A is reported: who also himself was crowned with a holy martyrdom. Crescens, one of the Greek Cynic philosophers, having plotted against us, a persecution was stirred up in Lugdunum in Gaul, and a great number of Christians were crowned with martyrdom for Christ; of whom the most manifest and noble are these. Pothinus, who had been bishop of the same city, after being abused by the common crowd and cast into prison, surrendered his soul to the Lord after four days; after whom Irenæus presided over the parish of Lugdunum.
Biblis was one of those who had denied [Christ]; but since she was urged to blaspheme the Lord, and could not bear to have done so, she was again stretched upon the rack of the servants, and there, by the sensible punishment, coming to the memory of the punishment in Gehenna, she confessed herself a Christian again, and thus expired in those very torments. Added to the company of the martyrs was Sanctus, a deacon from the city of Vienna, and Maturus; after being tormented in every way for many days, finally being compelled to sit upon an iron chair heated red-hot, and at the same time being struck by the whole populace, and dragged by beasts that were let in, they finished the contest of martyrdom.
After them, the noble Blandina, B also showing for her part the greatest endurance, and having borne varied torments, was hung upon a piece of wood and then exposed as food for the beasts that were let in; and since none of them touched her, she was taken down from the wood and cast into prison again, being kept for a second contest, in which, after suffering very many things—after the scourges, after the beasts, after the frying pan—she was at last cast into a basket and thrown to a wild bull, and thus surrendered her soul to the Lord. With her, a certain boy, Ponticus, endured every torment nobly, and he too gave up his spirit. C Alexander, a physician from Phrygia, standing before the tribunal while the martyrs were then suffering torments, spoke to those standing around, urging them in his spirit to the confession [of Christ]. But the multitude of the people being indignant at this, Alexander was asked by the prefect who he was and whence he confessed himself a Christian. Condemned to the beasts the next day with a certain Attalus, a Pergamene by race, he was led in. When they had exhausted all the instruments discovered for torment, they too finally yielded up their last breath. Many other of the faithful at that time were perfected by fire and beasts and various torments, and also D by being suffocated in prisons; whose bones the sons of perdition gathering up, committed to the fire and scattered their ashes into the river Rhone.
Among these, Alcibiades, one of the holy confessors, a man of exceeding temperance who lived on no other food than bread and water, wished to live in this way also in the prison; but to Attalus, of whom we have already spoken, it was revealed that Alcibiades was not doing right in not using the creatures of God; and Alcibiades, learning this from him, partook of all foods, giving thanks to God. This to me now sufficiently demonstrates—[he says]—that one ought not even at any time to reject certain foods as though they brought harm; for all the creatures of God are good, and they are not wont to bring harm, but the use of them is infinite. These things are from the authentic epistle of the Church of Lugdunum.
B II. While Severus was reigning as Roman Emperor, a persecution having arisen at Alexandria in Egypt, many most illustrious persons contended for the faith of Christ. Among these was Leonides, the father of Origen; who, having been beheaded, left behind his very tender son. This boy possessed such love for martyrdom that he ran through all dangers, rushed forward, and with the greatest ardor precipitated himself into the contest; so that, his mother having hidden all his clothing, he was compelled to remain at home. He sent to his father, who was in prison, an epistle hortatory to martyrdom, in which he spoke as follows: "Take heed that you do not change your mind on our account." This man, having become great and renowned in word and deed at that time, was placed over the catechetical school at Alexandria, and, inflaming many of his disciples with a similar zeal, made them martyrs of Christ. The first of these was Plutarch; when he was led to death, Origen, who was with him, was very nearly captured himself, as being the cause of his destruction. And afterwards, when Decius was reigning, he appeared before the tribunal of the tyrant as a worshipper of Christ; but he did not obtain the glory of martyrdom, God, as I think, judging him unworthy of it because of his errors concerning dogma and the right faith. Indeed, he abandoned his opinions after the ordeal of torture. A second martyr among the disciples of Origen is found to be Serenus, who by fire gave testimony to the faith which he had received. The third martyr of the same school is Heraclides, and after him a fourth, Heron; the former being still a catechumen, and the latter a neophyte, both of whom were beheaded. After these martyrs, another Serenus, having long remained constant under tortures, was afflicted with capital punishment. Among the women, moreover, Heraïs, being still a catechumen, firmly received the baptism of fire. After these, the seventh martyr was Basilides, who had led away the renowned Potamiaena. For when he had received her, and was leading her to death, he repelled all those who were troubling her and insulting her with contumelious words in every way, and kept them off. But Potamiaena, moved by this compassion, bade Basilides to be of brave heart, and told him to ask of her what he would, when she should depart to her Christ; for she promised to pay him back the reward of his services to her very soon. Having said these things, she bravely endured the punishment of boiling pitch poured over her. Not long after, Basilides, refusing to take an oath for some reason, when asked by his fellow soldiers, said that it was not permitted to him, as a Christian, to swear at all. They, thinking at first that he was joking, led him to the prefect, before whom Basilides professed the same constancy, and was delivered into bonds. But when his brethren in God came to him, and asked the cause of so strange a determination, he said that he had seen the martyr Potamiaena, three days after her martyrdom, standing before him, placing a crown upon his head, and saying that she had invoked the Lord, had given thanks to Him for him, and had received a portion of honor, and would soon receive him also. After this, when his brethren had sealed [their confession] in the Lord
on the following day he was adorned with the Lord’s martyrdom, and his head was cut off.
III. When a persecution arose under Decius in the same city of the Alexandrians, many of those who hoped in Christ were adorned with martyrdom for His sake; among whom were these. Mitras, a certain presbyter, was seized at the beginning of the persecution by the common crowd and commanded to speak impious words; when he would not obey, he was beaten on the body with clubs, and his face and eyes were pierced with sharp reeds; finally, he was led to the suburban district and killed, and thus he rendered his soul to the Lord. A woman named Quinta, having been dragged reluctantly into the temple, since she refused to worship idols, had her feet bound with ropes, was dragged naked through the whole city, was brought to the same place, and was perfected by being stoned by the multitude. Apollonia, a virgin advanced in age, who was compelled to sacrifice to idols, had her teeth broken by blows B to her jaws; then, after a pyre had been kindled, while the guards were threatening to cast her into it, she requested a brief delay and, having prayed, she jumped quickly into the fire and was consumed. After her, they seized Serapion, who was remaining under the same roof, and after torturing him with harsh torments and breaking all his limbs, they threw him headlong from an upper story. Julian, who was suffering from gout and was able neither to stand nor to walk, was brought [to the tribunal] by two other Christians who were carrying him; one of whom immediately denied the faith, but the other, named Kronion, and Julian himself, were led through the whole city riding on camels, and at the same time were beaten by the multitude, and finally were delivered to the fire. And a certain soldier named Besas, having stood by them as they were being led away C and having opposed those who were heaping insults upon them, was seized—as they all shouted—and had his head cut off. Another, a Libyan by race, Macar by name, when the judge persistently exhorted him toward a denial of the faith, since he would not be persuaded, was delivered to the fire and, in accordance with the meaning of his name, found a blessed end.
IV. After them, Epimachus and Alexander, who had remained in prison for a long time and endured numberless torments, were also burned with fire, [as were] the scrapers and whips. Three women were also brought [forward]; one of them, named Ammonaria, the judge tortured very obstinately, since she had previously declared that she would utter nothing of what he commanded; when she had fulfilled this promise, she was led to her punishment. The others, however, Mercuria and Dionysia, because the judge was ashamed to attempt vain things and to be defeated by women, were put to death by the sword, as they had not yet undergone D tortures. Hero, and Ater, and Isidorus, and with them Dioscorus, a boy about fifteen years of age, were brought before the tribunal; and when they had endured various torments, they were delivered to the fire.
A Dioscorus spoke most sagely, and answered the governor’s questions with such courage that the magistrate, marveling at his responses and taking pity on his youth, released him, though he had already become a perfect martyr in his intent. A certain Egyptian named Nemesion, having undergone an accusation of robbery and having been acquitted of this charge, was later accused of being a Christian; he was scourged twice as much as if he had been a robber and was burned between two robbers, honored by the example of Christ. Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingenuus, and Theophilus, standing before the tribunal, encouraged by a nod of the head someone who was already swaying towards denial, urging him toward confession; when they understood that the crowds were indignant at this, before they could be seized by the people, they proclaimed themselves Christians and were thus led to death. Ischirion, an administrator of a magistrate’s goods, when ordered by the quaestor to sacrifice for the sake of the salary provided by his employer, because he refused to do so, received a great pole thrust through his bowels and intestines, which penetrated to his seat, and thus he gave up his spirit. These things are from the letter of Dionysius of Alexandria.
V. Concerning the persecution under Valerian and Gallienus
B V. While the emperor Valerian was ruling over the Romans, a persecution having arisen in Caesarea in Palestine, three men, Priscus, Mallus, and Alexander, who lived in the country, when they heard that the persecution had arisen, calling themselves negligent and slothful, hastened with one mind to the city and, shining brightly with the confession of Christ, were adorned with divine martyrdom, becoming the prey of beasts. Under Gallienus, in the aforementioned city, Marinus, arriving to receive the rank of centurion, became a partaker of the dignities of the heavenly army through martyrdom. C For as he approached the tribunal, he said that it was not lawful for him to accept Roman dignities, since he was a Christian and did not obey the emperors. Marinus, therefore, being interrogated immediately and openly confessing himself a Christian, obtained a three-hour interval from the governor to consider his affairs. When Marinus had left the tribunal, Theotecnus, the bishop of that city, taking him by the hand, led him into the church and, holding the divine book of the Gospels between his hands, and at the same time showing the sword he wore suspended, said, "Choose which of these you will, immediately." When he had at once extended his right hand and received the divine Scripture, "Take therefore," said Theotecnus to him, "the things of God, and may you obtain what you have chosen, being strengthened by God himself; and walk in peace." Marinus, therefore, departing and confessing the same things again, was led to death D and finished his course. Such honorable relics Astyrius, a Roman senator, a friend of the emperors and known to all, wrapped in a shining and precious shroud, and, carrying them before all upon his own shoulders, laid them in a decent tomb.
VI. Under Diocletian and Maximian, an edict against the Christians having been posted in Nicomedia, [Astyrius] snatched these libels and tore them to pieces; and when he had done this,
A he was immediately seized, and after suffering many things, as was to be expected for a man caught in such a daring act, he departed from this present life through martyrdom. At the same time, another person from the emperor’s household, named Peter, showing himself in reality to be a rock harder than stone, in accordance with his confession, when he was ordered to sacrifice and refused, was stripped naked and hoisted into the air, and his body was so flayed with scourges that his bones were laid bare as the flesh was torn away. While he was enduring this, and remained unshaken, they mixed vinegar with salt and poured it upon the festering parts of his body. Since he was superior even to these agonies, a burning gridiron was brought, and thus, by the fire little by little consuming the remains of his flesh, the victor-martyr rendered up his soul in the midst of the tortures. Dorotheus and Gorgonius, who were also of the imperial household, together with many others, having changed this life for another after various struggles, carried off the prizes of divine victory.
B At the same time, Anthimus, the bishop presiding over the Church in Nicomedia, was beheaded for his testimony to Christ; and a nearly innumerable multitude of martyrs was joined to him. For a fire having broken out in the imperial palace at Nicomedia during these days, and a report having been spread that it was started by Christians, on the occasion of the emperor’s edict, some of the pious folk living there were slaughtered by the sword, others were delivered to the fire, and others were cast into the depths of the sea. Thus, being perfected in every manner, they were not even deemed worthy of the customary burial after death; but their remains were consumed by fire, and the ashes were scattered to the winds or cast into the sea. C The same things were done against Christians in every province; but the persecution raged most especially in Phoenicia, Syria, Egypt, the Thebaid, Africa, and the nation of the Moors. Knowing that to call by name all those who struggled valiantly in such provinces, and to enumerate their multitude and the varied modes of their perfecting, is difficult and entirely impossible, I shall mention a few of the most eminent.
Lucian, a presbyter from Antioch, a man of excellent character throughout his entire life and renowned for his eloquence, was arrested in Nicomedia in the presence of the emperor and condemned to be imprisoned. While living there, he perished from hunger due to the lack of necessities. This man was from Antioch in Coele-Syria. Among the martyrs of Phoenicia, Tyrannio, bishop of the Church in Tyre, was the foremost, along with the presbyter of the Church in Sidon, Zenobius, and also Silvanus, bishop of the churches around Emesa D (this man had become food for beasts along with others at Emesa itself). Both the aforementioned glorified the Word of God unto death in Antioch; the bishop was handed over to the depths of the sea, and Zenobius, the best of physicians, bravely expired under the tortures applied to his sides. Among the martyrs of Palestine, Silvanus, bishop of Gaza, was beheaded near the copper mines in Phoenicia along with thirty-nine others. At the same time, the Egyptian martyrs Peleus and Nilus, who were bishops, together with others, finished their lives in the fire, and
Pamphilus, then a presbyter of Caesarea in Palestine, was adorned with a divine martyrdom, having struggled brilliantly. Among those who were gloriously perfected throughout all Egypt and the Thebaid, the first was Peter, bishop of Alexandria, and among the presbyters with him were Faustus, Dius, and Ammonius, perfect martyrs of Christ; Phileas also, and Hesychius, and Pachymius, and Theodore, bishops of B the churches in Egypt. At the same time, in a certain small town in Phrygia, because all the inhabitants professed themselves to be Christians without exception, soldiers took possession of it, and having ignited a fire, burned them all, together with their wives and children, who were calling upon Christ. A certain other man, holding the duties of the empire, Adauctus by name, born of a noble Italian family, and deemed worthy of the highest honor by the emperors, being then most illustrious in an unshakeable and firm confession of faith in Christ, was crowned with the crown of martyrdom, having bravely endured the struggle. And a certain holy and admirable woman, celebrated among all the Antiochenes for her wealth, lineage, and good reputation, after raising a pair of illustrious maiden daughters, called them to the city of Antioch C when many young men sought them as wives, while they were living secretly elsewhere. But since they were already surrounded by the soldiers’ nets, their mother, seeing herself and her daughters in straits, and contemplating the deeds of men and unable to endure hearing the threats of the brothel, saying that the servitude of demons was worse than all deaths and every destruction, found a single refuge for herself and her daughters against all these dangers, namely, refuge in the Lord. Strengthened by the same resolve, appearing with their bodies adorned decorously, when they reached the middle of the road, they threw themselves into a passing river. They, therefore, drowned themselves. Another pair of virgins of the same Antioch, truly worthy of God, truly sisters, of noble birth, illustrious in life, young in age, most beautiful in body, pure in soul, and of admirable piety, were consigned to the depths of the sea D by the worshipers of idols. Why should I now need to mention others by name, and count the multitude of men, and depict the varied torments of the glorious martyrs of Christ—sometimes struck with axes, as happened to the martyrs in Arabia; sometimes having their legs broken, as happened to the martyrs in Cappadocia; sometimes being suspended by their feet with their heads downward, and being suffocated by the smoke of burning wood as a soft fire was set beneath them, as happened to the martyrs in Mesopotamia; or at other times having their noses, ears, and hands cut off, or other members of the body severed bit by bit, as happened at Alexandria? Why must I recall the memory of the Antiochene martyrs, roasted on burning grids, not to death, but for long-lasting torment, or those who preferred to thrust their right hand into the fire rather than participate in the accursed sacrifice? Some of them, corrupting
A their bodies by mutilation, or having their other limbs and parts butchered, such as occurred at Alexandria? What need is there to rekindle the memory of those at Antioch, who were roasted on grids of fire—not to finish them off, but for long-drawn-out torment—or of others who threw their right hands into the fire more quickly than they would lay hold of the accursed sacrifice? Some of these, avoiding the trial before being caught and falling into the hands of the conspirators, cast themselves down from high buildings, deeming death a snatching away from the wickedness of the impious. Others at Pontus suffered things that are dreadful to hear: having their fingers pierced from the tips of the nails with sharp reeds, and others, molten lead boiling and glowing being poured over their backs, B and having the most sensitive parts of the body roasted; and through their private members and parts, others endured shameful, pitiless, and unspeakable sufferings. But these were the extremes of the calamities: when finally the governors throughout every province grew weary of the excess of evils, and, exhausted by the slaughter, they turned to what they considered to be their kindness and humanity, they ordered that eyes be gouged out and that one of the legs be maimed. These were indeed their "humanities," and the lightest of their punishments against us, such that, because of this humanity of the impious, it was no longer possible to tell the number of those beyond all count who had their right eyes first gouged out with the sword and scorched with fire, and their left feet again rendered useless by cauterizing the hams, and after this were condemned to the copper mines throughout the provinces, not so much for the usefulness of the labor as for the sake of oppression and torment.
II. Passion of the ten holy martyrs C of Egypt, Marcianus, Nicander, Apollonius, Leonides, Arius, Gorius, Hyperechius, Selleniades, Irene, and Pambo.
Most beautiful, beloved, is the choir that bore witness to God in Egypt, most beautiful and worthy of narration. For men together with women, found to be of one mind, having resolved to serve the Lord and having disciplined their minds and bodies to endure whatsoever might be, were all subjected to one punishment; they journey together, having conquered a noble strife in common with one another, and having bound a brilliant crown about them. For just as the murderers had grown weary, and those who handed them over hesitated, and they loathed from that point on to stone them, the governor of Egypt devised a punishment beyond human contemplation, D taking as his accomplice the position of the place. For just as the sun released a great intensity of fire over the fields, and the position of Egypt is by nature such as to heat up faster than other places, and even more to be set aflame by the turns of the seasons...