(A.D. 303.)
[Roman Martyrology. By the Greeks on March 15th. Authority:--Eusebius
on the Martyrs of Palestine.]
Eusebius writes of the persecution under Dioclesian, at Cæsarea,--"Who
could fail to be struck with admiration at the sight or recital of the
things that then took place? For, as the heathen in every place were
on the point of celebrating their accustomed games and festivals, it
was much noised abroad that besides the other exhibitions, those who
had been condemned to wild beasts were to be made to fight. This report
having gained ground, there were six young men, who, first binding
their hands, hastened to Urbanus (the governor of the province), to
prove their readiness to endure martyrdom, as he was on his way to the
amphitheatre. Their names were Timolaus, a native of Pontus, Dionysius
of Tripolis in Phœnice, Romulus, a subdeacon of the church at
Diospolis Paesis, and Alexander, both Egyptians; and another Alexander
from Gaza. They were immediately committed to prison. Not many days
after, two others were added to the number, of whom one had already
witnessed a good confession several times, under various dreadful
tortures. His name was Agapius, but the other, who supplied them with
the necessaries of life, was named Dionysius. All these, being eight in
number, were beheaded in one day at Cæsarea, on the twenty-third day of
the month Dystrus, that is, the ninth of the Kalends of April."