(ABOUT 320.)
[Commemorated by the Roman Martyrology and the Greek Menaea on the
same day. The account of his passion is given by S. Basil the Great
in a panegyric at Caesarea, on the anniversary of his martyrdom,
which he says was then recent. This account, given on the scene of
his suffering, within the memory of man, so that some of those who
heard the discourse of S. Basil, had seen the conflict of the
martyr, is unquestionably trustworthy.]
Saint Gordius was a native of Caesarea, in Cappadocia, and was a
centurion in the army. When Galerius issued his edicts against the
Church in the East (303,) Gordius laid aside his office, and retired
into the desert, where he lived in fasting and prayer amongst the wild
beasts. In the desert he spent many years, but his zeal for Christ gave
him no rest. The churches in Caesarea had been destroyed, the clergy
scattered, and many Christians had conformed, rather than lose their
lives. It was a heathen city once more, and such salt as had remained
had lost its savour. The spirit of the Lord stirred in the soul of
Gordius, and urged him to return to his native city, and there play the
man for Christ, where so many had fallen away from the faith. "One day
that the amphitheatre was crowded to see horse and chariot races in
honour of Mars, the god of war, when the benches were thronged, and Jew
and Gentile, and many a Christian also," says S. Basil, "was present at
the spectacle, and all the slaves were free to see the sight, and the
boys had been given holiday from school for the same purpose, suddenly,
in the race-course, appeared a man in rags, with long beard and matted
locks; his face and arms burned with exposure to the sun, and shrivelled
with long fasting; and he cried aloud, "I am found of them who sought me
not, and to them who asked not after me, have I manifested myself
openly."
Every eye was directed upon this wild-looking man, and when it was
discovered who he was, there rose a shout from Gentile and Christian;
the latter cried because they rejoiced to see the faithful centurion in
the midst of them again; the former, because they hated the truth, and
were wrath at the disturbance of the sports.
"Then," continues S. Basil, "the clamour and tumult became more, and
filled the whole amphitheatre; horses, chariots, and drivers were
forgotten. In vain did the rush of wheels fill the air; none had eyes
for anything but Gordius; none had ears to hear anything but the words
of Gordius. The roar of the theatre, like a wind rushing through the
air, drowned the noise of the racing horses. When the crier had made
silence, and all the pipes and trumpets, and other musical instruments
were hushed, Gordius was led before the seat of the governor, who was
present, and was asked, blandly, who he was and whence he came. Then he
related, in order, what was his country, and family, and the rank he had
held, and why he had thrown up his office and fled away. 'I am
returned,' said he, 'to shew openly that I care naught for your edicts,
but that I place my hope and confidence in Jesus Christ alone.'" The
governor, being exceedingly exasperated at the interruption in the
sports, and the open defiance cast in his face by a deserter, before the
whole city, ordered him at once to be tortured. "Then," S. Basil
proceeds to relate in his graphic style, "the whole crowd poured from
the theatre towards the place of judgment, and all those who had
remained behind in the city ran to see the sight. The city was deserted.
Like a great river, the inhabitants rolled to the place of martyrdom;
mothers of families, noble and ignoble, pushed there; houses were left
unprotected, shops were deserted by the customers, and in the
market-place goods lay here and there neglected. Servants threw up
their occupations, and ran off to see the spectacle, and all the rabble
was there to see this man. Maidens forgot their bashfulness and shame of
appearing before men, and sick people and old men crawled without the
walls, that they, too, might share the sight." The relations of Gordius,
in vain, urged him to yield and apologise for his defiance of the state
religion; signing himself with the cross, he cheerfully underwent the
torments of leaded scourges, of the little horse, fire, and knife, and
was finally beheaded.