On January 14, the double beating of the monks who labored on Mount Sinai and in the Raifa desert is remembered. The first beating occurred in the 4th century, described by the Egyptian monk Ammonius, who, seeing the sufferings of Christians, went to Palestine and then to Sinai. There he met the holy fathers living in strict abstinence and prayer.
Soon, the Sinai was attacked by barbarians known as the Vlemmian, who brutally beat all the monks. Ammonius and other monks took refuge in a fortified place, but the barbarians killed thirty-eight holy fathers. Among them were Isaiah and Savva, the latter of whom, gravely wounded, prayed to die for Christ.
After a few days, news came that all the ascetics in Raifa had also been killed. One of the monks who escaped told of the lives of the holy fathers, among whom was the elder Moses, who healed the sick and converted pagans to Christianity. He too was killed by the barbarians.
Another saint, Joseph, lived in strict silence and was known for his miracles. The barbarians, finding no riches, slaughtered all the monks, sparing neither the old nor the young. They also killed the young Sergius, who, wishing to save his brothers, bravely rushed at the enemies.
After the beating of the holy fathers, their bodies were gathered and buried with honors. Vedian, a prince, came with select warriors to take revenge on the barbarians, and in battle many of them were killed. The surviving monks mourned for their brothers but also rejoiced that they were deemed worthy of a martyr's death.
Ammonius, returning to Egypt, recorded all that had happened to preserve the memory of the holy martyrs who, having endured suffering, were deemed worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.
