Saints Seven Maccabees, their mother Solomon and their teacher Eleazar
Date of celebration: 01/08
“Pious reasoning is the ruler of passions” (2 Maccabees, i. 7, i. 4). The pious calculation is sovereign and sovereign over the passions. The seven Maccabean brothers proved this with much courage in their attitude towards the king of Syria Antiochus (about 5327 from the creation of the world or 173 BC), when he commanded them glories, honors and earthly pleasures, if they trampled on the Mosaic law and ate of the forbidden foods that he offered them. They were preceded by their ninety-year-old teacher, Eleazarus, who applied the law he taught them to the fullest, as a result of which Antiochus threw him into the fire.
Inspired by the sacrifice of their old teacher, the seven brothers maintained the same brave attitude towards the king when he called them before him. At first Antiochus tried to flatter them with various praises of their youth. He told them that if they ate of the idolatrous food he offered them, they would enjoy great honors, and of course he would save them from death. Then the seven brothers replied to Antiochus: “for we think that you have mercy on our unlawful salvation more than death”. That is, it is more harmful even than this death, we think, your sympathy for our illegal salvation.
Enraged then, Antiochus, with wheels, fire and javelins, killed them all one by one. When their mother Solomon saw this, she threw herself into the fire and thus they all took the crown of martyrdom together.
The names of the Seven Maccabees are: Avim (or Avivus), Antonius (or Antoninos), Gourias, Eleazarus, Eusebonas, Acheim, Marcellus (or Samonas, or Eulalus or Markos).
