(A.D. 251.)
[Roman and many ancient Martyrologies on this day. The Greeks on
March 11th; the Martyrology attributed to S. Jerome, on March 12th.
Authorities:--The genuine Acts of these martyrs, and the brief
account in Eusebius, lib. iv. c. 15.]
In the persecution of Decius, S. Pionius, a priest of Smyrna, was
apprehended; together with Sabina, Macedonia, Asclepiades, and Linus a
priest, whilst they were celebrating the festival of S. Polycarp, on
February 23. Pionius having fasted on the vigil, was forewarned of his
coming passion in a vision. On the morning, which was the Sabbath, or
Saturday, they took holy bread (the Eulogies) and water, and were then
surprised and taken by Polemon, the chief priest of the idol temple in
Smyrna, and his satellites. Polemon in vain urged them to conform to
the imperial edicts, and sacrifice to the gods; but they set their
faces as flint against his solicitations, and were led into the forum,
where Pionius took the opportunity of haranguing the crowds who
hurried up to be present at their trial.
The Smyrnian Church was then suffering the shame of having seen its
bishop, Eudæmon, apostatize, and his example had been followed by many
timorous Christians.
The interrogatory was conducted by Polemon, and is dryly recorded by
the notary who wrote the acts:--The Idol priest said, "Pionius!
sacrifice." But he answered, "I am a Christian." "Whom," said Polemon,
"dost thou worship?" "The Almighty God," answered Pionius, "who made
heaven and earth, and all things in heaven and earth, and us men; who
giveth to all men liberally, as they need; whom we know through His
Word, Christ." Polemon said, "Sacrifice then, only to the Emperor."
Pionius said, "I cannot sacrifice to any man. I am a Christian."
Then--the notary writing all down--Polemon asked, "What is thy name?"
He answered, "Pionius." Polemon said, "Thou art a Christian?" He
answered, "Certainly I am." "To what Church dost thou belong?" asked
Polemon. "I belong to the Catholic Church," answered Pionius. "There
is none other with Christ."
Then he went to Sabina, and put to her the same questions, which she
answered almost in the same words. Next he turned to Asclepiades, and
asked, "What is thy name?" "Asclepiades." "Art thou a Christian?" "I
am." Then said Polemon, "Whom dost thou worship?" Asclepiades
answered, "I worship Jesus Christ." "What!" asked Polemon, "Is that
another God?" "No," answered Asclepiades, "He is the same God of whom
the others spake."
After this the martyrs were taken to prison, followed by a crowd
jeering and insulting them. On the morrow they were led forth again to
trial, and the idol priest endeavoured to force them to enter the
temple, and by violence to compel them to sacrifice. Pionius tore from
his head the sacrificial garlands that the priest had placed upon him.
Polemon, unable to bend the holy martyrs to submission, delivered them
over to Quintilian, the pro-consul, on his arrival at Smyrna, and he
sentenced Pionius to be hung on a rack, and his body to be torn with
hooks of iron, and afterwards to be nailed to a post, and burnt alive.
Metrodorus, a Marcionite priest, underwent the same punishment with
him.