During the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251) ...

…when there was a persecution against the Christians, seven men were captured and brought before the emperor. These seven men were named Maximianus, Malchus, Martinianus, Constantinus, Dionysiu, Johannes, and Serapion. Althought though were tempted by various suggestions to yield, they never acquiesced. Because of his regard for them, the emperor granted time to think, so that they would not die immediately. But the seven men shut themselves up in a cave, and there they lived for many days. One of them would leave, purchase supplies, and bring back necessities.

When the emperor returned to Ephesus, the seven men requested of the Lord that he deign to rescue them from this danger. They prayed, and whiled bowed to the ground, they fell asleep. When the emperor learned that they were staying in this cave, by the will of God he ordered that the mouth of the cave be blocked off with huge stones. He said, “Let those who refuse to sacrifice to our gods die there.” While this was being done, a Christian wrote the names of the martyrs on a lead tablet and secretly put it in the entrance to the cave before it was blocked off.
After many years had gone by and peace had been granted to the churches, Theodosius (II, 408-450), a Christian, became emperor. The impure heresy of the Sadducees, who denied that there would be a resurrection, was spreading. Then a citizen of Ephesus who decided to use this mountain as a sheepfold for his flocks overturned stones for the construction of walls for his pens. Not knowing what had happened within, he opened the entrance to the cave; but he did not find the inner chamber that was further inside.

The Lord sent the breath of life to the seven men and they awoke. Thinking that they had been asleep for only one night, they sent a young man from their number to purchase food. When the young man came to the gate of the city, he was surprised upon seeing an image of the glorious Cross and hearing the people take oaths in the name of Christ. As soon as he presented the coins that he had from the reign of Decius, a merchant seized him and said, “You have found a coin hoard that was buried years ago.” The young man denied it and was brought to the bishop and the judge of the city, who denounced him. Compelled by force, the young man revealed the hidden mystery and brought them to the cave where the other men were. As the bishop entered, he found the lead tablet on which everything the men had endured was recorded in writing. The bishop spoke with the men; then the bishop and the judge quickly announced the news to the emperor Theodosius. The emperor came and honored them by kneeling on the ground.

The seven men spoke to emperor with these words: “A heresy has spread, glorious Augustus, that attempts to mislead the Christian people from the promises of God by saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. Therefore, because, as you know, we will all be held responsible before the tribunal of Christ in accordance with what the apostle Paul wrote, the Lord has ordered us to be awakened and to say these things to you. Take care lest you be seduced and excluded from the kingdom of God.” The emperor Theodosius listened and glorified the Lord who did not allow his people to perish. But then the men again lay down on the ground and fell asleep. When the emperor Theodosius wished to construct tombs of gold for them, he was warned in a vision not to do so. Even today the men lie asleep in that spot, covered by cloaks made of silk or linen.

Gregory of Tours, The Glory of the Martyrs, 94
The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, commemorated 22 October
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