ON THE HOLY THESSALONIAN MARTYRS, AGATHOPUS THE DEACON AND THEODULUS THE LECTOR.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH CENTURY.
PrefaceAgathodorus, Deacon and Martyr at Thessalonica (St.)
Theodulus, Lector and Martyr at Thessalonica (St.)
D. P.
FROM A GREEK MANUSCRIPT.
These holy Martyrs of Thessalonica are referred to this day in all sacred calendars, both Greek and Latin, Acts written in Greek and indeed in such a way that they alone are named in the metrical Ephemeris and the tables of the Muscovite kalendar — which is to us an almost certain proof that their illustrious Acts were written long ago. These Acts, drawn from the library of the dominion of Venice by Peter Francis Zino and rendered into Latin, were edited by Lipomanus in volume 7 of his Lives of the Saints, and from him by Surius on this day. We, having obtained the same from a Greek Vatican manuscript, such as were accustomed to be recited at Thessalonica on their annual feast, given from a Vatican manuscript judged them worthy of a new translation, because the earlier version often and greatly departs from the phrasing of the original text, and sometimes has an entirely different sense, so that we are forced to hold suspect either the sincerity of the Venetian manuscript or the diligence of the translator. Nevertheless we did not deem it worthwhile to explain in the Annotations all the places in which our text — which we give in Greek at the end — differs from Zino's version; but it will suffice to have noted a few of the more serious matters.
[2] From these Acts moreover were taken the ancient eulogies among the Greeks, one of which reads thus in the Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus: "On the fourth day of the same month of April, the contest of the holy Martyrs Agathopus and Theodulus. Eulogy from the Menology of Emperor Basil Agathopus, most holy Deacon, and Theodulus, religious Lector, Martyrs of Christ, were from the city of Thessalonica. Being apprehended for the faith of Christ by worshippers of idols, they were brought to the President of the city, and ordered to adore the idols. When they refused to do this, they were shut up in prison, in which both on the same night had this vision. They seemed to themselves to board a ship and to sail upon the sea; a mighty storm of waves having arisen, they saw the vessel shattered and the sailors drowned in the sea, but themselves alone saved and carried to a lofty hill. This vision signified their death in the sea and ascent to heaven. For in the morning, when the President led them out of prison together, he ordered them to sacrifice to idols. When they could not be induced to do so, he commanded them to be drowned in the sea; and there they consummated their martyrdom."
[3] These same Martyrs are also referred to in the ancient Latin Martyrologies, and sometimes one, sometimes the other, is found placed first. Memory in the Latin calendars In the Epternach autograph of the Martyrology of Saint Jerome it is read thus: "On the day before the Nones of April. At Thessalonica, of Theodulus, Agatho the Deacon." In the same order they are read in the manuscripts of Reichenau, Rhinau, and Corbie; and without the city added, in the manuscripts of Augsburg, Labbe, and Aachen; but after the city, with others interposed, in the Liège manuscript of Saint Lawrence and in the manuscript Florarium of the Saints. In the manuscript of the Queen of Sweden it reads: "At Thessalonica, the natal day of Saints Theon, Theodulus, Agatho the Deacon." For "Theonis" is printed "Themis" by Holstenius in his Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology. But perhaps the name of Theon was elsewhere contracted from the name of Theodulus, and was added by another as though it were a different name. There is also another Saint Theonas given below on this day, and therefore we omit him here. In the apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology of Lucca, of Blume, and of Corbie printed at Paris, and in the Barberini manuscript it is written: "Second day before the Nones of April. At Thessalonica, the natal day of Saints Agatho the Deacon, Theodulus." Notker calls this Theodulus with Acts. And he who is here Agatho is in Greek Agathopus, in some Agathoponus, and Agathopolus.
[4] The time of martyrdom is noted as having been not only under Maximian Caesar, that is, Galerius, Time of the Passion and therefore after the year 293, when he together with Constantius Chlorus was called Caesar by the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, a most zealous imitator of their cruelty toward the Christians in the East; but it is also understood that it must be deferred beyond the year 302, when it was first decreed that the sacred books of the Christians should be burned. On which matter see the Ecclesiastical Annals of Cardinal Baronius for the said year and the following.
ACTS
From the Vatican Greek Manuscript 1660.
Agathodorus, Deacon and Martyr at Thessalonica (St.)
Theodulus, Lector and Martyr at Thessalonica (St.)
FROM A GREEK MANUSCRIPT.
CHAPTER I.
The birth, order, constancy, and first interrogation before the President of the Saints.
FROM A GREEK MANUSCRIPT.
[1] The devil is always, to be sure, creeping in deceitfully upon piety toward God as it flourishes, Persecution being stirred up to test the virtue of the elect and attempts to overthrow it; yet he has no power to avail anything against the sturdy soldiers of religion, overcoming only those who approach the faith of Christ with a rather cowardly mind. For just as when war bears down upon some region which has flourished in long peace, a brave man often exposes his body to blows and to death, that he may be crowned with the wreath of glory, while the cowardly and fearful man yields to his adversaries, preferring the safety of his body to praise: so when the satellites of the infernal dragon begin to persecute those joined to Christ in a hostile manner, you may see one, whose faith toward God is less firm, overcome by torments and falling away from his resolve; but another, armed with the word of Christ, keeps the worship of the divine power inviolate, and is not overcome by any man's wickedness.
[2] Such a man beyond all was Theodulus who shone forth, showing a mind superior to his sufferings; Theodulus and Agathopus constant in faith who, having Agathopus as a noble partner in his trust in God, by a present and constant mind dispelled that great tempest of impiety and storm of seething idolatry which in the time of Maximian Caesar shook the whole world. For when the horsemen running through the empire were everywhere compelling the peoples subject to it to deny the Creator of all things, and were pressing with every zeal and effort for the overthrow of divine religion, then to that impious decree, by which death was set forth for anyone refusing to sacrifice, some went one way and some another. For some of them, choosing the brief enjoyment of this life for a great gain, ate of polluted foods, and for the sake of momentary pleasure procured for themselves death and eternal ruin; but those whose sense was altogether sounder and firmer in the right faith could in no way be induced to abjure the true God, but offered themselves to endure tortures.
[3] They are apprehended While therefore the devil, author of this scene, rejoiced that, the weaker ones being seized by fear, he was coming out superior; Theodulus and Agathopus, consuming all their time in God's house with fastings and prayers, begged God that He would cast down impiety to the ground. Admiring their constancy, the soldiers and their leaders and the Prefect of the treasury, because, while the rest were seeking to hide themselves, these two alone confidently preached God's word, brought them to the place of contest, shining with a more gracious countenance even after receiving their chains. Of these Theodulus Theodulus, while in other respects he was a young man of untouched modesty, his cheeks were glowing with the first flower of youth; and he had parents b in the city of Thessalonica; his brothers Capito, Metrodorus, and Philostorgius, young in age, also held a perfect piety toward God, and by their inborn character and manners conspired with the readiness of the Martyr.
[4] But this man, before he suffered, of the future contest
received by divine gift a pledge. Strengthened in faith by a ring divinely received For while the impious decree had not yet been promulgated, as he was resting in the dead of night, he felt something placed upon his hand, at which he awoke. And what was it? It was a ring of unknown material, having on its bezel a seal; by which I believe the Lord of the universe indicated that the gift came from Him who commands the four elements: for if a grave and desperate illness should befall a famous man c who possessed only this ring, its presence alone was sufficient for the driving away of the disease. And such, as we have said, was Theodulus. Agathopus, who agreed with him, was a man already advanced in years, the other older and a Deacon very venerable in the gray hair of his head, and showing to the very last a magnanimity consonant with his former life. Both were pure ministers of piety, who, rejecting the pleasures of the body, looked assiduously to the one God and to Jesus the Word of God; since the one was a Deacon, for ministering those things which pertain to the salvation of believers; the other, by reading the expositions of the Apostles and Prophets, confirmed the faith of his hearers. Often too he adjured the demons, striving to pervert human nature both in mind and in body, by word alone and by the mighty sign of the Cross, bidding them to depart from the creature of God; and they, doing what was commanded d and shouting aloud, confessed the power of Him who could do so much against them through Theodulus.
[5] They are brought before the President Therefore Faustinus, at that time President of Thessalonica, sitting before the tribunal, when he saw that those brought into judgment uttered one and the same voice, "We are Christians," and with hands joined together, on account of the same resolution of mind, were transformed with shining countenance, immediately feared their free and measured liberty of speech, as though he foresaw that these alone would prevail against him by their noble mind and illustrious death. And so, wishing first to test Theodulus's mind by persuasion, he ordered all to withdraw, and feigning himself a friend, used (as he supposed) kind words to him, saying: "Let yourself be persuaded, young man, lest deceived by a new fraud you should of your own accord deprive yourself of life." To him Theodulus, Theodulus solicited in vain smiling with a placid countenance, replied: "For my part I long ago fled from every error and imposture; but I fear for you, lest, being overly devoted to vanity, you should cast yourself into eternal death." And when the President, nothing moved by these things, now enticed him with gifts, now flattered Theodulus with proposed honors, that he might approach to sacrifice, a certain Xenus, performing the priesthood of Jupiter, said: "If the honors offered do not persuade you to sacrifice, the torments will compel you to obey the commands of the Emperors." To him the Martyr: "So little does the dread of the things that can be threatened against me move me, that I cannot be bent even in the least."
[6] But when Faustinus again urged him to weigh how much difference there was between a life passed with honor and a death undergone with tortures, Theodulus said: "Indeed, considering this very thing, I have utterly resolved to despise the few and contemptible days of this life, that I may be made a partaker of heavenly goods. He freely confesses Christ Wherefore try this my body by fire, and you will learn by cutting that it is subject to corruption and consumable; but the rational soul, from every side invulnerable, the sooner freed from earthly matters and troubles, will the more rejoice. Then President Faustinus: "Who, I ask, is that author of so great a good, for love of whom you have resolved today to despise both blows and death?" Theodulus answered: "God, who has enclosed all things in the laws of nature, and His Son Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father, with whose cross I have been signed from infancy; and I will not abandon this sealing f until the end of my life. For sooner shall I be cast from this body by you and by every tyrant enemy of religion than from that seal." But Faustinus, wishing to refute his words, said: "Finely, young man, have you devised both the bars and seals of your God." "Rightly so," rejoined Theodulus, "as one who is a faithful minister of divine worship, against which you will never prevail, whether you fight with sword or fire, so as to break its bars and the seal of reason and faith, and insult me who intend to preach Christ as God."
[7] Faustinus, wondering at the youth's constancy, ordered Agathopus to be presented to him, Theodulus being removed far away by the officers. And when Agathopus came near the tribunal, Faustinus said: "Sacrifice: for behold Theodulus, first driven into error, now promises to sacrifice." But Agathopus, perceiving the fraud, answered: "I also promptly and gladly, according to his word, The President however lies that he has failed will offer sacrifice to God and to His Son Jesus Christ: for to these Theodulus promised to offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice." On the contrary Faustinus: "Not to these, not to these, I say, whom you rashly proclaim as Gods, but to the twelve gods who preserve the whole world, will he offer sacrifice." But Agathopus, gently shaking his head, said: "Do you call them Gods to me, whom the industry of art has fashioned from corruptible matter into human figures? Gods whom men have shaped with their own hands, but is refuted by Agathopus and, as though they were better and more excellent than themselves, have established for their own worship? Gods who, when men wish to overthrow them, cannot defend themselves? who neither see with eyes, nor walk with feet, nor are endowed with any gift of the senses? Gods whom the ancients g who once believed them to be endowed with a living soul have also handed down as stained with adulteries and loves of boys; and whose images now artisans sell for a silver coin or four obols? Shall I then offer the sacrifice due to the Almighty to an unworthy one, whom you think to be God, that He may look upon Him with eyes sculpted by hand? or shall I sing to Him an acceptable hymn, that He, receiving it with ears fashioned of gold or silver, may make me the Lord of those of whom He Himself cannot become a partaker?"
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
The prayer of the Saints in prison, and the second confession of Theodulus.
[8] While Agathopus was still saying such things, and those who stood by the President were afraid They are sent to prison lest the others also, brought into examination, should be inspired to hold the faith more steadfastly, they ordered him with Theodulus to be led at once to prison. But the crowd, which had thronged together, followed them as they hastened to better things, afflicting them in various ways: while some, pitying Theodulus's tender age, strove to draw him away from his unbending resolve of mind; others, contemplating Agathopus's venerable gray hair, with unanimous voice cried out, "Do you too, Agathopus, like an unskilled youth, not know what is expedient?" They spend the night in prayer But they, intent only upon piety, the conciliator of the better good, deigning them no answer, entered the prison and poured out prayers in silence. In the middle of the night, strengthened by dreams divinely sent, they rose together for joy and called upon Jesus Christ the Savior of all; then, their hands washed with clean water, they prostrated themselves face down upon the earth, and poured forth such a prayer as from one mouth.
[9] "God, Creator and Knower of all things, who, chaos being destroyed, didst fashion this visible world, ordaining the never-interrupted course of heaven; in which the sun should illuminate all things by day, and the moon should dispel the nocturnal darkness by its splendor, and both, together with the other stars, should serve the increase of things born from the earth: who to this earth didst assign the begetting of animals, praising God and to the sea the breed of fish living in the waters, and to the birds a place in the air; so that the sea might serve man, made by Thee, with its gifts, the air might render back to Thee an acceptable song through the sounding voice of birds, the earth, bringing forth fruits of every kind from its fruitful bosom for the use of the human race, might offer through man a hymn of praise and every possible thanksgiving to Thee, the Lord of all. Thou didst utterly refuse that our nation, bound by crimes, turning away from Thy commandments, cast into revelries and luxury, should perish, nor to permit the devil to drag down and blind the rational creature to the very depths of hell: but, consigning the sins committed against Thee to oblivion, Thou didst send from the heavenly seats to men Thy Only-Begotten, bent by mercy alone, that, putting on human nature, He might join the immortal essence to our mortality; and the Word, ever remaining with Thee, through whom all things were made, might recall those wandering in injustices to the standard of a right and pious life. For Thou with the Son, and his mighty works and the Son with Thee and with the Holy Spirit, traversing the world, didst lead the impious to faith by Thy wonders. Thou didst raise Lazarus, already paid to the debt of nature, who had lain four days in the tomb, by Thy voice alone from the dead, the bonds of necessity being broken and the law of nature and the power of death being conquered. Thou didst restore sight to a man deprived of the faculty of seeing and unable to behold the sun given by Thee to the world, laying clay upon his eyes with Thy right hand. So once the woman suffering from an issue of blood obtained health, sooner than she had hoped, from the touch of Thy fringe alone. So it pleased Thee to command the paralytic to take up the pallet on which he was carried. Now therefore may it also please Thee, O God, in this our b fellowship, that, the torments of the impious being steadfastly overcome, we may be able to attain to the heavenly kingdom."
[10] The President disturbed by the conversion of many As the holy ones Agathopus and Theodulus were thus praying, all who were detained in that same place either for the crime of homicide or of adultery, forthwith laying aside the fear of death, prostrated themselves at the feet of the blessed Martyrs, as suppliants begging pardon for their crimes. And the crowds which were outside, breaking through the bars of the prison, were filled with great wonder at the things that were said. And so, a certain Urban, surnamed Eupsephius, at that time Quaestor of Thessalonica and an impious minister of the diabolical scene, having seen what was done, ran in haste to the President, shouting with a great voice and declaring that there would be very many who would refuse to sacrifice to the gods, unless the servants of God were taken out of the way. But Faustinus, greatly disturbed, especially on account of the crowd which had broken into the prison, ordered the youth to be brought with the old man: and when they saw them with so glad and cheerful a countenance preaching the Word of God,
as if they were not being hurried to death, but sent forth to a triumph or a joyful festivity, they wondered to see them mutually congratulating each other on the impending punishment.
[11] He questions Theodulus again When therefore they stood before the tribunal, Faustinus said to Theodulus: "By what name are you called?" He answered, "I am called Theodulus." "Have you not learned," said the President, "that it is just that obedience be rendered to what Maximian, Lord of all, commands?" Theodulus answered and said: "The things which the Lord of heaven and earth commands, I have indeed learned must be observed; but what Maximian commands, if they are just, I hold must be kept; if unjust, by no means." "Tell me," said Faustinus, "who made heaven." "God," replied Theodulus, "Almighty, and the Son of God Jesus Christ, who is the Word of the Father." "Is he," said Faustinus, "the one whom the Jews crucified after torturing Him with the gravest torments?" "That very one," answered Theodulus, "whom the Jews crucified (for this He willed to suffer for our sake), and whom the same, a little after, recalled from the dead to life, they saw ascending into heaven by the power of the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, so that death being conquered He might refute the refractory mind of the unbelievers." "But why," said Faustinus, "do you not think rather that one should sacrifice to our gods?" "Because," answered Theodulus, "it is altogether better to worship Him who made the elegance of the images, than the images themselves, contrived only for delight and for the subversion of minds; for the maker is more excellent than His own making."
[12] And to terrify him by threatening torments Faustinus therefore ordered the youth to be stripped of his clothing; and when the servants roughly seized him, the herald crying, "Sacrifice, and you shall be released," Theodulus said: "You can take clothing from my body, but the faith of my mind in God you will not turn away from Him for eternity." As he spoke more freely in this manner and despised the torments set before him, and repeatedly called Maximian a tyrant, Faustinus commanded that some who, overcome by torments, had yielded, should sacrifice in his presence. But Theodulus said: "These torments are small and ridiculous: you must devise sharper ones against us, that you may recognize how perfect our union in God is, ready to endure whatever torments for religion's sake." "It is necessary," said Faustinus, "that you bring forth into the midst what the Christians call the Scriptures." "If you repent," said Theodulus, "recognizing the vanity of idolatry, and therefore ask for the words of the Apostles and Prophets, and to obtain the sacred books from him that you may confirm your mind in true piety, I will bring them forth most willingly: but if you think otherwise, do not believe that I will betray the gift of God." "Yet," rejoined Faustinus, "I will not spare your body, but will mutilate it and cast it to beasts, unless you very quickly agree to obey my commands." To whom Theodulus: "At present indeed it is permitted to you to rage as you please on my body openly exposed: but though you were to exercise against me even graver torments than you have mentioned, rashly and imprudently, I shall never consent to those things which c are unjust."
[13] After much time had been spent in such altercations, and Theodulus was unwilling to betray the scriptures, in vain he tries there came up from another side various people, to entice the young man's mind either by gifts or to terrify by threats. But he, like a wall built with iron and stones, repelled the threats and gifts of his adversaries. Then Faustinus, feigning d so far as he could a gesture of terror, giving a signal to the lictors, ordered Theodulus to be punished with a capital sentence. When he had come to the place appointed for the execution of the condemned, as he saw the executioner draw his sword, at once stretching forth his neck he invoked God with such words: "Glory to Thee, Father of my Lord, who willed to undergo death for us: behold e, for I too shall be with Thee, by the grace of Him who trampled death down because of the trust placed in Thee."
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
The second confession of Saint Agathopus and the martyrdom of both.
[18] Agathopus questioned But Faustinus, understanding that Theodulus had voluntarily bent his neck to the sword as if about to be crowned, ordered him to be brought back to him; and meanwhile he questioned Agathopus, saying: "How are you called?" He answered, "Agathopus." "What is your condition?" the President asked. "The same," said he, "as Theodulus's." "What then," said Faustinus, "is your relationship with him? or what kind of birth or nature has so joined you in one?" Agathopus answered: "Our birth is indeed different, but our ways the same: as much as we differ in birth, so much are we joined in mind." "Therefore," said the President, "you are both hastening to the same punishment, so far as your words indicate." "If we depart from this life in the same way," said Agathopus, "we shall also receive the same reward from God." "Is it not shameful," rejoined Faustinus, "that you, like this youth, should be deceived and rush into open danger?" "I am by no means deceived," said Agathopus, he answers with similar freedom "placing my expectation in Christ not in vain: but the more advanced in age I am, the more earnestly I strive both to prove myself to God by alacrity of mind, and I praise Theodulus for acting so bravely in the first flower of age."
[15] Faustinus moreover said: "Beware, Theodulus, lest you, a youth, be deceived by such words and rashly rush upon the sword: for he, being already gray-haired, does nothing new in hastening to his end; but neither weariness of life nor anything else can strengthen you in this resolve." To this Theodulus promptly: "I do not think myself so weak that in enduring tortures for religion the old man himself should seem more noble than I a young one." Led back to prison, they rebuke the tears of their friends So speaking and calling on Christ, the servants seized them and bound again led them back to prison; but they praised God, by whose help they seemed to have overcome the devil. Now certain friends, their faces wet with tears, stood around both of them; to whom Theodulus said, "What does this gathering and weeping mean?" "We pity," they said, "your calamity." But he, smiling with a very tranquil countenance, said: "There is no reason why you, with your past calamities, should be moved with pity for us who are hastening to better things." As Theodulus was saying this, a soldier came and bound each with iron, and led them farther within so as to shut out the bursting crowd. But when night had come, praising God they besought Him to keep them constant in religion; and so they rested.
[16] And admonished by a vision of their happy exit Then the overseer of His saints, Christ Jesus, showed to these unanimous and concordant Blessed Ones one and the same vision concerning what was to come according to their prayers. Each of them seemed to have boarded a ship at the same time, which was tossed in the midst of the sea by a whirlwind of winds and a tempest, and battered by their constant violence, it was torn apart on both sides, the rows of oars and the other equipment necessary for use and safety broken; and some were swallowed by the waves, others dashed upon the rocks; but they themselves, snatched from danger by the industry of the pilot and clothed in splendid garb, ascended a pleasant mountain, and were carried to the heavens. Having beheld these things at the same time, suddenly they awoke from sleep, and each, as if to one ignorant, was eager to tell his own vision. They give thanks to God But when they had learned that one and the same grace of Christ had been revealed to each, lifted up with the best hope for the future reward, they sang praises to Christ for the vision offered to them, prostrate with bodies on the ground, saying: "Who would ever have looked for so great a benefit as Thou hast bestowed upon us, O God, on account of the humanity of Thy Son Christ Jesus? Who is so inhuman by nature that he would not prefer piety to all pleasures, moved by so great munificence? Who is so ready to do good as Thy Son, who, making us more certain of the gift by His grace through a vision before the gift, and showing the crown before the contest, has made us braver and more constant in the arena of piety?"
[17] As they were thus praying, the guards of the prison entered, announcing Rejecting the tears of their friends that Theodulus and Agathopus were sought by the President. But they, the sign of Christ pressed upon their foreheads, bound, followed the servants. Then great mourning and tears arose among their Gentile friends, as they pondered in mind the noble death of the fair company. To whom Theodulus with a joyful face said: "If you weep for friendship's sake, you ought rather to congratulate us that we are approved in so honorable a cause: but if from envy, weep rather for the happiness of others. For the common stadium of piety is set before all, to which the same preaching of faith calls all: but few carry off the crown from it, namely those who are held neither by love of riches nor of pleasures." While they were still speaking, Faustinus the President, Having confessed Christ a third time sitting before the tribunal, questioned them a third time. And when they answered nothing other than, "We are Christians, and for the name of Christ we are willing to suffer all things," he with sad countenance passed sentence that Theodulus and Agathopus, refusing to sacrifice, should be drowned in the sea.
[18] The servants therefore, binding the hands of the blessed behind their backs, fitted stones by their necks and backs to a bracket b of wood, by whose weight they should be dragged down into the deep. They are led out into the sea to be drowned Meanwhile boats full of friends came running together from every side, who partly wept for their natural bond, partly proclaimed with praises the noble athletes against the dragon, on account of the death bravely borne for the sake of religion. When the skiff approached the place destined for execution, again some of the pagans, sailing up, suggested to Faustinus things by which they believed his hardened mind could be bent. Nor in vain: for led by their prayers, he sent to them the illustrious man Fulvius, who should ask that at least by the sole offering of incense they would consent to deny God. But they, as those whom the grace of God had confirmed, only called upon Jesus Christ.
[19] At length, after a long time had been spent in these things, the servants girded themselves into which they cast the bodies of those cast down to cast Agathopus first into the sea. He, lifting his face to heaven, sending forth a voice clearer than usual, said: "Behold, even by this second baptism we strive to abolish all suspicion of iniquity, and we hasten to Christ Jesus with pure minds." Having thus spoken, the soldiers cast him, together with Theodulus, crowned with the crown of victory for the defense of religion, into the waves. When the sea had received them, the bindings of the stones soon broken, they are returned to land it gave back their bodies to their friends much more beautiful. A little after, Theodulus appearing in a robe and splendid habit, commanded that all his possessions be equally distributed to widows and orphans for their consolation; so that he seems not only to have wished to relieve the afflicted after his departure from us, but also to stir up his relatives to the same zeal of piety.
[20] And they are honored with an annual feast Therefore we rightly celebrate the memory of these Saints, assembling each year: for it is right and just that we offer our prayers to them after death who acted so bravely for the truth,
and let us strive to imitate their faith according to our strength. Theodulus and Agathopus were consummated by the grace of Christ on the day before the Nones c of April to the glory of the Father and of the Holy Spirit unto ages of ages. Amen.