(ABOUT 312.)
[Commemorated on this day by the Latins, on the 15th October by the
Greeks. This S. Lucian is not to be confused with S. Lucian of
Beauvais, commemorated on Jan. 8th. He is spoken of by S. Jerome
and Theodoret. S. Chrysostom has a homily on S. Lucian. Information
concerning him is also obtained from the Greek Menaea, and from the
Acts of his martyrdom in Metaphrastes.]
Saint Lucian was born at Samosata, in Syria; his parents were
Christians, and sought above all things to educate their son in the fear
of God. Both died and left him an orphan at the age of twelve, and the
boy, in his desolation, distributed his goods to the poor, and took
refuge with Macarius at Edessa, who taught out of Holy Scripture the
things concerning eternal life. Arrived at man's estate, he was ordained
priest, and opened a school at Antioch, and diligently laboured at
procuring a correct version of the Holy Scriptures, by comparing
together the different Hebrew copies. His version of the sacred writings
was used by S. Jerome, and proved of much assistance to him in his work
of writing the Vulgate.
When Maximian persecuted the Church, S. Lucian concealed himself, but
was betrayed by a Sabellian priest into the hands of the persecutors; he
was taken to Nicomedia, and brought before Maximian. On his way he was
the means of recovering forty Christian soldiers, who had lapsed. In
Nicomedia he was subjected to torture. His feet were placed in the
stocks, which were distended, so as to dislocate his legs. His hands
were fastened to a beam, which was above his head, and he was laid on
sharp potsherds, so that his back was lacerated and pierced. After this,
he was allowed to lie on his cell floor, unable to rise, on account of
his legs being out of joint, and was starved to death. He lingered
fourteen days. And when the feast of the Manifestation drew nigh, he
desired greatly to receive the Holy Eucharist. "When the fatal day had
arrived, which was looked forward to, some of the disciples desired to
receive from their master his last celebration of the divine mystery.
But it seemed doubtful how they might bring a table into the prison, and
how they might conceal it from the eyes of the impious. But when many of
the disciples were assembled, and others were arriving, he said: 'This
breast of mine shall be the table, and I reckon it will not be less
esteemed of God than one of inanimate material; and ye shall be a holy
temple, standing round about me.' And thus it was accomplished, for
because the saintly man was at the end of his life, the guards were
negligent, and so God, as I think, to honour his martyr, removed all
impediments to that being done which was proposed. For when all stood in
close ring round the martyr, so that one standing by the other shut him
completely from view, he ordered the symbols of the divine Sacrifice to
be placed on his breast. After that he raised his eyes to heaven, and
uttered the accustomed prayers. Then, when he had uttered many sacred
prayers, and had done all the requisite acts in the sacred rite, he and
the rest communicated, and he sent to those who were absent, as he
himself shows in his last Epistle to them. Next day some officers came
from the Emperor to see if he were still alive. And as he saw them
standing about him, he said thrice, 'I am a Christian,' and so saying,
he died."
The body was then thrown into the sea, to the great grief of his
disciples, who desired to bury it. But fifteen days after it was
recovered. A legend says that a dolphin brought it ashore; be that as it
may, it was found and was buried.
In art, S. Lucian is sometimes represented with a chalice and Host, in
allusion to his offering the holy Sacrifice in prison; sometimes with a
dolphin at his side.