THEY suffered at Caesarea, in Palestine, at the same time with those
mentioned yesterday, but are named on this day in the Roman Martyrology.
Theodulus was an old man of eminent virtue and wisdom, who enjoyed one
of the most honorable posts in the household of Firmilian, the governor
of Palestine, and had several sons. His personal merit gained him the
love of all that knew him, and the governor had a particular esteem for
him. This holy man had seen the invincible courage and patience of the
five Egyptian martyrs at Caesarea, and, going to the prisons, made use of
their example to encourage the other confessors, and prepare them for
the like battles. Firmilian, vexed at this conduct of an old favorite
servant, sent for him, reproached him strongly with ingratitude, and,
without hearing his defence, condemned him to be crucified. Theodulus
received the sentence with joy, and went with transports to a death
which was speedily to unite him to his Saviour, and in which he was
thought worthy to bear a near resemblance to him. Julian, who shared the
glory of that day with the other martyrs, was a Cappadocian, as was also
St. Seleucus; he was only a catechumen, though highly esteemed by the
faithful for his many great virtues, and he was just then come to
Caesarea. At his arrival, hearing of the conflicts of the martyrs, he ran
to the place, and finding the execution over, expressed his veneration
for them, by kissing and embracing the bodies which had been animated by
those heroic and happy souls. The guards apprehended {426} him, and
carried him to the governor, who, finding him as inflexible as the rest,
would not lose his time in useless interrogatories, but immediately
ordered him to be burnt. Julian, now master of all he wished for, gave
God thanks for the honor done him by this sentence, and begged he would
be pleased to accept of his life as a voluntary sacrifice. The courage
and cheerfulness which he maintained to his last moment, filled his
executioners with surprise and confusion. See Eusebius, an eye-witness,
l. de Mart. Palaest. c. 12, p. 337.