The Sultan offered them their lives and the return of their wealth on one condition: . Brâncoveanu refused, urging his children to stay strong: "My sons, be courageous... let us save our souls and wash our sins with our blood" . The Ultimate Sacrifice
: One by one, the four sons were beheaded before their father's eyes so he would witness their deaths. The Sultan offered them their lives and the
Their bodies were thrown into the Bosporus, but were later recovered by Christian fishermen and secretly brought back to Bucharest, where they now rest at the Church of Saint George the New . The Ballad and its Meaning The Ultimate Sacrifice : One by one, the
: Historical legends tell of the youngest, Matei (only 12), momentarily faltering in fear. His father steadied him, saying it was better to die a thousand times than to leave the ancient faith. Matei then bowed his head to the executioner. His father steadied him, saying it was better
: Finally, Constantin Brâncoveanu himself was beheaded.