(A.D. 251.)
[Roman Martyrology, the ancient one called S. Jerome's, those of
Bede, Ado, Usuardus, Notker, &c. By the Greeks on Feb. 28th.
Authority:--The ancient and genuine Acts.]
In the reign of Decius, Pollio was governor of Pamphylia. When
persecution broke out, Nestor, bishop of Magida, an obscure town in
that province, knowing that he was particularly feared by the pagans,
and that the first stroke was sure to fall upon him, ordered his flock
to disperse into places of safety, and then calmly awaited the
officers of justice. They found him in prayer, and led him forth with
his head covered with a hood (_mafortium_). And when he came into the
forum, he was honourably received, all the court rising and saluting
him. He said, "God pardon you, why have you done this?" They answered,
"Thy manner of life is deserving of respect." Then he was taken apart
from the public, and stools were placed for the magistrates and his
advocates, and a chair for the bishop, and he was requested to sit
down. He replied, "The honour of being summoned into your presence
suffices me." Then the Irenarch said, "Sir, dost thou know the order
of the emperor?" "I know the command of the Almighty, not that of the
emperor," was the reply of the Bishop. "O Nestor," said the
magistrate, "consent without difficulty, that we be not called to
judge thee." "I obey the commands of the heavenly King," answered
Nestor. "Thou art possessed," said the magistrate. "Nay," said the
bishop, "not I, but thou, for thy gods are devils." "I shall have to
send thee to the governor," said the Irenarch, "for they are true
gods. Beware of torture." Then Nestor signing the cross on his brow,
said, "Wherefore dost thou threaten me with torture? The only torments
I dread are those of my God. Be well assured, in torture, or out of
torture, Him shall I confess."
Then he was taken to Perga, where was the governor of the province,
which he reached on the fourth Sabbath (Saturday.) And when the
Irenach had presented him to Pollio the governor, Nestor was again
urged with kind and courteous words to renounce his religion; but he
as constantly refused. "Torment me as thou wilt," said he, "with
chains or wild beasts, or sword, as long as there is any breath in my
nostrils, I will confess the name of my Lord Jesus Christ." Then the
judge ordered him to be suspended on the little horse, and to be
cruelly tortured. The executioner laid his sides bare, tearing them
with iron hooks; but Nestor chanted, "I will alway give thanks unto
the Lord: his praise shall ever be in my mouth." (Ps. xxxiii.; (A. V.
34) 1.) The judge, astonished at his endurance, exclaimed, "Why,
wretched man! art thou not ashamed to put thy faith in a man, and he
short-lived?" "Let that be my confusion, and that also of all who call
on the name of the Lord Jesus," answered the martyr. And when the
crowd clamoured that he should be released from his sufferings, the
governor asked again, "What, then, is thy final choice, to be with us,
or with thy Christ?" Then the martyr exclaimed, "With my Christ have I
ever been, with Him am I now, and with Him shall I ever be." Seeing
his inflexibility, Pollio said scornfully, "Nestor, as thou hast
rejected the immortal gods to follow the crucified One, I will not be
so wanting in devotion to this God of thine, as to condemn thee to any
other death. Thou shalt be crucified on the wood."
Then a cross was made ready, and Nestor, the bishop, was nailed to it.
And as he hung, he exhorted the people, and at length he bid them
kneel and pray to God through Jesus Christ; and all knelt, and when he
had said the final Amen, he breathed forth his spirit.