Synaxarium

On this day is the commemoration of the departure of the three holy youths: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. These saints were the sons of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken captive to Babylon. When this king selected some of the captive youths to serve him, these three and Daniel, their cousin, were among those chosen. Ashpenaz, the chief of the eunuchs, gave them other names. Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego. They decided among themselves not to eat from the food sacrificed to the idols of the Israelites and asked the chief of the eunuchs to exempt them from eating meat and give them vegetables. He said to them, "I fear that your faces will look different, and the king will kill me." They replied, "Try us, and if our faces do not improve, do as you wish." So they ate vegetables, and their faces shone with beauty and grace by the grace of God. They found favor in the eyes of the king, who made them rulers over all the affairs of Babylon. When the golden image was erected and they did not bow to it, those who envied them conspired against them. Nebuchadnezzar summoned them and asked about this. They confessed the true God, so he threw them into the furnace. The Lord sent His angel, and He turned the flame into cool dew, although it burned those who threw them in. When the king saw this, he believed in their God and increased their rank and exalted their position. On the tenth of Bashans, while they were standing praying in their house, at their prostration, they gave their souls into the Lord's hands. Immediately, a great earthquake occurred in the city. The king was terrified and inquired from Daniel about the cause. He informed him that the three youths had departed. The king came to the place and mourned them. He ordered three beds to be made of ivory, to wrap them in silk garments, and to place them on the beds. Then he ordered a golden bed to be made for himself so that when he died, he would be placed on it among their bodies. Thus it was.

When Pope Theophilus, the twenty-third patriarch, sat on the throne of Mark, he built a church for them and wanted to transfer the bodies of the saints there. He sent Saint John the Short for that purpose. He went to Babylon, and when he reached the place of the bodies, he heard a voice from them saying, "The Lord has decreed that our bodies shall not leave this place. And so that your effort is not lost, when you return, tell the patriarch to light the lamps on the night of the consecration with oil, and the power of God will appear in them." When he returned, he informed the patriarch, who did as they were instructed. The lamps were lit, they glorified God, and completed the consecration of the church dedicated to these saints. May their prayers be with us, and to the Lord be glory forever. Amen.