Rio Sacco, in the uttermost or lowest part of Spain, under the Emperor
Maximian and the Proconsul Dacian, as may clearly be seen in ancient
writers, and also in the aforementioned authors.
EUCRATIS, A VIRTUOUS MAIDEN, DIED IN PRISON, AT CÆSAR AUGUSTA, AFTER
RECEIVING MANY STRIPES AND WOUNDS, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, HER
SAVIOR, A. D. 302.
After the death of Eulalia an account is given (from Prudentius) of
another Christian maiden, called Eucratis, who by her steadfastness in
suffering, and the violence with which she took the kingdom of heaven,
put to shame the spirit of this world, at Cæsar Augusta. The ancients
tell us in what manner this heroine of Jesus Christ was martyred,
namely, that she was not only tormented on her sides with rods and
other iron instruments, but that her breasts were cut off, so that
her liver could be seen; hence, having been put back into prison, she
very miserably died (yet with a glad hope), in consequence of the
putrefaction of the wounds, which she had received for the name of
Jesus Christ. See _Mell._ as cited above, from _Steph. Hym. 4. Flos.
Sanct. Hisp. Mart. Rom., 16 April_.
THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS PERSECUTION BEGAN A. D. 303.
The persecution did not yet cease, though it had already risen to a
very high degree. But it may have pleased God to bring his people
through much tribulation into his kingdom. Acts 14:22,23.
EUPLIUS, A PIOUS CHRISTIAN, BEHEADED IN THE CITY OF CATANA IN SICILY,
FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, A. D. 303.
On the 12th of August, A. D. 303, a certain pious Christian, called
Euplius, was surprised by the inquisitors of the Romans, in the city
of Catana in Sicily, as he was engaged in reading the Gospel, and
instructing other Christians. They apprehended him and brought him near
the tribunal, in which sat the clerk of the criminal court and the
Judge.
Meanwhile Euplius cried aloud: “I am a Christian, and wish to die for
the name of Christ.”
Calvisianus, the Proconsul, hearing this, said: “Bring him in here, who
cried thus.”
When Euplius had entered the tribunal, carrying with him the Gospel
books, one of the Proconsul’s friends said: “It is not right for him to
carry such papers with him contrary to the prohibition of the Emperors.”
The Proconsul asked Euplius, whence he had these writings? Whether he
brought them from his house?
Euplius answered: “I have no house. My Lord Jesus Christ knows that I
have no house.”
Then the Proconsul commanded him with a loud voice, to read something
out of the writings.
Euplius, having opened the book, read these words: “Blessed are they
which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.” Also: “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself,”
etc.
When he had read these and like passages, the Proconsul said: “What
does all this mean?”
Euplius replied: “This is the law of my Lord, of Jesus Christ, the Son
of the living God.”
The Proconsul, having heard this confession of Christ, said: “Let him
be delivered unto the executioners, put to the rack, and thus examined.”
He was then very grievously, yea, inhumanly tormented, and commanded to
deliver up the Scriptures he had with him, and to have them burned to
the dishonor of Jesus Christ. All of this he steadfastly refused to do;
moreover, he openly invoked the name of Jesus Christ, because he had
been found worthy to suffer for his name’s sake.
Thereupon he was again led to the rack and dreadfully tormented in the
same manner as before. But he suffered it patiently, and called upon
the Lord, saying: “I thank thee, O Christ! help me, O Christ! for thy
sake I suffer all this, O Christ!”
In short, the Proconsul, still more enraged by this, went into the
tribunal, and gave the sentence of death to the clerk of the criminal
court, that he might write it out against this good man. Then,
coming out again from the tribunal, and bringing with him the tablet
containing the death sentence, he read the latter aloud, as follows: “I
command that Euplius, the Christian, be slain with the sword, because
he despises the gods of the Emperors, blasphemes the other gods, and
does not repent.” He further said: “Lead him away.”
This sentence having been read, the Gospel book which he had with him
when he was apprehended, was forthwith suspended to his neck, and
the crier went before him, crying thus: “Euplius, the enemy of the
gods and the Emperors, is led to death.” Euplius went joyfully to the
place where he was to be put to death, continually thanking Christ for
his grace. Having arrived at the place of execution, he with great
reverence bowed his knees, and prayed to the Lord his God. As soon as
he had finished, he offered his neck to the sword, and poured out his
blood as a drink offering unto the Lord. His dead body was afterwards
removed by the Christians and buried. This happened at Catana, in
Sicily, A. D. 303, after the twelfth day of the month of August had
passed. _Acta M. S. Proconsular. Baron., edit. in Annal 1, 2, A. D.
303. Alia per Metaphrastem_, compared with _A. Mell., 1st book, fol.
117, col. 2–4_.
PANCRATIUS, A YOUTH OF FOURTEEN YEARS, BEHEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF
JESUS CHRIST, WITHOUT THE CITY OF ROME, A. D. 303.
There was at that time a Christian youth of fourteen years, called
Pancratius, who, when he was brought before the Emperor Diocletian
found such special favor in the eyes of the latter, that he promised to
adopt him as his son, if he would abandon Christ, and show honor to the
gods of the Romans. But this youth, who was old in the knowledge and
love of his Savior, showed such steadfastness in defending his faith
and despising the gods, that the Emperor, filled with rage, commanded
that he should be decapitated, on the Aurelian way, just out of the
city of Rome. Thus this youth loved the honor of his Savior more than
his own life, and hence he is justly reckoned among the number of the
pious martyrs. _Acta per Sicrium, bona fide edita, secundum Mellinum,
in Tract super, fol. 139, col. 4._
JUSTUS, A PIOUS AND GODFEARING YOUTH OF AUXERRE, IN BURGUNDY,
DECAPITATED FOR THE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, NEAR LUPERAM, A. D. 303.
When the soldiers of the Emperor Diocletian were engaged in
apprehending the Christians, a certain father, called Mattheus, and
his two sons, Justinian and Justus, were journeying toward Auxerre, in
Burgundy, their place of residence. But having been denounced, in the
meantime, by some evil informers, they were pursued by the aforesaid
soldiers and four horsemen sent by the Emperor’s Proconsul. The younger
son, Justus, perceiving this, communicated it to his father and his
brother, who hid themselves in a cave, but Justus kept watch without.
When he saw the horsemen, he went to meet them. Being asked by them,
who he was, and where his companions were, he replied: “I am called
Justus, and I freely confess that I am also a Christian; but since I
regard you as persecutors of the Christians, it is not lawful for me to
betray my companions.”
When they drew their swords, and threatened him with them, he answered:
“Truly, I shall consider myself happy, if I may be permitted to suffer
all manner of punishment, nay, death itself, for the name of Christ;
for I am ready to lose my soul in this world, that I may keep it unto
life eternal.”
Thereupon one of the soldiers drew his sword, and struck off his head.
His father and his brother buried his dead body at Luperam, which place
was near by. This occurred A. D. 303. _Abr. Mell., ex Acta per Surium
edita, ut apparet ex Bede Acris Rit. Micis de Sumpta._
FELIX, BISHOP OF THE CHURCH AT THIBARIS, IN AFRICA, PUT TO DEATH WITH
THE SWORD, IN THAT CITY, FOR DEFENDING THE EVANGELICAL TRUTH, A. D. 303.
When Constantinus Chlorus and Galerius Maximianus were Cæsars for the
fourth time, the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian issued an edict to
the whole world, which was transmitted to the authorities of all the
colonies or free cities of the Romans, and read to this effect: that
they should demand the divine books and laws of the Christians at
the hands of their bishops and teachers. A copy of this edict, among
others, was posted up in the city of Thibaris, in Africa, on the fifth
day of the month of June.
Now when it came to pass that the fiscal Procurator of that place
demanded of Felix the divine and Christian books, in order to burn
them, Felix answered: “It were better, that I should be burned, than
the divine Scriptures, because we must obey God rather than men.”
The Procurator said: “Nevertheless, the command of the Emperors must
have the precedence to thy word.”
Felix replied: “God’s command comes before the commands of men.”
The Procurator said: “Consider well, what thou doest.”
NOTE.--Here we might produce the whole of the court proceedings as
believed to have been recorded by the clerk of the criminal court; but
in order to avoid prolixity, we shall present to the kind reader, word
for word, only the last and principal part of those proceedings.
Having arrived there, the Proconsul or General commanded them to loose
Felix, and asked him, saying: “O Felix, why wilt thou not deliver up
the books of the Lord thy God? Or perhaps, thou dost not have any?”
Felix answered: “Indeed, I have them, but I do not wish to give them to
you.”
The Proconsul said: “Put Felix to death with the sword.”
When Felix had received the sentence of death, he said with a loud
voice: “I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast redeemed me!” He was
immediately led to the place where he was to die; at which time the
moon was changed as into blood. This happened on the 30th of August.
Having arrived at the place of execution, Felix lifted up his eyes
toward heaven, and said with a loud voice: “O Lord God, I thank thee,
that I have lived to be fifty-six years old. I have kept myself pure;
have kept the Gospels or evangelical books; and have preached the
faith and truth in their purity. O Lord God of heaven and earth, Jesus
Christ! I bow my neck to the sword, as an offering unto thee, who
abidest in eternity, with whom there is and abideth glory and majesty
forever and ever, Amen.”
Thus far the account of the martyrdom of Felix has been translated word
for word from the _Acta Proconsularia_, that is, the records of the
proceedings which were approved by the heathen judges and proconsuls.
Compare _Abr. Mell., 1st book, fol. 117, col. 1, 2_, with _Act.
Proconsul. extant sur tom 5, Octob. 24_.
PRIMUS AND FELICIAN, TWO BROTHERS, AFTER MANY TORMENTS, THROWN BEFORE
LIONS AND BEARS, TO BE TORN BY THEM, BUT FINALLY BEHEADED, AT NUMENTA,
IN ITALY, A. D. 303.
In the year 303 two brothers, Primus and Felician, were brought
prisoners before the criminal Judge of the city of Numenta, in Italy.
He first examined Felician, and asked him, whether he would rather
sacrifice to the gods, and live in honors, and see good days, or be
tortured unto death with all manner of torments?
Felician answered: “How canst thou speak to me of pleasant days? I
am now eighty years old, and have been enlightened with the saving
knowledge of Christ for about thirty years; yea, I am still finding the
greatest joy of my heart in his service. And thou wouldst persuade me
to forsake my Savior, and accept instead of him the vain lusts of this
world! Far be it from me; for I have resolved to cleave to Christ, my
Lord and my God, to the very last breath of my life.”
Thereupon this good old man was put in prison, and his brother Primus
brought forth, whom the Judge endeavored to persuade that Felician,
his dear old brother, had apostatized. But Primus was confident that
the contrary was true; therefore he said that it was a lie. Upon this,
he was beaten with sticks, and burned on his loins with lamps. But he
sang with the prophet David: “O Lord, thou has proved us with fire, as
silver is tried.”
Then both were tormented, in different ways. Molten lead was poured
down Primus’ throat, while Felician was beaten with leaded scourges,
nailed with his hands and feet to a stake, and inhumanly tortured. Both
were cast before the lions and bears; but as these would not harm them
the Judge caused the martyrs to be beheaded and their dead bodies laid
on the ground for the dogs and the birds of the air. However, they were
buried by the Christians. _Acta per eundem._ Also, _A. Mell., 1st book,
fol. 114, col. 2_.
THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PERSECUTION, COMMENCED A. D. 304.
In the third year of the persecution, the obdurate heart of the
bloodthirsty Emperor Diocletian had not yet softened, seeing he and his
associate Maximian steadily went on putting to death the poor Christian
believers, as appears from the death of the following persons.
APPHIAN, A GODFEARING YOUTH, DROWNED IN THE SEA, AT CESAREA, IN
PALESTINE, BECAUSE HE DEFENDED THE HONOR OF JESUS CHRIST, AND REPROVED
IDOLATRY, A. D. 304.
When the third year of the aforementioned persecution had begun, the
second oppression of the Christians arose in Palestine, through letters
which had been sent in the Emperor’s name to Urbanus, the Proconsul;
whereby the magistrates of every city were commanded: to exert the
utmost diligence, that all Christians, men and women, old and young,
would sacrifice to the gods; and that the criers should call together
in the city of Cesarea, men, women, and children, to assemble in the
temples of the idols; and also that the chief men of every quarter of
the city should read off from their lists, the name of every citizen,
so as to make it impossible for any one to conceal himself. This caused
great misery and distress throughout the whole city.
When it came to pass, on the feast-day of the goddess Hecate, that the
Proconsul of Palestine was engaged in offering his sacrifice, Apphian,
who was not yet twenty years old, went undauntedly to the Proconsul,
and reproved him for his wicked idolatry, admonishing him to desist
from it. Instantly the youth was frightfully torn as by wild beasts
by the body-guards of the Proconsul, suffering stripes without number
from them, which he endured with great steadfastness. Thereupon he
was imprisoned for a while, but was then brought forth again, and
dreadfully tormented. He was beaten so inhumanly in his face and on
his neck, that owing to the wounds and the swelling of his face he was
so disfigured, that those who formerly knew him well, now no longer
recognized him. At the command of the Proconsul they also took linen
cloths, which they had saturated with oil, wound them around his bare
legs, and then set them on fire, so that the flames leaped up high,
consuming not only the flesh off the bones, but even melting the marrow
within them, causing it to trickle down; which must have caused a pain
beyond all comparison. But in all this he remained steadfast. Three
days after this he was again brought before the Judge, and received
sentence of death, namely, that he should be drowned in the sea; which
sentence was executed on the second of April, A. D. 304. Compare _Abr.
Mell., 1st book, fol. 123, col. 1, 2_, with _Eus., lib. 8, cap. 14_.
ULPIAN, A PIOUS YOUNG MAN, CAST INTO THE SEA, AND DROWNED, NEAR THE
CITY OF TYRE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, A. D. 304.
About that time, almost in those very days, another youth, named
Ulpian, was brought forth in the city of Tyre, who, after having been
long and very severely tormented, was finally sentenced to an unusual
death, for the testimony of Jesus Christ, namely: to be wrapped stark
naked, together with a dog and an adder, in the fresh hide of an ox or
cow and thus thrown into the sea. This sentence was executed near the
city of Tyre; but the sea shall give up its dead, and then shall this
pious witness of Jesus Christ, and his fellow-brethren be rewarded and
crowned by the Lord with the crown of immortality. _Vide supra Mellin.,
ex Euseb. Hist., lib. 8, cap. 15._
AEDESIUS, BROTHER OF THE AFOREMENTIONED APPHIAN, FIRST BANISHED TO THE
MINES OF PALESTINE, AND AFTERWARDS DROWNED IN THE SEA, AT ALEXANDRIA,
FOR THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD, A. D. 304.
Shortly after the death of the martyrs Apphian and Ulpian, the enemies
of the divine and Christian truth laid their hands on Aedesius, the
brother of Apphian. After making many excellent confessions for the
name of the Lord, he was sentenced to be sent as a slave to the mines
of Palestine.
Finally, when he happened to see, in the city of Alexandria, how
the Proconsul pronounced sentence of death upon the Christians, and
sometimes caused manifold indignities to be heaped upon aged persons,
together with other wickednesses practiced by him, he boldly went into
the court to the Judge, and openly reproved him on account of the
unjust and wicked sentences he pronounced upon the innocent Christians.
For this he was most unmercifully tormented, which pains he meekly and
not less steadfastly endured. He was then thrown into the sea, and
drowned, even as had been done with his brother. _See the above cited
books._
AGATHOPUS, A DEACON, AND THEODULUS, A LECTOR, OF THE THESSALONIAN
CHURCH, DROWNED NEAR THESSALONICA, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST,
A. D. 304.
In that same year, two pious Christians of Thessalonica, Agathopus,
a deacon, and Theodulus, a lector, of the Thessalonian church, were
apprehended for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and brought before
Faustin, the Governor of the city. He first took up Theodulus, the
younger, to torment him, causing him to be stripped and bound. While
Theodulus was being tormented, the crier called to him: “Sacrifice, and
thou shalt be released.” Theodulus answered: “You may strip my body,
but you shall never turn my heart and mind from the faith in God.”
As they both went to hear their sentence of death, their friends cried
and wailed most bitterly, so that the sound of it seemed to ascend
to heaven; but Theodulus said to them, with a happy countenance: “If
you weep for our old friendship’s sake, I tell you, that you ought
rather to rejoice, because we are tried in so honorable a conflict;
but if you envy us this happiness, and are sad because you are not
partakers of it, the door of blessedness stands open for you, too, and
the proclamation of faith calls: Come ye all to Christ; but it gives
the crown of eternal life only to those who are drawn back neither by
riches, nor by voluptuousness, nor by the honor of this world.”
Finally, the Judge gave sentence, that their hands should be tied
behind their backs, and heavy stones be fastened to their necks, and
that they should thus be drowned; which they steadfastly endured, and
are therefore reckoned among the number of the holy martyrs. _A. M.,
fol. 140, col. 1, ex Act. per Metaph._
JULITTA OF ICONIA, AN HONORABLE WIDOW, AFTER MUCH FLEEING FINALLY
BEHEADED FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD, AT TARSUS, IN CILICIA, A. D. 304.
When Diocletian’s persecution was at its highest, a certain widow
of Iconia tried to flee from it; wherefore she went with her child,
which was three years old, from Lyconia to Seleucia, and from there
to Tarsus, in Cilicia. But she could not remain concealed there
from the heat of that persecution; for Alexander, the Proconsul who
had jurisdiction there, apprehended her. After many vain efforts to
persuade her to renounce the Christian faith, he caused her to be
scourged with tough cowhides.
In the meantime he endeavored to quiet the frightened child, called
Quiricus, by many pleasant and coaxing words; but the child resisted
with hands and feet, refusing to be caressed by the tyrant, and finally
ran to his mother. However, the tyrant caught him up again; but this
did not turn out very peacefully or pleasantly, for the child scratched
his face, and kicked his sides, so that the pain quite enraged him. He
therefore took the child by his legs and pitched him head foremost down
the stone stairs. The mother, seeing this, thus addressed the tyrant:
“Thou needst not think that I am so timid as to be conquered by thy
cruelties; for the tearing of my body shall not intimidate me, nor the
racking of my members move my spirit; neither shall the threats of the
fire, nor death itself be able to separate me from the love of Christ.
The greater the torments are with which you threaten me, the more
acceptable they are to me; for I hope thereby the sooner to come to my
dear son, and to receive with him the crown of righteousness at the
hand of Christ.”
Upon this confession, the Proconsul had her suspended to the
torture-stake, her flesh torn with iron combs, melted pitch poured over
her naked body and fresh wounds, and finally caused her to be beheaded.
_Acta Fidelia, per Metaphrastem_, compared with _A. Mell., 1st book,
fol. 140, col. 1, 2_.
FORTY YOUTHS, WHO CONFESSED CHRIST THEIR SAVIOR, THROWN INTO A COLD
POOL, AND BURNED ALIVE THE FOLLOWING DAY, AT ANTIOCH, A. D. 304.
When the east as well as the west was exceedingly disturbed on account
of the violence of the persecution, there manifested themselves in the
east, namely at Antioch, forty pious youths, as valiant champions of
Jesus Christ, inasmuch as they openly and boldly confessed the Son of
God, Jesus Christ, as their Savior. Thereupon, the Governor of that
place, after they had been apprehended, strenuously exerted himself to
move them from the faith; but when all his efforts proved unsuccessful,
he had them stripped naked, in the coldest part of the winter, and cast
into a very cold pool. But as they were still alive the next day, he
caused them to be burned to powder.
One of them, who in consideration of his extreme youthfulness had,
through compassion, been restored to his mother, was placed by the
latter with her own hands upon the wagon in which the others lay, and
exhorted, to finish this blessed course with his fellow brethren. This
happened in the third year of the persecution, A. D. 304. _Joh. Gys.,
fol. 23, col. 3, ex Bas. de 40 Martyr._
FOURTH YEAR OF THE PERSECUTION, COMMENCED A. D. 305.
Galerius Maximian, continuing in the persecution which had been begun,
and carried into execution, with great bitterness, by Diocletian and
Maximian, exercised much cruelty, through Peucetius, Quintinian,
Theotecnus, and other Proconsuls, against the poor Christians; burning
them alive; throwing them before the wild beasts, to be torn by them;
nailing them to crosses; drowning multitudes of them in the sea;
starving them to death in the prisons; beheading them; cutting off
their hands and feet, and then giving them their life; but when they
would make use of the favor granted them, spoiling them of all their
goods, and driving them away into misery.
Touching those who were slain there, the following, among others, are
mentioned by name.
SYLVANUS, JANUARIUS, SOSIUS, PROCULUS, PELAGIA, THEONAS, CYRENIA, AND
JULIANA, ALL OF WHOM LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THE EVANGELICAL TRUTH,
A. D. 305.
Sylvanus, Bishop of the church of Emissa, a city of Apamea, in Syria,
was, with many others, thrown before the wild beasts, to be devoured by
them.
Januarius, Bishop of the church of Beneventum; Sosius, a deacon of the
church of Misenum; Proculus, deacon, at Pussolis, and others, were
beheaded together.
Pelagia was suffocated in a redhot ox.
Theonas, with his companions, Cyrenia and Juliana, were deprived of
life by other methods. _Joh. Gys., about the death of Januarius and
Sosius. Abr. Mell., fol. 141, ex Act. per Johannem Januarii Diaconum
conscripta per surium edita._
THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE PERSECUTION, COMMENCED A. D. 306.
In this year the persecution was not so severe as in some of the
preceding ones; wherefore there were not many martyrs at this time.
However, the ancients have recorded a few, whom we shall presently
mention.
THEODOSIA, A GODFEARING MAIDEN OF THE CITY OF TYRE, WHO CAME TO COMFORT
THE BOUND MARTYRS, DROWNED IN THE SEA AT CESAREA, A. D. 306.
When the fifth year of the tenth persecution had come, on the second
day of the month of April, the Sunday of the resurrection of our
Savior, Theodosia, a godfearing maiden of the city of Tyre, about
eighteen years old, came to some bound martyrs at Cesarea, as they were
standing before the tribunal, to receive their sentence of death. Her
reason in doing so was affectionately to greet them, and to comfort
them in their extremity.