The children of St. Gregory have prepared themselves for this day. The barbarians have sacked the surrounding city, and now they come for the monastery and diocese. The children know that soon, Heaven awaits them, but first, the barbarians will beat and torture them, to try and get them to forsake their god. But the barbarians will fail: the faith of the children of St. Gregory is too strong, and nothing will make them forsake their god, nothing.
They are huddled in the church, praying, when the barbarians break in. Their swords drip with blood, and every step they take into the church leaves bloody footprints.
The children shudder, as the barbarian strolls towards the altar.
Finally, one of the children, a girl of about 9 or so, approaches the barbarian. Her faith steadies her shaky hands, and quivering voice, as she welcomes the barbarian to St. Gregory, and asks to pray for him.
The barbarians roar with laughter, and the children are stunned. They do not know if their plea has caused the barbarians to reconsider, if the holy spirit of God has filled these vile animals with forgiveness. The laughter continues for a minute or two, and the children find themselves nervously laughing along with them.
When it ceases, the barbarian asks the girl if she is the one in charge, to which she nods. He asks her her name. She replies that it is Alexandria. The barbarian then asks her if she believes in God. Alexandria nods yes again. The barbarian asks if she thinks there is anything that can make her forsake her God. With tears in her eyes, Alexandria shakes her head, knowing of the various tortures that await her.
Then the barbarian says something that shocks her. He points at the sun, halfway across the sky. He says that before the sun sets, that she will willingly defile the altar of God, and forsake him and the saints. With more defiance, Alexandria shakes her head - she knows that her and all of her friends have given themselves over to God, and fear no torture or death, either of themselves or of one another. There is nothing that can make her forsake her God.
The barbarian grasps her by her habit, ripping it off. With a deft stroke, he slits the rest of her clothing with his dagger, leaving the tiny blonde naked before the other children.
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