*
ю OED2.
seven Christian youths of
Ephesus, according to the legend, who fled during the Diocletian persecution
(250) to a cave in Mt. Celion. The cave was walled up by their pursuers and
they fell asleep. In the reign of Theodosius II, some 200 years later, they
awoke and one of them went into the city for provisions. They fell to sleep
again, this time until the resurrection. Their names are given as Constantius,
Dionysius, Joannes, Maximianus, Malchus, Martinianus, and Serapion. The legend
was current in the 6th cent. and is referred to by Gregory of Tours. [BD]
OED: seven sleepers. [tr. L. septem
dormientes.] Seven youths of Ephesus said to have hidden in a cave during the
Decian persecution and to have slept there for several hundred years.
¿ 01.11.95 V
