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THE same writer, in an epistle to Fabius, bishop of Antioch,
relates as follows the sufferings of the martyrs in Alexandria under
Decius:
"The persecution among us did not begin with the royal decree, but
preceded it an entire year. The prophet and author of evils to this
city, whoever he was, previously moved and aroused against us the
masses of the heathen, rekindling among them the superstition of their
country. And being thus excited by him and finding full opportunity
for any wickedness, they considered this the only pious service of
their demons, that they should slay
"They seized first an old man named Metras, and commanded him to
utter impious words. But as he would not obey, they beat him with
clubs, and tore his face and eyes with sharp sticks, and dragged him
out of the city and stoned him. Then they carried to their idol temple
a faithful woman, named Quinta, that they might force her to
worship. And as she turned away in detestation, they bound her feet
and dragged her through the entire city over the stone-paved streets,
and dashed her against the millstones, and at the same time scourged
her; then, taking her to the same place, they stoned her to death.
Then all with one impulse rushed to the homes of the pious, and they
dragged forth whomsoever any one knew as a neighbor, and despoiled and
plundered them. They took for themselves the more valuable property;
but the poorer articles and those made of wood they scattered about and
burned in the streets, so that the city appeared as if taken by an
enemy. But the brethren withdrew and went away, and 'took joyfully
the spoiling of their goods,' like those to whom Paul bore witness.
I know of no one unless possibly some one who fell into their hands,
who, up to this time, denied the
Lord. Then they seized also that most admirable virgin, Apollonia,
an old woman, and, smiting her on the jaws, broke out all her teeth.
And they made a fire outside the city and threatened to burn her alive
if she would not join with them in their impious cries. And she,
supplicating a little, was released, when she leaped eagerly into the
fire and was consumed. Then they seized Serapion in his own house,
and tortured him with harsh cruelties, and having broken all his
limbs, they threw him headlong from an upper story. And there was no
street, nor public road, nor lane open to us, by night or day; for
always and everywhere, all of them cried out that if any one would not
repeat their impious words, he should immediately be dragged away and
burned. And matters continued thus for a considerable time.
But a sedition and civil war came upon the wretched people and turned
their cruelty toward us against one another. So we breathed for a
little while as they ceased from their rage against us. But presently
the change from that milder reign was announced to us, and great fear
of what was threatened seized us. For the decree arrived, almost like
unto that most terrible time foretold by our Lord, which if it were
possible would offend even the elect.
All truly were affrighted. And many of the more eminent in their fear
came forward immediately; others who were in the public service were
drawn on by their official duties; others were urged on by their
acquaintances. And as their names were called they approached the
impure and impious sacrifices. Some of them were pale and trembled as
if they were not about to sacrifice, but to be themselves sacrifices
and offerings to the idols; so that they were jeered at by the
multitude who stood around, as it was plain to every one that they were
afraid either to die or to sacrifice. But some advanced to the altars
more readily, declaring boldly that they had never been Christians.
Of these the prediction of our Lord is most true that they shall
'hardly' be saved. Of the rest some followed the one, others the
other of these classes, some fled and some were seized. And of the
latter some continued faithful until bonds and imprisonment, and some
who had even been imprisoned for many days yet abjured the faith before
they were brought to trial. Others having for a time endured great
tortures finally retracted. But the firm and blessed pillars of the
Lord being strengthened by him, and having received vigor and might
suitable and appropriate to the strong faith which they possessed,
became admirable witnesses of his kingdom. The first of these was
Julian, a man who suffered so much with the gout that he was unable to
stand or walk. They brought him forward with two others who carried
him.
One of these immediately denied. But the other, whose name was
Cronion, and whose surname was Eunus, and the old man Julian
himself, both of them having confessed the Lord, were carried on
camels through the entire city, which, as you know, is a very large
one, and in this elevated position were beaten and finally burned in a
fierce fire, surrounded by all the populace.
But a soldier, named Besas, who stood by them as they were led away
rebuked those who insulted them. And they cried out against him, and
this most manly warrior of God was arraigned, and having done nobly in
the great contest for piety, was beheaded. A certain other one, a
Libyan by birth, but in name and blessedness a true Macar, was
strongly urged by the judge to recant; but as he would not yield he was
burned alive. After them Epimachus and Alexander, having remained
in bonds for a long time, and endured countless agonies from scrapers
and scourges, were also consumed in a fierce fire. And with them
there were four women. Ammonarium, a holy virgin, the judge tortured
relentlessly and excessively, because she declared from the first that
she would utter none of those things which he commanded; and having
kept her promise truly, she was dragged away. The others were
Mercuria, a very remarkable old woman, and Dionysia, the mother of
many children, who did not love her own children above the Lord. As
the governor was ashamed of torturing thus ineffectually, and being
always defeated by women, they were put to death by the sword, without
the trial of tortures. For the champion, Ammonarium, endured these
in behalf of all.
The Egyptians, Heron and Ater and Isidorus 19, and with them
Dioscorus, a boy about fifteen years old, were delivered up. At
first the judge attempted to deceive the lad by fair words, as if he
could be brought over easily, and then to force him by tortures, as
one who would readily yield. But Dioscorus was neither persuaded nor
constrained. As the others remained firm, he scourged them cruelly
and then delivered them to the fire. But admiring the manner in which
Dioscorus had distinguished himself publicly, and his wise answers to
his persuasions, he dismissed him, saying that on account of his youth
he would give him time for repentance. And this most godly Dioscorus
is among us now, awaiting a longer conflict and more severe contest.
But a certain Nemesion, who also was an
Egyptian, was accused as an associate of robbers; but when he had
cleared himself before the centurion of this charge most foreign to the
truth, he was informed against as a Christian, and taken in bonds
before the governor. And the most unrighteous magistrate inflicted on
him tortures and scourgings double those which he executed on the
robbers, and then burned him between the robbers, thus honoring the
blessed man by the likeness to Christ.
A band of soldiers, Ammon and Zeno and
Ptolemy and Ingenes, and with them an old man, Theophilus, were
standing close together before the tribunal. And as a certain person
who was being tried as a Christian, seemed inclined to deny, they
standing by gnashed their teeth, and made signs with their faces and
stretched out their hands, and gestured with their bodies. And when
the attention of all was turned to them, before any one else could
seize them, they rushed up to the tribunal saying that they were
Christians, so that the governor and his council were affrighted.
And those who were on trial appeared most courageous in prospect of
their sufferings, while their judges trembled. And they went
exultingly from the tribunal rejoicing in their testimony; God himself
having caused them to triumph gloriously."
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