SADOTH, as he is called by the Greeks and Latins, is named in the
original Persian language, Schiadustes, which signifies "friend of the
king," from _schiah_, king, and _dust_, friend. His unspotted purity of
heart, his ardent zeal, and the practice of all Christian virtues,
prepared him, from his {435} youth, for the episcopal dignity, and the
crown of martyrdom. St. Simeon, bishop of Selec, or Seleucia, and
Ctesiphon, then the two capital cities of Persia, situate on the river
Tigris, being translated to glory by martyrdom, in the beginning of the
persecution raised by Sapor II., in 341, St. Sadoth was chosen three
months after to fill his see, the most important in that empire, but the
most exposed to the storm. This grew more violent on the publication of
a new edict against the Christians, which made it capital to confess
Christ. To wait with patience the manifestation of the divine will, St.
Sadoth, with part of his clergy, lay hid for some time; which did not
however hinder him from affording his distressed flock all proper
assistance and encouragement, but rather enabled him to do it with the
greater fruit. During this retreat he had a vision which seemed to
indicate that the time was come for the holy bishop to seal his faith
with his blood. This he related to his priests and deacons, whom he
assembled for that purpose. "I saw," said he, "in my sleep, a ladder
environed with light and reaching from earth to the heavens. St. Simeon
was at the top of it, and in great glory. He beheld me at the bottom,
and said to me, with a smiling countenance: 'Mount up, Sadoth, fear not.
I mounted yesterday, and it is your turn to-day:' which means, that as
he was slain last year, so I am to follow him this." He was not wanting
on this occasion to exhort his clergy, with great zeal and fervor, to
make a provision of good works, and employ well their time, till they
should be called on in like manner, that they might be in readiness to
take possession of their inheritance. "A man that is guided by the
Spirit," says St. Maruthas, author of these acts, "fears not death; he
loves God, and goes to him with an incredible ardor; but he who lives
according to the desires of the flesh, trembles, and is in despair at
its approach: he loves the world, and it is with grief that he leaves
it."
The second year of the persecution, king Sapor coming to Seleucia,
Sadoth was apprehended, with several of his clergy, some ecclesiastics
of the neighborhood, end certain monks and nuns belonging to his church,
to the amount of one hundred and twenty-eight persons. They were thrown
into dungeons, where, during five months' confinement, they suffered
incredible misery and torments. They were thrice called out, and put to
the rack or question; their legs were straight bound with cords, which
were drawn with so much violence, that their bones breaking, were heard
to crack like sticks in a fagot. Amidst these tortures the officers
cried out to them: "Adore the sun, and obey the king, if you would save
your lives." Sadoth answered in the name of all, that the sun was but a
creature, the work of God, made for the use of mankind; that they would
pay supreme adoration to none but the Creator of heaven and earth, and
never be unfaithful to him; that it was indeed in their power to take
away their lives, but that this would be the greatest favor they could
do them; wherefore he conjured them not to spare them, or delay their
execution. The officers said: "Obey! or know that your death is certain,
and immediate." The martyrs all cried out with one voice: "We shall not
die, but live and reign eternally with God and his Son Jesus Christ.
Wherefore inflict death as soon as you please; for we repeat it to you
that we will not adore the sun, nor obey the unjust edicts." Then
sentence of death was pronounced upon them all by the king; for which
they thanked God, and mutually encouraged each other. They were chained
two and two together, and led out of the city to execution, singing
psalms and canticles of joy as they went. Being arrived at the place of
their martyrdom, they raised their voices still higher, blessing and
thanking God for his mercy in bringing them thither, and begging the
grace of perseverance, and that by this baptism of their blood they
might enter into his glory. These prayers and praises of God did not
cease but with {436} the life of the last of this blessed company. St.
Sadoth, by the king's orders, was separated from them, and sent into the
province of the Huzites, where he was beheaded. He thus rejoined his
happy flock in the kingdom of glory. Ancient Chaldaic writers quoted by
Assemani say, St. Schiadustes, or Sadoth, was nephew to Simeon Barsaboe,
being son to his sister. He governed his church only eight months, and
finished his martyrdom after five months imprisonment, in the year 342,
and of king Sapor II. the thirty-third. These martyrs are honored in the
Roman Martyrology on this day.