(2ND CENT.)
[Greek Menæa and Menologium, and modern Roman Martyrology. The
following account from the Greek Menology, it is almost needless to
say, is fabulous.]
Saint Philetus, a senator, his wife, Lydia, their sons, Macedo and
Theoprepius, also Amphilochius, a general, and Chronides, a registrar,
who suffered under Hadrian, are venerated by Greeks and Latins on this
day. According to the account in the Menology, Philetus, his wife and
sons, and Chronides, were handed over to Amphilochius, the general, to
be by him tortured. Amphilochius ordered them to be cast into a vessel
of boiling oil, but as the bubbling fluid suddenly became cold, when
the martyrs were about to be plunged into it, full of astonishment, he
exclaimed, "God of the Christians, help me!" Then there came a voice
from heaven, "Thy prayer is heard, come up hither." Now when this was
noised in the ears of the emperor, he came down, full of wrath, and
ordered a cauldron of oil to be boiled for seven days, and all to be
cast thereinto. But they were unhurt. Then the emperor left them, and
they, praying, and giving thanks to God, gave up the ghost.