BOOK V.
PART I.
INTRODUCTION AND CHAPTER I.
BOOK V.
INTRODUCTION Soter, Bishop of the Church of Rome, died after an episcopate of eight
years, and was succeeded by Eleutherus, the twelfth from the Apostles.
In the seventeenth year of the emperor Antoninus Verus, the persecution of our
people was rekindled more fiercely in certain districts on account of an
insurrection of the masses in the cities, and judging by the number in a single
nation, myriads suffered martyrdom throughout the world.
A record of this was written for posterity, and in truth it is worthy of
perpetual remembrance.
A full account, containing the most reliable information on the subject,
is given in our Collection of Martyrdoms, which constitutes a narrative instructive
as well as historical.
I will repeat here such portions of this account as may be needful for the present
purpose.
Other writers of history record the victories of war and trophies won from
enemies, the skill of generals, and the manly bravery of soldiers,
defiled with blood and with innumerable slaughters for the sake of children and
country and other possessions.
But our narrative of the government of God will record in ineffaceable letters the
most peaceful wars waged in behalf of the peace of the soul, and will tell of men
doing brave deeds for truth rather than country, and for piety rather than dearest
friends.
It will hand down to imperishable remembrance the discipline and the
much-tried fortitude of the athletes of religion, the trophies won from demons,
the victories over invisible enemies, and the crowns placed upon all their
heads.
Chapter 1.
The number of those who fought for religion in Gaul under Verus and the
nature of their conflicts.
The country in which the arena was prepared for them was Gaul, of which Lyons
and Vienne are the principal and most celebrated cities.
The Rhône passes through both of them, flowing in a broad stream through the
entire region.
The most celebrated churches in that country sent an account of the witnesses
to the churches in Asia and Phrygia, relating in the following manner what was
done among them.
I will give their own words.
The servants of Christ residing at Vienne and Lyons, in Gaul, to the brethren
throughout Asia and Phrygia, who hold the same faith and hope of redemption,
peace and grace and glory from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Then, having related some other matters, they begin their account in this manner.
The greatness of the tribulation in this region, and the fury of the heathen
against the saints, and the sufferings of the blessed witnesses, we cannot recount
accurately, nor indeed could they possibly be recorded.
For with all his might the adversary fell upon us, giving us a foretaste of his
unbridled activity at his future coming.
He endeavored in every manner to practice and exercise his servants against the
servants of God, not only shutting us out from houses and baths and markets,
but forbidding any of us to be seen in any place whatever.
But the grace of God led the conflict against him, and delivered the weak,
and set them as firm pillars, able through patience to endure all the wrath of the
evil one.
And they joined battle with him, undergoing all kinds of shame and injury.
And regarding their great sufferings as little, they hastened to Christ,
manifesting truly that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed to usward.
First of all, they endured nobly the injuries heaped upon them by the populace,
clamors and blows and draggings and robberies and stonings and imprisonments,
and all things which an infuriated mob delight in inflicting on enemies and
adversaries.
Then, being taken to the forum by the Ciliarch and the authorities of the city,
they were examined in the presence of the whole multitude, and having confessed,
they were imprisoned until the arrival of the governor.
When, afterwards, they were brought before him, and he treated us with the utmost
cruelty, Vettius Epagathus, one of the brethren, and a man filled with love for
God and his neighbor, interfered.
His life was so consistent that, although young, he had attained a
reputation equal to that of the elder Zacharias, for he walked in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless, and was untiring in every good
work for his neighbor, zealous for God, and fervent in spirit.
Such being his character, he could not endure the unreasonable judgment against
us, but was filled with indignation, and asked to be permitted to testify in
behalf of his brethren, that there is among us nothing ungodly or impious.
But those about the judgment seat cried out against him, for he was a man of
distinction, and the governor refused to grant his just request, and merely asked
if he also were a Christian.
And he, confessing this with a loud voice, was himself taken into the order of the
witnesses, being called the advocate of the Christians, but having the advocate in
himself, the spirit more abundantly than Zacharias.
He showed this by the fullness of his love, being well-pleased even to lay down
his life in defense of the brethren, for he was and is a true disciple of
Christ, following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
Then the others were divided, and the proto-witnesses were manifestly ready,
and finished their confession with all eagerness.
But some appeared unprepared and untrained, weak as yet, and unable to
endure so great a conflict.
About ten of these proved abortions, causing us great grief and sorrow beyond
measure, and impairing the zeal of the others who had not yet been seized,
but who, though suffering all kinds of affliction, continued constantly with the
witnesses and did not forsake them.
Then all of us feared greatly on account of uncertainty as to their confession,
not because we dreaded the sufferings to be endured, but because we looked to the
end, and were afraid that some of them might fall away.
But those who were worthy were seized day by day, filling up their number,
so that all the zealous persons, and those through whom especially our
affairs had been established, were collected together out of the two
churches.
And some of our heathen servants also were seized, as the governor had commanded that
all of us should be examined publicly.
These, being ensnared by Satan, and fearing for themselves the tortures
which they beheld the saints endure, and being also urged on by the soldiers,
accused us falsely of Theistian banquets and Oedipodian intercourse, and of deeds
which are not only unlawful for us to speak of or to think, but which we cannot
believe were ever done by men.
When these accusations were reported, all the people raged like wild beasts
against us, so that even if any had before been moderate on account of friendship,
they were now exceedingly furious, and gnashed their teeth against us.
And that which was spoken by our Lord was fulfilled, the time will come when
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God's service.
Then finally the holy witnesses endured sufferings beyond description,
Satan striving earnestly that some of the slanders might be uttered by them also.
But the whole wrath of the populace, and governor, and soldiers was aroused
exceedingly against Sanctus, the deacon from Vien, and Maturus, a late convert,
yet a noble combatant, and against Attalus, a native of Pergamos,
where he had always been a pillar and foundation, and Blandina, through whom
Christ showed that things which appear mean and obscure and despicable to men are
with God of great glory, drew love toward him manifested in power, and not boasting
in appearance.
For while we all trembled, and her earthly mistress, who was herself also one of the
witnesses, feared that on account of the weakness of her body she would be unable
to make bold confession, Blandina was filled with such power as to be delivered
and raised above those who were torturing her by turns from morning till evening in
every manner, so that they acknowledged that they were conquered, and could do
nothing more to her.
And they were astonished at her endurance, as her entire body was mangled and broken,
and they testified that one of these forms of torture was sufficient to destroy life,
not to speak of so many and so great sufferings.
But the blessed woman, like a noble athlete, renewed her strength in her
confession, and her comfort and recreation and relief from the pain of her sufferings
was in exclaiming, I am a Christian, and there is nothing vile done by us.
But Sanctus also endured marvelously and superhumanly all the outrages which he
suffered.
While the wicked men hoped by the continuance and severity of his tortures
to wring something from him which he ought not to say, he girded himself against them
with such firmness that he would not even tell his name, or the nation or city to
which he belonged, or whether he was bond or free, but answered in the Roman tongue
to all their questions, I am a Christian.
He confessed this instead of name and city and race and everything besides,
and the people heard from him no other word.
There arose therefore on the part of the governor and his tormentors a great desire
to conquer him.
But having nothing more that they could do to him, they finally fastened red-hot
brazen plates to the most tender parts of his body.
And these indeed were burned, but he continued unbending and unyielding,
firm in his confession, and refreshed and strengthened by the heavenly fountain of
the water of life, flowing from the bowels of Christ.
And his body was a witness of his sufferings, being one complete wound and
bruise, drawn out of shape and altogether unlike a human form.
Christ, suffering in him, manifested his glory, delivering him from his adversary,
and making him an example for the others, showing that nothing is fearful where the
love of the Father is, and nothing painful where there is the glory of Christ.
For when the wicked men tortured him a second time after some days, supposing
that with his body swollen and inflamed to such a degree that he could not bear the
touch of a hand, if they should again apply the same instruments, they would
overcome him, or at least by his death under his sufferings others would be made
afraid, not only did not this occur, but, contrary to all human expectation,
his body arose and stood erect in the midst of the subsequent torments,
and resumed its original appearance and the use of its limbs, so that,
through the grace of Christ, these second sufferings became to him not torture but
healing.
But the devil, thinking that he had already consumed Biblius, who was one of
those who had denied Christ, desiring to increase her condemnation through the
utterance of blasphemy, brought her again to the torture, to compel her,
as already feeble and weak, to report impious things concerning us.
But she recovered herself under the suffering, and as if awaking from a deep
sleep, and reminded by the present anguish of the eternal punishment in hell,
she contradicted the blasphemers.
How, she said, could those eat children who do not think it lawful to taste the
blood even of irrational animals?
And thenceforward she confessed herself a Christian, and was given a place in the
order of the witnesses.
But as the tyrannical tortures were made by Christ of none effect through the
patience of the blessed, the devil invented other contrivances, confinement
in the dark and most loathsome parts of the prison, stretching of the feet to the
fifth hole in the stocks, and the other outrages which his servants are accustomed
to inflict upon the prisoners when furious and filled with the devil.
A great many were suffocated in prison, being chosen by the Lord for this manner
of death, that He might manifest in them His glory.
For some, though they had been tortured so cruelly that it seemed impossible that
they could live, even with the most careful nursing, yet destitute of human
attention, remained in the prison, being strengthened by the Lord,
and invigorated both in body and soul, and they exhorted and encouraged the rest.
But such as were young and arrested recently, so that their bodies had not
become accustomed to torture, were unable to endure the severity of their
confinement, and died in prison.
The blessed Pothinus, who had been entrusted with the bishopric of Lyons,
was dragged to the judgment seat.
He was more than ninety years of age, and very infirm, scarcely indeed able to
breathe because of physical weakness, but he was strengthened by spiritual zeal
through his earnest desire for martyrdom.
Though his body was worn out by old age and disease, his life was preserved that
Christ might triumph in it.
When he was brought by the soldiers to the tribunal, accompanied by the civil
magistrates and a multitude who shouted against him in every manner as if he were
Christ himself, he bore noble witness.
Being asked by the governor who was the God of the Christians, he replied,
If thou art worthy, thou shalt know.
Then he was dragged away harshly, and received blows of every kind.
Those near him struck him with their hands and feet, regardless of his age,
and those at a distance hurled at him whatever they could seize, all of them
thinking that they would be guilty of great wickedness and impiety if any
possible abuse were omitted, for thus they thought to avenge their own deities.
Scarcely able to breathe, he was cast into prison, and died after two days.
Then a certain great dispensation of God occurred, and the compassion of Jesus
appeared beyond measure, in a manner rarely seen among the brotherhood,
but not beyond the power of Christ.
For those who had recanted after their first arrest were imprisoned with the
others, and endured terrible sufferings, so that their denial was of no profit to
them even for the present.
But those who confessed what they were, were imprisoned as Christians,
no other accusation being brought against them.
But the first were treated afterwards as murderers and defiled, and were punished
twice as severely as the others.
For the joy of martyrdom, and the hope of the promises, and love for Christ,
and the spirit of the Father supported the latter, but their consciences so greatly
distressed the former, that they were easily distinguishable from all the rest
by their very countenances when they were led forth.
For the first went out rejoicing, glory and grace being blended in their
faces, so that even their bonds seemed like beautiful ornaments, as those of a
bride adorned with variegated golden fringes, and they were perfumed with the
sweet savour of Christ, so that some supposed that they had been anointed with
earthly ointment.
But the others were downcast, and humble, and dejected, and filled with every kind
of disgrace.
And they were reproached by the heathen as ignoble and weak, bearing the accusation
of murderers, and having lost the one honourable and glorious and life-giving
name.
The rest, beholding this, were strengthened, and when apprehended,
they confessed without hesitation, paying no attention to the persuasions of
the devil.
After certain other words they continue.
After these things, finally, their martyrdoms were divided into every form.
For plating a crown of various colours and of all kinds of flowers, they presented it
to the Father.
It was proper, therefore, that the noble athletes, having endured a manifold
strife, and conquered grandly, should receive the crown, great and
incorruptible.
Matyrus, therefore, and Sanctus, and Blandina, and Attalus, were led to the
amphitheatre to be exposed to the wild beasts, and to give to the heathen public
a spectacle of cruelty, a day for fighting with wild beasts being specially appointed
on account of our people.
Both Matyrus and Sanctus passed again through every torment in the amphitheatre,
as if they had suffered nothing before, or rather, as if, having already conquered
their antagonist in many contests, they were now striving for the crown
itself.
They endured again the customary running of the gauntlet, and the violence of the
wild beasts, and everything which the furious people called for or desired,
and at last the iron chair in which their bodies being roasted tormented them with
the fumes.
And not with this did the persecutors cease, but were yet more mad against them,
determined to overcome their patience.
But even thus they did not hear a word from Sanctus except the confession which
he had uttered from the beginning.
These then, after their life had continued for a long time through the great
conflict, were at last sacrificed, having been made throughout that day a
spectacle to the world, in place of the usual variety of combats.
But Blandina was suspended on a stake, and exposed to be devoured by the wild
beasts who should attack her.
And because she appeared as if hanging on a cross, and because of her earnest
prayers, she inspired the combatants with great zeal.
For they looked on her in her conflict, and beheld with their outward eyes,
in the form of their sister, him who was crucified for them, that he might persuade
those who believe on him, that everyone who suffers for the glory of Christ has
fellowship always with the living God.
As none of the wild beasts at that time touched her, she was taken down from the
stake, and cast again into prison.
She was preserved thus for another contest, that, being victorious in more
conflicts, she might make the punishment of the crooked serpent irrevocable.
And though small and weak and despised, yet clothed with Christ the mighty and
conquering athlete, she might arouse the zeal of the brethren, and having overcome
the adversary many times, might receive, through her conflict, the crown
incorruptible.
But Attalus was called for loudly by the people, because he was a person of
distinction.
He entered the contest readily, on account of a good conscience and his
genuine practice in Christian discipline, and as he had always been a witness for
the truth among us.
He was led around the amphitheater, a tablet being carried before him,
on which was written in the Roman language, This is Attalus the Christian,
and the people were filled with indignation against him.
But when the governor learned that he was a Roman, he commanded him to be taken back
with the rest of those who were in prison concerning whom he had written to Caesar,
and whose answer he was awaiting.
But the intervening time was not wasted nor fruitless to them, for by their
patience the measureless compassion of Christ was manifested.
For through their continued life the dead were made alive, and the witnesses showed
favor to those who had failed to witness.
And the virgin mother had much joy in receiving alive those whom she had brought
forth as dead.
For through their influence many who had denied were restored, and rebegotten,
and rekindled with life, and learned to confess.
And being made alive and strengthened, they went to the judgment seat to be again
interrogated by the governor, God who desires not the death of the sinner,
but mercifully invites to repentance, treating them with kindness.
For Caesar commanded that they should be put to death, but that any who might deny
should be set free.
Therefore, at the beginning of the public festival which took place there,
and which was attended by crowds of men from all nations, the governor brought the
blessed ones to the judgment seat, to make of them a show and spectacle for
the multitude.
Wherefore also he examined them again, and beheaded those who appeared to possess
Roman citizenship, but he sent the others to the wild beasts.
And Christ was glorified greatly in those who had formerly denied him, for,
contrary to the expectation of the heathen, they confessed.
For they were examined by themselves as about to be set free, but confessing they
were added to the order of the witnesses.
But some continued without, who had never possessed a trace of faith, nor any
apprehension of the wedding garment, nor an understanding of the fear of God,
but as sons of perdition, they blasphemed the way through their apostasy.
But all the others were added to the church.
While these were being examined, a certain Alexander, a Phrygian by birth,
and physician by profession, who had resided in Gaul for many years,
and was well known to all on account of his love to God and boldness of speech,
for he was not without a share of apostolic grace, standing before the
judgment seat, and by signs encouraging them to confess, appeared to those
standing by as if in travail.
But the people, being enraged because those who formerly denied now confessed,
cried out against Alexander as if he were the cause of this.
Then the governor summoned him and inquired who he was, and when he answered
that he was a Christian, being very angry, he condemned him to the wild beasts.
And on the next day he entered along with Attalus, for to please the people the
governor had ordered Attalus again to the wild beasts.
And they were tortured in the amphitheater with all the instruments contrived for
that purpose, and having endured a very great conflict, were at last sacrificed.
Alexander neither groaned nor murmured in any manner, but communed in his heart with
God.
But when Attalus was placed in the iron seat and the fumes arose from his burning
body, he said to the people in the Roman language, Lo, this which ye do is
devouring men, but we do not devour men, nor do any other wicked thing.
And being asked what name God has, he replied, God has not a name as man has.
After all these, on the last day of the contests, Blandina was again brought in,
with Ponticus, a boy about fifteen years old.
They had been brought every day to witness the sufferings of the others, and had been
pressed to swear by the idols.
But because they remained steadfast and despised them, the multitude became
furious, so that they had no compassion for the youth of the boy, nor respect for
the sex of the woman.
Therefore they exposed them to all the terrible sufferings and took them through
the entire round of torture, repeatedly urging them to swear, but being unable to
effect this.
For Ponticus, encouraged by his sister so that even the heathen could see that she
was confirming and strengthening him, having nobly endured every torture,
gave up the ghost.
But the blessed Blandina, last of all, having, as a noble mother, encouraged her
children and sent them before her victorious to the king, endured herself
all their conflicts and hastened after them, glad and rejoicing in her departure
as if called to a marriage supper, rather than cast to wild beasts.
And after the scourging, after the wild beasts, after the roasting seat,
she was finally enclosed in a net and thrown before a bull.
And having been tossed about by the animal, but feeling none of the things
which were happening to her, on account of her hope and firm hold upon what had been
entrusted to her, and her communion with Christ, she also was sacrificed.
And the heathen themselves confessed that never among them had a woman endured so
many and such terrible tortures.
But not even thus was their madness and cruelty toward the saints satisfied.
For, incited by the wild beast, wild and barbarous tribes were not easily
appeased, and their violence found another peculiar opportunity in the dead bodies.
For, through their lack of manly reason, the fact that they had been conquered did
not put them to shame, but rather the more enkindled their wrath as that of a wild
beast, and aroused alike the hatred of governor and people to treat us unjustly,
that the scripture might be fulfilled, he that is lawless, let him be lawless
still, and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.
For they cast to the dogs those who had died of suffocation in the prison,
carefully guarding them by night and day, lest anyone should be buried by us.
And they exposed the remains left by the wild beasts and by fire, mangled and
charred, and placed the heads of the others by their bodies, and guarded them
in like manner from burial by a watch of soldiers for many days.
And some raged and gnashed their teeth against them, desiring to execute more
severe vengeance upon them, but others laughed and mocked at them, magnifying
their own idols, and imputed to them the punishment of the Christians.
Even the more reasonable, and those who had seemed to sympathize somewhat,
reproached them often, saying, Where is their God, and what has their
religion, which they have chosen rather than life, profited them?
So various was their conduct toward us, but we were in deep affliction because we
could not bury the bodies.
For neither did night avail us for this purpose, nor did money persuade,
nor entreaty move to compassion, but they kept watch in every way,
as if the prevention of the burial would be of some great advantage to them.
In addition, they say, after other things, the bodies of the martyrs, having thus in
every manner been exhibited and exposed for six days, were afterward burned and
reduced to ashes, and swept into the roam by the wicked men, so that no trace of
them might appear on the earth.
And this they did, as if able to conquer God and prevent their new birth,
that, as they said, they may have no hope of a resurrection, through trust in which
they bring to us this foreign and new religion, and despise terrible things,
and are ready even to go to death with joy.
Now let us see if they will rise again, and if their God is able to help them,
and to deliver them out of our hands.
End of Book 5, Part 1