Martyrology, ping!
Great old song by Tom Green-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo2oMlaIDos
Troparion (Tone 1)
Together let us honor the holy company united by faith,
Those noble warriors of the Master of all.
They were divinely enlisted for Christ,
And passed through fire and water.
Then they entered into refreshment praying for those who cry:
Glory to him who has strengthened you!
Glory to him who has crowned you!
Glory to him who has made you wonderful, O holy Forty Martyrs!
Kontakion (Tone 6)
You abandoned all earthly armies,
Cleaving to the heavenly Master, O Forty Martyrs of the Lord.
Having passed through fire and water, O Blessed Ones,
You have fittingly received heavenly glory and many crowns.
In Orthodoxy, their Feast is celebrated March 9.
I don’t use the word “fascinating” often, but this story is fascinating. It is well worth going to your link http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2015/03/the-feast-of-forty-martyrs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNewLiturgicalMovement+%28New+Liturgical+Movement%29#.VP-JGk0tF9B and reading all of it. Thank you.