MONASTERY OF THE FORTY-MARTYRS OF SEBASTE

This Orthodox monastery founded in the 6th century (Manastiri i Dyzetë Shenjtorëve) is in a state of ruin. Installed at the top of a hill at 210 m of altitude, it offers however splendid views on the bay of Saranda. Above all, it occupies a prominent place in the history of the city, if only because it gives it its name. In Greek, the monastery is called Iera Moni ton Agion Saranda Martyron, "Monastery of the Holy Forty-Martyrs". Around the ninth century, the city thus took the Greek name of Άγιοι Σαράντα/Agi Saranda, i.e., the "Holy Forty", later simplified in Albanian to "Saranda". For ten centuries this monastery was the most important place of Christian pilgrimage on the Ionian Sea. It housed the relics of the forty martyrs of Sebaste. These martyrs were forty Christian Roman legionaries who refused to renounce their faith and were put to death in March 320, abandoned to their fate on the frozen lake of Sebaste (today Sivas, in Turkey). This episode, nowadays a little forgotten, nevertheless marks a turning point in the history of Christianity.

Underground and miraculous spring. The killing of the forty legionaries took place while the Roman Empire was ruled by several emperors. The execution was ordered by the co-emperor Licinius. This served as a pretext for the co-emperor Constantine to pose as the defender of the Christians and eliminate his rival. In the process, Constantine ensured the reunification of the Empire, moved the capital to Byzantium and was the first emperor to convert to Christianity. This is why this monastery had such a prominent place in the worldview of medieval Christians. People came from far and wide to pray in the forty crypts, each dedicated to one of the forty martyrs. The complex was plundered and fell into disrepair after the arrival of the Ottomans in the 15th century. But it was given a second life in the 18th century, before being heavily damaged when it was turned into barracks during the communist period. Today, little remains of the vast complex. But the walls of what was once the largest basilica in Albania have held up well. One of the six bays even preserves the traces of frescoes of the sixth century. One can especially reach the splendid vaults of the underground corridors which served the forty crypts. Notice also on the surface the remains of a well where the pilgrims came to drink a supposedly miraculous water.