried his hands about as dead and
swinging loosely, so that others had to convey food to his mouth.
Under this rule, an innumerable multitude of presbyters, deacons,
monks, holy virgins, and others who served the churches and were set
apart for its dogma, terminated their lives by martyrdom. The
following are the names of the bishops, so far as I have been able to
ascertain: Barbasymes, Paulus, Gaddiabes, Sabinus, Mareas,
Mocius, John, Hormisdas, Papas, James, Romas, Maares,
Agas, Bochres, Abdas, Abdiesus, John, Abramins, Agdelas,
Sapores, Isaac, and Dausas. The latter had been made prisoner by
the Persians, and brought from a place named Zabdaeus. He died
about this time in defense of the dogma; and Mareabdes, a
chorepiscopus, and about two hundred and fifty of his clergy, who had
also been captured by the Persians, suffered with him.
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