ABSTRACT
The passion of the XL Martyrs of Sebasteia is one of the best authenticated. The Homilies of Basil, Gregory of Nyssa and that attributed to Ephrem of Syria date back to within a century of their death.1 The martyrs’ Testament, which is considered to be authentic by the majority of specialists, would even have been composed before they were put to death.2 The literary sources are abundant, but in some cases difficult of access.3 A number of good studies of them exist, but many are now dated.4 It was therefore an excellent initiative to organize a symposium about them in Belfast.5 The way was opened for a new synthetical study – and possibly re-edition of the texts. Fortunately, here we are only concerned with the military status of the XL Martyrs. Fortunately, also, enough material is available to treat the subject, if not definitively, at least adequately.
