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Why need we mention the rest by name, or number the multitude of the
men, or picture the various sufferings of the admirable martyrs of
Christ? Some of them were slain with the axe, as in Arabia. The
limbs of some were broken, as in Cappadocia. Some, raised on high
by the feet, with their heads down, while a gentle fire burned beneath
them, were suffocated by the smoke which arose from the burning wood,
as was done in Mesopotamia. Others were mutilated by cutting off
their noses and ears and hands, and cutting to pieces the other members
and parts of their bodies, as in
Alexandria. Why need we revive the recollection of those in Antioch
who were roasted on grates, not so as to kill them, but so as to
subject them to a lingering punishment? Or of others who preferred to
thrust their right hand into the fire rather than touch the impious
sacrifice? Some, shrinking from the trial, rather than be taken and
fall into the hands of their enemies, threw themselves from lofty
houses, considering death preferable to the cruelty of the impious.
A certain holy person, in soul admirable for virtue, in body a
woman, who was illustrious beyond all in Antioch for wealth and family
and reputation, had brought up in the principles of religion her two
daughters, who were now in the freshness and bloom of life. Since
great envy was excited on their account, every means was used to find
them in their concealment; and when it was ascertained that they were
away, they were summoned deceitfully to Antioch. Thus they were
caught in the nets of the soldiers. When the woman saw herself and her
daughters thus helpless, and knew the things terrible to speak of that
men would do to them, and the most unbearable of all terrible things,
the threatened violation of their chastity, she exhorted herself and
the maidens that they ought not to submit even to hear of this. For,
she said, that to surrender their souls to the slavery of demons was
worse than all deaths and destruction; and she set before them the only
deliverance from all these things, escape to Christ. They then
listened to her advice. And after arranging their garments suitably,
they went aside from the middle of the road, having requested of the
guards a little time for retirement, and cast themselves into a river
which was flowing by. Thus they destroyed themselves. But there were
two other virgins in the same city of Antioch who served God in all
things, and were true sisters, illustrious in family and distinguished
in life, young and blooming, serious in mind, pious in deportment,
and admirable for zeal. As if the earth could not bear such
excellence, the worshipers of demons commanded to cast them into the
sea. And this was done to them.
In Pontus, others endured sufferings horrible to hear. Their
fingers were pierced with sharp reeds under their nails. Melted lead,
bubbling and boiling with the heat, was poured down the backs of
others, and they were roasted in the most sensitive parts of the body.
Others endured on their bowels and privy members shameful and inhuman
and unmentionable torments, which the noble and law-observing judges,
to show their severity, devised, as more honorable manifestations of
wisdom. And new tortures were continually invented, as if they were
endeavoring, by surpassing one another, to gain! prizes in a
contest. But at the close of these calamities, when finally they
could contrive no greater cruelties, and were weary of putting to
death, and were filled and satiated with the shedding of blood, they
turned to what they considered merciful and humane treatment, so that
they seemed to be no longer devising terrible things against us. For
they said that it was not fitting that the cities should be polluted
with the blood of their own people, or that the government of their
rulers, which was kind and mild toward all, should be defamed through
excessive cruelty; but that rather the beneficence of the humane and
royal authority should be extended to all, and we should no longer be
put to death. For the infliction of this punishment upon us should be
stopped in consequence of the humanity of the rulers. Therefore it was
commanded that our eyes should be put out, and that we should be maimed
in one of our limbs. For such things were humane in their sight, and
the lightest of punishments for us. So that now on account of this
kindly treatment accorded us by the impious, it was impossible to tell
the incalculable number of those whose right eyes had first been cut out
with the sword, and then had been cauterized with fire; or who had
been disabled in the left foot by burning the joints, and afterward
condemned to the provincial copper mines, not so much for service as
for distress and hardship. Besides all these, others encountered
other trials, which it is impossible to recount; for their manly
endurance surpasses all description. In these conflicts the noble
martyrs of Christ shone illustrious over the entire world, and
everywhere astonished those who beheld their manliness; and the
evidences of the truly divine and unspeakable power of our Saviour were
made manifest through them. To mention each by name would be a long
task, if not indeed impossible.
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