The life and martyrdom of the great Saint Abadir and Irae translated from the coptic text

[karas karas]

Their feast day is September 25th according to the Gregorian calendar and October 8th or 9th according to the Coptic calendar.

Martyrology of the noble and victorious witness of our Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Apater, and of Irai his sister, children of Basilides, Captain of the kingdom of the Romans. They completed the struggle of their martyrdom on the twenty-eighth day of the month of Thout; in the peace of God. Amen.
During the reign of Diocletian, an impious and apostate king, it happened that (this prince) made idols made by human hands, and abandoned the God of Heaven by whom he had been created. To thirty-five (idols) he gave the names of male divinities and to thirty-five the names of female divinities. In his madness he ordered that everyone should worship them: eparchs, captains, tribunes, soldiers, bishops, priests, deacons, men, women; in a word, let everyone, (he said) sacrifice everywhere to my gods.

There was (then) at Antioch a holy bishop, of Roman origin, who performed many courageous deeds in the presence of Diocletian, the impious king. The name of this bishop was Theopemptus; he was the first to advance to the battle of martyrdom, because of his bravery, courage and sincere faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. When the multitude (of Christians) saw the wonders he performed, many of them endured (courageously) the tortures and won the incorruptible crown of martyrdom.
Four of the king's great captains, greatly honored by (Diocletian), also renounced all their possessions and became martyrs. They abandoned all their riches, all their honors and confessed the good confession, they and all their servants.

There was (also, in Antioch) a son of Basilides named Apater, that is, beloved of God and men. His father Basilides was very rich according to this world. (Apater) was the only son of his father and mother who also had two daughters, one named Irai and the other, the younger, Calonia. Basilides, Apater's father, loved his son very much, because he had no other male child, and he asked the king to make him captain of the palace. Apater was twenty-two years old when the king anointed him captain of the palace, and Basilides gave a great feast to the king and his nobles.

After this, Basilides, his father, lived for ten more years; then came the persecution, and he and all those around him were martyred for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One day, while Apater was talking with one of his companions named Zokrator, the latter said to him: "See, my brother, we have no father, for Basilides, your father, was like my father: he was a martyr and left behind his great wealth. Arise, let us also go and be martyrs for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You did not take a wife, and neither did I. My mother wanted to marry me to her brother's daughter, and now she was martyred at the same time as her father; truly the Lord does not want me to take a wife." If you will listen to me, let us die for Christ, for it is good for us to suffer in this world for the name of Christ, and to receive the incorruptible crown in heaven.
Apater rejoiced and said to him: "I will tell you, my brother Zocrator, that I have had a dream since my father Basilides died for Christ. It seemed to me that I was not asleep. My father wore royal clothing. My eyes were dazzled by the light of his face and by the radiance of the clothes he was wearing. I have never seen in the whole palace clothes that resembled those of my father Basilides. He said to me with a very joyful face: Apater, Apater, do not consider the glory of this world, which is only for a time, but come to me and see the light that never ceases. Ask God, and you will see his glory. I have come to you in these modest garments so that you may be able to bear the sight of them, for if I had appeared to you with the great glory of my Lord Jesus Christ, you would not have been able to bear the sight. Blessed are all those who are worthy to die for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ! - Behold, my brother, I have shared this vision with you, so that we may give our hearts to God for a little while, in order to receive, in heaven, the time that never ceases.

Zocrator said to him: "Let me think, O my brother." Then he went secretly to tell the mother of Saint Apater what he had said to her. On learning this, the mother of Saint Apater seized his clothes and tore them; his two sisters also seized their clothes and tore them; for he was an only son.

When Apater left the palace, his mother prostrated herself on the ground before him and worshipped him, weeping. Apater said to her: "Oh, my mother, why are you weeping?" She said to him: "I am weeping for you, for my son, the light of my eyes." Apater perceived that Zocrator had revealed to his mother the plan he had secretly formed with him, and he conceived a great affliction of heart. However, he wanted to console his mother and said to her: "I spoke in jest. Does the man do everything he says?" When his mother sat down, she said to him, weeping: "Swear to me." Saint Apater said to her: "I have just drunk a small glass of wine; let me rest a little; tomorrow, when I come, I will swear to you." And she let him go.
Then Apater prostrated himself with his face to the ground and prayed before God, saying, "My Lord Jesus Christ, whose eye sees and whose ear hears all who cry out to you, hear me also, your servant Apater. Help me and save me. I beg you, my Lord, make me worthy to be numbered among your righteous, who have died for your holy name. You know my love for you, my Lord, you who search the hearts and minds."
Having said this, he fell asleep. Behold, the Savior came to him in the form of a royal captain, and with a face full of joy said to him: “Hail, Apater, my blessed virgin! Listen, let me tell you what will happen to you. I will command my angels to guard you, so that no power of darkness will come near you. I know that you will die for my name; but you will not be allowed to die for my name in this city. Arise, go to the province of Egypt, where I also was a stranger, for your salvation, while I was a child. You will die there for my name; my angels, who have guided you from your youth, will watch over you.” When he had said these words to her, he withdrew from her sight.
When Apater awoke from the vision, he rejoiced and believed that God was with him. His mother said to him, "Apater, my son, swear to me, so that my heart may be relieved, for I am saddened by you." And he swore to her that he would not say before Diocletian that he was a Christian. This oath brought him some relief, but the devil whispered to him, "He is deceiving you." She had four servants of great bodily strength; she commanded them to always stay with him, wherever he went, and gave them this order: "If you hear him arguing with Diocletian about martyrdom, seize him and bring him to me quickly."

Meanwhile, Apater reflected on the words the Savior had spoken to him, and he said, "How can I flee?" As he was going to the palace, he met Zocrator and said to him mockingly, "What shall I say to you, O Zocrator? The words our Savior spoke in the holy Gospels have truly come true in us: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." And this other, about the hypocrites: "They say, but they do not do." Well, now you are a stranger to me, and I am a stranger to you."

Zocrator was distressed and said to him, "I want you not to die, O my brother, and that we remain together, united by friendship." Apater said to him, "God knows those whom he has chosen; If you knew their glory, you would not say that their death is death, but (although it is) eternal life.

It had been twenty-five days since the Savior had appeared to Saint Apater.
He ate neither bread nor meat to his heart's content; he barely tasted them because of the people who ate with him. He observed long fasts and countless prostrations. He also gave much alms, of which his mother was unaware. At night, he was accustomed to changing his clothes and going to draw water at the place where strangers passed by. Now, one night, when he had grown very weary drawing water and was saying, "I am tired today," a voice answered him from heaven, saying, "Apater, man worthy of being loved, do not be discouraged; I am with you. Behold, I am counting your steps; it is to give me drink that you draw water."

(Encouraged by these words) Saint Apater rejoiced in the Lord, enduring with pleasure all his fatigues.

Now one night the devil, who was envious of him because of his pain, sprang upon him and, throwing the amphora to the ground, he broke it into two pieces. But a voice was heard by the Saint and said to him: "Do not grieve, Apater, my beloved, stretch out your hand and, taking the parts of the broken vessel, join them together, and (the vessel) will be mended (and will be) as it was (before). And Apater took the broken pieces, and made over them the sign of the holy Cross; and immediately (the vessel) was mended (and became) as it was, like bronze. When he came home, he said to the porter: "The place where you put the amphora every day (is not suitable); put it in a holy place." And the porter obeyed him with fear.

It had been eight months since the Savior had appeared to Saint Apater; he was sleeping in his bedroom. Around midnight his sister came to him and called him, knocking at the door. When he opened it, she prostrated herself before him on the ground, saying: "Listen to me, my lord brother, that I may tell you this dream which I had." She was very troubled.

Apater said to her: "What did you see, my sister Irai?" - She said to him: "This happened to me: I was asleep last night; I raised my eyes and I saw my father Basilides. You were following him, standing on his right; you were accompanied by a woman who was in great glory. My father said to me: - Irai, my daughter - He was absolutely as if he were not dead. - I ran to him, wanting to kiss him, but he said to me: - You are not worthy to kiss me now. But if you obey me, with your brother, not only will you kiss me, but you will also kiss the master of all, my Lord Jesus Christ. - I said to him: - I have never disobeyed my brother. - And he took my hand and entrusted me to you. He said to you: - I place my daughter in your hands; I abandon her, it is a trust and your inheritance. — I said to him: — Who is this beautiful young girl who accompanies you? — She said to me (herself): — I am Irai of Tammou. — And, waking up with a start, (I came out) of the vision. I have not told it to my mother, nor to my sister, in order to share it with you first; because it is to you that I was entrusted in the vision.

Apater said to her: "Very well, my sister; in all that happens to us let us glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." And Saint Apater blessed God, saying: "Jesus, my Savior! Jesus, my glory! Jesus, my garment! Jesus, my crown! Jesus, my life! Jesus, my strength! Jesus, who loves all the Souls who are attached to you! Draw us up on high, with you, by your goodness. - Now, my sister, do not share the vision with anyone, neither your sister, nor your mother, nor the servants; our memory is with God, who wants to draw us into his eternal kingdom. Since you were entrusted to me, in the vision, it is so that you obey me, as you were commanded."

Irai wept and said to him: "Have I ever disobeyed you, O my lord brother?" - Apater said to him: "The obedience of this world is something, but the obedience of my Lord Jesus Christ is excellent. If you obey me, you will follow me when I face cruel torture, but when rest is given to me, I am ready to enjoy it with you." - Irai answered, saying: "If my blood must be shed, I will not disobey you, O my lord brother." When (Apater) had thus spoken (to his sister) to see whether, in the struggle, she would be able, or not, to endure (the tortures), he added: "Go away, say nothing, but pray constantly, saying: - My Lord Jesus, remember me, in your love, and do not abandon me."
On the night of Holy Sunday, behold, the Savior Jesus came to (Apater); and his bedroom was completely illuminated. Apater awoke with a start, and seeing the light, he said: "My Lord Jesus Christ, I know the glory of your divinity. (You are) my Lord who has come to me." A voice came to him (from the bosom) of the light, saying: "Hail! Apater, lovely man! The time for sowing is past, the time for reaping is now. Get up then, go out, go to the sea with your sister. You will find a ship sailing for Alexandria; go with it. Take courage, Apater; for my Father has already written your names in the book of life." After saying these things to him, the Savior withdrew from his sight.

When day broke, Apater got up and woke his sister Irai; then they went to the harbor, where they found the boat about to pull up the ladder. They agreed with the boatman, boarded the boat, and sailed on the sea, guided by the Lord. After seven days, they arrived in Alexandria, and took up residence in an inn in the city.

As Apater was walking in the streets, a soldier saw him, recognized him and said to him: "You are Lord Apater, the king's great captain, who has been appointed to the king's palace!" - Apater smiled and said to the soldier: "Many people have already said the same to me: - You look like Apater! -" The soldier said to him: "I too said: - (Apater) would not come to this city, in this modest costume, and he would not leave the king to come here. If he came to this city everyone would be in an uproar, because of his dignity." - Apater said to him: "Where would I get the dignity of this personage? As for me, I am only a poor man." - The man said to him: "Were it not for your modest costume, I would swear that you are my lord Apater."

Apater left that street and went to another street in the city. When Apater had left the royal city, King Diocletian looked for him but did not find him. His mother tore his clothes and wept over him, saying: "O Apater, my son, light of my eyes! Would that I had left you to be a martyr in your own house. I would have taken your body and placed it in my house to console me." And she wept not day and night. But one night her husband Basilides appeared to her in a dream and consoled her.

A few days after Saint Apater had left his house, a young and valiant tribune named Constantine, whom the king loved very much, went to Diocletian and asked him for Apater's sister in marriage. But the mother (of the young girl) would not consent: "Apater, my son," she said, "is no longer here; his sister Irai has also gone into exile with him, I will not marry his sister Calonia. I will keep her with me, to console me, until the day of my death." Constantine was very distressed when he heard these words, and so was the king. Then the latter called the captain Romanus, father of Saint Apa Victor, and said to him: "I know that you love me more than a wife, a son, or a brother. (Here) Constantine asks me for Calonia, sister of Apater, in marriage; but his mother does not consent. Now I see that your sister will not resist you."

The impious Romanus was lame and could not walk on his legs. He had himself lifted up and placed on a litter, then he had himself carried to the mother of Apater; this matter was (conducted) by God. - Romanus took the hand of Calonia, sister of Saint Apater, and he gave her in marriage to Constantine. Calonia therefore became the wife of Constantine (And they lived thus) until the day when God struck Diocletian, and Constantine reigned in his place. (This is what) happened after these events. Apater was in Alexandria with his sister. She said to him: "My lord brother, what are we doing in this place? What are we seeking?" - Apater said to her: "We seek eternal life." - She said to him again: "What is eternal life? » – He said to him: “When we have been to the toros of the woman whom you saw in the vision, she herself will teach us the way to eternal life.”

Apater got up and left Alexandria, thinking that the cemetery of Ama Irai was there. He said to himself: "Will the Lord forget us in our exile? My Lord Jesus Christ told me: - I will reveal to you what will happen to you in the city of Alexandria." The blessed Apater was praying. His body was weak because of the penances he was doing. Suddenly, the place where he was was completely illuminated. He saw a hand beckoning to him, (from the bosom) of light; he followed it and went out to wake his sister. But the Savior did not let him (do so); he said to him: "Do not wake her yet." And he went out, all troubled because of the voice he was following. The Savior said to him: "Listen to me, get up, go, with your sister, to the south of Egypt; for my Father has already blessed this place. Follow the banks of the river. After five days you will reach Terenuthi. Cross the river and march southward on that side. You will go to the camp of Babylon and ask for the monk Apokrajon of Neban; he will teach you good warfare.

After this you will go south to a village called Chinilah, near the city of Shmoun, where I stayed with Mary, my mother, and Joseph. Do not be upset; for I too have been in exile, who am your Lord. You will meet a man named Samuel. When you arrive at his village, he will take affection for you; it is he who will lead you to the residence of Arian, the governor. It is (again) this man who will take care of your bodies, for he is merciful. He goes to Antinous and clothes the saints who are naked. I will grant this village the grace of (entrusting) your body to it, to the service of which I will appoint a multitude of angels, because you have renounced everything for my name. Go in peace.

My peace be with you. No anguish or danger will fall on the village where your bodies will be laid. I will write in the book of life the names of those who will write your martyrdom, and the sufferings you have endured for my name. They will not know pain in this world, and there will never be among them a leper or a blind person. Even if they were great sinners, if on the day of your commemoration in this world, they take care to offer to your holy cemetery, either a book of lessons, or bread, or wine, or incense, or sacred vessels, or oil, I will wipe away their sins, and I will present their persons to you. And if anyone, on the day of your commemoration, gives water, without charge, to those who are thirsty, I will forgive their sins, and I will present them to you.

When the Savior had spoken these words to him, Saint Apater forgot his troubles and his exile. He rose at dawn with his sister and arrived at Terenouthi at the end of the fifth day. He crossed the river and marched south toward the camp of Babylon, (where) he found Saint apakragon of Neban. When the latter saw Saint Apater, he worshipped him and said to him: “You are welcome, my lord, pillar of Antioch, captain of Christ; you are happy above all men. My Lord Jesus Christ told me that you were coming today, and I rejoiced greatly. Courage! O my lord brother; do not think of saying: - I have abandoned my goods and my kingship. - The kingship of this world lasts only an hour, but the kingship of heaven is eternal. Do not obey the governor when he tries to frighten you; do not pay attention to the tribunal, for Christ is with you. What tortures have been inflicted on me! But my Lord Jesus encouraged me. Moreover, I know that I will complete (my martyrdom) before you; go in peace, the Lord is with you.

When Saint Apater heard these words, he said: "May the will of the Lord be done." (The two saints) embraced each other, (and Apater) began to walk, with his younger sister. They arrived at Tammou of Memphis, went to the shrine of Ama Irai and prostrated themselves over his body. Seeing them, the doorkeeper of the shrine was troubled, believing that they had come to plunder the shrine, and wanted to strike them to drive them out. Immediately his hand became stiff as a stone. He did not know what to do and cried out, weeping and saying: "Forgive me, my lords, I have sinned against you, through ignorance." And he came to worship them, but he could not prostrate himself. Then Saint Apater prayed to Ama Irai, saying: "Forgive him." » Ama Irai, the holy martyr, replied: “Let me teach him a lesson, O captain of Christ. He is fierce towards all those who come to venerate my body. If a gift is given to him, he receives the people; if not, he drives them away.”

Saint Apater told all this to ApaAmoun, the steward. The latter admitted to them that the porter was really doing this. (Then Apater) healed him. And the porter adogē (the two travelers), saying: "My lords, where are you from?" - they replied: "We are foreigners. We have heard (about) Ama Irai, and we have come to receive his blessing, and to worship his body." ApaAmoun, the steward, took them to his house, (and kept them) two days; he took a liking to them. Then, he led them away, giving thanks to God.

Irai said to Apater, her brother: "My beloved brother, you see the great wonders that God works with his saints; if you believe me, we will settle here, near the body of this holy martyr of Christ." - Her brother said to her: "It is not (our) business. Let us also go and die for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - She said to him: "It is you who command, my lord brother." - Apater said to her: "This Ama Irai is the one you saw at Antioch." And Apater instructed his sister by (telling her) the words of life, which the Savior had spoken to him at Alexandria.

After eight days of walking to the south, they arrived at the village of which the Lord had spoken to Apater. They met a man who came from Antinóu. Saint Apater said to him: "What village is this, my good brother?" - The man said to him: "It is Tchinilah." - Apater said to him again: "Can we go to Antindu, at this time?" - The man said to him: "No, my brother; but come to the village, rest until morning." - Saint Apater said to him: "Perhaps you are Samuel?" - He said to him: "Yes, it is I. Where did you know me?" - Apater said to him: "The Lord has already revealed your name to me in Alexandria." - The man said to him: "Who am I, that my name should come from the mouth of the Savior?"

Samuel rejoiced greatly; he brought them home and served them. He adjured Apater, saying to him, "Tell me everything that has happened to you." And he told him everything. Then Samuel worshipped Saint Apater, saying, "Who am I, that the captain of Christ should come to me with his sister?"

When they had spent some days in Samuel's house, he got up and led them. They went to Antinous with Samuel and went to the house (where their guest) was staying. — In the morning, when day broke, they went joyfully to the tribunal, and found the governor trying an anchorite monk, Apa Paphnutius of the Kentori. Irai said to his brother: "My brother, what shall I say when we go up to the cataste? I do not know how to speak, I am still very small." — Apater said to him: "Do not be afraid, my sister; when we go up to the cataste, we will cry out: — We are Christians (and we confess it) freely. We believe in my Lord Jesus Christ. — And it is He who will give us strength in all tribulations, because we have hoped in His holy name. For he says in his holy Gospels: "It is not you who will speak, but it is the Holy Spirit who will speak in you."

Samuel followed them, encouraging them. When they arrived before the judgment seat, they shouted, "We are Christians, (and we confess it) freely." And they were seized and taken to the governor.

The governor said to Apater in Egyptian: "Sacrifice to the gods, and do not die a bad death." Apater replied in the learned tongue: "Haste and pronounce our death sentence. Let us go about our business." The governor was astonished; for (the young man) was adept at all knowledge. The governor said to him: "Where are you from? What is your name?" Apater said to him: "Why do you ask my name?" What we have come for, we demand from you."

Apater did not want to tell him his name, because he feared that, realizing that he was part of the palace staff, the governor would not want to condemn him.

The governor said to him again: "Sacrifice! Do not die a bad death." Apater said to her: "I will not sacrifice, I am a Christian." (The governor) ordered him to be hung on the rack and tortured. Apater said: "My Lord Jesus Christ, help me, who am a weak exile." When his sister saw him in torture, her heart was troubled, and (it seemed that) her spirit wanted to escape from her suddenly. The governor, believing that she would change her resolution, struck her on the back, saying: "My daughter! see what is being done to your brother; sacrifice, you, and I will send you away." But the blessed woman said to him: "I will not sacrifice; do to me what you please; my body, indeed, is in your hands; but my soul is in the hands of my Lord Jesus Christ."

There was a soldier of the governor's named John there at that moment. When he saw Irai's beautiful appearance, he wanted to humiliate her. He said to the governor, "Give me this child; I will take her to my house and persuade her to sacrifice. Do not spoil her body with torture." He spoke to the governor in Egyptian. The governor gave her to him.


The soldier then took the hand (of the young girl) and led her into a brothel, wanting to humiliate her and make her lose her virginity. Two women of ill repute lay down near her; one was named Stephanou, and the other Tausira. They began to solicit the virgin with immodest and frivolous words. But when the virgin saw that they wanted to humiliate her, she immediately cried out: "My Lord Jesus Christ, help me in this moment of distress!"

She was still saying these words when the Lord struck the soldier John (with blindness) in both his eyes. The women of ill repute became like stone, unable to move from one place to another. The holy virgin escaped and came to the tribunal, seeking her brother. She found that the governor had already withdrawn and had her brother thrown into prison. When she arrived at the prison, she told her brother everything that had happened to her, and (told him) how the Lord had delivered her. Apater rejoiced greatly and said to her: "I believe, my sister, that the Lord will not abandon us in all our tribulations."

All the saints who were in prison rose up. They were Apa Coluthus, the physician-priest, of Antinus, Apa Paphnutius of the Kentori, Apa Isaac of Tiphre, Apa Chamul of Tagarhia, Apa Simeon of Tapho, Sisinne of Tantatho, Theodore of Chotp, Moses of Psamanniu, Philothea of Pemdje, Macarius of Fayum, Maximus of Vouchim, Macroni of Thoni, Senouthi of Buasti, Simeon of Thou, Ptolemy, son of the Eparch, Thomas of Tanphot, and all (the other) saints who were imprisoned.

They all stood up and gave thanks to the Lord. Saint Apater recited the verse to them, saying: "Bless the Lord, all you saints of the Lord. Amen." — And all the saints answered him, at each verse: "Amen. Alleluia." — "Bless the Lord, heavens. Amen." — Bless the Lord, all you angels. Amen. — Bless the Lord, all you virtues of the Lord, Amen. — Bless the Lord, true Israel. Amen. — Bless the Lord, priests of the Lord. Amen. — Bless the Lord, servants of the Lord. (Amen). — Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous. Amen. — Bless the Lord (all you) martyrs of the Lord. Amen. — Jesus, our help. Amen. — Jesus, my hope. Amen. — Jesus our defender. Amen. — Lord Jesus, watch over your servants until they finish their fight. Amen.

When the light appeared, the soldiers came to look for Saint Apater. They were very astonished to see his sister, and they said to her: "Who set you free, that you should come here?" - She answered them: "He who guided me from my country also freed me from the soldier John." Then they were led to the tribunal. Samuel followed them, writing down everything that happened to them. The governor said to him: "Have you resolved to sacrifice to the gods?" - Saint Apater replied: "May it never happen to me to sacrifice to idols!" - The governor said to him: "Go away and think carefully." - Saint Apater said to him: "I have already thought about it before coming here before you." - The governor said to him again: "Are you speaking for yourself alone, or for yourself and your sister?" - The blessed one said to him: "My sister and I are but one."

The governor inquired about the soldier John. He was told: "He is in his house, blind in both eyes." - The governor said: "Seize him, and bring him here to me." When he was seized and brought, he cried out, saying: "There is only one God (that) of Saint Apater and of Irai, his sister. It was said: Do not do evil, otherwise, evil will come to you. - I wanted to do evil, and evil has come to me. I believe in the God of Saint Apater, who has not imputed my sins to me and has not destroyed me. I wanted to do evil to his servant Igay, and good has come to me, thanks to the salutary lesson he gave me, a sinner."

While he was saying these words, the two women of ill repute also arrived, crying out: "We are Christians, (and confess it) freely." (Then) they went to Irai and worshipped her, crying out, and saying: "Blessed are you, saint, and blessed be the hour in which you have come into this country!" - The governor said to them: "What has happened to you?" - They said to him: "What has happened to us is none of your business." The governor ordered that they be thrown into prison until the next day.
Now the next day he ordered Apater to be brought to him. The governor said to him: "Stop making us sit here because of you?" The Saint said to him: "I have already told you that I will not saerify." The governor ordered sixty-two long nails to be brought and driven into reeds to be heated in the fire. (Then) he had a ship's cable brought to bind Saint Apater. They hung him up and let him fall onto the burning nails. When they had dragged him twice, his entrails came out of his belly, and he gave up the ghost. The governor ordered his body to be taken to a deserted place (to serve as food) for wild animals. As for the blessed one, he had her thrown into prison.

When the soldiers had thrown the body of Saint Apater onto the mountain and had departed, the Lord Jesus suddenly descended from heaven. He woke (the saint), embraced him, gave him his peace, and ascended back to heaven. Saint Apater got up and ran after the soldiers, crying, "Wait for me, that I may join you." When he entered the city, the crowd, upon seeing him, cried out, "We are Christians (and confess it) freely. We are among the number (of the servants) of the God of Saint Apater." The governor pronounced their condemnation; their heads were taken away, and they received the crown of glory, (they were four hundred and forty-five), on the ninth day of the month of Epip ( 16 july ) , in peace. Amen.

The governor turned and said to Saint Apater: "You see all these people who have died because of you. Sacrifice now; do not die a bad death." Saint Apater said to him: "Ungodly man! Let one word suffice for you!" The governor became very angry; he had a bronze bull brought. Saint Apater was put inside and heated underneath for three days. Then he said: "Take the ashes of this unfortunate man and throw them into the river."

The governor was still saying these words when the bull burst in the middle and poured water out into the midst of the soldiers and people who were in the theater. And everyone the water touched was covered with leprosy. They all cried out, "Martyr of Christ! Help us, do not destroy our bodies with this deadly water. We have heard that your God forgives." The saint said to them, "Do you believe with all your heart in our Lord Jesus Christ?" They said with one voice, "We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, God of Saint Apater." Saint Apater said to the bronze bull, "It is enough. Open your mouth and drink your water again." Then he took a cup of water, signed it with the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and poured it over the crowd, who were instantly cleansed of leprosy. And the multitude took up stones and threw them at the governor. The soldiers drew their swords and slew the multitude from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. (These martyrs) finished their battle on the tenth day of the month Mesori .

Meanwhile, the governor had Apater and his sister hung on the rack to be tortured. The blessed virgin Irai suffered greatly. She said to Saint Apater: "My Lord, brother, I am weakening; I am suffering greatly." The saint said to her: "Take courage, my sister, so that you may receive the immortal crown in heaven. Pray to the Lord, and he will help you."

Saint Apater prayed earnestly to God for his sister. Suddenly, the Archangel Michael descended from heaven and carried (Irai) to the heavenly Jerusalem. He showed her her house, her crown, her throne, and that of her brother. The soldiers stopped tearing her body and said to the governor: "We have stopped; we are like someone who would torture a piece of wood that feels nothing." The governor had her body laid on the ground. She was believed to be dead.
Saint Apater, from the (top of) the rack, wept over her, saying: "I greet you, my sister, until I see you again in the kingdom of heaven." The governor said to Apater: "I beg you, do not spoil your body with torture. I want to spare you because of your wisdom and knowledge. Truly, if you obey me, I will make you councilor of the province of Egypt, and I will send you to Djemnouti, where I will make you governor." The saint said to him: "Let a word suffice for you; I will not sacrifice to demons."

While they were talking together, Apa Paphnutius, a monk of the Kentori, arrived, leading young adolescents to martyrdom. Upon seeing him, the governor grunted and said: "By Hercules! | This race of Christians is a torture for me, and especially this little monk Paphnutius; but I will exile him to Antioch, the residence of the emperor." And he ordered him to be taken to prison, while waiting for what he had said or done before the tribunal to be written down.

After these things, as he was being led away to Diocletian, Ara Paphnutius went to visit the saints who were in prison and embraced them. He embraced Saint Apater, kissing him and saying to him: "I greet you, my brother. I am being sent to Antioch, the capital." - Saint Apater said to Ara Paphnutius: "Wait for me, my brother, while I write you this little letter. When you are thrown into prison, give it to the porter, Philopater, so that he may take affection for you. He is a child of my house, (where he has lived) since he was a child."
Apa Paphnutius said to him: "I beg you, my brother, write to him so that he may do me the charity of taking care of my body and sending it to Egypt." And Saint Apater wrote to Philopater a letter worded as follows: "In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I greet, (first) with eagerness of heart, my glorious member companion in the Lord, (you) from whom I have never separated myself, since my childhood, and for whom three crowns have been prepared in heaven, without shedding of blood. May my Lord Jesus Christ, be with you, throughout your life, until the day of your passage (to the other life). Then, I make known to you this great light, Apa Paphnutius, of the Kentori. When he comes to you, with this letter of mine, watch over him, write the tortures he will endure. And when the king has pronounced his sentence, keep his holy body until you have sent it to Egypt, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the God of the Universe help you and save you from the fatal sentence. Fare well, in the strength of the Lord." He sealed the letter and gave it to the holy Apa Paphnutius. When they had embraced, the soldiers left, dragging Apa Paphnutius to take him to the king.

As Saint Apater was standing in prayer, our Savior, the Lord Jesus, appeared to him and said: "Hail Apater, my chosen one, holy virgin, be of good courage in all your sufferings. Six more days, and you will consummate your martyrdom." - Apater said to him: "My Lord and my God, I have a request to make of you." - The Savior said to him: "O my chosen one, Apater, I swear by myself that I will grant you whatever you ask of me." - Apater said to him: "I pray you (to ensure) that my sentence is not pronounced on the day of the dormition of a Martyr." - The Savior said to him: "It will be so."

When the governor had pronounced the sentence of Apa Coluthus, the priest of Antinou, he sent to the prison to fetch the blessed Apater, to condemn him. As (he) prayed, he saw, in the air, a crowd of confessors who had completed their martyrdom, and who were receiving the crown. They cried to him in the air, saying: "Courage, our beloved captain of Christ, your (last) combat is approaching." At the sight of them the saint made (this) prayer to the Lord: "Let this hour take me away!" And the soldiers were struck with terror, hearing the martyrs talking among themselves.

The governor called Apater and said to him: "I beseech you by Jesus Christ, tell me your name: what is your name? Where are you from?" The saint said to him: "Swear to me that if I tell you my name, you will pronounce my death sentence." And he swore to him. The blessed one said to him: "I am Apater, the king's captain, whose name was (sent in) writing, in Egypt, to you and to your colleague, the duke." Hearing this, the governor was greatly troubled. He said to Saint Apater: "Woe to me! My lord, may my soul live in your presence! I no longer live, I will die." The saint said to him: "Arian, do not fear, and do not be unfaithful to your oath. Pronounce our sentence instead. For behold, I saw two angels standing near you; One was the angel of light, and the other was the angel of darkness. The angel of light has not yet come to you; but when I have completed my martyrdom, the king will send for me. Your conversion to the Lord will make him very angry; he will send for you, and you too will be a martyr; for your crown has already been prepared in heaven. Behold, Saint Philemon, who is in prison, will instruct you for the battle.

When Arian, the governor, heard these things from the mouth of Saint Apater, he pronounced his sentence. Then the noble Irai, his sister, suddenly jumped to her feet, and said to the governor: "Martyr of Christ! condemn us, for we are your brothers in martyrdom. Behold, the combat is approaching for you also as (it has happened) for us." Hearing these words, Arian immediately pronounced their death sentence. Samuel asked the governor that the bodies of holy martyrs be granted to him.
So the saints were led away to have their heads cut off by the sword; a large crowd accompanied them and formed a procession. A quantity of precious garments was brought to spread under them. Bread and some food were brought to them, and they were asked to eat. Saint Irai said to them: "Very well! My brothers, my Lord Jesus Christ will give you your reward in the heavenly Jerusalem. Blessed are all those who die for the name of our Lord Jesus! Listen to me, and I will teach you the blessings of heaven: Blessed are those who put their trust in the Lord! For great are the blessings he has prepared for those who cherish him." And the whole crowd kissed her head; (the people) said to one another: "See the wisdom of this young girl! She went to spend fifteen days in the heavenly Jerusalem, and she returned to the world, in her body."

The saints stretched out their arms and prayed, saying: "Lord, Almighty God, grant our request. Grant that, with our eyes of flesh, we may see our parents before we leave this world." They were still praying, and behold, the earth shook and a cloud hid them. Many people who were with them became as if dead. Behold, Basilides, father of Apater, came with Saint Justus, and Theoclia his wife, and Apoli, son of Justus, the brother of Basilides, and Saint Apa Victor, son of Romanus their brother. They appeared to Apater and embraced him and his sister. Ara Victor said to Apater: "My beloved brother, why are you sad about being separated from your parents? Are you better than I? Bless rather my Lord Jesus Christ, and come and dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem, near us, your holy family. Blessed are we, who have left the passing kingdoms of this world for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the everlasting kingdom of heaven.

While they were still conversing, behold, our Lord Jesus Christ, our good Savior, appeared to them, embraced them, and said to Apater: "Come from death to eternal life." Then our Lord awakened the crowd, which had been rendered (as if) dead by the turmoil. When they saw the glory of Christ and His martyrs, they all cried out with one voice: "We are Christians (and freely confess it). This was announced to the governor, who had their heads taken away on the twenty-seventh (of the month) of Thout.
Then Saint Justus, brother of Apater's father, approached him, embraced him, and said: "Bravo! Beloved of my soul! You have followed the example of my struggle. Bravo! You are worthy to be beloved by Jesus Christ."

Saint Apater turned to Samuel and said: "Samuel, remember the trust I have entrusted to you." — Samuel said to him: "My lord! God" is witness between you and me. — Saint Apater said to Samuel: "The hour has come."
He stood up, worshipped the Lord, and said, "My Lord, you know that I have exiled myself from my home and my parents to reach this hour. I beg you, O my Lord, receive my soul at the proper time." The Savior said to him, "Blessed are all those who fall down upon your holy body! Whoever is in danger at sea or on rivers and prays, saying, 'God of Saint Apater and his sister Irai, help me!' I will hear him without delay for your sake. Whoever makes an offering in your place, I will give him as a gift to you in the heavenly Jerusalem."

When Saint Apater heard these words, he said to the soldiers, "Take off my sister's head before me." The whole crowd shouted, "Remember us, to our holy Father." They went to get some pure wine, asked the soldier to drink it, then gave him three coins, saying to him: "Let one drink be enough!" The saint stretched out her neck;

and his head was removed. Saint Apater gave his body to Samuel and said to him, "Remember the trust I have entrusted to you." Then he raised his eyes to heaven, blessed God, crossed himself, and stretched out his neck; his holy head was removed on the twenty-eighth day of the month of Thut. Samuel took the bodies of the saints and carried them to Chinilah, his village. Every place where the bodies of the saints were laid gave off a fragrant aroma. The number of those who were martyred with Saint Apater is 3,685.

I, Samuel of Chinilah, am a witness to this martyrdom. I, Isaac, Archdeacon, am a witness to this martyrdom. He,

To whom all glory...