the forty-nine elder priests

the forty-nine elder priests of Sheheat, Martinos, the envoy of the emperor, and his son, were martyred.

Emperor Theodosius the Less, the son of Emperor Arcadius, did not have a son. He wrote to the elders of Sheheat asking them to pray to God to grant him a son. St. Isidor wrote back to him saying that God did not will for him to have a son who would participate with the heretics after him.
When the Emperor read the message, he offered thanks to God. Some people gave him the advice to marry another wife to have offspring from her to inherit the empire after him. So He sent an envoy whose name was Martinos with his son Zius to consult with them about that and to receive their blessings.
When they arrived and the elders read the message, they took the messenger to the body of St. Isidor, for he had departed. A voice came from the pure body saying, “What I had said before, I also say now, that the Lord will never give him a son to participate with the heretics, even if he marries ten women.” The elders wrote back to the Emperor recounting what they heard.
When the messenger wanted to return, the pagan berbers attacked the monastery. One of their great elders, whose name was Anba Yuannis, called upon the brethren and said, “The berbers have come to kill us. Whoever amongst you would like to become a martyr, let him stand, and whoever is afraid, let him hide in the palace.” Some of them hid in the palace, but he remained with the forty-eight elders, who were all slaughtered by the berbers.
Martinos and his son Zius were hiding. The son looked up and saw the angels placing the crowns of glory on the elders who were killed. The son said to his father, “I see spiritual beings putting crowns on the heads of the elders. I shall go to receive a crown like them.” His father replied, “And I also shall go with you, my son.” Both revealed themselves to the berbers. They were killed and received the crown of martyrdom.
After the berbers had gone, the monks who were hiding in the palace came down, took the bodies, and placed them in a cave. They sang and said praises before the cave every night.
Their prayers be with us. Amen