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Since we have mentioned Phileas as having a high reputation for
secular learning, let him be his own witness in the following extract,
in which he shows us who he was, and at the same time describes more
accurately than we can the martyrdoms which occurred in his time at
Alexandria:
"Having before them all these examples and models and noble tokens
which are given us in the Divine and Sacred Scriptures, the blessed
martyrs who were with us did not hesitate, but directing the eye of the
soul in sincerity toward the God over all, and having their mind set
upon death for religion, they adhered firmly to their calling. For
they understood that our Lord Jesus Christ had become man on our
account, that he might cut off all sin and furnish us with the means of
entrance into eternal life. For 'he counted it not a prize to be on
an equality with God, but emptied himself taking the form of a
servant; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself unto
death, even the death of the cross.' Wherefore also being zealous
for the greater gifts, the Christ-bearing martyrs endured all trials
and all kinds of contrivances for torture; not once only, but some
also a second time. And although the guards vied with each other in
threatening them in all sorts of ways, not in words only, but in
actions, they did not give up their resolution; because 'perfect love
casteth out fear.'
"What words could describe their courage and manliness under every
torture? For as liberty to abuse them was given to all that wished,
some beat them with clubs, others with rods, others with scourges,
yet others with thongs, and others with ropes. And the spectacle of
the outrages was varied and exhibited great malignity. For some, with
their hands bound behind them, were suspended on the stocks, and every
member stretched by certain machines. Then the torturers, as
commanded, lacerated with instruments their entire bodies i not only
their sides, as in the case of murderers, but also their stomachs and
knees and cheeks. Others were raised aloft, suspended from the porch
by one hand, and endured the most terrible suffering of all, through
the distension of their joints and limbs. Others were bound face to
face to pillars, not resting on their feet, but with the weight of
their bodies bearing on their bonds and drawing them tightly.
And they endured this, not merely as long as the governor talked with
them or was at leisure, but through almost the entire day. For when
he passed on to others, he left officers under his authority to watch
the first, and observe if any of them, overcome by the tortures,
appeared to yield. And he commanded to cast them into chains without
mercy, and afterwards when they were at the last gasp to throw them to
the ground and drag them away. For he said that they were not to have
the least concern for us, but were to think and act as if we no longer
existed, our enemies having invented this second mode of torture in
addition to the stripes.
"Some, also, after these outrages, were placed on the stocks, and
had both their feet stretched over the four holes, so that they were
compelled to lie on their backs on the stocks, being unable to keep
themselves up on account of the fresh wounds with which their entire
bodies were covered as a result of the scourging. Others were thrown
on the ground and lay there under the accumulated infliction of
tortures, exhibiting to the spectators a more terrible manifestation of
severity, as they bore on their bodies the marks of the various and
diverse punishments which had been invented.
As this went on, some died under the tortures, shaming the adversary
by their constancy. Others half dead were shut up in prison, and
suffering with their agonies, they died in a few days; but the rest,
recovering under the care which they received, gained confidence by
time and their long detention in prison.
When therefore they were ordered to choose whether they would be
released from molestation by touching the polluted sacrifice, and would
receive from them the accursed freedom, or refusing to sacrifice,
should be condemned to death, they did not hesitate, but went to death
cheerfully. For they knew what had been declared before by the Sacred
Scriptures. For it is said, 'He that sacrificeth to other gods
shall be utterly destroyed,' and, 'Thou shalt have no other gods
before me.'"
Such are the words of the truly philosophical and God-loving martyr,
which, before the final sentence, while yet in prison, he addressed
to the brethren in his parish, showing them his own circumstances, and
at the same time exhorting them to hold fast, even after his
approaching death, to the religion of Christ.
But why need we dwell upon these things, and continue to add fresh
instances of the conflicts of the divine martyrs throughout the world,
especially since they were dealt with no longer by common law, but
attacked like enemies of war?
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