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PUSICES, the superintendent of the king's artisans, was
present at the execution; perceiving that Anannias trembled as the
necessary preparations for his death were being made, he said to him,
"O old man, close your eyes for a little while and be of good
courage, for you will soon behold the light of Christ." No sooner
had he uttered these words than he was arrested and conducted before the
king; and as he frankly avowed himself a Christian, and spoke with
great freedom to the king concerning his opinion and the martyrs, he
was condemned to an extraordinary and most cruel death, because it was
not lawful to address the king with such boldness. The executioners
pierced the muscles of his neck in such a manner as to extract his
tongue. On the charge of some persons, his daughter, who had devoted
herself to a life of holy virginity, was arraigned and executed at the
same time. The following year, on the day on which the passion of
Christ was commemorated, and when preparations were being made for the
celebration of the festival commemorative of his resurrection from the
dead, Sapor issued a most cruel edict throughout Persia, condemning
to death all those who should confess themselves to be Christians. It
is hid that a greater number of Christians suffered by the sword; for
the Magi sought diligently in the cities and villages for those who had
concealed themselves; and many voluntarily surrendered themselves,
lest they should appear, by their silence, to deny Christ. Of the
Christians who were thus unsparingly sacrificed, many who were
attached to the palace were slain, and amongst these was Azades, a
eunuch, who was especially beloved by the king. On hearing of his
death, Sapor was overwhelmed with grief, and put a stop to the
general slaughter of the Christians; and he directed that the teachers
of religion should alone be slain.
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