(A.D. 251.)
[Roman, and almost all Martyrologies. The Acts of this martyr,
somewhat fragmentary, are extant.]
The following fragment is all that remains of the Acts of S.
Polychronius, slightly epitomized at the commencement:
"In those days the storm rose under Decius Cæsar, and many Christians
were slain in the city of Rome. Galba being regent in Rome, Decius
went against the Persians. Coming to the city Ponticum, he stayed
there, but he was warring. Then Decius went up into the Median
hill-country, and gained a victory, and took several cities of the
Persians, as Babylon, Bactria, Hyrcania, Cordula, where he found many
Christians, whom he slew with tortures. At that time he found in the
city of Babylon, a bishop named Polychronius, with the priests
Parmenias, Elymas, Chrysotelus, and the deacons Luke and Mucius; whom,
when he had taken, he ordered to be led forth and to sacrifice to
idols. Then Polychronius answered promptly, 'We offer ourselves to the
Lord Jesus Christ, and will not bow to devils, or idols made with
hands.' Then Decius ordered him and his clergy to prison. And he built
there a temple to Saturn, and made a gypsum image, and gilded
it....[48] And when it was ready, he ordered Polychronius, his
priests, and deacons, to be led before him, and he questioned them,
saying, 'Thou art the sacrilegious Polychronius, who will not keep the
commandments of the gods of the Emperor.' But Polychronius answered
not. Then Decius said to the clergy, 'Your chief is silent.' Parmenias
answered, 'Our chief will not defile his mouth; he keeps the command
of Our Lord, Cast not your pearls before swine. Dost thou deem it
seemly that what has once been purified should be defiled with dung?'
Decius said, 'Ha! we are dung, are we?' and he ordered their tongues
to be cut out. Now when they had cut out the tongue of Parmenias,[49]
Parmenias exclaimed, 'O blessed father Polychronius, pray for me, for
I see that the Holy Spirit rules thee, signs thy mouth, and distils
honey thereunto.' Decius said, 'Polychronius, sacrifice to the gods;'
but he answered not a word. Then Decius ordered his mouth to be beaten
in with stones; and he, as they beat him, raised his eyes to heaven,
and spread forth his hands, and so expired."