June 17. Martyrs Manuil, Saveliy, and Ismail.
The Holy Martyrs Manuil, Saveliy, and Ismail (4); the Holy Martyrs Isavriy, Vasiliy, Innokentiy, Ermiy, and Feliks; the Righteous Nikita, Kirill, Nikifor, Kliment, and Isaakiy Alfany of Novgorod; and the Venerable Ananiy, Iconographer of Novgorod
The Holy Martyrs Manuil, Savel, and Ismail
The holy martyrs Manuil, Savel, and Ismail were brothers by blood, descended from a noble Persian lineage. Their father was a pagan, but their mother, a Christian, baptized the children and raised them in steadfast faith in Christ the Savior. When they came of age, the brothers entered military service. As envoys of the Persian king Alamundar, they were sent to negotiate a peace treaty with the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363).
Julian received them with proper honors and showed them favor. However, when the brothers refused to participate in a pagan sacrifice, the enraged Julian, in violation of all laws, cast the peaceful envoys of a foreign state into prison as if they were criminals. During interrogation, Julian told them that if they scorned the gods he revered, then no concord or peace could be established between the nations. The holy brothers replied that they were sent by their king with a diplomatic mission, not to dispute about the gods.
Seeing the unshakable firmness of the saints’ faith, the emperor ordered them to be subjected to cruel tortures. The holy martyrs were suspended with their hands and feet nailed to a tree, nails were driven into their heads, and sharp spikes were hammered under the nails of their hands and feet. During their torments, the holy warriors, as though feeling no pain, glorified God and prayed.
At last, the holy martyrs were beheaded by the sword. Julian commanded their bodies to be burned, but suddenly an earthquake occurred, and the ground opened up and received into its depths the bodies of the holy martyrs. Two days later, in answer to the fervent prayers of the Christians, the earth gave up the bodies of the holy brothers, from which came forth a sweet fragrance. Many pagans who witnessed this miracle believed in Christ and were baptized. The Christians buried with honor the relics of the holy martyrs — the brothers Manuil, Savel, and Ismail. This took place in the year 362. From that time forth, the relics of the holy passion-bearers became known for miracles.
When King Alamundar learned of the murder of his envoys and that the lawless Julian was advancing against him with a great army, he gathered his forces and stood at the border of his realm. In a great battle, the Persians prevailed against the Greeks. Julian the Apostate was slain by the holy great-martyr Merkury (his commemoration is on November 24).
Thirty years later, the pious Emperor Feodosiy the Great (+395) built a church in Constantinople in honor of the holy martyrs, and Saint German, Patriarch of Constantinople (commemorated on May 12), while yet a hieromonk, composed a canon in their memory and praise.
The Venerable Brothers Nikita, Kirill, Nikifor, Kliment, and Isaakiy Alfany (of Sokolnitsa)
The venerable brothers Nikita, Kirill, Nikifor, Kliment, and Isaakiy Alfany (also called Sokolnitsky) lived in the fourteenth century in Novgorod. They lived a righteous life and founded the Sokolnitsa Monastery. As the chronicles relate, “on the Falcon Hill they built a wooden church dedicated to Saint Nikola and established a monastery” in the year 1389.
The righteous Alfany brothers were related to the well-known chronicled figure Yakov Anfal (or Alfan), who fled to the Dvina to escape persecution for his dealings with Moscow. The righteous brothers likewise suffered misfortunes because of their kinship with Yakov, being purified through great sorrows and the innocent endurance of affliction in preparation for blessed eternity.
The Account of the holy brothers tells of miracles that took place through their relics after their repose. Their memory is commemorated on May 4 and June 17. Following a fire that destroyed the Sokolnitsa monastery, the relics of the venerable brothers were transferred to the Antoniy Monastery on May 4, 1775.