He was a native of Jerusalem, but lived at Bethsan, otherwise called
Scythopolis, where he was reader in the church, and also performed
the function of exorcist, and dispossessing demoniacs, and that of
interpreter of the Greek tongue into the Syro-Chaldaic.[68] He was
a divine man, say his acts, and had always lived in the practice of
great austerity and patience, and in perpetual chastity. He took no
other sustenance than bread and water, and usually abstained from
all food for two or three days together. He was well skilled in the
science of the Greeks, but much more in that of the holy scriptures;
the assiduous meditation on which nourished his soul, and seemed also
to give vigor and strength to his emaciated body. He was admirable
in all virtues, particularly in a heavenly meekness and humility.
Dioclesian’s bloody edicts against the Christians reached Palestine
in April, 303, and Procopius was the first person who received the
crown of martyrdom in that country, in the aforesaid persecution.
He was apprehended at Bethsan and led, with several others, bound
to Cæsarea, our city, say the acts, and was hurried straight before
Paulinus, prefect of the province.[69] The judge commanded the martyr
to sacrifice to the gods. The servant of Christ answered he never
could do it; and this he declared with a firmness and resolution
that seemed to wound the heart of the prefect as if it had been
pierced with a dagger. The martyr added, there is no God but one,
who is the author and preserver of the world. The prefect then bade
him sacrifice to the four emperors, namely Dioclesian, Herculius,
Galerius, and Constantius. This the saint again refused to do, and
had scarce returned his answer but the judge passed sentence upon
him, and he was immediately led to execution and beheaded. He is
honored by the Greeks with the title of The Great Martyr. See his
original Chaldaic Acts, published by Steph. Assemani, t. 2, p. 166,
and a less accurate old Latin translation; given by Ruinart, and
by Henry Valois, Not. in Euseb. l. 8. The author of these acts was
Eusebius of Cæsarea, an eye-witness.