In 166 BC, there lived in Judea a certain Eleazar, a priest and teacher of the law, who had already reached old age, but very handsome in appearance, famous for his wisdom and piety. He was brought to the tormentor and forced to eat pork meat, which was strictly forbidden by God in the Old Testament. But Eleazar agreed that it was better to die a glorious martyr's death for the law of God than to preserve through its violation a dishonorable and angering life of God. 
During the great torments, when the priest of God was already approaching death from wounds, he groaned and said: "The Lord, who has perfect knowledge, knows that, having the opportunity to get rid of death, I accept cruel sufferings and willingly endure them out of fear of God."
Seven disciples of St. Eleazar were also captured, the Maccabean brothers Abim, Antonin, Gury, Eleazar, Eusebon, Alim and Markell, and with them their mother Solomonia. They were brought before the lawless king and also forced to eat illegal food. Then one of them, answering for all of them, said: "We would rather die than break the laws." The king ordered his tongue to be cut off, the skin flayed from his body and his arms and legs cut off in full view of his other brothers and mother. Stripped of all his limbs, but still breathing, the young man was thrown into a huge red-hot frying pan. When the first one died, the second one was brought out to be insulted, and he accepted the torment in the same way. Already at his last gasp, he said: "You, tormentor, deprive us of real life, but the King of the world will resurrect us, who died for His laws, for eternal life." When they tortured the third and wanted to cut out his tongue, he immediately put him out, fearlessly stretching out his hands, and courageously said: "I received them from God, and for His laws I do not regret them, and from Him I hope to receive them again." Even the tormentors were amazed at such courage of the young man. 
Then three more Maccabean brothers suffered a glorious martyrdom. To the seventh, the youngest, their mother, Saint Solomonia, said: "I beg you, my child, look at heaven and earth and know that God created everything out of nothing and that this is how the human race came about. Do not be afraid of this murderer, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that by the grace of God I may acquire you and your brothers again." After the sons, the mother also died, joyfully thanking God for the fact that she and the children laid down their souls for the law of the Lord Almighty.