“The martyrs suffered greatly when they were tormented. They suffered in the same way as any normal person would have suffered…”
The martyrs suffered greatly when they were tormented. They suffered in the same way as any normal person would have suffered, with the difference that they were continually united to Christ through prayer and partook of a force which was greater than their pain, and in this way they were able to conquer. If, however, they had abandoned prayer, even for just a moment, their pains would have become unbearable and they would have been ready to deny Christ. However, hanging onto prayer, they were strengthened and endured the pain of their martyrdom until the end.
– Elder Porphyrios (1906-1991)