Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon, Sadoth was arrested in 341 during the persecutions of Shapur after having a vision of his predecessor Simeon calling him to heaven. After five months of imprisonment and cruel torture on the rack, he was led to martyrdom in 342 with one hundred and twenty-eight companions. The group walked toward death singing hymns.
Guided reading
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SAINT SADOTH, BISHOP OF SELEUCIA AND CTESIPHON (342).
The Vision of the Ladder
Hidden during the persecution, Sadoth receives a vision of his predecessor Simeon inviting him to climb a ladder of light, prophesying his imminent martyrdom.
When the persecution broke out in 341, Sadot Sadoth Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon, successor of Saint Simeon. h hid with a portion of his clergy, to wait for God to make His will known to him. Having been favored with a vision in his retreat, he assembled his priests and deacons to share it with them: "I saw in a dream," he told them, "a ladder surrounded by light whose top touched the sky; Saint Simeon, shining with glor y, was leani saint Siméon Righteous man of Jerusalem who welcomed the Child Jesus at the Temple. ng upon it. Having perceived me at the bottom of the ladder, he called to me with a smiling air. Climb, Sadoth, he said to me, climb and fear nothing. I climbed yesterday, today it is your turn: which seems to me to signify that my holy predecessor having endured death last year, I must suffer it this year." Sapor indeed had him arres ted w Sapor King of Persia who ordered the persecution of Christians. ith one hundred and twenty-eight people from his church. They were led to prison, and made to suffer incredible evils for the space of five whole months. They were taken out three times to be stretched on the rack. Their legs were bound with ropes that were tightened so strongly that one could hear their bones crack. When they had been condemned to death, they were bound two by two to be led out of the city. This holy troop march ed to ville Episcopal see of Sadoth in the Sassanid Empire. their execution singing hymns and canticles (342).
Arrest and Captivity
King Shapur has Sadoth and one hundred and twenty-eight members of his clergy arrested, subjecting them to five months of imprisonment and deprivation.
When the persecution broke out in 341, Sadoth hid with a portion of his clergy to wait for God to make His will known to him. Having been favored with a vision in his retreat, he assembled his priests and deacons to share it with them: "I saw in a dream," he told them, "a ladder surrounded by light whose top reached to heaven; Saint Simeon, shining with glory, was leaning upon it. Having caught sight of me at the bottom of the ladder, he called to me with a smiling air. 'Ascend, Sadoth,' he said to me, 'ascend and fear nothing. I ascended yesterday, today it is your turn': which seems to me to signify that my holy predecessor having endured death last year, I must suffer it this year." Shapur did indeed have him arrested along with one hundred and twenty-eight people from his church. They were led to prison, where they were made to suffer incredible evils for the space of five whole months. They were taken out three times to be stretched on the rack. Their legs were bound with ropes that were tightened so strongly that their bones could be heard cracking. When they had been condemned to death, they were bound two by two to be led out of the city. This holy troop marched to their execution singing hymns and canticles (342).
The torture and final testimony
After enduring the torture of the rack, the condemned are led to their execution outside the city while singing hymns.
When the persecution broke out in 341, Sadoth hid with a portion of his clergy to wait for God to make His will known to him. Having been favored with a vision in his retreat, he gathered his priests and deacons to share it with them: "I saw in a dream," he told them, "a ladder surrounded by light, the top of which reached to heaven; Saint Simeon, shining with glory, was leaning upon it. Having caught sight of me at the bottom of the ladder, he called to me with a smiling countenance. 'Ascend, Sadoth,' he said to me, 'ascend and fear nothing. I ascended yesterday, today it is your turn': which seems to me to signify that my holy predecessor having endured death last year, I must suffer it this year." Sapor indeed had him arrested along with one hundred and twenty-eight people from his church. They were led to prison, where they were made to suffer incredible torments for the space of five whole months. They were taken out three times to be stretched upon the rack. Their legs were bound with ropes that were tightened so strongly that one could hear their bones crack. When they had been condemned to death, they were bound two by two to be led outside the city. This holy troop marched to their execution singing hymns and canticles (342).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Beginning of the persecution in 341
- Vision of a ladder of light and of Saint Simeon
- Arrested by Shapur along with 128 members of his church
- Five-month imprisonment and torture on the rack
- Execution outside the city while singing hymns
Miracles
- Prophetic vision of a ladder of light reaching the sky
Quotes
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Ascend, Sadoth, he said to me, ascend and fear nothing. I ascended yesterday, today it is your turn.
Account of the vision of Saint Sadoth