Alexander Holy Martyr
suffered for Christ; soldier serving tribune Tiberian at Rome; By
night a fearsome angel appeared to Tiberian with sword in hand; miracles;
healings
at the beginning of the fourth century. He was
a soldier serving in the regiment of the tribune Tiberian at Rome.
When he was eighteen, the Roman emperor Maximian Hercules (284-305)
issued an edict that all citizens were to go to the temple of Jupiter
outside the city on a designated day to offer sacrifice. The tribune Tiberian
assembled his soldiers and he ordered them to go to this festival, but
Alexander, raised from childhood in the Christian Faith, refused and said
that he would not offer sacrifice to devils.
Tiberian reported to the emperor Maximian that
there was a soldier in his regiment who was a Christian. Soldiers were
immediately sent to arrest Alexander.
Alexander was asleep, but an
angel woke him and warned him of his impending martyrdom, saying that
he would be with him during this time. When the soldiers arrived, Alexander
came out to meet them. His face shone with a light so bright that the
soldiers fell to the ground when they saw him. The saint upbraided them
and told them to carry out their orders.
Standing before Maximian, St Alexander boldly
confessed his faith in Christ and he refused to worship the idols.
He said that he was not afraid of the emperor, nor of his threats. The
emperor tried to persuade the young man with promises of honors, but
Alexander remained steadfast in his confession, and denounced the emperor
and all the pagans.
They tortured the holy martyr, but he bravely
endured all the sufferings.
Maximian remanded St Alexander
to the tribune Tiberian, who was being sent to Thrace to persecute
Christians there. So they brought the martyr to Thrace, fettered in
chains.
At this time an angel told St Alexander's mother,
Pimenia, of her son's martyrdom. Pimenia found her son in Carthage,
where he stood before Tiberian and again he steadfastly confessed himself
a Christian.
They subjected him to torture
before the eyes of his mother, and then they took the prisoner on his
final journey, walking behind Tiberian's chariot. The brave Pimenia
asked the soldiers to let her go to her son, and she encouraged him to
undergo torments for Christ.
The soldiers were astonished at the stoic strength
of the martyr and they said one to another, "Great is the God of the
Christians!"
The angel appeared to the martyr
several times, strengthening him.
By night a fearsome angel appeared to Tiberian
with sword in hand, and commanded the tribune to hasten to Byzantium,
since the martyr's end was drawing near. Tiberian hurried on his way.
In the city of Philippopolis,
Tiberian retried St Alexander in the presence of the city dignitaries
gathered for this event. At this trial St Alexander remained steadfast.
During his grievous journey the holy martyr had been repeatedly subjected
to cruel tortures. He was strengthened by God, however, and he endured
all the torments.
He gave strength to the soldiers weakened by thirst,
asking the Lord to provide a spring of water for them.
During the journey, the martyr prayed beneath a tree, asking
for strength in his sufferings, and the fruit and leaves of this tree
received a curative power.
At a place named Burtodexion, the saint again met his mother
Pimenia, who fell weeping at his feet.
The holy martyr said to her, "Do
not weep , my mother, for the day after tomorrow, the Lord shall help me
finish matters."
In the city of Drizipera Tiberian imposed the
death sentence on the saint. The holy martyr gave thanks to the Lord
for giving him the strength to endure all the torments, and to accept
martyrdom.
The soldier who was supposed to carry out the execution asked
the saint's forgiveness, and for a long time he could not bring himself
to raise his sword, for he saw angels waiting to take the soul of the
martyr.
The saint prayed and asked God
to remove the angels, since he wanted to go to the Lord.
Only then did he cut off the saint's holy head.
The saint's body was cast into a river, but four dogs dragged it out
of the water, and they would not let anyone near it, until St Alexander's
mother Pimenia came. She took up the remains of her martyred son and
reverently buried them near the River Ergina.
Healings began to take place at
the grave of St Alexander.
Soon the holy martyr appeared to his mother in
a dream, in which he comforted her and said that soon she too would
be transported to the heavenly habitations.
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3rd v. St. Julian of Le
Mans First bishop of Le Mans extravagant miracles.
First bishop of Le
Mans, France. Tradition states that he was a noble Roman. Julian performed
extravagant miracles and was honored during the Middle Ages as the
patron of churches in England. |
3rd v. Callinicus Kallinikos (Καλλίνικος) The
Holy Martyr , a native of Cilicia, raised from childhood in the
Christian Faith. Grieving that many misguided people would perish
for eternity because they worshiped idols, he went through
the cities and villages to proclaim Jesus Christ and His teachings to
the pagans, and with the Word of God; he converted many to Christianity;
God caused a miraculous spring of water to gush forth from a stone.
Gangris in
Paphlagónia, sancti Calliníci Mártyris, qui,
virgis férreis verberátus aliísque supplíciis
afflíctus, tandem, in fornácem injéctus, spíritum
Deo réddidit.
At Gangra in Paphlagonia, St. Callinicus,
martyr, who was scourged with iron rods, and given over to other
torments. Being finally cast into a furnace, he gave up his
soul to God.
Callinicus Kallinikos
(Καλλίνικος) The Holy Martyr, a native of Cilicia, was raised from
childhood in the Christian Faith. Grieving that
many
misguided people would perish
for eternity because they worshiped idols, he went through the cities
and villages to proclaim Jesus Christ and His teachings to the pagans,
and with the Word of God he converted many to Christianity; God caused
a miraculous spring of water to gush forth from a stone.
In the Galatian city of Ancyra the holy
confessor was arrested and brought to trial before a governor named
Sacerdonus, a fierce persecutor of Christians. The governor, threatening
tortures and death, ordered the saint to offer sacrifice to the idols.
The saint fearlessly declared that he was not afraid of martyrdom,
since every believer in Christ receives from Him strength in ordeals,
and through death inherits an eternal blessed life.
They cruelly beat the saint
with ox thongs and tore at his body with iron hooks, but he endured everything
with patience and calm. This aroused still greater fury in Sacerdonus,
and he ordered that sandals with sharp nails be placed on the saint's
feet, and that they should drive the martyr with whips to the city
of Gangra to be burned.
The pathway was arduous, and the soldiers
who accompanied the condemned man were weak from thirst. In despair
they began to implore the saint to pray the Lord for water. The
saint, taking pity on his tormentors, with the help of God caused
a miraculous spring of water to gush forth from a stone. The astonished
soldiers were filled with sympathy for their rescuer, and they wanted
even to set him free. Fear of execution, however, compelled them to bring
the martyr farther. In Gangra, St Callinicus joyfully offered thanks to
the Lord, Who had vouchsafed him the crown of martyrdom. He went into
the blazing fire and gave up his soul to God. His body, remaining unharmed,
was reverently buried by believers.
|
3rd v. Saint Polyeuctus
was the first martyr in the Armenian city of Meletine; soldier
He was a soldier under the emperor Decius (249-251) and
he later suffered for Christ under the emperor Valerian (253-259).
The saint was friend also of Nearchos, a fellow-soldier
and firm Christian, but Polyeuctus, though he led a virtuous life,
remained a pagan.
When the persecution against Christians began, Nearchos
said to Polyeuctus, "Friend, we shall soon be separated, for they
will take me to torture, and you alas, will renounce your friendship
with me." Polyeuctus told him that he had seen Christ in a dream, Who
took his soiled military cloak from him and dressed him in a radiant garment.
"Now," he said, "I am prepared to serve the Lord Jesus Christ."
Enflamed with zeal, St Polyeuctus went to the city square,
and tore up the edict of Decius which required everyone to worship
idols. A few moments later, he met a procession carrying twelve idols
through the streets of the city. He dashed the idols to the ground and
trampled them underfoot.
His father-in-law, the magistrate Felix, who was responsible
for enforcing the imperial edict, was horrified at what St Polyeuctus
had done and declared that he had to die for this. "Go, bid farewell
to your wife and children," said Felix. Paulina came and tearfully
entreated her husband to renounce Christ. His father-in-law Felix also
wept, but St Polyeuctus remained steadfast in his resolve to suffer
for Christ.
With joy he bent his head beneath the
sword of the executioner and was baptized in his own blood.
Soon, when the Church of Christ in the reign
of St Constantine had triumphed throughout all the Roman Empire, a
church was built at Meletine in honor of the holy Martyr Polyeuctus.
Many miracles were worked through the intercession of St Polyeuctus.
In this very church the parents of St Euthymius the Great (January 20)
prayed fervently for a son. The birth of this great luminary of Orthodoxy
in the year 376 occurred through the help of the holy Martyr Polyeuctus.
St Polyeuctus was also venerated by St Acacius, Bishop
of Meletine (March 31), a participant in the Third Ecumenical Council,
and a great proponent of Orthodoxy. In the East, and also in the West,
the holy Martyr Polyeuctus is venerated as a patron saint of vows and
treaty agreements.
The Polyeucte Overture of French composer Paul Dukas
is only one of many pieces of classical music inspired by the saints.
It premiered in January of 1892. French dramatist Pierre Corneille
has also written a play, Polyeucte (1642), based on the martyr's life.
|
Saint_Porphyrius soldier Seeing the
Elder's endurance and his complete lack of malice openly confessed
Christ
202 Hieromartyr Charalampus,
Bishop of Magnesia Many miracles worked through his prayer raised
a dead youth healed a man tormented by devils 35 years so that many
people began to believe in Christ the Savior the Martyrs Porphyrius
and Baptus and Three Women Martyrs
St Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia (Asia
Minor), successfully spread faith in Christ the Savior, guiding
people on the way to salvation. News of his preaching reached Lucian,
the governor of the district, and the military commander Lucius.
The saint was arrested and brought to trial, where he confessed his
faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
Despite the bishop's advanced age (he was
113 years old), he was subjected to monstrous tortures.
They lacerated his body with
iron hooks, and scraped all the skin from his body. During this
the saint turned to his tormentors,
"I thank you, brethren, that you
have restored my spirit, which longs to pass over to a new and everlasting
life!"
Seeing the Elder's endurance
and his complete lack of malice, two soldiers (Porphyrius and
Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for which they were immediately
beheaded with a sword. Three women who were watching the sufferings
of St Charalampus also began to glorify Christ, and were quickly
martyred.
The enraged Lucius seized the instruments
of torture and began to torture the holy martyr, but suddenly his
forearms were cut off as if by a sword.
The governor then spat in the face of the
saint, and immediately his head was turned around so that he faced
backwards.
Then Lucius entreated the saint to show
mercy on him, and both torturers were healed through the prayers
of St Charalampus.
During this a multitude of witnesses came
to believe in Christ. Among them also was Lucius, who fell at the
feet of the holy bishop, asking to be baptized.
Lucian reported these events to the emperor
Septimus Severus (193-211), who was then at Pisidian Antioch (western
Asia Minor). The emperor ordered St Charlampos to be brought to him
in Antioch. Soldiers twisted the saint's beard into a rope, wound it
around his neck, and used it to drag him along. They also drove an iron
nail into his body. The emperor then ordered them to torture the bishop
more intensely, and they began to burn him with fire, a little at a time.
But God protected the saint,
and he remained unharmed.
Many miracles were worked through
his prayer: he raised a dead youth, and healed a man tormented
by devils for thirty-five years, so that many people began to believe
in Christ the Savior. Even Galina, the daughter of the emperor, began
to believe in Christ, and twice smashed the idols in a pagan temple.
On the orders of the emperor they beat
the saint about the mouth with stones. They also wanted to set
his beard on fire, but the flames burned the torturer.
Full of wickedness, Septimus
Severus and an official named Crispus hurled blasphemy at the
Lord, mockingly summoning Him to come down to the earth, and boasting
of their own power and might.
The Lord sent an earthquake, and great
fear fell upon all, the impious ones were both suspended in mid-air
held by invisible bonds, and only by the prayer of the saint were
they put down.
The dazed emperor was shaken
in his former impiety, but again quickly fell into error and gave
orders to torture the saint.
And finally, he sentenced St Charalampus
to beheading with a sword. During his final prayer, the heavens
opened and the saint saw the Savior and a multitude of angels. The
holy martyr asked Him to grant that the place where his relics would
repose would never suffer famine or disease. He also begged that there
would be peace, prosperity, and an abundance of fruit, grain, and wine
in that place, and that the souls of these people would be saved. The
Lord promised to fulfill his request and ascended to heaven, and the soul
of the hieromartyr Charalampus followed after Him. By the mercy of God,
the saint died before he could be executed. Galina buried the martyr's
body with great honor.
In Greek hagiography and iconography
St Charalampus is regarded as a priest, while Russian sources to
regard him as bishop.
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212 Sts. Felix priest
and two deacons Fortunatus & Achilleus martyred evangelizers
region around Vienne miracles
Valéntiæ,
in Gállia, pássio sanctórum Mártyrum
Felícis Presbyteri, Fortunáti et Achíllei Diaconórum.
Hi, cum fuíssent a beáto Irenæo, Lugdunénsi
Episcopo, missi ad prædicándum verbum Dei, et máximam
illíus civitátis partem ad Christi fidem convertíssent,
a Duce Cornélio sunt in cárcerem trusi; deínde,
diutíssime verberáti, cruribúsque confráctis,
circa rotárum vertíginem stricti, fumum quoque in equúlei
suspensióne perpéssi; ad extrémum gládio
consummáti sunt.
At Valence in France, the holy
martyrs Felix, a priest, Fortunatus and Achilleus, deacons, who
were sent there to preach the word of God by blessed Irenæus,
bishop of Lyons. They converted the greater portion of that
city to the faith of Christ. These martyrs were cast into prison
by the commander Cornelius, were for a long time scourged, had their
legs crushed, were bound to wheels in motion, and stifled with smoke
while stretched on the rack, and finally died by the sword.
Felix, a priest, and two deacons, Fortunatus and Achilleus,
were sent by St. Irenaeus(, Bishop of Lyons, at the beginning of
the third century, to Valence in the district afterwards known as
the Dauphine' to evangelize its inhabitants. They all three suffered
martyrdom in the reign of Caracalla about the year 212.
That is all that is actually known about these saints,
but legend has supplied additional details. According to their reputed
"acts", after they had by their preaching and miracles, converted a
great proportion of the heathen people, they were arrested. From prison
they were liberated by angels, at whose bidding they cast down the idols
in the temples, destroying with hammers the images of Mercury and Saturn
and a valuable amber statue of Jupiter. For this they were promptly
seized: their legs were broken, they were tortured on wheels and subjected
by day and by night to acrid and suffocating fumes. As they survived
all these torments they were eventually beheaded. An even more fantastic
legend than that related, connects St. Felix, St. Fortunatus and St.
Achilleus with Valencia in Spain. The remains there venerated are
certainly those of other saints |
215 St. Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem 30th bishop
miracle of water to oil
Hierosólymis natális beáti
Narcíssi Epíscopi, sanctitáte, patiéntia
ac fide laudábilis, qui, centum et séxdecim annórum
senex, felíciter migrávit ad Dóminum.
Narcissus, a bishop At Jerusalem, the birthday of blessed distinguished
for holiness, patience, and faith, who went to the kingdom of
God at the age of one hundred and sixteen years.
215 ST NARCISSUS, BISHOP OF
JERUSALEM
ST NARCISSUS was already
very old when he was placed at the head of the church of Jerusalem.
Eusebius says the Christians there preserved in his time the remembrance
of several miracles which God had wrought by this bishop, as when
on one Easter-eve the deacons were unprovided with oil for the lamps
in the church, Narcissus sent for water, offered prayer over it,
and then bade them pour it into the lamps. They did so, and it was
immediately converted into oil.
Veneration of good men for this holy bishop
could not shelter him from the malice of the wicked, and some, disliking
his severity in the observance of discipline, laid to his charge
a certain crime, which Eusebius does not specify. They confirmed their
calumny by fearful imprecations on themselves, but their accusation
did not find credit.
However, St Narcissus made it an excuse
for leaving Jerusalem and spending some time alone, as had long
been his wish. He spent several years undiscovered in his solitude
and, that his church might not remain destitute of a pastor, the neighbouring
bishops placed in it Dius, and after him Germanicus, who was succeeded
by Gordius.
Whilst this last held the see, Narcissus
appeared again like one from the dead. The faithful, delighted
at the recovery of their pastor, induced him to resume the administration
of the diocese. He acquiesced, but, under the weight of extreme old
age, made St Alexander his coadjutor. This Alexander has been noticed
herein under March 18. In a letter he wrote soon after the year 212
he refers to St Narcissus as being then 116 years.
The Bollandists
in the Acta Sanctorum, October,
vol. xii, have brought together from Eusebius and other sources
all that is known, or likely to be known, about St Narcissus of Jerusalem.
St.
Narcissus was born towards the close of the first century, and
was almost fourscore years old when he was placed at the head of the
church of Jerusalem, being the thirtieth bishop of that see.
In 195, he and Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea
in Palestine, presided in a council of the bishops of Palestine held
at Caesarea, about the time of celebrating Easter; in which it
was decreed that this feast is to be kept always on a Sunday, and
not with the Jewish passover.
Eusebius assures us, that the Christians
of Jerusalem preserved in his time the remembrance of several miracles
which God had wrought by this holy bishop; one of which he relates
as follows.
One year on Easter-eve the deacons were
unprovided with oil for the lamps in the church, necessary at the
solemn divine office that day. Narcissus ordered those who had care
of the lamps to bring him some water from the neighboring wells. This
being done, he pronounced a devout prayer over the water; then bade them
pour it into the lamps; which they did, and it was immediately converted
into oil, to the great surprise of the faithful. Some of this miraculous
oil was kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius wrote his history.
The veneration of all good men for this
holy bishop could not shelter him from the malice of the wicked.
Three incorrigible sinners, fearing his inflexible severity in the
observance of ecclesiastical discipline, laid to his charge a detestable
crime, which Eusebius does not specify. They confirmed their atrocious
calumny by dreadful oaths and imprecations; one wishing he might perish
by fire, another, that he might be struck with a leprosy, and the third,
that he might lose his sight, if what they alleged was not the truth.
Notwithstanding these protestations, their
accusation did not find credit; and, some time after, the divine
vengeance pursued the calumniators. The first was burnt in his house,
with his whole family, by an accidental fire in the night; the second
was struck with a universal leprosy; and the third, terrified by these
examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the abundance
of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight before
his death.
Narcissus, notwithstanding the
slander had made no impression on the people to his disadvantage,
could not stand the shock of the bold calumny, or rather made it
an excuse for leaving Jerusalem, and spending some time in solitude,
which had long been his wish. He spent several years undiscovered in
his retreat, where he enjoyed all the happiness and advantage which a
close conversation with God can bestow. That his church might not remain
destitute of a pastor, the neighboring bishops of the province, after
some time, placed in it Pius, and after him Germanion, who, dying in
a short time, was succeeded by Gordius. While this last held the see,
Narcissus appeared again like one from the dead.
The whole body of the faithful, transported
at the recovery of their holy pastor, whose innocence had been most
authentically vindicated, conjured him to reassume the administration
of the diocese. He acquiesced; but afterwards, bending under the
weight of extreme old age, made St. Alexander his coadjutor.
This primitive example authorizes the practice
of coadjutorships; which, nevertheless, are not allowable by the
canons except in cases of the perpetual inability of a bishop through
age, incurable infirmity, or other impediment as Marianus Victorius
observes in his notes upon St. Jerome.
St. Narcissus continued to serve his flock,
and even other churches, by his assiduous prayers and his earnest
exhortations to unity and concord, as St. Alexander testifies in
his letter to the Arsinoites in Egypt, where he says that Narcisus
was at that time about one hundred and sixteen years old. The Roman
Martyrology honors his memory on the 29th of October.
Pastors of the primitive church, animated
with the spirit of the apostles were faithful imitators of their
heroic virtues, discovering the same fervent zeal. the same contempt
of the world, the same love of Christ.
If we truly respect the church as the immaculate
spouse of our Lord, we will incessantly pray for its exaltation
and increase, and beseech the Almighty to give it pastors according
to his own heart, like those who appeared in the infancy of Christianity.
And, that no obstacle on our part may prevent the happy effects
of their zeal, we should study to regulate our conduct by the holy
maxims which they inculcate, we should regard them as the ministers
of Christ; we should listen to them with docility and attention; we
should make their faith the rule of ours, and shut our ears against
the language of profane novelty.
O! that we could once more see a return
of those happy days when the pastor and the people had but one heart
and one soul; when there was no diversity in our belief; when the
faithful seemed only to vie with each other in their submission to
the church, and in their desire of sanctification.
St. Narcissus of Jerusalem
Life in second- and third-century
Jerusalem couldn’t have been easy, but St. Narcissus managed to
live well beyond 100. Some even speculate he lived to 160.
Details of his life are sketchy, but there
are many reports of his miracles. The miracle for which he is most
remembered was turning water into oil for use in the church lamps
on Holy Saturday when the deacons had forgotten to provide any.
We do know that Narcissus became
bishop of Jerusalem in the late second century. He was known for
his holiness, but there are hints that many people found him harsh
and rigid in his efforts to impose church discipline. One of his many
detractors accused Narcissus of a serious crime at one point. Though
the charges against him did not hold up, he used the occasion to retire
from his role as bishop and live in solitude. His disappearance was
so sudden and convincing that many people assumed he had actually died.
Several successors were appointed
during his years in isolation. Finally, Narcissus reappeared in
Jerusalem and was persuaded to resume his duties. By then, he had
reached an advanced age, so a younger bishop was brought in to assist
him until his death.
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231 St. Demetrius
Bishop of Alexandria 43 yrs; Demetrius promoted the famous
Catechetical School of Alexandria; revered by his people and also
feared, on account of the gift, which was his of reading men’s secret
sins and thoughts
Egypt. Named to this post in
188, he ruled as patriarch there for forty-three years. Demetrius
promoted the famous Catechetical School of Alexandria, appointing
Origen director of the school in 203. Later he expelled Origen for
being ordained without his permission.
231 ST DEMETRIUS, BISHOP OP ALEXANDRIA; revered by his people and
also feared, on account of the gift, which was his of reading
men’s secret sins and thoughts
HE is said to have been the eleventh successor of St Mark, and
is certainly the first bishop of Alexandria of whom anything is known, chiefly
in his relations with Origen. When Clement withdrew from the direction
of the catechetical school of Alexandria Origen was raised to that
post by St Demetrius, with whom he was then on terms of close friendship;
the bishop even defended him against those who had condemned the
bodily mutilation to which he had voluntarily submitted himself.
Later Origen went to Caesarea in Palestine and accepted an invitation
to preach before the bishops there. St Demetrius protested, for Origen
was yet a layman, and recalled him to Alexandria. Fifteen years later
Origen set out for Athens, and on his way through Caesarea was ordained
priest, without the leave of his own bishop. Thereupon Demetrius convened
a synod that sentenced him on several counts and forbade him to teach.
St Demetrius
is said to have set up the first three suffragan sees of Alexandria
and is often credited, on the authority of St Jerome, with having
sent St Pantaenus on his mission to Yemen and Ethiopia. But this
probably took place before St Demetrius was bishop. He governed the
see of Alexandria for forty-two years and died in the year 231, at
the age of 105, revered by his people and also feared, on account
of the gift, which was his of reading men’s secret sins and thoughts.
There is little
to add to the data collected in the Acta Sanctorum,
October, vol. iv. See also the articles on Demetrius
and on Origen in DCB., and on the letters of Demetrius in DAC.,
vol. viii, cc. 2752—2753 and Abbot Chapman in the Catholic
Encyclopedia, vol. iv.
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238 St. Alexander Martyred
soldier of Pannonia performing
many miracles (Hungary) may be anonymous
martyr of Thrace listed on May 13
Drizíparæ, in Pannónia,
sancti Alexándri mílitis, qui, sub Maximiáno
Imperatóre, post multos pro Christo agónes superátos
múltaque mirácula édita, cápitis abscissióne
martyrium complévit.
At Drizipara in Hungary,
St. Alexander, soldier, in the time of Emperor Maximian.
Having overcome many torments for the sake of Christ, and performing
many miracles, his martyrdom was completed by beheading. mid-third
century. He is believed to be the anonymous martyr of Thrace in some lists.
Alexander M (RM) 3rd century.
Saint Alexander, a soldier, is described in the Roman Martyrology as having
suffered as a Christian in Pannonia (Hungary) under Maximian Herculeus (238). may
be anonymous Thrace martyr listed May 13
(Benedictines).
|
250 St.
Myron Bishop of Crete who lived for one hundred years. He is called "the
Wonder Worker" in the region. In Achája sancti Myrónis, Presbyteri
et Mártyris, qui, sub Décio Imperatóre et Antípatre
Præside, Cyzici, post multa torménta, cápite truncátus
est.
In Achaia, St. Myron, priest and martyr, who was
beheaded at Cyzicum after undergoing many torments, in the time of Emperor
Decius and the governor Antipater.
The Holy Martyr Myron was a presbyter
in Achaia (Greece), and lived during the third century. He suffered in the
year 250 under the emperor Decius (249-251). The presbyter was gentle and
kind to people, but he was also courageous in the defense of his spiritual
children.
On the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, he was celebrating the Divine
Liturgy. The local governor Antipater came into the church with soldiers
so as to arrest those praying there and to subject them to torture. St Myron
began to plead for his flock, accusing the governor of cruelty, and for this
the saint was delivered over to be tortured.
They took St Myron and struck his body with iron rods. They then threw
the presbyter into a red-hot oven, but the Lord preserved the martyr, but
about 150 men standing nearby were scorched by the fire. The governor then
began to insist that the martyr worship idols. St Myron firmly refused
to do this, so Antipater ordered the leather thongs to be cut from his
skin. St Myron took one of the leather thongs and threw it in the face
of his tormentor.
Falling into a rage, Antipater gave orders to strike St Myron all over
his stripped body, and then to give the martyr to wild beasts to be eaten.
The beasts would not touch him, however. Seeing himself defeated, Antipater
in his blind rage committed suicide.
They then took St
Myron to the city of Cyzicus, where he was beheaded by the
sword.
|
250 Saint Martial
Bishop of Limoges one of the first apostles of France.
Saint Gregory
of Tours informs us, that he was one of the first apostles
of France, whither Saint Martial was sent from Rome with Saint Dionysius
of Paris, about the year 250. He was the first bishop of Limoges,
and his name is famous in ancient Martyrologies. Great miracles hare
been wrought at his relics . |
250 St. Heliconis Martyr of Thessalonica, Greece.
She was beheaded. In some lists she is called Heliconides Christ
the Savior and the holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel appeared
to the holy martyr in prison and healed her of her wounds.
Corínthi
sanctæ Helicónidis Mártyris, témpore
Gordiáni Imperatóris. Hæc primum, sub
Perénnio Prǽside, multis torméntis afflícta,
deínde, sub ejus successóre Justíno, íterum
cruciáta, sed ab Angelis liberáta est; demum, disséctis
mammis, ferísque objécta atque igne probáta, cápitis
obtruncatióne martyrium complévit.
At Corinth, St. Helconides, martyr, who was first subjected to
torments in the reign of Emperor Gordian, under the governor Perennius,
and then again tortured under his successor Justin, but was delivered
by an angel. Her breasts were cut away, she was exposed to wild
beasts and to fire, and finally her martyrdom was fulfilled by beheading.
The Holy Martyr Heliconis lived during the third century
in the city of Thessalonica. St Heliconis arrived in the city of
Corinth during a persecution of Christians, and urged the pagans to
stop serving senseless idols and instead to worship the one true God,
the Creator of the universe. She was arrested and brought before the
governor Perinus, who vainly attempted to persuade the saint to offer
sacrifice to idols, both by flattery and by threats. The holy martyr
was subjected to tortures, but she bravely endured them. Then they threw
her into a hot furnace, but she emerged from it unharmed, because an
angel of the Lord had cooled the flames.
Thinking the saint was a sorceress, the governor invented
new torments for her. They tore the skin from her head, and burned
her breasts and head with fire. After halting the torture, the judge
again attempted to urge St Heliconis to offer sacrifice to the idols,
promising her honors and the title of priestess. The saint seemed
to consent, and the pagan priests and the people led her to the pagan
temple with the sounds of trumpet and drum. At the saint's request,
they left her there alone. St Heliconis, filled with heroic strength,
cast down and smashed all the idols. When some time had passed, the
pagan priests entered their temple. Seeing the destruction, they were
even more enraged and cursed the holy virgin shouting, "Put the sorceress
to death!" They beat the holy martyr, and then they threw her into prison,
where she spent five days.
Christ the Savior and the holy Archangels Michael
and Gabriel appeared to the holy martyr in prison and healed her
of her wounds. Finally, they sent the saint to be torn apart by wild
beasts. They set loose three hungry lions upon her, but the beasts
came up to the martyr meekly and lay down at her feet. The pagan mob
shouted and cried, "Death to the sorceress."
But at this point the lions jumped out of the arena
and pounced on the people, who fled in terror. Not knowing what
else to do, the governor ordered that St Heliconis be beheaded. The
saint went to execution with joy and heard a Voice summoning her to
the heavenly habitations.
She contested in the year 244, and her body was reverently
buried by Christians. |
250 St Terence
and his Companions idols fell down angel removed the martyrs' chains and
fed them.
beheaded
at Carthage Commemorated April 10
The
Holy Martyr Terence and his Companions suffered under the emperor
Decius
(249-251 AD). The emperor issued an edict
commanding all subjects to offer sacrifice to the pagan idols.
When
the governor
of Africa Fortunianus received this edict, he gathered the people into the
city square, set out cruel instruments of torture and declared that everyone
without exception had to offer the sacrifice to the idols.
Many,
afraid of torture, complied. However, St Terence and forty other
Christians bravely affirmed their faith in the Saviour and ridiculed
the idols. Fortunianus was amazed at their boldness and he asked how
they as rational people, could confess as God, One Whom the Jews crucified
as a malefactor.
St
Terence answered that their belief was in the Saviour, Who voluntarily
endured death on the Cross and rose on the third day. Fortunianus
saw that Terence inspired the others by his example, and so he ordered
him to be isolated in prison with his three closest companions: Africanus,
Maximus, and Pompeius. Fortunianus was determined to force the rest
of the martyrs, including Xenon, Alexander, and Theodore, to renounce
Christ.
Neither
threats nor terrible tortures could sway the holy martyrs. They
burned them with red-hot iron, they poured vinegar on the wounds,
they sprinkled on salt, and they raked them with iron claws. In
spite of their sufferings, the Saints did not weaken in their confession
of Christ, and the Lord gave them strength.
Forunatian
gave orders to lead the martyrs into the pagan temple, and once
again he urged them to offer sacrifice to the idols. The valiant warriors
of Christ cried out, "O Almighty God,
Who once sent down fire on Sodom for its iniquity, destroy this
impious temple of idolatry". The idols fell down with a crash, and
then the temple lay in ruins. The enraged governor gave orders
to execute them, and the martyrs, glorifying God, bowed their necks
beneath the executioner's sword.
After
the execution of the thirty-six martyrs, Fortunianus summoned
Terence, Maximus, Africanus and Pompeius before him. He showed them
the martyrs' bodies and again urged them to offer sacrifice to the
idols. The martyrs refused. The governor put heavy chains on them,
and gave orders to starve them to death. By
night, an angel of the Lord removed the martyrs' chains and fed
them.
In the morning, the guards
found the Saints cheerful and strong. Then Fortunianus ordered sorcerers
and conjurers to carry snakes and all kinds of poisonous creatures
into the prison. The guards looked into the cell through an opening
in the ceiling and saw the martyrs unharmed, praying, and the snakes
crawling at their feet. When the sorcerers opened the door of the prison
cell, the snakes bit them. The furious Fortunianus gave orders to behead
the holy martyrs. Christians took up their holy bodies and buried them
with reverence outside the city. |
250 St. Alexander &
Martyrs companion of St. Epimachus divine revelation
condemned to be eaten by wild beasts, but they did not harm him
Alexander and Epimachus lived in Alexandria,
Egypt. They were taken prisoner during the reign of Emperor Decius, then tortured
and burned to death. 4 women shared their martyrdom: Ammonaria,
Mercuria, Dionisia, a mother, and another woman, thought by some
to have been named Ammonaria.
The Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem,
was a disciple of the great teacher and writer of the Church, Clement
of Alexandria. At the beginning of the third century he was chosen
bishop of Flavia, Cappadocia. He was arrested during the reign of
the emperor Septimus Severus (193-211) and spent three years in prison.
After his release from prison he went to
Jerusalem to venerate the holy places, and was told to remain there
through a divine revelation. In 212 he was chosen as coadministrator
with the elderly Patriarch Narcissus, an unusually rare occurrence
in the ancient Church. Following the death of St Narcissus (August 7),
St Alexander succeeded him and governed the Church of Jerusalem for
thirty-eight years, working for the enlightenment of Christians. He
also established the first library of Christian theological works at
Jerusalem.
St Alexander was arrested during the persecution
of the Church under the emperor Decius (249-251). The holy martyr
was sent to Cappadocia, where he suffered many tortures. He was
condemned to be eaten by wild beasts, but they did not harm him.
St Alexander was cast into prison, where he surrendered his soul
to God.
The hieromartyr Alexander is also
commemorated on May 16.
|
250 Christopher The
Holy Martyr; miracles, converted as many as 50 thousand pagans to Christ,
as St Ambrose of Milan testifies
He lived during the third century and suffered
about the year 250, during the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251).
There are various accounts of his life and miracles, and he is widely
venerated throughout the world. St Christopher is especially venerated
in Italy, where people pray to him in times of contagious diseases.
There are various suggestions about his descent.
Some historians believe that he was descended from the Canaanites,
while others say from the "Cynoscephalai" [literally "dog-heads"] of
Thessaly. Perhaps this is why certain unlearned painters foolishly portray
St Christopher with a dog's head.
St Christopher was a man of great stature and
unusual strength. According to tradition, St Christopher was very
handsome, but wishing to avoid temptation for himself and others, he
asked the Lord to give him an unattractive face, which was done. Before
Baptism he was named Reprebus [Reprobate] because his disfigured appearance.
Even before Baptism, Reprebus confessed his faith in Christ and denounced
those who persecuted Christians. Consequently, a certain Bacchus gave
him a beating, which he endured with humility.
Because of his renowned strength,
200 soldiers were assigned to bring him before the emperor Decius.
Reprebus submitted without resistance. Several miracles occurred
along the way; a dry stick blossomed in the saint's hand, loaves of
bread were multiplied through his prayers, and the travellers had no
lack thereof. This is similar to the multiplication of loaves in the
wilderness by the Savior. The soldiers surrounding Reprebus were astonished
at these miracles.
They came to believe in Christ and they were
baptized along with Reprebus by St Babylus of Antioch (September
4).
Christopher once made a vow
to serve the greatest king in the world, so he first offered to serve the
local king. Seeing that the king feared the devil, Christopher thought he
would leave the king to serve Satan. Learning that the devil feared Christ,
Christopher went in search of Him. St Babylas of Antioch told him that he
could best serve Christ by doing well the task for which he was best suited.
Therefore, he became a ferryman, carrying people across a river on his shoulders.
One stormy night, Christopher carried a Child Who insisted on being taken
across at that very moment. With every step Christopher took, the Child seemed
to become heavier. Halfway across the stream, Christopher felt that his
strength would give out, and that he and the Child would be drowned in the
river. As they reached the other side, the Child told him that he had just
carried all the sins of the world on his shoulders. Then He ordered Christopher
to plant his walking stick in the ground. As he did so, the stick grew into
a giant tree. Then he recognized Christ, the King Whom he had vowed to serve.
St Christopher was brought before the emperor,
who tried to make him renounce Christ, not by force but by cunning.
He summoned two profligate women, Callinike and Aquilina, and commanded
them to persuade Christopher to deny Christ, and to offer sacrifice
to idols. Instead, the women were converted to Christ by St Christopher.
When they returned to the emperor, they declared themselves to be Christians.Therefore,
they were subjected to fierce beatings, and so they received the crown
of martyrdom.
Decius also sentenced to execution the soldiers
who had been sent after St Christopher, but who now believed in Christ.
The emperor ordered that the martyr be thrown into a red-hot metal
box. St Christopher, however, did not experience any suffering and he
remained unharmed. After many fierce torments they finally beheaded
the martyr with a sword. This occurred in the year 250 in Lycia. By his
miracles the holy Martyr Christopher converted as many as 50 thousand pagans
to Christ, as St Ambrose of Milan testifies. The relics of St Christopher
were later transferred to Toledo (Spain), and still later to the abbey
of St Denis in France.
In Greece, many churches place the icon of
St Christopher at the entrance so that people can see it as they
enter and leave the building. There is a rhyming couplet in Greek which
says, "When you see Christopher, you can walk in safety." This reflects
the belief that whoever gazes upon the icon of St Christopher will
not meet with sudden or accidental death that day.
The name Christopher means "Christ-bearer."
This can refer to the saint carrying the Savior across the river,
and it may also refer to St Christopher bearing Christ
within himself (Galatians 2:20).
Christophorus Orthodoxe Kirche: 09. Mai
Katholische und Evangelische Kirche: 24. Juli
Christophorus gehört auch heute zu den
beliebtesten Heiligen und um ihn ranken sich viele Legenden. Christophorus
lebte um 250, er stammte vielleicht aus Lykien. Er erlitt wahrscheinlich
unter Kaiser Decius das Martyrium. Am 22.9.452 wurde ihm eine Kirche
in Chalkedon am Bosporus geweiht. Reliquien werden insbesondere in
St. Peter in Rom und in St. Denis bei Paris verehrt. Christophorus gehört
auch zu den 14 Nothelfern. Die morgendliche Betrachtung seines Bildes
soll Schutz für den ganzen Tag gewähren, weshalb sich früher
große Christophorusbilder an Kirchen und belebten Plätzen
befanden. Auch die bei Autofahrern beliebte Christophorusplakette am
Armaturenbrett oder Schlüsselbund mag hiermit zusammenhängen.
Christophorus ist - neben vielen anderen Patronaten - Patron der kroatischen
Insel Rab. Hier wird er am 25.7. gefeiert.
|
251 Alexander, Bishop
of Jerusalem, divine revelation established the first library of Christian
theological works at Jerusalem Hieromartyr disciple of the great teacher
and writer of the Church, Clement of Alexandria
At the beginning of the third century he was chosen
bishop of Flavia, Cappadocia. He was arrested during the reign of the
emperor Septimus Severus (193-211) and spent three years in prison.
After his release from prison he went to Jerusalem
to venerate the holy places, and was told to remain there through a divine
revelation. In 212 he was chosen as coadministrator with the elderly Patriarch
Narcissus, an unusually rare occurrence in the ancient Church.
Following the death of St Narcissus (August 7), St
Alexander succeeded him and governed the Church of Jerusalem for thirty-eight
years, working for the enlightenment of Christians. He also established
the first library of Christian theological works at Jerusalem.
St Alexander was arrested during the persecution of
the Church under the emperor Decius (249-251). The holy martyr was sent
to Cappadocia, where he suffered many tortures. He was condemned to be
eaten by wild beasts, but they did not harm him. St Alexander was cast
into prison, where he surrendered his soul to God in the year 251.
The hieromartyr Alexander
is also commemorated on December 12.
|
250 - 290 St. Paul of
Narbonne priest notable missionary to Gaul with Sts. Saturninus and Dionysius; performed miracles
Narbóne,
in Gállia, natális sancti Pauli Epíscopi, Apostolórum
discípuli, quem tradunt fuísse Sérgium Paulum Procónsulem.
Hic, a beáto Apóstolo Paulo baptizátus, et ab eo,
cum in Hispániam pérgeret, apud Narbónem relíctus,
ibídem Episcopáli dignitáte donátus est;
ibíque, prædicatiónis offício non ségniter
expléto, clarus miráculis migrávit in cælum.
At Narbonne in France, the birthday of the bishop St. Paul, a disciple
of the apostles. He is said to have been the proconsul Sergius Paulus,
who was baptized by the blessed apostle Paul, and left at Narbonne, where
he was raised to the episcopal dignity when the apostle went to Spain.
Having zealously discharged the office of preaching and having performed
miracles, he departed to heaven.
who is known principally
because of reports made of him by St.
Gregory of Tours. According to Gregory,
Paul was ordained at Rome and, with other missionaries including Sts.
Saturninus and Dionysius, he was assigned to Gaul to preach the Gospel.
He enjoyed considerable success in the region around Narbonne, founding
several churches there.
He is also mentioned in various
legends.
290 ST PAUL OF NARBONNE
WE learn from St Gregory of
Tours that St Paul of Narbonne was sent from Rome with several other
missionaries to plant the faith in Gaul. Two of the band, St Saturninus
of Toulouse and St Dionysius of Paris, received the crown of martyrdom,
but St Paul of Narbonne, St Trophimus of Aries, St Martial of Limoges and
St Gatian of Tours, after passing through many dangers and founding churches
in the places now connected with their names, finally died in peace. Prudentius
says that the name of Paul shed lustre on the city of Narbonne. No attention need be paid to an extravagant legend which
has identified St Paul of Narbonne with the Sergius Paulus who was proconsul
at Cyprus when the apostle St Paul withstood the magician Elymas.
See the Acta Sanctorum, March, vol. iii, and Duchesse, Fastes
Épiscopaux, vol. i, p. 303.
Paul of Narbonne and Companions
MM (RM) Died after 250 (c. 290?). Saint
Gregory of Tours informs us (Hist. Franc.
I, 30), that Saint Paul was consecrated priest at Rome from where he
was sent with other preachers to plant the faith in Gaul. There Saints
Saturninus of Toulouse and Dionysius of Paris were crowned with martyrdom.
Saints Paul of Narbonne,
Trophimus of Arles, Martial of Limoges, and Gatian of Tours survived,
established churches in their respective sees amidst many dangers, and
died in peace. Prudentius says, that Paul's association with the city
of Narbonne had made it famous. A much later legend identifies Paul with
the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was converted by Saint
Paul the Apostle (Acts 13) (Attwater2,
Benedictines, Husenbeth).
|
251 Saint Andrew
Martyr Companions Peter and Nichomachus in Lampsacus Mysia w/Dionysia
a young man, appeared glittering with light diffusing itself over
the whole house protected her
Andrew and his fellow Christians were arrested
during the persecutions conducted by Emperor Trajanus Decius. Nichomachus is recorded
as having denied Christ under torture. Andrew and Peter stood firm
in the faith. Nichomachus was scolded by a sixteen year-old woman
named Dionysia, and she suffered martyrdom as well. Andrew and Peter
were stoned to death.
Peter of Lampsacus, Paul, Andrew, Dionysia
& Decius MM (RM). Peter was a young man of Lampsacus on the
Hellespont, who was martyred at Troas together with SS. Paul, Andrew,
Dionysia, and Decius. Peter was remarkable for his physical beauty
and the natural endowments of his mind, as well as his faith and virtue.
He was captured and brought before Proconsul Optimus who said, "You
have before your eyes the edicts of our invincible princes: sacrifice
to the goddess Venus, as they command."
Peter answered: "I am surprised that you
should endeavor to persuade me to sacrifice to an infamous lewd
woman, whose actions modesty forbids me to mention, and are such
as are punishable by your own laws."
Optimus ordered him to be extended on a
wheel, with pieces of wood so disposed and bound on his body with
iron chains, that the wheel being put in motion it might gradually
occasion the breaking of his bones. The martyr, turning his eyes towards
the heavens, said, with a cheerful countenance: "I praise and thank
you, O Lord Jesus Christ, for vouchsafing me patience to overcome this
cruel tyrant." Optimus, seeing his unshaken resolution, ordered his head
to be struck off.
After this execution, three other Christians,
Andrew, Paul, and Nicomachus, were brought before him. He asked
their origin and religion Nicomachus answered loudly with impatience,
"I am a Christian." When ordered to sacrifice to the gods, Nicomachus
answered: A Christian must not sacrifice to devils." The proconsul
gave orders that he should be hung on the rack and tortured. When
he was just ready to expire under his torments, he unhappily lost
his crown, and cried out: "I never was a Christian, and am ready to
sacrifice to the gods."
The proconsul immediately caused him to
be taken off the rack, but no sooner had the miserable man offered
sacrifice than he was seized by the devil, fell on the ground, and
beat it with his head in violent agonies, in which he expired.
God afforded his other two servants a comfort under their affliction
for this loss.
Dionysia, a tender virgin about
sixteen years old, who was standing by, was struck at this misfortune,
and said: "Unfortunate wretch! Why did you bring upon yourself
eternal torments for the sake of a moment's ease?" Optimus, hearing
these words, asked if she was a Christian: she confessed she was.
He then required her to sacrifice, and threatened to expose her to
prostitution, and burn her alive in case of refusal.
Finding his threats made no impression
on her constancy, he ordered her to be put into the hands of two
young men to be deflowered. They took her with them to their lodgings,
but she resisted so strenuously that she tired them out. About midnight
they were surprised at the appearance of a young man, glittering with
light, which diffused itself over the whole house. Seized with fear,
they threw themselves at the feet of the holy virgin. She raised them
up, and told them not to be afraid, saying: "This is my guardian and protector."
They asked her to intercede for them that they would not be harmed.
The next morning, the mob, stirred up by
the priests of Diana, beset the house of the proconsul, demanding
in a tumultuous manner to have Andrew and Paul delivered up to them.
The proconsul, to humor them, had them brought forth and commanded them
to sacrifice to Diana. Upon their refusal, Optimus had them scourged
and then threw them to the rabble who stoned them to death.
When Dionysia heard the raucous noise surrounding
their execution, she began to weep and wail bitterly. She escaped
her guards and ran to the place where they were. Upon seeing her fellows,
she cried out: "That I may live with you eternally in heaven, I will
die with you on earth." The proconsul being informed of the wonderful
preservation of her chastity, her escape, and desire to die with the
martyrs, ordered her to be taken away from Andrew and Paul, and to be
beheaded at a distance (Benedictines, Husenbeth).
|
251 Martyrdom of St.
Sina, the Soldier and Isidore many signs and wonders appeared from
them
On this day also, St. Sina, the companion of St. Isidore(1),
was martyred. After the Governor of Farma had tortured the two friends
and St. Isidore was martyred, he kept St. Sina in the prison until
he was removed.
When the new Governor took charge with the command
not to keep any one who confessed the Name of Christ, he heard about
the presence of Sina in prison, and that he was a captain of soldiers.
St. Sina was tortured much but did not turn from his counsel. The
Governor immediately ordered to cut off his head and he received
the crown of martyrdom. His mother was beside him when he was martyred,
and she saw a multitude of angels carrying away his soul as she saw
St. Isidore's soul at the time of his martyrdom before.
They took his body, shrouded it, laid it with the
body of his friend St. Isidore in the city of Samanoud, and many
signs and wonders appeared from them. Their prayers be with us and
Glory be to our God forever. Amen. |
251 St. Alphius
Martyr one of 3 brothers from Vaste, Italy, who died with their
sister, Benedicta 1517 their incorrupt relics were discovered
at Leontini [Lentini]
Apud Leontínos, in Sicília, sanctórum
Mártyrum Alphii, Philadélphi et Cyríni.
At Lentini in Sicily, the holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphis, and
Cyrinus
The details concerning these martyrdoms are traditional,
considered by some scholars as unreliable. Alphius, Philadeiphus,
Cyrinus, and Benedicta were arrested during the persecutions conducted
by Emperor Trajanus Decius(Trajan
Decius 249-251 AD and Usurpers During His Reign). They were tortured
in Rome and then taken to Pozzuoli, near modern Naples, where one
of the Christians, Onesimus, was executed. The brothers went on to
Sicily, where they were martyred at Lentini. Alphius had his tongue
torn from his mouth. Philadelphus was burned to death and Cyrinus
was boiled to death. The brothers ranged in age from nineteen to twenty-one
years of age at the time of their martyrdom. No details of execution
are given extant for Benedicta.
Alphius, Cyrinus, and Philadelphus MM (RM). These
three Sicilian brothers appear to have suffered under Decius. They are highly venerated among the Greeks and in
Sicily, especially at Lentini, of which they are patrons (Benedictines).
The Holy Martyrs Philadelphus, Alphaeus, Cyprian,
Onesimus, Erasmus and 14 others with them, lived during the third
century and came from Italy. Alphaeus, Philadelphus and Cyprian were
sons of a governor in Italy, named Vitalius. They were enlightened
by faith in Christ and baptized by St Onesimus.
During this period the emperor Licinius issued orders
to seek out and hand over the Christians for torture. The brothers
went to Rome together with Onesimus, Erasmus and fourteen other Christians.
At Rome they crushed the chest of St Onesimus with a heavy stone,
which killed him. Erasmus and the fourteen Martyrs were beheaded.
The brothers Alphaeus, Philadelphus and Cyprian suffered
in the city of Mesopolis Leontii in Sicily, where they had been sent
from Rome. St Philadelphus was burned over an iron lattice in the
year 251, in the reign of the emperor Decius.
In the year 1517 their incorrupt relics were discovered
at Leontini [Lentini]. Sts Alphaeus, Philadelphus and Cyprian appeared
to St Euthalia (March 2) and told her that she would be healed of
an affliction after she was baptized. |
252 St. Martha Virgin
martyr of Spain
In civitáte Asturicénsi, in Hispánia, sanctæ
Marthæ, Vírginis et Mártyris, quæ, sub Décio
Imperatóre et Patérno Procónsule, dire ob Christi
fidem est cruciáta et gládio tandem occísa.
In the city of Astorga in Spain, St.
Martha, virgin and martyr, under Emperor Decius and the proconsul Paternus.
She was cruelly tortured for the faith of Christ and was finally slain
by the sword.
She was beheaded at Astorga, Spain, and her
relics were enshrined in the abbey of Ribas de Sil and at Ters.
Martha of Astorga VM (RM) Beautiful Spanish virgin and a
true Christian, Saint Martha was beheaded for the faith in Astorga under
Decius. Her relics are enshrined in the old Benedictine abbey of Ribas
de Sil and at Ters, diocese of Astorga (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
|
255 St. Felix of Nola Bishop distributed inheritance
to the poor assistant to St. Maximus of Nola tomb famous for miracles
Nolæ, in Campánia, natális
sancti Felícis Presbyteri, qui (ut sanctus Paulínus
Epíscopus scribit), cum a persecutóribus post torménta
in cárcerem missus esset, et cóchleis ac téstulis
vinctus superpósitus jacéret, nocte ab Angelo solútus
atque edúctus fuit; póstmodum vero, cessánte
persecutióne, ibídem, cum multos ad Christi fidem exémplo
vitæ ac doctrína convertísset, clarus miráculis
quiévit in pace.
At Nola in Campania,
the birthday of St. Felix, priest, who (as is related by bishop St.
Paulinus), after being subjected to torments by the persecutors,
was cast into prison, bound hand and foot, and extended on shells and
broken earthenware. In the night, however, his bonds were loosened
and he was delivered by an angel. The persecution over, he brought
many to the faith of Christ by his exemplary life and teaching, and,
renowned for miracles, rested in peace.
260 ST FELIX OF NOLA
IT must be remembered that
St Paulinus of Nola, who is our ultimate authority for the life of
St Felix, lived more than a century after his time, and that it is
probable that legendary accretions had already attached themselves
to the tradition handed down. The story told by St Paulinus runs as
follows:
St Felix was a native of Nola,
a Roman colony in Campania, fourteen miles from Naples, where
his father Hermias, who was by birth a Syrian and had served in
the army, had purchased an estate and settled down. He had two sons,
Felix and Hermias, to whom at his death he left his patrimony. The
younger sought preferment in the world by following the profession
of arms. Felix, to become in effect what his name in Latin imported,
that is “happy”, resolved to follow no other standard than that of the
King of kings, Jesus Christ. For this purpose he distributed most of
his possessions among the poor, and was ordained priest by St Maximus,
Bishop of Nola, who, charmed with his virtue and prudence, made him his
right hand in those times of trouble, and looked upon him as his destined
successor.
In the year 250 the Emperor Decius began a cruel persecution
against the Church. Maximus, seeing himself marked out as a victim,
retired into the desert, not through the fear of death but rather
to preserve himself for the service of his flock. The persecutors,
not finding him, seized on Felix, who in his absence was very zealous
in the discharge of pastoral duties. The governor caused him to be scourged,
then loaded with chains and cast into a dungeon, in which, as Prudentius
informs us, the floor was spread all over with potsherds and pieces
of broken glass, so that there was no place free from them on which the
saint could either stand or lie. One night an angel appearing filled
the prison with a bright light, and bade St Felix go to the aid of his
bishop, who was in great distress. The confessor, seeing his chains
fall off and the doors open, followed his guide, and was conducted to
the place where Maximus lay in hunger and cold, speechless and unconscious: for, through anxiety for his flock and the
hardships of his solitary retreat, he had suffered more than a martyrdom.
Felix, not being able to bring him to himself, had recourse to prayer;
and discovering thereupon a bunch of grapes within reach, he squeezed
some of the juice into his mouth, which had the desired effect. The good
bishop, as soon as he beheld his friend Felix, begged to be conveyed back
to his church. The saint, taking him on his shoulders, carried him to his
home in the city before day appeared, where a devoted old woman took care
of him.
Felix kept himself concealed,
praying for the Church without ceasing, till the death of Decius
in the year 251. He no sooner appeared again in public than his zeal
so exasperated the pagans that they came to apprehend him; but though
they met him, they did not recognize him. They even asked him where
Felix was, a question to which he returned an evasive answer. The persecutors,
going a little further, perceived their mistake, and returned; but
Felix in the meantime had stepped a little out of the way, and crept
through a hole in a ruinous wall, which was instantly closed up by
spiders’ webs. His enemies, never imagining anything could have lately
passed where they saw so dense a web, after a fruitless search elsewhere
returned without their prey. Felix, finding among the ruins, between
two houses, an old well half dry, hid himself there for six months, and
obtained during that time wherewithal to subsist by means of a devout
Christian woman.
Peace being restored to
the Church, he quitted his retreat, and was received in the city
with joy.
St Maximus died soon after, and all were unanimous
in electing Felix bishop but he persuaded the people to make choice
of Quintus, his senior in the priesthood. The remainder of the saint’s
estate having been confiscated in the persecution, he was advised
to press his legal claim, as others had done, who thereby recovered
what had been taken from them. His answer was that in poverty he should
be the more secure of possessing Christ. He could not even be prevailed
upon to accept what the rich offered him. He rented a little spot
of land, not exceeding three acres, which he tilled with his own hands
to supply his own needs and to have something left for alms. Whatever
was bestowed on him he gave immediately to the poor. If he had two
coats he was sure to give them the better, and often exchanged his only
one for the rags of some beggar. He died in a good old age, on January
14, on which day he is commemorated
in the martyrologies.
More than a century had elapsed
after the death of Felix when Paulinus, a distinguished Roman
senator, settled in Nola and was elected bishop there. He testifies
that crowds of pilgrims came from Rome and more distant places to
visit the shrine of the saint on his festival. He adds that all brought
some present or other to his church, such as candles to burn at his
tomb and the like; but that for his own part he offered him the homage
of his tongue and himself, though an unworthy gift. He expresses his
devotion in the warmest terms, and believes that all the graces he received
from Heaven were conferred on him through the intercession of St
Felix. He describes at large the pictures of the whole history of the
Old Testament in the church of St Felix, which were as so many books
that instructed the ignorant. The holy bishop’s enthusiasm is reflected
in his verses. He relates a number of miracles which were wrought at
the tomb, as of persons cured of diseases and delivered from dangers
by the saint’s intercession, in several of which cases he was an eye-witness.
He testifies that he himself by having recourse to Felix had been speedily
succored. St Augustine also has given an account of miracles performed
at the shrine. It was not formerly allowed to bury any corpse within
the walls of cities, and as the church of St Felix stood outside the walls
of Nola many Christians sought to be buried in it, that their faith and
devotion might recommend them after death to the patronage of this holy
confessor. On this matter St Paulinus consulted St Augustine, who answered
him by his book On the Care for the Dead, in
which he shows that the faith and devotion of such persons would serve them
well after death, as the suifrages and good works of the living in behalf
of the faithful departed are profitable to the latter.
As already stated,
the poems of St Paulinus constitute our main authority for the
life of St Felix. Of these poems Bede wrote a summary in prose, which
is printed, with other documents, in the Acta Sanctorum
for January 14. In the Analecta
Bollandiana, vol. xvi (1897), pp. 22 seq.,
may be found a curious illustration of the confusion introduced
by the martyrologist Ado, and other hagiographers, through their
invention of a “St Felix in Pincis”. This confusion was probably
due to the existence of a church on the Pincio at Rome dedicated to St
Felix of Nola. Pope St Damasus pays a tribute in verse to Felix for
a cure he himself had received. Cf. Quentin, Les Martyrologes
historiques, pp. 518—522
255 St. Felix of Nola Bishop distributed inheritance
to the poor assistant to St. Maximus of Nola tomb famous for miracles
happy
(= Felix)
Son
of Hermias a Syrian Roman soldier born on his father's estate at
Nola near Naples, Italy. On the death of his father, Felix distributed
his inheritance to the poor, was ordained by Bishop St. Maximus of
Nola, and became his assistant.
When
Maximus fled to the mountains to escape the persecution of Decius,
Felix was arrested and beaten for his faith instead. Legend says he
was freed by an angel so he could help his sick bishop. Felix hid Maximus
from soldiers in a vacant building. When the two were safely inside,
a spider quickly spun a web over the door, fooling the imperial forces
into thinking it was long abandoned, and they left without finding
the Christians. The two managed to hide from authorities until the
persecution ended with the death of Decius in 251.
Even
after Decius' death in 251, Felix was a hunted man but kept well
hidden until the persecution ended. When Maximus died, the people
unanimously selected Felix as their Bishop, but he declined the honor
in favor of Quintus, a senior priest. Felix spent the rest of his life
on a small piece of land sharing what he had with the poor, and died there
on January 14.
His
tomb soon became famous for the miracles reported there, and when
St. Paulinus became bishop of Nola almost a century later (410),
he wrote about his predecessor, the source of our information about
him, adding legendary material that had grown up about Felix in the
intervening century.
Patronage against eye disease; against
eye trouble; against false witness; against lies; against perjury;
domestic animals; eyes. Representation cobweb; deacon
in prison; spiderweb; young priest carrying an old man (Maximus)
on his shoulders; young priest chained in prison with a pitcher and
potsherds near him; young priest with a bunch of grapes (symbolizes
his care of the aged Maximus); young priest with a spider; young priest
with an angel removing his chains |
258 The Holy Martyrs Quadratus of Nicomedia, Saturinus,
Rufinus and others suffered during the persecutions of
the emperor Decius (249-251) and his successor Valerian (253-259).
St Quadratus was descended from an illustrious family. Possessing
considerable wealth, the saint did not spare his means in helping
fellow Christians, languishing in prison for the faith. When
the envoy of the impious Decius, the proconsul Perennius, arrived
in Nicomedia, St Quadratus voluntarily appeared before him, in order
to strengthen the courage of the imprisoned brethren by his self-sacrificing
decision. At first Perennius attempted to lure Quadratus from Christ,
promising him rewards and honors.
Then, seeing the futility of his attempts,
he cast the saint into prison and gave orders to lay him down on
a bed of nails and to lay a large stone on him.
Setting out for Nicea, the proconsul
commanded that all the imprisoned Christians be brought after
him. In that number was St Quadratus. Upon arriving in the city,
St Quadratus implored that they be led to the pagan temple. As soon
as they untied his hands and feet, he began to overturn and destroy
the idols. By order of the proconsul, they gave Quadratus over to
torture.
Enduring terrible torments, the saint held
firm in spirit and by his act encouraged the other martyrs, whose
wounds were seared with burning candles.
Quadratus_Anastasia_Michael_the_new
During the suffering of the
martyrs, suddenly there shone a brilliant cloud, but the pagans found themselves
in total darkness. In the ensuing silence was heard the singing of angels
glorifying God. Many of those present confessed themselves Christians. Perennius
ascribed the miracle to sorcery, and gave orders to take them to prison.
From Nicea the martyrs walked
behind the proconsul to Apamea, then to Caesarea, Apollonia and
the Hellespont, where they tortured them in all sorts of ways, hoping
to make them deny Christ.
They tied St Quadratus into
a sack filled with poisonous serpents, and threw it into a deep pit. On the
following morning, everyone was astonished to see the martyr whole
and unharmed. When they began to beat him mercilessly, two noblemen,
Saturinus and Rufinus, were moved with pity for the martyr. This
was observed, and Saturinus and Rufinus were beheaded.
Perennius subjected the martyr to even
more fierce and refined tortures, but was not able to break his
spirit. The saint lost his strength and was hardly able to move.
For the last time the proconsul urged the martyr to abjure Christ.
Marshalling his strength, the saint firmly replied,
"Since
childhood I have acknowledged Christ as the one and only God, and
I know no other."
The proconsul gave orders to
light the fire, make the iron grate red-hot and throw the martyr
on it. Having blessed himself with the Sign of the Cross, St Quadratus
laid himself down upon the red-hot couch as upon a soft bed, emerging
unharmed from the flames. In frustration, the proconsul gave orders
to behead St Quadratus.
|
258 The holy
Virgin Martyr Agnes Many miracles occurred at the grave relics rest
in the church built
in her honor, along the Via Nomentana born at Rome during the third century. Romæ
pássio sanctæ Agnétis, Vírginis et
Mártyris; quæ, sub Præfécto Urbis Symphrónio,
ígnibus injécta, sed iis per oratiónem ejus
exstínctis, gládio percússa est. De ea
beátus Hierónymus hæc scribit: « Omnium
géntium lítteris atque linguis, præcípue
in Ecclésiis, Agnétis vita laudáta est; quæ
et ætátem vicit et tyránnum, et títulum
castitátis martyrio consecrávit ».
At Rome, the passion
of St. Agnes, virgin, who under Symphronius, governor of the city,
was thrown into the fire, but after it was extinguished by her prayers,
she was slain with the sword. Of her, St. Jerome writes: "Agnes
is praised in the writings and by the tongues of all nations, especially
in the churches. She overcame the weakness of her age, conquered
the cruelty of the tyrant, and consecrated her chastity by martyrdom."
304 ST AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
ST AGNES has always been looked upon in the Church
as a special patroness of bodily purity. She is one of the most
popular of Christian saints, and her name is commemorated every day
in the canon of the Mass. Rome was the scene of her triumph, and
Prudentius says that her tomb was shown within sight of that city. She
suffered perhaps not long after the beginning of the persecution of Diocletian,
whose cruel edicts were published in March in the year 303. We learn
from St Ambrose and St Augustine that she was only thirteen years of
age at the time of her glorious death. Her riches and beauty excited the
young noblemen of the first families in Rome to contend as rivals for
her hand. Agnes answered them all that she had consecrated her virginity
to a heavenly husband, who could not be beheld by mortal eyes. Her suitors,
finding her resolution unshakable, accused her to the governor as a Christian,
not doubting that threats and torments would prove more effective with
one of her tender years on whom allurements could
make no impression. The judge at first employed the mildest expressions
and most seductive promises, to which Agnes paid no regard, repeating
always that she could have no other spouse but Jesus Christ. He then made
use of threats, but found her endowed with a masculine courage, and even
eager to suffer torment and death. At last terrible fires were made.,
and iron hooks, racks and other instruments of torture displayed before
her, with threats of immediate execution. The heroic child surveyed them
undismayed, and made good cheer in the presence of the fierce and cruel
executioners. She was so far from betraying the least symptom of terror
that she even expressed her joy at the sight, and offered herself to the
rack. She was then dragged before the idols and commanded to offer incense,
but could, St Ambrose tells us, by no means be compelled to move her hand,
except to make the sign of the cross.
The governor, seeing his measures
ineffectual, said he would send her to a house of prostitution,
where what she prized so highly should be exposed to the insults
of the brutal and licentious youth of Rome.* {* On
such vile methods of breaking down the constancy of Christian maidenhood
Tertullian in his Apologia comments
as follows “By condemning the Christian maid rather to the lewd youth
than to the lion, you have acknowledged that a stain of purity is more
dreaded by us than any torments or death. Yet your cruel cunning avails
you not, but rather serves to gain men over to our holy religion.”} Agnes
answered that Jesus Christ was too jealous of the purity of His chosen
ones to suffer it to be violated in such a manner, for He was their defender
and protector. “You may”, said she, “stain your sword with my blood, but
you will never be able to profane my body, consecrated to Christ.”
The governor was so incensed
at this that he ordered her to be immediately led to the place
of shame with liberty to all to abuse her person at pleasure. Many
young profligates ran thither, full of wicked desires, but were seized
with such awe at the sight of the saint that they durst not approach
her; one only excepted, who, attempting to be rude to her, was that
very instant, by a flash, as it were of lightning from Heaven, struck
blind, and fell trembling to the ground. His companions, terrified, took
him up and carried him to Agnes, who was singing hymns of praise to Christ,
her protector. The virgin by prayer restored his sight and his health.
The chief accuser of the saint,
who had at first sought to gratify his lust and avarice, now,
in a spirit of vindictiveness, incited the judge against her, his
passionate fondness being changed into fury. The governor
needed no encouragement, for he was highly exasperated to see himself
set at defiance by one of her tender age and sex. Being resolved therefore
upon her death, he condemned her to be beheaded. Agnes, filled with
joy on hearing this sentence, “went to the place of execution more cheerfully”,
says St Ambrose, “than others go to their wedding”. The executioner had
instructions to use all means to induce her to give way, but Agnes remained
constant; and having made a short prayer, bowed down her neck to receive
the death stroke. The spectators shed tears to see this beautiful child
loaded with fetters, and offering herself fearlessly to the sword of the
executioner, who with trembling hand cut off her head at one stroke. Her
body was buried at a short distance from Rome, beside the Nomentan road.
It is necessary to add to
the account (based mainly on Prudentius), which is given above by Alban Butler,
that modern authorities incline to the view that little reliance
can be placed on the details of the story. They point out that the
“acts of St Agnes, attributed unwarrantably to St Ambrose, can hardly
be older than A.D. 415, and
that these seem to represent an attempt to harmonize and embroider the
discordant data found in the then surviving traditions. St Ambrose,
as just quoted, in his quite genuine sermon De virginibus
(A.D. 377), says of St Agnes’s martyrdom cervicem
inflexit, “she bent her neck”, from which it is commonly inferred
that she was decapitated. *{*
A. S. Walpole, Early Latin Hymns (1922), p. 6g. urges
that inflexit “may mean bent aside
in order to admit the point of the sword”, and quotes parallel passages
from the classics in support of this view. This is also the view of
Father Jubaru. There can be no question that stabbing in the throat
was a common way of despatching the condemned, and was regarded as the
most merciful form of coup de grace. St Ambrose
calls the executioner “percussor”. This
view is supported by Prudentius’s explicit statement that her head
was struck off at one blow. On the other hand, the epitaph written by
Pope St Damasus speaks of “flames”, and beyond this says nothing as to
the manner of her death; while from the beautiful hymn, Agnes
beatae virginis (which Walpole, Dreves and others now recognize
as a genuine work of St Ambrose), it clearly follows that she was not
beheaded, otherwise she could not after the blow was struck (percussa) have drawn her cloak modestly around her
and have covered her face with her hand. It seems plain that in the writer’s
view she was stabbed in the throat or breast. From these apparent contradictions
many critics conclude that already in the second half of the fourth century
all memory of the exact circumstances of the martyrdom had been forgotten,
and that only a vague tradition survived.
In any case, however, there
can be no possible doubt of the fact that St Agnes was martyred,
and that she was buried beside the Via Nomentana in the cemetery
afterwards called by her name. Here a basilica was erected in her
honour before 354 by Constantina, daughter of Constantine and wife
of Gallus; and the terms of the acrostic inscription set up in the
apse are still preserved, but it tells us nothing about St Agnes except
that she was “a virgin” and “victorious”. Again, the name of St Agnes is entered in the Depositio martyrum of A.D. 354, under
the date January 21, together with the place of her burial. There
is also abundant subsidiary evidence of early cultus
in the frequent occurrence of representations of the child
martyr in “gold glasses”, etc., and in the prominence given to her
name in all kinds of Christian literature. “Agnes, Thecla and Mary were with
me”, said St Martin to Sulpicius Severus, where
he seems to assign precedence to Agnes even above our Blessed
Lady. St Agnes is, as remarked above, one of the saints named in
the canon of the Mass.
It is quite
possible that Father Jubaru is right in his attempt to reconcile
the data supplied by Pope Damasus and St Ambrose, but it would not
follow as a necessary consequence that he is also right in his theory
that in the Greek “acts” we have an amalgamation of the story of two
different St Agneses. With regard to the great St Agnes, he contends
that she was a child in Rome, that she consecrated to God her
virginity, that she turned away from all suitors, and when persecution
came that she deliberately left her parents’ house and offered herself
to martyrdom, that she was threatened with death by fire in an attempt
to shake her constancy, but that, as she gave no sign of yielding, she
was in fact stabbed in the throat. Father Jubaru in his elaborate monograph
further claims to have discovered the reliquary, containing the greater
portion of the skull of the youthful martyr, in the treasury of the Sancta sanctorum at the Lateran. This treasury was
opened in 1903 after it had been hidden from view for many hundred years, permission to do so having been obtained from Pope Leo XIII.
The relic is considered by Father Grisar, s.j., and by many other
archaeologists to be in all probability authentic, since a regular
custom had grown up in the ninth century of separating the head from
the rest of the bones when entire bodies of saints were enshrined in
the churches. It also seems certain that the body of St Agnes was at
that date preserved under the altar of her basilica, and further that on
opening the case in 1605 it was found without a head. From a medical examination
of the fragments of the skull in the Sancta sanctorum, Dr Lapponi pronounced that the teeth showed
conclusively that the head was that of a child about thirteen years
of age. The more extravagant miracles which occur in the so-called “acts”
are now admitted by all to be a fiction of the biographer. The case
of St Agnes is, therefore, typical, and affords conclusive proof that
the preposterous legends so often invented by later writers who wish to
glorify the memory of a favourite saint cannot in themselves be accepted
as proof that the martyrdom is fabulous and that the saint never existed.
In art St Agnes is commonly
represented with a lamb and a palm, the lamb, no doubt, being
originally suggested by the resemblance of the word agnus (a lamb) to the name Agnes. In Rome on the feast
of St Agnes each year, while the choir in her church on the Via Nomentana
are singing the antiphon Stans a dextris ejus agnus
nive candidior (On her right hand a lamb whiter than snow),
two white lambs are offered at the sanctuary rails. They are blessed
and then cared for until the time comes for shearing them. Out of their
wool are woven the pallia which, on the vigil of SS. Peter and Paul, are
laid upon the altar in the Confessio at St Peter’s
immediately over the body of the Apostle. These pallia are sent to archbishops
throughout the Western church, “from the body of Blessed Peter”, in
token of the jurisdiction which they derive ultimately from the Holy
See, the centre of religious authority.
Until the feast of St Peter
Nolasco, displaced by that of St John Bosco, was fixed for January
28, there was in the general Western calendar on that day a “second
feast” of St Agnes (she still has a commemoration in the Mass and
Office of the 28th). This observance can be traced back to the Gelasian
and Gregorian Sacramentaries, and is not altogether easy to explain.
The addition of the words de nativitate or in genuinum, which meets us in certain liturgical
texts of the seventh or eighth centuries, would seem to suggest that January
28 was the day on which St Agnes actually died, while the feast of January
21—de passione, as it is sometimes described—marks
the day when the martyr was brought to trial and threatened with torture.
In view, however, of the prominence which the “octave” has in later
times acquired in our Christian liturgy, it is curious that the one feast
should occur exactly a week after the other. We have evidence that the
Circumcision was called “Octavas Domini” already in the sixth century,
and it must be remembered that our present Missal, following usages
still more ancient, which were in fact pre Christian in their
origin, provides a special commemoration for the departed in die septimo, trigesimo et anniversario—in other
words, the week day, the month day and the year day. It does not, therefore,
seem by any means impossible that we have here a vestige of some primitive
form of octave. Dom Baumer has called attention to the fact that
the primitive octave implied no more than a commemoration of the feast
at the week-end without any reference to it upon the intermediate days.
The “acts”
of St Agnes are printed in the Acta Sanctorum, January 21. The Greek “acts” were first edited by P. Franchi
de Cavalieri, S. Agnese
nella tradizione e nella legenda (1899), together with a valuable
discussion of the whole question. See also the monograph of F. Jubaru,
Sainte Agnes d’apres de nouvelles recherches (1907)
and further Sainte Agnes, vierge et martyre (1909)
; DAC., vol. i, cc. 905—965 ; Analecta Bollandiana,
vol. xix (1900), pp. 227—228 ; P. Franchi in Studi
e Testi, vol. xix, pp. 141—164; Bessarione,
vol. viii (1911), pp. 218—245 ; the Liber
Pontificalis (ed. Duchesne), vol. i, p. 196; CMII., pp. 52—53,
66; S. Baumer, Geschichte des Breviers (1895),
p. 325; and, for the relics, Grisar, Die Römische Kapelle
Sancta Sanctorum und ihr Schatz (1909), p. 103. And cf. St Ambrose, De virginibus in Migne,
PL., vol. xvi, cc. 200—202; and Prudentius, Peristephanon, 14.
Her parents were Christians and they raised
her in the Christian Faith. From her youth she devoted herself to
God, and dedicated herself to a life of virginity, refusing all other
suitors.
When she refused to enter into marriage
with the son of the city official Symphronius, one of his associates
revealed to him that Agnes was a Christian. The wicked Eparch decided
to subject the holy virgin to shame and he ordered that she be stripped
and and sent to a brothel for disdaining the pagan gods. But the
Lord would not permit the saint to suffer shame. As soon as she was
disrobed, long thick hair grew from her head covering her body. An
angel was also appointed to guard her.
Standing at the door of the brothel, he
shone with a heavenly light which blinded anyone who came near her.
The son of the Eparch also came to defile
the virgin, but fell down dead before he could touch her. Through
the fervent prayer of St Agnes, he was restored to life. Before his
father and many other people he proclaimed, "There is one God in
the heavens and on earth: the Christian God, and the other gods are
but dust and ashes!" After seeing this miracle, 160 men believed in
God and were baptized, and then suffered martyrdom.
St Agnes, at the demand of the pagan priests,
was given over to torture. They tried to burn her as a witch, but
the saint remained unharmed in the fire, praying to God. After this
they killed her by stabbing her in the throat. Through her death at
the age of thirteen, St Agnes escaped everlasting death and inherited
eternal life. The holy virgin martyr was buried by her parents in a
field they owned outside of Rome.
Many miracles occurred at the grave of
St Agnes. Her holy and grace-filled relics rest in the church built
in her honor, along the Via Nomentana.
Almost nothing is known of this saint except
that she was very young—12 or 13—when she was martyred in the last
half of the third century. Various modes of death have been suggested—beheading,
burning, strangling.
Legend has it she was a beautiful girl
whom many young men wanted to marry. Among those she refused, one
reported her to the authorities as being a Christian. She was arrested
and confined to a house of prostitution. The legend continues that
a man who looked upon her lustfully lost his sight and had it restored
by her prayer. She was condemned, executed and buried near Rome in a
catacomb that eventually was named after her. The daughter of Constantine
built a basilica in her honor.
Comment: Like that of
modern Maria Goretti, the martyrdom of a virginal young girl made
a deep impression on a society enslaved to a materialistic outlook.
Like Agatha, who died in similar circumstances, Agnes is a symbol that
holiness does not depend on length of years, experience or human effort.
It is a gift God offers to all. |
259 Sts. Marian a lector or reader; and James a deacon; experienced visions, including martyred bishop
Often, it’s hard to
find much detail from the lives of saints of the early Church. What
we know about the third-century martyrs we honor today is likewise
minimal. But we do know that they lived and died for the faith. Almost
2,000 years later, that is enough reason to honor them.
Born in North Africa, Marian was
a lector or reader; James was a deacon. For their devotion to the
faith they suffered during the persecution of Valerian.
Prior to their persecution Marian
and James were visited by two bishops who encouraged them in the
faith not long before they themselves were martyred. A short time
later, Marian and James were arrested and interrogated. The two readily
confessed their faith and, for that, were tortured. While in prison
they are said to have experienced visions, including one of the two
bishops who had visited them earlier.
On the last day of their lives,
Marian and James joined other Christians facing martyrdom. They
were blindfolded and then put to death. Their bodies were thrown
into the water. The year was 259. |
262 Saint Agrippina
martyr, whose shrine is venerated as a site of miracles
Item Romæ sanctæ Agrippínæ,
Vírginis et Mártyris, quæ sub Valeriáno
Imperatóre martyrium consummávit. Ipsíus
autem corpus, in Sicíliam translátum ac Menis cónditum,
multis miráculis corúscat.
Also at Rome, St. Agrippina, virgin
and martyr, under the emperor Valerian. Her body was taken
to Sicily, where it works many miracles.
Agrippina is believed to
have come from a good Roman family. She was caught up in the persecutions
instituted by Emperor Valerian or Diocletian and was beheaded or scourged.
Her body was taken to Mineo, Sicily, by three devout Christian women.
The gravesite became a popular pilgrimage destination, noted for miracles
through Agrippina's intercession. |
265 St. Dionysius
the Great of Alexandria Bishop of Alexandria.
Alexandríæ sancti Dionysii Epíscopi,
summæ eruditiónis viri, qui, multis confessiónibus
clarus et pro passiónum tormentorúmque diversitáte
magníficus, plenus diérum Conféssor quiévit,
Valeriáni et Galliéni Imperatórum tempóribus.
At Alexandria, St. Denis, bishop,
a man of very great learning. In the time of Emperors Valerian
and Gallienus, renowned for often having confessed the faith, and illustrious
for the various sufferings and torments he had endured, full of days
he rested in peace a confessor.
265 St Dionysius, Bishop Of Alexandria
St Basil and other Greek writers
honour this prelate with the epithet of “the Great”, and St Athanasius
calls him the “Teacher of the Catholic Church”. Alexandria,
which was the place of his education, was then the centre of the
sciences, and Dionysius whilst yet a heathen gave himself to learning.
He assures us that he was converted to the Christian faith by a vision
and a voice, which spoke to him, as well as by diligent reading and
an impartial examination.
He became a scholar in the
catechetical school of Origen, and made such progress that when Heraclas
was made bishop the care of that school was committed to Dionysius,
who conducted it for fifteen years. In 247 he was himself chosen bishop.
Soon after the populace, stirred up by a certain heathen prophet at
Alexandria, raised a fierce persecution, of which St Dionysius wrote
an account to Fabius, Bishop of Antioch.
Then the edict of Decius put arms into the
hands of the enemies of the Christians, and directly the decree
reached Alexandria the governor sent a troop to arrest the bishop.
They looked everywhere for him except in his house, where he was
all the time, but at the end of four days he left it with his household
to try and get away. They were seen and arrested, except one servant,
who told a peasant whom he met going to a wedding what had happened.
The peasant was not a Christian but seemed glad of an excuse to fight
the police, for he rushed off and told the wedding party, who “with
a single impulse” as if by agreement, ran to the rescue and drove off the
guards. St Dionysius thought the wedding-guests were robbers and
offered them his clothes. Then when it was explained that St
Dionysius was free he was grieved at losing a
martyr’s crown and refused to budge. The Egyptians did not understand this idea at all, so they seized him, put
him on a donkey and drove him to a place of refuge in the Libyan desert.
Here Dionysius remained with two companions, governing the church of
Alexandria from thence, until the persecution ceased.
Then the Church was rent by the
schism formed by Novatian against Pope St Cornelius. The
antipope sent him a request for his support, and St Dionysius answered,
“You ought to have suffered all things rather than have caused a schism
in the Church. To die in defence of its unity would be as glorious as
laying down one’s life for its faith in my opinion, more glorious because
here the safety of the whole Church is concerned. If you bring your
brethren back to union your fault will be forgotten. If you cannot gain
others, at least save your own soul.”
In opposition to the heresy of Novatian, who denied
to the Church the power of remitting certain sins, he ordered that
communion should be refused to no one that asked it in the right dispositions
at the hour of death.
When Fabius of Antioch seemed inclined to favour the
rigorism of Novatian towards the lapsed, Dionysius wrote him several
letters against that principle. In one he relates that an old man
called Serapion, of hitherto blameless life, had offered pagan sacrifice
and had therefore been refused communion. In his last sickness he
could get absolution from no one, till he cried out, “Why am I detained
here? I beg to be delivered.” Then he sent his little grandson to a priest
who, being sick and not able to come, sent the Holy Eucharist by the
child (for during persecutions the Blessed Sacrament is allowed to be so
carried and received in domestic communion). So the aged man died in peace.
St Dionysius contends that his life was miraculously preserved that he
might receive communion.
At this time a pestilence began to rage and made great
havoc for several years. St Dionysius left an account of its terrors,
in which he contrasts the behaviour of the Christians, many of whom
died martyrs of charity, with the selfishness—and greater mortality—of
the pagans.
In opposing the false opinion that Christ will reign
on earth with his elect a thousand years before the day of judgement
Dionysius showed himself a keen scriptural critic, and in his enthusiasm
against dogmatic error, used arguments against St John’s authorship
of the Apocalypse which seventeen hundred years later were revived
by “higher critics”.
St Dionysius took part also
in the controversy about baptisms by heretics, in which he seems
to have inclined to the view that such baptisms were invalid but
followed the practice directed by Pope St Stephen I {254-246}.
This indefatigable bishop also had to proceed against some of his
brethren in the Pentapolis who professed Sabellianism. In writing
against them he vented opinions that caused him to be delated to his
namesake, Pope St Dionysius. The pope wrote expounding the bishop’s
errors, whereupon he published an explanation of his teaching.
Persecution being renewed
by Valerian in 257, Emilian, prefect
of Egypt, had St Dionysius with some of his clergy brought before him and
pressed them to sacrifice to the gods, the protectors of the empire. St Dionysius
replied, “All men do not worship the same deities. We worship one
only God, the creator of all things, who has bestowed the empire on
Valerian and Gallienus. We offer up prayers to Him for the peace and
prosperity of their reign.” The prefect tried to persuade them to worship
the Roman deities with their own God, and then sent them into banishment
to Kephro in Libya.
The exile of St Dionysius
this time lasted for two years, but when he was allowed to return to his
see in 260 it was to a distracted city. A political upheaval brought on Alexandria all the
evils of civil war, and it was a prey to violence of all sorts.
Trifling incidents caused riots. The town ran to arms, the streets
were filled with dead bodies, and the gutters ran with blood. The
peaceable demeanour of the Christians could not protect them from violence,
as St Dionysius complains, and a man could neither keep at home nor
stir out of doors without danger. He even had to communicate with
his people by letter, for it was easier, he wrote, to go from East to
West than from Alexandria to Alexandria. Plague again added its havoc,
and, whilst the Christians attended the sick with care and charity,
the heathen threw putrid carcasses into the highways, and often put
their dying friends out of doors and left them to perish in the streets.
Towards the end of the year 265 St Dionysius
died at Alexandria, after he had governed that church with great
wisdom and sanctity about seventeen years. A church dedicated in
his honour, but much more by his virtues and writings, says St
Epiphanius, preserved his memory, there, of which only a few fragments
have survived. St Dionysius of Alexandria
is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology on this day, and also on October 3,
where he is erroneously named as a martyr together with his companions
in his first exile and others. He is commemorated in the canon of
the Syrian and Maronite Mass.
Almost
all we know of St Dionysius is derived from Eusebius and from the
extracts from the saint’s letters that Eusebius preserved for us.
There are a few references to him in the writings of St Athanasius and
other early fathers, but they do not amount to much. The best edition
of Dionysius’s literary remains is that of C. L. Feltoe (1904), who
has also produced (1918) another book of translations and comments. There
is an exhaustive article devoted to this Dionysius by Abbot Chapman in
the Catholic Encyclopedia. See also Bardenhewer,
Geschichte der altkirchilchen Literatur, vol.
ii, pp. 206—237 DTC., vol. iv (1911), cc. 425—427 the Journal of Theological Studies, vol. xxv (1924), pp.
364—377 the Zeitschrift N.—T. Wissenschaft, 1924, pp.
235—247 the monographs of F. Dittrich (1867) and J. Burel (1910) and H.
Delehaye, Les passions des martyrs… (1921), pp. 429—435.
Born in Alexandria, Dionysius
had a vision and converted to Christianity. He entered a catechetical
school and studied under Origen, whom he succeeded
as master of the school. Bishop Heraclas named him to this position
in 232. In 247, Dionysius was elected bishop of Alexandria. During
the persecution of the Church in 249, Dionysius was arrested but
rescued and taken to the Libyan desert. He returned to Alexandria
but had to flee again in another persecution. Dionysius supported Pope
St. Cornelius in his battle against Novatian. After his second exile,
this time to Kephro in the Libyan desert, Dionysius returned to Alexandria
to find plague and civil unrest. He comforted the plague victims and
protected Christians.
St. Athanasius
called Dionysius “the Teacher of the Catholic Church.”
St. Basil surnamed him “the Great.”
He studied under Origen, and eventually
became the head of the catechetical school of Alexandria, Egypt.
Archbishop of Alexandria. In 250 during the persecution of Decius,
Dionysius tried to flee the city, but was caught and imprisoned. He
was rescued by Christians and hid in the Libyan desert until 251. During
the Novatian schism Dionysius supported Pope Cornelius, and helped
unify the East. Exiled during the persecution of Valerian in 257 to
the desert of Mareotis; he returned to Alexandria when toleration was
decreed by Gallienus in 260. Dionysius dealt leniently with the Christians
who had lapsed during the persecutions. He wrote a noted commentary on
Revelations. Greek Father of the Church. Born c.190 in Alexandria,
Egypt Died 265 of natural causes
Prayer for Harmony
God the Father, source of everything
divine, you are good surpassing everything good and just surpassing
everything just. In you is tranquility, as well as peace and harmony.
Heal our divisions and restore us to the unity of love, which is
similar to your divine nature. Let the bond of love and the ties
of divine affection make us one in the Spirit by your peace which renders
everything peaceful. We ask this through the grace, mercy, and compassion
of your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
St Dionysius
of Alexandria, Bishop and Educator |
270 St. Gregory
Thaumaturgus (means the wonderworker) first recorded vision of
Our Lady.
Gregory was of a distinguished pagan family.
He was born at Neocaesarea, Pontus, and studied law there. About
233, he and his brother, Athenodorus, accompanied his sister, who was
joining her husband in Caesarea, Palestine, while they continued on
to Beirut to continue their law studies.
They met Origen and instead of going to
Beirut, entered his school at Caesarea, studied theology, were converted
to Christianity by Origen, and became his disciples. Gregory returned
to Neocaesarea about 238, intending to practice law, but was elected
bishop by the seventeen Christians of the city. It soon became apparent
that he was gifted with remarkable powers. He preached eloquently, made
so many converts he was able to build a church, and soon was so reknowned
for his miracles that he was surnamed Thaumaturgus (the wonderworker).
He was a much-sought-after arbiter for
his wisdom and legal knowledge and ability, advised his flock
to go into hiding when Decius' persecution of the Christians broke
out in 250, and fled to the desert with his deacon. On his return,
he ministered to his flock when plague struck his See and when the
Goths devastated Pontus, 252-254, which he described in his "Canonical
Letter."
He participated in the synod of Antioch,
264-265, against Samosata, and fought sabellianism and Tritheism.
It is reported that at his death at Neocaesarea, only seventeen unbelievers
were left in the city. He is invoked against floods and earthquakes
(at one time he reportedly stopped the flooding Lycus, and at another,
he moved a mountain).
According to Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory
Thaumaturgus experienced a vision of Our Lady, the first such recorded
vision. He wrote a panegyric to Origen, a treatise on the Creed, and
a dissertation addressed to Theopompus; St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote
a panegyric to Gregory Thaumaturgus.
Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop
of Neocaesarea
Born in the city of Neocaesarea (northern
Asia Minor) into a pagan family. Having received a fine education,
from his youth he strived for Truth, but the thinkers of antiquity
were not able to quench his thirst for knowledge. Truth was revealed
to him only in the Holy Gospel, and the youth became a Christian.
For the continuation of his
studies St Gregory went to Alexandria, known then as a center for pagan and
Christian learning. The youth, eager for knowledge, went to the Alexandrian
Catechetical School, where the presbyter Origen taught. Origen was a famous
teacher, possessing a great strength of mind and profound knowledge. St Gregory
became a student of Origen. Afterwards, the saint wrote about his mentor:
"This man received from God a sublime gift, to be an interpreter of the Word
of God for people, to apprehend the Word of God, as God Himself did use
it, and to explain it to people, insofar as they were able to understand
it." St Gregory studied for eight years with Origen, and was baptized by
him.
The ascetic life of St Gregory, his continence,
purity and lack of covetousness aroused envy among his conceited
and sin-loving peers, pagans that they were, and they decided to
slander St Gregory. Once, when he was conversing with philosophers
and teachers in the city square, a notorious harlot came up to him and
demanded payment for the sin he had supposedly committed with her. At
first St Gregory gently remonstrated with her, saying that she perhaps
mistook him for someone else. But the profligate woman would not be quieted.
He then asked a friend to give her the money. Just as the woman took the
unjust payment, she immediately fell to the ground in a demonic fit, and
the fraud became evident. St Gregory said a prayer over her, and the
devil left her. This was the beginning of St Gregory's miracles.
Having returned to Neocaesarea, the saint
fled from the worldly affairs into which influential townsmen persistently
sought to push him. He went into the desert, where by fasting and
prayer he attained to high spiritual accomplishment and the gifts
of clairvoyance and prophecy. St Gregory loved life in the wilderness
and wanted to remain in solitude until the end of his days, but the
Lord willed otherwise.
The bishop of the Cappadocian city of Amasea,
Thedimos, having learned of St Gregory's ascetic life, decided to
have him made Bishop of Neocaesarea. But having foreseen in spirit
the intent of Bishop Thedimos, the saint hid himself from the messengers
of the bishop who were entrusted to find him. Then Bishop Thedimos
ordained the absent saint as Bishop of Neocaesarea, beseeching the Lord
that He Himself would sanctify the unusual ordination.
St Gregory perceived the extraordinary
event as a manifestation of the will of God and he did not dare
to protest. This episode in the life of St Gregory was recorded by
St Gregory of Nyssa (January 10). He relates that St Gregory of Neocaesarea
received the episcopal dignity only after Bishop Thedimos of Amasea
performed all the canonical rites over him.
During this time, the heresy
of Sabellius and Paul of Samosata began to spread. They taught
falsely concerning the Holy Trinity. St Gregory prayed fervently
and diligently imploring God and His most pure Mother to reveal
to him the true faith. The All-Holy Virgin Mary appeared to him,
radiant like the sun, and with Her was the Apostle John the Theologian
dressed in archepiscopal vestments.
By the command of the Mother
of God, the Apostle John taught the saint how to correctly and
properly confess the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. St Gregory
wrote down everything that St John the Theologian revealed to him.
The Mystery of the Symbol of the Faith, written down
by St Gregory of Neocaesarea, is a great divine revelation in the history
of the Church. The teaching about the Holy Trinity in Orthodox Theology
is based on it. Subsequently it was used by the holy Fathers of the
Church: Basil the Great, Gregory the
Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. The Symbol of St Gregory of Neocaesarea
was later examined and affirmed in the year 325 by the First Ecumenical
Council, showing his enduring significance for Orthodoxy.
Having become a bishop, St Gregory set
off to Neocaesarea. Along the way from Amasea he expelled devils
from a pagan temple, the priest of which he converted to Christ.
The convert was witness to still another miracle of the saint, at
his word a large stone shifted from its place.
The preaching of the saint was direct,
lively and fruitful. He taught and worked miracles in the name
of Christ: he healed the sick, he helped the needy, he settled quarrels
and complaints. Two brothers sharing an inheritance were not able
to agree over the property of their dead father. There was a large
lake over which they argued, for each of the brothers wanted the lake
for himself. They both gathered their friends together, and were ready
to come to blows. St Gregory persuaded them to delay their fight until
the following day, and he himself prayed all night long at the shore
of the lake which sparked the quarrel. When dawn broke, everyone saw that
the lake had dried up or gone underground. Through the intense prayer
of the saint, now there was only a stream, and its course defined the
boundary line. Another time, during the construction of a church, he
commanded a hill to move and make room at the place of the foundation.
When a persecution against Christians began
under the emperor Decius (249-251), St Gregory led his flock to
a faraway mountain. A certain pagan, knowing about the hiding place
of the Christians, informed the persecutors. Soldiers surrounded the
mountain. The saint went out into an open place, raised up his hands
to heaven and ordered to his deacon to do the same. The soldiers searched
the whole mountain, and they went several times right past those praying,
but not seeing them, they gave up and went away. In the city they reported
that there was nowhere to hide on the mountain: no one was there, and
only two trees stood beside each other. The informer was struck with
amazement, he repented of his ways and became a fervent Christian.
St Gregory returned to Neocaesarea after
the end of the persecution. By his blessing church Feasts were
established in honor of the martyrs who had suffered for Christ.
By his saintly life, his effective preaching,
working of miracles and graced guiding of his flock, the saint steadily
increased the number of converts to Christ. When St Gregory first
ascended his cathedra, there were only seventeen Christians in Neocaesarea.
At his death, only seventeen pagans remained in the city.
GREGORY THAUMATURGUS
Also known as Gregory of Neo Caesarea; Gregory of Neocaesarea;
Gregory of Pontus; Gregory the Wonder Worker; The Wonder Worker;
Born to a wealthy and distinguished pagan
family. Trained in law and rhetoric in his youth. Brother-in-law
to the Roman governor of Palestine. Father died when Theodore was
age 14. Originally planned to study at the law school in Beirut, but
when he arrived at Caesarea with his brother-in-law's entourage, Palestine
he encountered Origen, head of the catechetical school in Alexandria.
He and his brother Athenodorus each gave up the idea of law school,
became students of Origen, and converted to Christianity; Theodore changed
his name to Gregory. Studied philosophy and theology for seven years
under Origen. Returned to Pontus c.238.
Bishop of Caesarea, a diocese with only
17 Christians at the time. Converted most of his bishopric; tradition
says there were only 17 pagans left at the time of his death. Instituted
the celebration of martyrs, teachings about the saints, and celebration
of saint feast days as a way to interest pagans in the Church. During
the Decian persecutions c.250, he and his flock fled into the desert.
Worked among the sick when the plague struck soon after, and with
refugees during the invasion of Pontus by the Goths in 252-254. Attended
the First Council of Antioch in 264-265. Opposed the heresies of sabellianism
and Tritheism. Used his legal training to help his parishioners, and
settle disputes between them without taking their problems to the civil
courts controlled by pagans. Oversaw the council that chose Saint Alexander
the Charcoal Burner as the first bishop of Comana. Saint Macrina the
Elder heard Gregory preach many times in her youth, and passed his wisdom
onto her grandsons Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nyssa. Noted
theological writer.
As you might expect from some one surnamed
the Wonder Worker, there were many miraculous events in Gregory's
life.
Saint Gregory of Nyssa writes
that the Wonder-Worker was the first person known to receive a
vision of the Theotokus. The Virgin and Saint John the Baptist appeared
to him in a vision, and gave him what became a statement of doctrine
on the Trinity.
Gregory had the power of healing by laying
on of his hands. Often the healing was so powerful that the patient
was cured of his illness, and became a fervent convert on the spot.
During the construction of a church for
his growing flock, the builders ran into a problem with a huge buried
boulder. Gregory ordered the rock to move out of the way of his
church; it did.
In order to stop the River Lycus from its
frequent and damaging floods, Gregory planted his staff at a safe
point near the river bank. He then prayed that the river would never
rise past the staff. The staff took root, grew into a large tree, and
the river never flooded past it again. This act led to his patronage
against floods and flooding.
Two local pagans, hearing that Gregory
was a soft touch, decided to con the bishop. One lay beside the
road where Gregory was travelling, and pretended to be dead. The other
stopped the bishop, pleaded poverty, and asked for money to bury his
dead friend. Gregory had no money with him, so he took off his cloak
and threw it over the "dead" man, telling the "live" one to sell the
cloak and use the funds. When Gregory had moved on, the "live" con-man
found that his friend had died.
Two brothers in Gregory's diocese had inherited
a piece of land that contained a lake. Unable to decide how to divide
the lake, the two settled on armed combat to settle the matter. On
the night before the battle, Gregory prayed for a peaceful solution
to the matter. The next morning the brothers found that the lake had
dried up leaving easily dividable farm land.
During Gregory's time in the desert during
the Decian persecutions, an informer told the authorities where
to find the bishop. Guards went to the site, but found nothing but
two trees standing in isolation in the desert. The informer went
back to the place and found that what the soldiers had seen as trees
were actually Gregory and a deacon in prayer. This convinced the informer
of the reality of Gregory's God, and he converted.
When returning from the wilderness, Gregory
had to seek shelter from a sudden and violent storm. The only structure
nearby was a pagan temple. Gregory made the sign of the cross to purify
the place, then spent the night there in prayer, waiting out the storm.
The next morning, the pagan priest arrived to receive his morning oracles.
The demons who had been masquerading as pagan gods advised him that
they could not stay in the purified temple or near the holy man. The
priest threatened to summon the anti-Christian authorities to arrest
Gregory. The bishop wrote out a note reading "Gregory to Satan: Enter".
With this "permission slip" in hand, the pagan priest was able to summon
his demons again.
|
270 Patroclus The Martyr; native of Tricassinum city (Troyes
in France); loved to pray, read
Holy Scriptures, fast and charitable to the poor; Lord bestowed gift of
wonderworking.
He lived during the third century under the emperor Aurelian
(270-275). He was a native of the city of Tricassinum (now the city of
Troyes in France) and led a pious Christian life: he loved to pray, to
read the Holy Scriptures, to fast and to be charitable to the poor. For
this the Lord bestowed upon him the gift of wonderworking.
The emperor Aurelian summoned St Patroclus to himself and commanded
him to worship idols, promising for this great honors and riches. The saint
disdained idol worship saying that the emperor himself was a beggar.
"How can you call me, the emperor, a beggar?" asked Aurelian. The
saint answered: "You possess many earthly treasures, but you do not have
heavenly treasures. Since you do not believe in Christ and in the future
life, you shall not receive the blessedness of Paradise. Therefore, you
are poor."
Aurelian sentenced him to beheading by the sword. Soldiers led him
to the banks of the River Sequanum (now the Seine), but suddenly their
eyes were clouded, and St Patroclus at this time went across the river
on the water and began to pray on a hill on the other shore. Coming to
themselves, some of the soldiers were astounded at the disappearance of
the martyr and they glorified God, but others attributed the miracle to
magic.
A pagan woman pointed out to the soldiers that St Patroclus was on
the other bank of the river. Crossing over there, the soldiers killed
the martyr. His body was buried by night by the priest Eusebius and deacon
Liberius.
|
270 St Spiridion Bishop
and Confessor of our Order; Although his feast is
no longer included either the Carmelite proper or the 2004 edition
of the “Martyrologium Romanum”, his name is mentioned in the Byzantine
“Synaxaria”. Saint Spiridion was born in Tremithous in Cyprus in 270
AD.
In Cypro natális
beáti Spiridiónis Epíscopi, qui unus fuit ex
illis Confessóribus, quos Galérius Maximiánus,
dextro óculo effósso et sinístro póplite
succíso, ad metálla damnáverat. Hic
prophetíæ
dono et signórum glória ínclitus fuit, et in
Nicæno Concílio philósophum éthnicum, Christiánæ
religióni insultántem, devícit et ad fidem
perdúxit.
In the island of Cyprus, the birthday of blessed Spiridion, bishop.
He was one of those confessors who were condemned by Galerius Maximian
to labour in the mines, after suffering the loss of his right eye
and cutting of the sinews of his left knee. This prelate was
renowned for the gift of prophecy and glorious miracles, and in the
Council of Nicea he confounded a heathen philosopher, who had insulted
the Christian religion, and brought him to the faith.
Although his feast is no longer
included either the Carmelite proper or the 2004 edition of the
“Martyrologium Romanum”, his name is mentioned in the Byzantine “Synaxaria”.
Saint Spiridion was born in Tremithous in Cyprus in 270 AD. Son
of a poor family, he had no formal education and earned his living as
a shepherd. After the death of his beloved wife, he dedicated himself
to the Church and eventually rose to the office of Bishop of Tremithous.
During the Maximinian persecutions he was arrested and exiled, but
was returned to his see after the coming to power of Constantine. He
participated in the Council of Nicea, and died around 348. When the Saracens
took the island, the Cypriots opened his grave in order to remove his
sacred bones to Costantinople. They found that his body had remained intact,
while from the grave emanated a scent of basil, true signs of the sainthood
he had shown during his life. When Costantinople fell in 1453, a Corfiot
elder, Georgios Kalohairetis, brought him to Corfu, where his three children
acquired the Saint's relics as an heirloom. The sacred remains then passed
as the dowry of his doughter Asimia into the possession of the Voulgaris
family, who placed them in their private church (which was located on
the site of the Pallas Cinema). The relics of the Saint were transferred
to their present church when, during the fortification of the town, the
original church was demolished. The Holy Relics of the St. Spiridion go
out on parade in Cyprus four times each year to commemorate times when
his powerful intercession was felt. He is considered to be the island's Protector.
ST SPIRIDION, BISHOP OF TREMITHUS
MANY stories are told of this Cypriot saint,
who was at the same time a shepherd, married and a bishop. Sozomen,
who wrote in the middle of the fifth century, says that an invisible
hand stopped a gang of thieves attempting one night to carry off some
of his sheep, so that they could neither steal nor make their escape.
Spiridion (or better, Spyridon), finding them thus the next morning,
set them at liberty by his prayers and gave them a ram, lest they should
have been up all night for nothing.
The same historian says that it was the
saint’s custom to fast with his family for some days in Lent without
eating anything. Once during this time, when he had no bread in his
house, a traveller called to rest and refresh himself on the road. Spiridion,
having nothing else, ordered some salt pork to be boiled, for he saw the
traveller was very tired. Then he invited the stranger to eat. He excused
himself, saying that he was a Christian. Spiridion, himself setting the
example by way of courtesy, replied that therefore he was quite free
to eat; thereby reminding the stranger both that ecclesiastical precepts
do not bind unreasonably and that to a Christian no food is in itself
forbidden.
St Spiridion was chosen bishop
of Tremithus, on the seacoast near Salamis, and thenceforth combined
the care of sheep with the care of souls. His diocese was very small
and the inhabitant’s poor, but the Christians were regular in their
lives; there remained among them some idolaters. In the persecution of
Galerius he made a glorious confession of the faith. The Roman Martyrology
says he was one of those who lost their right eye, had the left leg hamstrung,
and in that state were sent to work in the mines, and (mistakenly) that
he was among the bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
There is a legend in the East that on the
way to the council he fell in with a party of other bishops, who
were alarmed lest the rustic simplicity of Spiridion should compromise
the cause of orthodoxy. So they told their servants
to cut the heads off the mules of Spiridion and his deacon, which
was done. When he prepared to set off before dawn the next day and discovered
the crime, Spiridion was not at all discomfited. He told the deacon
to put the severed heads upon the bodies, and at once they grew together
and the animals lived. But when the sun rose it was found that a mistake
had been made in the dark: for the bishop’s white mule had a brown head
and the deacon’s brown mule had a white head. During the council a pagan
philosopher named Eulogius made an attack on Christianity, and an aged,
one-eyed bishop, unpolished in manner and appearance, got up to reply
to the urbane scoffer. He affirmed the omnipotent God and the incarnation
of the Son for the redemption of all people as things beyond proof to
be held by faith: did Eulogius believe them, or did he not? After a pause
the philosopher was constrained to admit that he did. “Then”, said the
bishop, “come with me to the church and receive the sign of faith.” And
Eulogius did so, for, he said, words and arguments cannot resist virtue,
meaning thereby the power of the Holy Ghost manifested in the unlearned
bishop. Later writers identify this bishop with St Spiridion, but without
authority. A certain
person had deposited for safety in the hands of Spiridion’s daughter
Irene something of great value. This he demanded of the bishop after her
death; but it was not to be found and nobody knew where it was. Whereupon,
it is said, St Spiridion went to the place where his daughter was buried,
called her by her name, and asked where she had put the missing article.
Then she answered him, giving directions where she had hid it that it
might be safer: and it was found there.
Spiridion had very little learning, but he had made the Scriptures
his daily study and had learned what respect is due to the word
of God. Once when the bishops of Cyprus were assembled together, St
Triphyllius, Bishop of Ledra (whom St Jerome commends as the most
eloquent man of his time), was preaching a sermon. Mentioning that passage,
“Take up thy bed, and walk”, he said “couch” instead of “bed”, thinking
that word the more elegant and suitable. St Spiridion objected against
this false nicety and attempt to add graces to what was more adorned with
simplicity, and asked the preacher whether the word our Lord Himself had
used was not good enough for him. *{* The obvious reflection that this
rebuke would sometimes apply also to Alban Butler himself is modified by
the further reflection that the fashions of the eighteenth century are not
ours. But there are not wanting writers and speakers to-day who might with
advantage ponder this anecdote.}
The relics of St Spiridion were translated from Cyprus
to Constantinople, and again to Corfu, where they are still venerated.
He is the principal patron of the Catholics of Corfu, Zakynthos and
Kephalonia.
Besides the
relatively early references made to St Spiridion by the historians
Socrates and Sozomen, it seems that a life of him was written at
the beginning of the seventh century by Leontius of Neapolis. This is
preserved to us only in the later adaptation of the Metaphrast
(Migne, PG., vol. cxvi, pp. 417—468). There is also a memorial discourse
by Theodore of Paphos (printed in part by Usener, Beiträge
zur Geschichte der Legendenliteratur, pp. 222—232, and edited
complete in 1901 by S. Papageorgios), but it proves to be in large part
simply a plagiarism from an anonymous Life of Bishops Metrophanes and
Alexander of Constantinople (see P. Heseler, Hagiographica,
1934). It is also stated that a life of St Spiridion was written
in elegiacs by his pupil, Triphyllius of Ledra, but this has not survived.
In Byzantine art Spiridion is recognizable by his peculiar shepherd’s
cap see, for example, G. de Jerphanion, Let églises
rupestres de Cappadoce (1932); and the Byzantinische Zeitschrift
for 1910, pp. 29 and 107. See P. Van den Ven, La
Légende de S. Spyridon (1953), “beau travail d’édition
et de critique “ (Fr F. Halkin).
|
272 St. Sabas
"stratelates"= {military commander} healing the sick and casting
out demons in the name of Christ Roman martyr Gothic officer
Romæ
sancti Sabæ, ductóris mílitum, qui, accusátus
quod Christiános in cárcere deténtos visitáret,
coram Júdice Christum líbere conféssus est.
Hinc ab eódem Júdice fácibus adústus
et in lebétem picis fervéntis est immíssus,
et, cum inde evasísset illæsus, eo miráculo septuagínta
viros ad Christum convértit; qui omnes, constánter
in confessióne fídei permanéntes, gládio
cæsi sunt. Postrémo et ipse, demérsus in
flumen, martyrium consummávit.
At Rome, St. Sabas, a military officer, who bravely confessed Christ
before the judge when he was accused of visiting the Christians kept
in prison. For this he was burned with torches and thrown into
a cauldron of boiling pitch, out of which he came uninjured. Seventy
men were converted to Christ at the sight of this miracle, and as they
all remained unshaken in the confession of the faith, they were put
to the sword. Sabas, however, completed his martyrdom by being
cast into the river.
Saint Sabbas Stratelates came from a Gothic
tribe. For his bravery he attained the high rank of military commander
or "stratelates," and he served under the Roman emperor Aurelian (270-275).
From his youth, Sabbas was a Christian and he fervently followed the
commands of Christ. He helped the needy, and visited Christians in
prison. Because of his pure and virtuous life the saint received from
the Lord the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick and casting out
demons in the name of Christ.
When the emperor learned that
St Sabbas was a Christian, he demanded that he apostasize. The
martyr threw down his military belt and declared that he would not
forsake his faith. They beat him, burned him with torches, and threw
him into a cauldron with tar, but the martyr remained unharmed.
Looking on at his torments, seventy soldiers
came to believe in Christ. They were beheaded by the sword. St Sabbas
was thrown in prison. At midnight, while he was praying, Christ
appeared to the martyr and shone on him the light of His Glory. The
Savior bade him not to fear, but to stand firm. Encouraged, the Martyr
Sabbas underwent new torture in the morning, and was drowned in a river
in 272.
|
275 The Holy Martyr
Synetus reader in the Roman Church under Pope Sixtus
(the name is derived from the Greek word meaning
"man of reason") was a Roman by birth, and was a reader in the Roman
Church under Pope Sixtus (257-258). He was subjected to torture, and
was beheaded for his brave confession of faith in the time of the
emperor Aurelian (270-275). |
275 Sabina of Troyes
miracles wrought at her intercession at Troyes, Sens V (RM).
In pago Tricassíno sanctæ Sabínæ
Vírginis, virtútibus et miráculis gloriósæ.
In the vicinity of Troyes, St.
Sabina, a virgin, celebrated for virtues and miracles.
Saint Sabina, the alleged
sister of Saint Sabinian, is said to have sought out her missing
brother in Troyes, France. When she found him, he was already dead
and being venerated as a saint. She herself died soon after and was
highly venerated because of the miracles wrought at her intercession
at Troyes, Sens, and throughout the region (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
Saint Sabina is generally portrayed in art with her brother, Saint
Sabinian (Roeder). She is venerated at Troyes (Roeder). |
283 Cosmas and Damian
The Holy Martyrs, Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians they led strict
and chaste lives, and they were granted by God the gift of healing the sick
Born at Rome, brothers by birth, and physicians
by profession. They suffered at Rome in the reign of the emperor
Carinus (283-284). Brought up by their parents in the rules of piety,
they led strict and chaste lives, and they were granted by God the gift
of healing the sick. By their generosity and exceptional kindness to
all, the brothers converted many to Christ. The brothers told the sick,
"It is not by our own power that we treat you, but by the power of Christ,
the true God. Believe in Him and be healed." Since they accepted no
payment for their treatment of the infirm, the holy brothers were called
"unmercenary physicians."
Their life of active service and their
great spiritual influence on the people around them led many into
the Church, attracting the attention of the Roman authorities.
Soldiers were sent after the brothers. Hearing about this, local
Christians convinced Sts Cosmas and Damian to hide for a while until
they could help them escape. Unable to find the brothers, the soldiers
arrested instead other Christians of the area where the saints lived.
Sts Cosmas and Damian then came out of hiding and surrendered to the
soldiers, asking them to release those who had been arrested because
of them.
At Rome, the saints were imprisoned
and put on trial. Before the Roman emperor and the judge they
openly professed their faith in Christ God, Who had come into the
world to save mankind and redeem the world from sin, and they resolutely
refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. They said, "We have done
evil to no one, we are not involved with the magic or sorcery of which
you accuse us. We treat the infirm by the power of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and we take no payment for rendering aid to the sick, because
our Lord commanded His disciples, "Freely have you received, freely give"
(Mt. 10: 8).
The emperor, however, continued with his
demands. Through the prayer of the holy brothers, imbued with the
power of grace, God suddenly struck Carinus blind, so that he too
might experience the almighty power of the Lord, Who does not forgive
blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:31). The people, beholding
the miracle, cried out, "Great is the Christian God! There is no other
God but Him!" Many of those who believed besought the holy brothers
to heal the emperor, and he himself implored the saints, promising to
convert to the true God, Christ the Savior, so the saints healed him. After
this, Sts Cosmas and Damian were honorably set free, and once again they
set about treating the sick.
What the hatred of the pagans and the ferocity
of the Roman authorities could not do, was accomplished by black
envy, one of the strongest passions of sinful human nature. An older
physician, an instructor, under whom the holy brothers had studied
the art of medicine, became envious of their fame. Driven to madness
by malice, and overcome by passionate envy, he summoned the two brothers,
formerly his most beloved students, proposing that they should all
go together in order to gather various medicinal herbs. Going far into
the mountains, he murdered them and threw their bodies into a river.
Thus these holy brothers, the Unmercenary
Physicians Cosmas and Damian, ended their earthly journey as martyrs.
Although they had devoted their lives to the Christian service of
their neighbors, and had escaped the Roman sword and prison, they were
treacherously murdered by their teacher. The Lord glorifies those
who are pleasing to God. Now, through the prayers of the holy martyrs
Cosmas and Damian, God grants healing to all who with faith have recourse
to their heavenly intercession.
The Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian
of Rome should not be confused with the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas
and Damian of Asia Minor (November 1), or the Unmercenary Saints
Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (October 17).
|
284 St. Crescentia storm destroyed temples; angel set martyrs free.
Martyrs St. Crescentia, Vitus
and Modestus were Christians who gave their live for the Faith
in the Roman province of Lucania, in southern Italy. Crescentia was
Vitus' attendant. They were racked on the iron horse until their
limbs were dislocated. At this
juncture, a great storm arose destroyed many temples, killed
a multitude of pagans. An angel now descended from heaven, set the martyrs
free, and led them back to Lucania, where they peacefully expired,
worn out by their sufferings.
|
286 St. Sebastian an officer
in the imperial bodyguard and had secretly done many acts of love
and charity for his brethren in the Faith.
Roman martyr; little more than
the fact of his martyrdom can be proved about St. Sebastian. In
the "Depositio martyrum" of the chronologer of 354 it is mentioned
that Sebastian was buried on the Via Appia. St. Ambrose ("In Psalmum
cxviii"; "Sermo", XX, no. sliv in PL, XV, 1497) states that Sebastian
came from Milan and even in the time of St. Ambrose was venerated
there. The Acts, probably written at the beginning of the fifth century
and formerly ascribed erroneously to Ambrose, relate that he was an
officer in the imperial bodyguard and had secretly done many acts of
love and charity for his brethren in the Faith. When he was finally
discovered to be a Christian, in 286, he was handed over to the Mauretanian
archers, who pierced him with arrows; he was healed, however, by the
widowed St. Irene. He was finally killed by the blows of a club. These
stories are unhistorical and not worthy of belief. The earliest mosaic
picture of St. Sebastian, which probably belongs to the year 682, shows
a grown, bearded man in court dress but contains no trace of an arrow.
It was the art of the Renaissance that first portrayed him as a youth
pierced by arrows. In 367 a basilica which was one of the seven chief
churches of Rome was built over his grave. The present church was completed
in 1611 by Scipio Cardinal Borghese. His relics in part were taken in
the year 826 to St. Medard at Soissons. Sebastian is considered a protector
against the plague. Celebrated answers to prayer for his protection against
the plague are related of Rome in 680, Milan in 1575, and Lisbon in 1599.
His feast day is 20 January.
Fabian_Sebastian.jpg
286 St. Sebastian
an officer in the imperial bodyguard and had secretly done many acts of
love and charity for his brethren in the Faith.
Item
Romæ, ad Catacúmbas, sancti Sebastiáni Mártyris,
qui, Diocletiáno Imperatóre, cum habéret
principátum primæ cohórtis, jussus est, sub
título christianitátis, ligári in médio
campo, et sagittári a milítibus, atque ad últimum
fústibus cædi, donec defíceret.
Also at Rome, in the catacombs, the martyr St. Sebastian.
He was commander of the first cohort under Emperor Diocletian, and
for professing Christianity he was bound to a tree in the centre of
a vast field, shot with arrows by the soldiers, and beaten with clubs
until he expired.
Born in Narbonne, Gaul (France); died in
Rome, 288-300; feast day in the East is December 18.
No matter what our occupation in life,
God can use us for His purpose if we will simply pray for the eyes
to see the opportunities before us. Sebastian, a Roman soldier,
had such a faith. He had joined the army in 283 in order to help his
fellow Christians by rescuing them from persecution and/or giving them
comfort. He entered the lists against the powers of evil, knowing that
not all the battles are visible to human eyes.
Those who faltered, like Marcus and Marcellian,
he encouraged; those pagans who had fiercely objected to the death
of relatives and children, like their mother Zoë (a deaf mute
whom he cured with the Sign of the Cross on her lips) and her husband
Nicostratus (who was in charge of prisoners and cured of gout by Sebastian),
he converted; for those who were martyred, he helped to make arrangements
for burial and veneration of their bodies.
So successful was he as a soldier that
he gained favor with the emperor Diocletian, who made him captain of the Praetorian Guard.
He retained that position under Emperor Maximian when Diocletian
left him in charge at Rome. Thus by his high rank and office he
helped to relieve many who were imprisoned for Christ, though by
so doing he placed himself in great peril.
Among the thrilling incidents
of early Christian history is that of his bold deliverance of two
brothers who had been condemned. He went openly to the house of he
magistrate, where they were detained along with 16 heathen prisoners,
and before them all spoke of the love of Christ to such effect that
those who heard him, including the magistrate and the jailer, were
converted. In the place where he spoke the only window was a hole in the
roof, and as he stood directly under it the light shone down upon his
rich tribune's armor, leaving the rest of the room in darkness. Who could
be sure that among so many there might not be one there who would betray
him?
Afterwards, Claudius, the jailer,
came with anxiety to the magistrate and reported: "The prefect
is much disturbed at my having allowed the prisoners to be in your
house; and therefore he requires you to appear before him and explain
the reason." Upon this, the magistrate went at once to the prefect
and so impressed him with his account of what had happened, that he,
too, was baptized, and after him 68 others, as a direct result of Sebastian's
intervention.
One version of the legend says that Tiburtius,
the son of the prefect of Rome, and Chromatius, the prefect himself
were converted because Sebastian cured him, too, of the painful
gout with which he was afflicted. Thereafter, the prefect set many
godly prisoners free, freed his slaves, and resigned as prefect. He retired
to his estate in Campania, and took many of Sebastian's converts with
him to this place of relative safety.
Such activities could not long remain secret.
Soon many of Sebastian's converts were tortured and killed. First
Nicostratus's wife Zoë was discovered to be a Christian. Hung
by her heels over a fire, she died of smoke inhalation. Nicostratus and
the converted prefect were captured, tortured, and killed.
Finally, Sebastian was denounced to the
emperor, who reproached him with ingratitude and accused him of
conspiracy. Sebastian protested in vain that though he was a Christian
he had never neglected his military duties. "I pray daily," he said,
"for thy safety and the prosperity of the State." But Diocletian, who
had returned, refused to listen, and ordered him to be shot to death with
arrows.
By a strange providence, however, although
his body was riddled with arrows and the archers thought he was
dead, he recovered in the field where they had left him and was rescued
by a friend, the widow of Saint Castulus named Saint Irene, who took
him to her apartment near by in the imperial palace--and nursed him to
recovery. The widow Irene then urged him to escape, but, casting aside
discretion, he placed himself deliberately in the path of the emperor
and called boldly for the relief of the Christians, who, he declared,
were among the most loyal of his subjects.
The emperor, thinking he was
dead, was startled as if he had seen a ghost. "You will have no
peace," cried Sebastian, "until you cease from shedding innocent
blood." The emperor angrily sentenced him to be cudgelled to death
and his body to be thrown into the sewer, from which it was afterwards
removed by a Christian woman called Lucina, who buried it in her own
garden along the Appian Way.
In 367, Pope Saint Damasus built
a basilica of San Sebastiano over his tomb, which was one of the
seven stationary churches of Rome. Sebastian's cultus dates
from the 4th century; his name is found in the Depositio Martyrum,
dated 354. That Sebastian was a martyr buried in a cemetery on the Appian
Way is fact; all else is pious fiction dating no earlier than the 5th
century. Some wrongly attribute these acta to Saint Ambrose.
Several writers testify that the relics
of Saint Sebastian were given to Hilduin, abbot of Saint-Denys,
by Pope Eugenius II and deposited in Saint Medard's at
Soissons on December 9, 826, together with some of the relics of Saint
Gregory the Great. These shrines were plundered by the Hugenots in 1564,
and the sacred bones thrown into a ditch in which there was water. They
were later found and re-enshrined in 1578, though the bones were then
intermixed. Sebastian's head was given to Saint Willibrord by
Pope Sergius and is now kept at Echternach, Luxembourg. Other
portions of his relics are widely dispersed.
It should be noted that Saint Ambrose
says that Sebastian was born in Milan, Italy, where he was venerated
as early as the 4th century (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Butler,
Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, Husenbeth, White).
Arrows, representing pestilence as well
as the instrument of his martyrdom, are Saint Sebastian's emblem
in art (Tabor). Generally he is portrayed as a young, nude man tied
to a tree and shot through by bowmen. At times he may be shown (1)
nude, pierced by or holding arrows; (2) richly dressed with bow and
arrows; (3) as a young warrior with an arrow; (4) with sword and arrow;
or (5) as the arrows are being removed by Saint Irene in the
habit of a Benedictine nun. He should not be confused with the king Saint
Edmund of England, who is always bearded and crowned (Roeder). There
is a notable image of him in the Uffizi Gallery of Florence painted
by Sodoma (Tabor).
The earliest representations of Sebastian,
as in mosaics in Ravenna and at the church of Saint Peter in Chains
in Rome (late 7th century) or in the frescoes of Saint Saba's church
(Rome; early 8th century), depict him as an elderly, bearded man
holding a crown. Some later images also show Sebastian in this manner.
The more popular image as a young man appeared in the late Middle Ages
(Farmer).
St. Sebastian (257?-288?)
Nothing is historically certain
about St. Sebastian except that he was a Roman martyr, was venerated
in Milan even in the time of St. Ambrose and was buried on the Appian
Way, probably near the present Basilica of St. Sebastian. Devotion
to him spread rapidly, and he is mentioned in several martyrologies
as early as a.d. 350.
The legend of St. Sebastian is important
in art, and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that
a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only
there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally
he was found out, hauled before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to
Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with
arrows, and he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those
who came to bury him. He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took
up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor,
denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of
death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs.
Comment: The fact that
many of the early saints made such a tremendous impression on the
Church—awakening widespread devotion and great praise from the
greatest writers of the Church—is proof of the heroism of their lives.
As has been said, legends may not be literally true. Yet they may
express the very substance of the faith and courage evident in the
lives of these heroes and heroines of Christ.
|
287 St. Asclas Martyr
miracle concerning Arrian governor of Egypt crossing Nile
who performed a miracle concerning Arrian, the governor
of Egypt. Asclas was brought before Arrian during the persecutions
instituted by Emperor Diocletian. Asclas was tortured for a time
by Governor Arrian, until Arrian started to cross the Nile but found
himself unable to do so. Asclas informed the governor that he would
never cross the Nile unless he acknowledged Christ in writing. Arrian
wrote this tribute and crossed the Nile. However, once safe, he commanded
that Asclas be tortured and thrown into the Nile. |
287 Saint Zoe Appearing
in a vision to St Sebastian she told him about her death received
gift of speech from St Sebastian mentioned in the account
of St Sebastian's martyrdom.
She was the wife of the jailer Nicostratus, and was unable to
speak for six years. She fell down at the feet of St Sebastian, by
her gestures imploring him to heal her. The saint made the Sign of
the Cross over the woman, and she immediately began to speak and to
glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. She said that she had seen an angel holding
an open book in which everything St Sebastian said was written. Then all
who saw the miracle also came to believe in Christ, the Savior of the
world.
Nicostratus, his
wife Zoe and brother Castorius, and Claudius, his son Symphorian and
brother Victorinus remained in Rome with St Sebastian, refusing to move
to a safer place. They gathered for
divine services at the court of the emperor together with a secret
Christian named Castulus, but soon
the time came for them to suffer for the Faith.
The pagans arrested
St Zoe first, while she was praying at the grave of the Apostle Peter.
At the trial she bravely confessed her faith in Christ. She died, hung
by her hair over the foul smoke from a great fire of dung. Her body then
was thrown into the River Tiber. Appearing in a vision to St Sebastian, she
told him about her death.
|
290 Epictetus priest
and Astion monastic martyrs; lived in Bithynia on the southwest
coast of the Black Sea God granted Epictetus gift of wonderworking,
he healed many people troubled by unclean spirits, or afflicted
with other maladies.
During the reign of the Roman
emperor Diocletian (284-305). From his youth, St Epictetus had
dedicated his life to God, and studied to acquire knowledge of the
Gospel. He entered a monastery, and later was found worthy to be ordained
to the holy priesthood. Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, the saint
converted many people to Christianity. God granted Epictetus the gift
of wonderworking, and he healed many people troubled by unclean spirits,
or afflicted with other maladies.
One day while out for a stroll, the illustrious
youth Astion met St Epictetus. During a long conversation St Epictetus
enlightened Astion, sowing the seed of God's Word in the young
man's soul. He spoke to him about the only true God, about the great
value of the immortal human soul, and about fleeting worldly pleasures.
Astion came to believe in
Christ and was baptized. Soon after this, he also became a monk.
Since Christians were being persecuted in Bithynia, he asked St
Epictetus if they might travel together to some distant land where
they could dedicate their lives completely to God. Boarding a ship,
Sts Epictetus and Astion journeyed to Scythia and settled among the
pagan Slavs near the Roman outpost of Halmyris in the province of Histria
south of the mouth of the Danube. The city was the site of a military
fort and a base for the Roman fleet which patrolled the Danube and
the Black Sea.
When they arrived at Halmyris
in 273, St Epictetus was forty-seven years old, and St Astion was
only eighteen. During the next seventeen years, the saints spent their
lives in prayer and fasting, and performed many miracles.
The God-pleasing lives of
the monks could not remain hidden from others for very long. People
afflicted by various illnesses or oppressed by evil spirits came
to the saints seeking relief. Even pagans asked the holy ascetics
for help, and after being healed of their afflictions, they embraced
Christianity.
St Epictetus once healed a
fifteen-year-old deaf and dumb boy by praying and breathing on him
three times. More than a thousand people became Christians after
witnessing this miracle. St Astion once cured a man whose legs and
toes were crushed when he fell from a building.
Latronianus, the military
commander of the district, arrived in Halmyris in 290 on an official
visit of inspection. The pagan priests wasted no time in complaining
to him about Sts Epictetus and Astion. They denounced the two men
from Bithynia, accusing them of converting people to Christianity through
sorcery, and persuading them not to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods.
The saints were arrested and interrogated
by Latronianus, who tried to find out their names and where they
were from. Their only reply was, "We are Christians." Latronianus had
them tortured in an effort to make them abandon their Christian beliefs.
After thirty days in prison without food
and water, the holy martyrs Epictetus and Astion were once again
brought before Latronianus. They remained steadfast and ready to
endure even more suffering for Christ. The commander declared that
Epictetus and Astion were traitors, and ordered them to be tortured
and beheaded.
Sts Epictetus and
Astion received the crown of martyrdom on July 8, 290. At first,
they were buried in an unknown spot. Later, their holy relics were
transferred into the basilica built in the fourth century by St
Constantine the Great (May 21) at Halmyris.
Archaeologists discovered the holy relics
of Sts Epictetus and Astion at Halmyris in 2001. The bones were
scattered about in two rooms of a burial crypt, indicating that the
tomb had been vandalized, perhaps in the sixth century. Scientific tests
on the bones revealed that one of the men was approximately sixty-four
years old, and the other about thirty-five. This is consistent with
the ages of the two saints as given in the written accounts of their
martyrdom. The bones also indicate that the two had been beheaded.
The holy relics of Sts Epictetus
and Astion were reburied in 2001 by Archbishop Theodosius of Tomis
(Romania).
|
290 The Holy Martyr
Boniface unharmed by boiling tin & tar relics glorified by
numerous miracles
was the slave of a rich young Roman woman
named Aglaida and he dwelt with her in an iniquitous cohabitation.
But they both felt the sting of conscience and they wanted somehow
to be cleansed of their sin. And the Lord granted them the possibility
to wash away their sin with their blood and to finish their life in repentance.
Aglaida learned that whoever keeps relics
of the holy martyrs in the home and venerates them receives great
help in gaining salvation. Under their influence, sin is diminished and
virtue prevails. She arranged for Boniface to go to the East, where
there was a fierce persecution against Christians, and she asked him to
bring back the relics of some martyr, who would become a guide and protector
for them.
As he was leaving, Boniface laughed and asked,
"My lady, if I do not find any relics, and if I myself suffer for
Christ, will you accept my body with reverence?" Aglaida scolded
him, saying that he was setting off on a sacred mission, but he was
not taking it seriously. Boniface pondered her words, and during the
whole journey he thought that he was unworthy of touching the bodies
of the martyrs.
Arriving at Tarsus in Cilicia, Boniface left
his companions at the inn and proceeded to the city square, where
they were torturing Christians. Struck by the beastly horrible torments,
and seeing the faces of the holy martyrs radiant with the grace of
the Lord, Boniface marveled at their courage. He embraced them and
kissed their feet, asking them to pray that he might be found worthy
to suffer with them.
The judge asked Boniface who he was. He replied,
"I am a Christian," and then refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
They stripped him and hung him upside down, beating him so hard that
the flesh fell from his body, exposing the bone. They stuck needles
under his nails, and finally they poured molten tin down his throat,
but by the power of the Lord he remained unharmed. The people who witnessed
this miracle shouted, "Great is the God of the Christians!" Then they
began to throw stones at the judge, and then they headed for the pagan
temple, in order to cast down the idols.
On the following morning, when things had
quieted down somewhat, the judge directed that the holy martyr be
thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar, but this also caused the sufferer
no harm. An angel come down from Heaven and bedewed him as he stepped
into the cauldron. The tar overflowed the cauldron, splattering and
burning the torturers themselves. St Boniface was then sentenced to
beheading by the sword. Blood and a milky fluid flowed from his wounds.
Beholding such a miracle, about 550 men believed in Christ.
St Boniface's companions, waiting
for two days at the inn for him in vain, began searching for him,
thinking that he had gotten drunk somewhere. At first their search
was without success, but finally they came across a man who had been
an eyewitness to the martyr's death. The man also led them to the
place where the decapitated body lay. St Boniface's companions tearfully
begged his forgiveness for their unseemly thoughts about him. After
they ransomed the martyr's remains, they brought them back to Rome.
On the eve of their arrival an angel appeared
to Aglaida in her sleep and told her to prepare herself to receive
her former slave, now the brother and fellow-servant of the angels.
Aglaida summoned the clergy, and she received the holy relics with great
reverence. Then she built a church on the site of his grave and dedicated
it to the holy martyr. There she enshrined his relics, glorified by numerous
miracles. After distributing all her wealth to the poor, she withdrew
to a monastery, where she spent fifteen years in repentance, then
fell asleep in the Lord. She was buried beside St Boniface. The sins
of the one were washed away by his blood, the other was purified by
her tears and asceticism. Both were found worthy to appear unsullied
before our Lord Jesus Christ, Who desires not the death of a sinner,
but that he should turn from his wickedness and live (Ezek. 33:11).We
pray to St Boniface for deliverance from drunkenness.
He lived in Rome during the reign of Diocletian.
He was slave to Aglais, the daughter of a Senator, and served as
steward of her household and her large fortune. He also lived in
fornication with her, and was addicted to drink. Despite these sins,
he was kind, hospitable to strangers, and generous toward the needy.
In time, Aglais became troubled in her conscience
over her way of life, and began to think of the account that she
would have to give to God for her sins. Some Christians told her of
the holy Martyrs and, moved by their accounts, she ordered Boniface
to travel to Tarsus and bring back relics of these holy ones. Boniface,
still deaf and blind to the things of God, said jokingly, "And will you
honor me as a Saint if I bring back my own body to you as a relic?"
Boniface traveled to Tarsus with a large
escort, well supplied with gold. He went straightaway to the Amphitheater,
where he beheld a number of Martyrs being subjected to awful torments
for the pleasure of the crowd, but bearing them all with patience
and serenity. At the sight, the dissolute steward was touched by grace
and felt his heart melt within him. He ran to the Martyrs, fell at
their feet and kissed their chains, and loudly declared that he too was
a disciple of Christ. So he too was put in chains, subjected to frightful
tortures, and finally beheaded, rejoicing and praising God.
Boniface's escort, mystified by his long
absence, made inquiries and were astonished to discover that their
godless and sinful companion had met a Martyr's death the day before.
They paid fifty pounds in gold for his body and brought it back to Rome,
thus fulfilling Boniface's own unwitting prophecy.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Aglais
and said, "Arise and go to meet him who was once your servant and
companion in sin, but has now become our brother. Receive him as
your master for, thanks to him, all your sins are to be forgiven." Rejoicing,
Aglais received her former lover's holy relics and built a church in
his honor, where many miracles were wrought. Aglais gave away her fortune,
devoted herself to ascesis and prayer, and was herself granted the grace
to work miracles. She reposed in peace thirteen years later, assured that
the sins of her past had been effaced through the intercessions of the
holy Boniface.
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290 St. Lucian Martyred missionary with companions,
Julian, /Maximian; relics were famous for miracles.
Bellóvaci, in Gálliis, sanctórum
Mártyrum Luciáni Presbyteri, Maximiáni et
Juliáni. Horum duo últimi a persecutóribus
gládio perémpti sunt; beátum autem Luciánus,
qui, una cum sancto Dionysio, in Gálliam vénerat,
et ipse, post nímiam cædem, cum Christi nomen viva
voce confitéri non timuísset, priórum senténtiam
excépit.
At Beauvais in France,
the holy martyrs Lucian, priest, Maximian and Julian. The last
two were killed with the sword by the persecutors; but blessed Lucian,
who had come to France with St. Denis, after the slaughter of his companions,
not fearing to confess the Name of Christ openly, received the same
sentence of death.
They were martyred at Beauvais, France.
290 ST LUCIAN OF BEAUVAIS,
MARTYR
IT is said that
this Lucian preached the gospel in Gaul in the third century and
came from Rome; he was possibly one of the companions of St Dionysius
of Paris, or at least of St Quentin. He sealed his mission with his
blood at Beauvais, under Julian, vicar or successor to the persecutor Rictiovarus
in the government of Gaul, about the year 290. Maximian, called by the common people Messien,
and Julian, the companions of his labours, were crowned with martyrdom
at the same place a little before him. His relics, with those of his
two colleagues, were discovered in the seventh century, as St Ouen
informs us in his life of St Eligius. They were shown in three gilt
shrines in an abbey, which bore his name, founded in the eighth century.
Rabanus Maurus says that these relics were famous for miracles when he
wrote, a hundred years later.
St Lucian is styled only martyr
in most calendars down to the sixteenth century, and in the Roman
Martyrology; but a calendar compiled in the reign of Louis the
Pious calls him bishop, and he is honoured in that quality at Beauvais.
See the Acta Sanctorum for January 8, p. 640, though the two lives
of this saint there printed are of little or no authority. Duchesne in his
Faster Épiscopaux, vol. iii, pp. 119 and 141—152,
discusses the case of St Lucian at some length, and shows good reason for believing that the whole story
is mythical. He strongly inclines to the belief that Rictiovarus
never existed. See H. Moretus, Les Passions de S. Lucien
et leurs dérivés céphalophoriques (1953).
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293 St. Aquilina at
the age of seven, living as a true Christian, and by the age of
ten was so filled with divine understanding and the grace of the
Holy Spirit that she used to preach Christ with great power and zeal
to her girl friends Killed but an angel of God appeared to her and
said: 'Arise and be healed!' Asked to be martyred again, then her relics
gave healing to many of the sick
Born in the Palestinian town of Biblos of Christian
parents, little Aquilina was already. When Diocletian's persecution
began, Aquilina was handed over to the imperial governor, Volusianus,
who was more like a beast than a man. He ordered that she first be
flogged and then that a heated rod be passed through her ears and brain.
Until the last moment, the virgin Aquilina freely and clearly confessed
Christ the Lord; but when her brains started flowing with her blood
from her head, she fell as if dead. Believing her to be indeed dead,
the governor ordered that her body be taken outside the city and thrown
onto a dungheap for the dogs to eat.
During the night, an angel of God appeared to her
and said: 'Arise and be healed!', and the maiden arose and was
restored to health, and stood a long time expressing her gratitude
and praise to God and begging Him not to deny her a martyr's death.
A voice was heard from heaven: 'Go; and it shall be to thee as thou
desirest', and Aquilina went into the city. The city gates opened of
their own accord for her, and she passed through them and went to the
governor's palace like a ghost, standing before his bed and showing
herself to him. The governor was seized with unspeakable terror when
he saw the maiden whom he had thought dead. On the following day, he ordered
the executioner to take Aquilina out and behead her with the sword.
Before her execution, she knelt in prayer and surrendered
her spirit into God's hands, leaving her dead body to be beheaded
by the executioner. Her relics gave healing to many of the sick.
St Aquilina was twelve years old when she suffered for the Lord;
she endured her Passion and was crowned with a wreath of martyrdom
in the year 293.St Triphyllius, Bishop of Levcosia; St Anna and her
son John . |
295
Saint Mocius a presbyter in Macedonia in the city of Amphipolis
miracles from God created Christians from pagans seeing them
During a persecution against Christians under the
emperor Diocletian (284-305), St Mocius exhorted pagans assembled
for the pagan festival of Dionysus (Bacchus), to abandon iniquity
and the vile customs, which accompanied this celebration. He urged
them to repent and be converted to the Lord Jesus Christ, and be cleansed
through holy Baptism.
The saint was brought to trial before the
governor of Laodicea.
When threatened with torture, he replied,
"My death for Christ is a great accomplishment for me." St Mocius
was subjected to torture, which he bore with marvelous endurance,
and did not cease to denounce the idol-worshippers.
Taken to the pagan temple of Dionysus,
the saint shattered the idols when he called upon Jesus Christ.
After this he was put into a red-hot oven,
where he remained unharmed, but the flames coming out of the oven
scorched the governor.
Again the commander subjected St Mocius to fierce
torture, which he endured with the help of God. He was given to
wild beasts to be eaten, but they did not touch him. The lions lay
down at his feet. The people, seeing such miracles, urged that the
saint be set free. The governor ordered the saint to be sent to the
city of Perinth, and from there to Byzantium, where St Mocius was executed.
Before his death he gave thanks to the Lord for giving
him the strength to persevere to the very end. His last words were,
"Lord, receive my spirit in peace." Then he was beheaded. St Mocius
died about the year 295. Emperor Constantine built a church in honor
of the hieromartyr Mocius and tr a |
3rd V St. Beatus of Vendôme, missionary through regions of France
In castro
Vindecíno, in Gállia,
deposítio sancti Beáti Confessóris.
In the town of Windisch in France, the
death of St. Beatus, confessor.
A missionary who traveled through regions of France. Beatus preached in Garrone, Vend
me, Laon, and Nantes, evangelizing those regions successfully.
He died in Chevresson, near Laon. He lived and died on Mount Beatenburg
above Lake Thun. The cave became a popular pilgrim's destination, the famed
site of Beatus' fight with a dragon.
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3rd v. Orestes the Physician
of Cappadocia Martyr; miracle
of the pagan temple colapse; illustrious; capable soldier from childhood;
St Orestes truly a good Christian lived at the
end of the third century in the city of Tyana in Cappadocia in the time
of the emperor Diocletian (284-311). He was an illustrious and capable
soldier, and from childhood St Orestes was truly a good Christian.
By order of the emperor, the military officer Maximinus
was sent to Tyana to deal with Christianity, which then had spread widely
throughout Cappadocia. Orestes was among the first brought to trial
to Maximinus. He bravely and openly confessed his faith in the Crucified
and Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. The prosecutor offered the saint riches, honors
and renown to renounce God, but St Orestes was unyielding.
At the order of Maximinus, they took Orestes to a resplendant
pagan temple and again demanded that he worship idols. When he refused,
forty soldiers, took turns one after the other, beating the holy martyr
with lashes, with rods, with rawhide, and then they tormented him with
fire. St Orestes cried out to the Lord, "Establish with me a sign for good,
let those who hate me see it and be put to shame (Ps. 85/86:17). "And the
Lord heard His true servant. The earth began to tremble, and the idols fell
down and were smashed. Everyone rushed out of the temple, and when St Orestes
came out, the very temple tumbled down.
Infuriated, Maximinus ordered the holy martyr to be locked
up in prison for seven days giving him neither food nor drink, and on
the eighth day to continue with the torture. They hammered twenty nails
into the martyr's legs, and then tied him to a wild horse. Dragged over
the stones, the holy martyr departed to the Lord in the year 304. His relics
were thrown into the sea.
In 1685, when St Demetrius, later the Bishop of Rostov,
(October 28) was preparing the Life of St Orestes to be printed by the
Kiev Caves Lavra, he became tired and fell asleep. The holy martyr Orestes
appeared to him in a dream. He showed him the deep wound in his left side,
his wounded and severed arms, and his legs which had been cut off. The holy
martyr looked at St Demetrius and said, "You see, I suffered more torments
for Christ than you have described." The humble monk wondered whether this
was St Orestes, one of the Five Martyrs of Sebaste (December 13). The martyr
said, "I am not that Orestes, but he whose Life you have just finished writing."
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3rd v. Drizíparæ, in Pannónia,
sancti Alexándri mílitis, qui, sub Maximiáno Imperatóre,
post multos pro Christo agónes superátos múltaque
mirácula édita, cápitis abscissióne martyrium
complévit.
At Drizipara in Hungary, St. Alexander,
soldier, in the time of Emperor Maximian. Having overcome many
torments for the sake of Christ, and performing many miracles, his martyrdom
was completed by beheading.
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3rd v. The
Holy Martyr Sebastian miracle worker steadfast faith given to wavering
Christians
born in the city of Narbonum in Gaul (modern
France), and he received his education at Mediolanum (now Milan).
Under the co-reigning emperors Diocletian
and Maximian (284-305) he occupied the position of head of the imperial
guards. St Sebastian was respected for his authority, and was loved
by the soldiers and those at court. He was a brave man filled with
wisdom, his word was honest, his judgment just, insightful in advice,
faithful in his service and in everything entrusted to him. He was
a secret Christian, not out of fear, but so that he could provide help
to the brethren in a time of persecution.
The noble Christian brothers Marcellinus
and Mark had been locked up in prison, and at first they firmly
confessed the true Faith. But under the influence of the tearful entreaties
of their pagan parents (Tranquillinus and Marcia), and also their
own wives and children, they began to waver in their intent to suffer
for Christ. St Sebastian went to the imperial treasurer, at whose house
Marcellinus and Mark were held in confinement, and addressed the brothers
who were on the verge of yielding to the entreaties of their family.
"O valiant warriors of Christ!
Do not cast away your everlasting crowns of victory because of
the tears of your relatives. Do not remove your feet from the necks
of your enemies who lie prostrate before you, lest they regain their
strength and attack you more fiercely than before. Raise your banner
high over every earthly attachment. If those whom you see weeping knew
that there is another life where there is neither sickness nor death,
where there is unceasing gladness and everything is beautiful, then
assuredly they would wish to enter it with you. Anyone who fears to
exchange this brief earthly life for the unending joys of the heavenly
Kingdom is foolish indeed. For he who rejects eternity wastes the brief
time of his existence, and will be delivered to everlasting torment
in Hades."
Then St Sebastian said that if necessary,
he would be willing to endure torment and death in order to show
them how to give their lives for Christ.
So St Sebastian persuaded the brothers
to go through with their act of martyrdom, and his speech stirred
everyone present. They saw how his face shone like that of an angel,
and they saw how seven angels clothed him in a radiant garment, and
heard a fair Youth say, "You shall be with Me always."
Zoe, the wife of the jailer Nicostratus,
had lost her ability to speak six years previously, and she fell
down at the feet of St Sebastian, by her gestures imploring him to
heal her. The saint made the Sign of the Cross over the woman, and
she immediately began to speak and she glorified the Lord Jesus Christ.
She said that she had seen an angel holding an open book in which everything
St Sebastian said was written. Then all who saw the miracle also came
to believe in the Savior of the world. Nicostratus removed the chains
from Marcellinus and Mark and offered to hide them, but the brothers refused.
Mark said, "Let them tear the flesh from
our bodies with cruel torments. They can kill the body, but they
cannot conquer the soul which contends for the Faith." Nicostratus
and his wife asked for Baptism, and St Sebastian advised Nicostratus
to serve Christ rather than the Eparch. He also told him to assemble
the prisoners so that those who believed in Christ could be baptized.
Nicostratus then requested his clerk Claudius to send all the prisoners
to his house. Sebastian spoke to them of Christ, and became convinced
that they were all inclined to be baptized. He summoned the priest Polycarp,
who prepared them for the Mystery, instructing them to fast in preparation
for Baptism that evening.
Then Claudius informed Nicostratus
that the Roman eparch Arestius Chromatus wanted to know why the
prisoners were gathered at his house. Nicostratus told Claudius
about the healing of his wife, and Claudius brought his own sick
sons, Symphorian and Felix to St Sebastian. In the evening the priest
Polycarp baptized Tranquillinus with his relatives and friends, and
Nicostratus and all his family, Claudius and his sons, and also sixteen
condemned prisoners. The newly-baptized numbered 64 in all.
Appearing before the eparch
Chromatus, Nicostratus told him how St Sebastian had converted them to Christianity
and healed many from sickness. The words of Nicostratus persuaded the eparch.
He summoned St Sebastian and the presbyter Polycarp, and was enlightened
by them, and became a believer in Christ. Nicostratus and Chromatus,
his son Tiburtius and all his household accepted holy Baptism. The
number of the newly-enlightened increased to 1400. Upon becoming a
Christian, Chromatus resigned his office of eparch.
During this time the Bishop of Rome was
St Gaius (August 11). He blessed Chromatus to go to his estates
in southern Italy with the priest Polycarp. Christians unable to endure
martyrdom also went with them. Father Polycarp went to strengthen
the newly-converted in the Faith.
Tiburtius, the son of Chromatus, desired
to accept martyrdom and he remained in Rome with St Sebastian. Of
those remaining, St Gaius ordained Tranquillinus as a presbyter,
and his sons Marcellinus and Mark were ordained deacons. Nicostratus,
his wife Zoe and brother Castorius, and Claudius, his son Symphorian
and brother Victorinus also remained in Rome. They gathered for divine
services at the court of the emperor together with a secret Christian
named Castulus, but soon the time came for them to suffer for the Faith.
The pagans arrested St Zoe first, praying
at the grave of the Apostle Peter. At the trial she bravely confessed
her faith in Christ. She died, hung by her hair over the foul smoke
from a great fire of dung. Her body then was thrown into the River
Tiber. Appearing in a vision to St Sebastian, she told him about her
death.
The priest Tranquillinus was the next to
suffer: pagans pelted him with stones at the grave of the holy
Apostle Peter, and his body was also thrown into the Tiber.
Sts Nicostratus, Castorius,
Claudius, Victorinus ,and Symphorian were seized at the riverbank, when they
were searching for the bodies of the martyrs. They were led to the eparch,
and the saints refused his command to offer sacrifice to idols. They tied
stones to the necks of the martyrs and then drowned them in the sea.
The false Christian Torquatus betrayed
St Tiburtius. When the saint refused to sacrifice to the idols,
the judge ordered Tiburtius to walk barefoot on red-hot coals, but
the Lord preserved him. Tiburtius walked through the burning coals
without feeling the heat. The torturers then beheaded St Tiburtius,
and his body was buried by unknown Christians.
Torquatus also betrayed the holy Deacons
Marcellinus and Mark, and St Castulus (March 26). After torture,
they threw Castulus into a pit and buried him alive, but Marcellinus
and Mark had their feet nailed to the same tree stump. They stood
all night in prayer, and in the morning they were stabbed with spears.
St Sebastian was the last one to be tortured.
The emperor Diocletian personally interrogated him, and seeing
the determination of the holy martyr, he ordered him taken out of
the city, tied to a tree and shot with arrows. Irene, the wife of St
Castulus, went at night in order to bury St Sebastian, but found him
alive and took him to her home.
St Sebastian soon recovered from his wounds.
Christians urged him to leave Rome, but he refused. Coming near
a pagan temple, the saint saw the emperors approaching and he publicly
denounced them for their impiety. Diocletian ordered the holy martyr
to be taken to the Circus Maximus to be executed. They clubbed St Sebastian
to death, and cast his body into the sewer. The holy martyr appeared to
a pious woman named Lucina in a vision, and told her to take his body
and bury it in the catacombs. This she did with the help of her slaves.
Today his basilica stands on the site of his tomb.
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3rd v. Therapon, Bishop
of Sardis Hieromartyr suffered for Christ Sardis was in Lydia,
Asia Minor miraclulous curative powers from his blood
In fulfilling his priestly service, St
Therapon enlightened many of the pagan Greeks with the light of
the Christian Faith and baptized them. For this, he was brought
to trial before the governor Julian and fearlessly declared himself
a Christian bishop. They threw him into prison, where he languished
with hunger and thirst, and then they gave him over to cruel tortures.
These torments did not break the saint's valiant confession of faith.
They led the saint off in chains to the city of Sinaion in Phrygia,
and then to Ancyra.
In these cities they tortured him again.
They took him to the River Astala, where they stretched him naked
upon the ground, fastened to four stakes, and fiercely beat him.
After this torture, they took the passion-bearer to the outskirts of
the Satalia diocese, part of the Sardis metropolitanate, and here after
long beatings St Therapon ended his martyric contest.
The stakes to which the saint had been
tied, and which were soaked with his blood, put forth green shoots
and grew into large trees, whose leaves were found to have curative
powers. Many people received healing through them.
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