This is a legend about courage and keeping one's faith and confidence; it teaches us that faith is meant to make people good and understanding and it should never be condemned or related to violence. 

 Authors: students Dimitrie BALOTESCU & Ștefan PAPUC

Olga Gudynn International School, ROMANIA

Teachers: prof. Daniela Preda & prof. Florin Balotescu

Legendary facts: There have been many legends about holy men and women who have lived long time ago. The most impressive of them  was the legends of the ones called Mucenici. Their name represents an old Slavic word meaning Martyrs. The Orthodox Christian believers celebrate Mucenici on the 9th of March, remembering the 40 martyrs who were soldiers in the Roman army. Thus, imagine that we are during the tough times of the emperor Licinius who ruled between 308 and 324. The Christians are banned and seen as outlaws and pagan. Forty brave soldiers had been sharing something different related to their faith for some time. They felt themselves much closer to the ancient Christian believings than to the old Roman gods. The emperor and leaders tried to make them turn back to their old religion, but they were resilient. They suffered torments ant torture in awful and unimaginable ways, but they would remain close to their believing. Finally, they would be put to death  in a place called the Armenian Sebaste. Their names were: Chirion, Candid, Domnnos, Isichie, Ieraclie, Smaragd, Valent, Vivian, Evnichie, Claudie, Prisc, Teodul, Eutihie, Ioan, Xantie, Ilian, Sisinie, Aghie, Aetie, Flavie, Acachie, Ecdit, Lisimah, Alexandru, Ilie, Leontie, Gorgonie, Teofil, Dometian, Gaie, Atanasie, Chiril, Sacherdon, Nicolae, Valerie, Filoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Meliton and Aglaie. Ever since, they are celebrated in a most beautiful way: every year, Orthodox Christian believers prepare a unique type of dessert with the same name, Mucenici. The desserts are made in the figure of 8, a form which reminds the creation, the infinite or even the body of the martyrs themselves.They are sacralized by a special by a special service performed in the church and then tasted as a sacred food. In Moldavia, the Eastern region of Romania, they are called Sfințișori (Little Saints). Cooked only by women using ground nuts and hone are also meant to commemorate our ancestors who passed away long before we can remember. 

Actual legends: It is said that the martyrs were drowned and their bodies rose at the surface of water as flowers, as their souls were pure. Some of our grandparents and great grandparents say that at the beginning of March, the ancestors hit the earth with a stick for spring to come. People light sacred fires and children jump over them, calling spring to arise from the cold winter. It is also said that 9th of March is the day of all men. 

Our legend: When God created the world, he wanted it to last forever in happiness. But He didn't know how to make this come true. He thought about creating a most special symbol which would never be forgotten. Unfortunately, there were so many! He started wandering around the world to find His most precious sign. He went all over the place and explored everywhere, but He didd't find anything special. Suddenly, He saw a light in a cave. There, some people cooked a strange meal in shape of a fallen eight. `Good fellows, what are you doing?` He asked. `We keep the memory oft he body and souls of our ancestors`, the people answer. `They suffered for us, they were martyrs. But we are free and joyful and blessed and ought to remember them forever.` God felt happiness then. He blessed that food and its name has remained mucenici ever since.