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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 Rhone 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 through out 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
us-ward.' 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 chiliarch 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 eider Zacharias: for he ' walked in
all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,' s 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
setrants 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
Thyestean banquets and Edipodean 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 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
Vienne, 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, through 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 Biblias, 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 m 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 at 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 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 savor of Christ, so that some supposed 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 honorable 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 For
plaiting a crown of various colors 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. "Maturus,
therefore, and Sanctus and Blandina and Attalus were led to the
amphi-theater 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
Maturus and Sanctus passed again through every torment in the
amphitheater, 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 every one 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 re-be-gotten, 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 , 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 east 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 any one 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 Rhone 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.'"
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