(A.D. 250.)
[Roman Martyrology; but some on Feb. 19th; by the Greeks on Oct.
30th. Authority:--The contemporary letters by Dionysius, B. of
Alexandria, to Germanus, quoted by Eusebius, Hist. Eccles. vi.,
c. 41.]
Saint Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, in a letter describing the
sufferings of his church during the persecutions of Decius, after
having lamented the apostacy of some, adds: "But others remained firm
and blessed pillars of the Lord, confirmed by the Lord himself, and
receiving of Him strength suited to their measure of faith, proved
admirable witnesses of His kingdom. The first of these was Julian, a
man afflicted with the gout, neither able to walk nor to stand, who,
with two others that carried him, was arraigned. Of these, the one
immediately denied his faith, but the other, named Chronion, surnamed
Eunus, and the aged Julian himself, having confessed the Lord, were
carried on camels through the whole city, a very large one, as you
know, and were scourged, and finally consumed in an immense fire, in
the midst of a crowd of spectators. But a soldier, named Besas,
standing near, having opposed the insolence of the multitude whilst
these martyrs were on the way to execution, was assailed by them with
loud shouts, and this brave soldier of God, after he had excelled in
the great conflict of piety, was beheaded."
Relics at Autun.