(A.D. 304.)
[Roman Martyrology. Authorities:--Authentic Acts by Gregory, a
contemporary. Mention by S. Jerome in his Treatise on Ecclesiastical
Writers, c. 78; Ruffinus Hist. Eccl. lib. viii. c. 9; Eusebius, lib.
viii. c. 9, 10.]
Phileas was a wealthy nobleman of Thmuis, in Egypt, who was elected
bishop of that city, but in the persecution of Dioclesian was carried
to Alexandria, before the governor Culcian. In his dungeon he wrote a
letter to his flock to encourage them, narrating the sufferings
endured by the martyrs for the true faith. This letter has been
preserved by Gregory, and in part, by Eusebius. Culcian, who had been
prefect of Thebais, was then governor of all Egypt, under the tyrant
Maximius, but he afterwards lost his head, in 313, by order of
Licinius. The Acts of S. Phileas are scrupulously particular in
detailing every question and answer in the examination of the saint.
They are too long to be given in their entirety, but extracts from
them deserve insertion.
Culcian, the governor, said to him, "Now, then, art thou sober?"
Phileas answered, "I am always sober." Culcian said, "Sacrifice to the
gods." Phileas answered, "I will not." "Why not?" enquired Culcian.
"Because it is forbidden by Scripture to offer sacrifice, save to one
God." "Then offer a sacrifice to Him." "God loveth not such sacrifices
as you make," answered Phileas. "What sort of sacrifices then does thy
God approve of?" asked the judge. Phileas replied, "I offer him a pure
heart and clean senses, and true words." Culcian said, "But Paul
sacrificed." "No, he did not," answered Phileas. "Well, then Moses
did." "Yes," said Phileas, "the command was to the Jews only to
sacrifice to God in Jerusalem; now the Jews sin in celebrating their
solemn rites elsewhere." "Enough of these empty words; sacrifice,"
said the magistrate. "I will not do so, and stain my soul." "Why,"
said the governor, "Paul denied God." "He did not," answered Phileas.
"Wilt thou swear that he did not?" asked Culcian. "I will not swear,"
answered the bishop, "for oaths are forbidden us. It is a matter of
conscience." Culcian said, "Is it not a matter of conscience for thee
to take care of thy wife and sons?" Phileas said, "Yes, but I have a
higher duty to God." Culcian exclaimed, "Hold thy tongue, and
sacrifice." "I will not sacrifice," said the bishop. Culcian asked,
"Is Christ God?" And Phileas replied, "He is." Culcian said, "How
could God be crucified?" "For our salvation," answered Phileas; "He
suffered for our sakes."
The governor said, "I might have tortured thee in the city, but I
spared thee, wishing to shew thee respect." "I thank thee," said the
bishop, "Go on with thy work." "Dost thou desire to die without
cause?" asked Culcian. "Not without cause; I wish to die for God and
the truth." The governor said, "If thou hadst been a poor man I should
soon have despatched thee, but seeing thou art rich enough to feed all
the province, I have shewn patience, and endeavoured to move thee by
persuasion."
Some lawyers standing by said, "Phileas sacrificed in the monastery,"
for they had heard something of the Eucharistic mystery, but
understood it not. Phileas said, "You are right, I did sacrifice, but
I did not immolate victims." Culcian said, "Thy poor wife is looking
at thee." Phileas replied, "Jesus Christ calls me to glory, and He can
also, if He pleases, call my wife."
The lawyers said to the judge, "Phileas asks delay." Culcian said, "I
will grant it willingly, that he may think over the consequences of
his persistency in this course." But Phileas cried out, "I have
thought well over this, and it is my unchangeable resolution to die
for Jesus Christ." Then the lawyers, the emperor's lieutenant, the
other officers of justice, and his relations fell at his feet,
embracing his knees, and conjuring him to have compassion on his
disconsolate family, and not to abandon his children in their tender
years. Philoromus, a Christian present, tribune of the soldiers, moved
with indignation, cried out, "Why strive ye to make this brave man
renounce his God, do ye not see that contemplating the glory of
Heaven, he makes no account of earthly things?" Then with a shout, all
cried that he must be condemned to die along with Phileas, and to this
Culcian assented.
As they were led to execution, the brother of Phileas, who was a
lawyer, exclaimed, "Phileas appeals." Culcian called Phileas back, and
asked if it were so. The bishop denied that he had so done. Then the
procession resumed its way to the place of execution. And when they
had reached the spot, Phileas extended his arms to the east, and
cried, "O my best beloved sons, whosoever worship God, watch over your
hearts, for your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour. We have not yet suffered, dearest
ones, but we are about to suffer. Now are we becoming disciples of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Attend to the precepts of Christ. We invoke the
immaculate, incomprehensible One, who sitteth above the Cherubim, the
maker of all things, who is the beginning and the ending, to whom be
glory through ages of ages. Amen." And when he had thus spoken, the
executioner struck off his head, and that of his companion, Philoromus.