I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. John 11:25
Sadoth (345)
“We shall not die but live eternally”
Sadoth, bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon in Persia, had a vision while on retreat with some of his clergy that indicated he would soon die a martyr’s death. His predecessor, Simeon Barsabba’e, had been martyred under King Shapur II. The diocese was the most important in the Persian kingdom and also the one that suffered most from persecution.
An edict was published declaring it a capital offence to confess Christ, and when King Shapur II came to Seleucia, Bishop Sadoth and 128 others were thrown in prison, where they suffered for five months. The Persian officers exhorted them to join their religion: “Adore the sun and obey the king if you would save your lives.”
Sadoth answered on behalf of the rest of them that they would only serve God, who created the sun. When the officers told them to obey the orders or suffer death, the Christians replied, “We shall not die but live eternally with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
The king passed the death sentence on them all. Sadoth was separated from them and beheaded in the province of the Huzites.
Increase our faith, O merciful Father, that we do not swerve at any time from thy heavenly words, but augment in us hope and love, with a careful keeping of all thy commandments, that no hardness of heart, no hypocrisy, no concupiscence of the eye, no enticement of the world, do draw us away from thy obedience. Amen.
John Knox (c. 1515-72)