(A.D. 285.)
[Roman Martyrology and that of Usuardus. Notker mentions Hilary alone.
Hilary and Tatian in that of Bede, and some copies of that of S.
Jerome. Authority:--the Acts which are genuine.]
Saint Hilary, bishop of Aquileja, in Northern Italy, had a deacon
named Tatian, whom he appointed to be his archdeacon. In the reign of
Numerian, during which they flourished, there was at Aquileja a heathen
priest, named Monofantus, who went before the governor Beronius, and
obtained from him authority to hale the bishop before his tribunal.
Then Monofantus went to the house of Hilary, and found him engaged in
reading, together with his deacon Tatian. He said, "The Governor wants
you." Hilary said, "What is that you say, friend?" "I have already said
once, the governor wants you." S. Hilary answered, "We will go in the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ." And when they had come to the place of
judgment, and the governor saw Hilary enter with a smiling countenance,
he asked, "What is thy name?" The bishop answered, "My name is Hilary,
and I am bishop of the Christians here." "Well," said the governor,
"the command has gone forth that all are to sacrifice to the immortal
gods. Therefore be speedy, obey, and go thy way." S. Hilary replied,
"From my childhood I have learnt to sacrifice to the living God, and
to worship Jesus Christ with pure heart; I cannot worship demons." The
governor said, "Christ, whom thou sayest that thou worshippest, was
crucified by the Jews." Hilary replied, "If thou knewest the virtue of
His cross, thou wouldest leave the error of idols, and adore Him who
would heal the wounds of thy soul." "Come," exclaimed the governor,
"do as I bid, or I will have thy tongue cut out." "Sir," answered the
bishop, "do so, instead of threatening me." Then Beronius had him
drawn into the temple of Hercules, and beaten with rods. And as Hilary
constantly refused to adore the idols, the governor ordered his back
to be burnt with red hot coals, then the raws to be rubbed with coarse
hair-cloth, and vinegar and salt to be poured into the wounds. After
which he was taken and cast into prison. Tatian, the deacon, was next
brought up to be tried, he was sentenced to be beaten, and thrown into
prison with his bishop. And during the night they prayed, and sang
praises to God, the Lord of heaven and earth; and as they prayed there
was an earthquake, and the temple of Hercules was shaken down.
Then, on the morrow, Hilary the bishop, and Tatian the deacon, and
Felix, Largus and Dionysius, three Christians then in the prison, were
slain by order of Beronius, some of them by having their heads smitten
off, and some by having swords thrust through their breasts.