ON SAINT BADIMUS, OR BADEMUS,
ARCHIMANDRITE, MARTYR IN PERSIA.
ABOUT THE YEAR 376.
PrefaceBadimus, or Bademus, Archimandrite, Martyr in Persia (St)
G. H.
The Menologium of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus begins the ninth day of April thus, with this holy Martyr: "Contest of the holy Martyr Badimus the Archimandrite. Saint Badimus was from Persia, Elogium from the manuscript Menologium of the Emperor Basil. a son of wealthy parents. When they had died, and he had distributed all his wealth to the poor, he went to a monastery and was received as a monk; then he was chosen Archimandrite. Preaching the faith of Christ, when he had called many to it from among those who were following it, he baptized them. When Sapor King of the Persians had learned this, he ordered him to be seized with seven of his disciples and to be cast into prison, and then, after four days, he gave orders to the executioners to bring them out of prison and cut off their heads. But seeing a certain one of the executioners, Nirsas by name, who had formerly been a Christian and then out of fear of torments had denied Christ—this man, I say, seeing him drawing his sword to strike off his head, the holy man wept and grieved over his calamity, and reminded him of the retribution of the last judgment. But Nirsas, beginning to tremble with fear, inflicted four wounds on the holy man, and so with much violence he gave up his spirit."
[2] Thus far the Menologium of the Emperor Basil. Another compendium of the Life is in the Greek Paris Synaxarion of the Clermont College of the Society, and in a Greek manuscript codex of the month of April, which is in the Munich library of the Duke and Elector of Bavaria, which is of this kind: Another from manuscripts. "Bademus lived under the reign of Sapor in Persia, born in the city of Bethlapata. But having despised both his illustrious birth and his rich wealth, he professed the monastic life, and at last was made Archimandrite or Prefect of the monks. For the Christian faith afterwards, together with seven of his disciples, he was seized, kept four months in prison, then brought out and given to one of the apparitors, whose name was Narses, and who had denied Christ out of fear of punishments, that he might cut off his head. Beholding which, the Saint grieved much for him. But Narses himself, when with trembling hand three or four times he tried to inflict the fatal blow upon the Saint, and being himself shaken could not strike a mortal wound, yet the Saint, wearied with so many blows, gave up his spirit to God." So it is written. Similar elogia, but generally shorter, we find in two manuscript Greek codices of the Ambrosian library at Milan; likewise in as many manuscripts at Turin in the library of the Duke of Savoy, memory in the Menaia so that it is wonderful that the Life of this Saint has been passed over in the printed Menaia, in which only these verses are read:
Βαδίζας ὁ Βάδιμος ὁδὸν εὐθεῖαν Εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἔφθασεν, οὗ Θεοῦ θρόνος.
Bademus here advanced by the straight way, And came into the heavens, where is the throne of God.
[3] Aloysius Lipomanus, part 2 of volume 7 of the Lives of the Holy Fathers, Life written by a contemporary. published, along with some others, from a manuscript codex of Grottaferrata some Acts of the martyrdom of Saint Bademus, and ascribed them to Simeon Metaphrastes, as Surius also did on April 8, on which he is said to have died. But in all the Menologies and Menaia of the Greeks hitherto cited, he is referred to this ninth day; and greater credit is to be given to these, since those Acts are not from Metaphrastes, but were written long before his time by some contemporary monk, as appears at once from the beginning of number 2—if indeed they are whole and not mutilated by the loss of a good part of what the Saint did before his martyrdom. Such as they are, the time of the martyrdom is indicated clearly enough, since after it the King Sapor is said to have reigned four more years. Time of the martyrdom, Since his death is placed in the year 380, Saint Bademus would have been crowned with martyrdom in 376. Those mentioned at the beginning as "Forty Martyrs" slain seem to be the "Forty-two Martyrs slain in Persia," reported from ancient Latin manuscripts on March 10.
LIFE
From a Greek manuscript of Grottaferrata.
Badimus, or Bademus, Archimandrite, Martyr in Persia (St)
[1] At the time when those Forty holy Martyrs were put to death, Bademus the holy Archimandrite was seized, together with seven of his disciples, and by order of King Sapor was shut up in prison. Now this Bademus drew his origin from the city of Bethlapat, He builds a monastery: of a very wealthy family. When he had begun to follow the institution of the monks, he distributed all his goods to the poor. And having built a monastery outside the city, he dwelt there, endeavoring in all things to please God and to perform what is pleasing to the divine will: for that man was full of grace and truth, and a vessel of divine election.
[2] Where, studying perfection This holy man therefore, led by a certain divine and perfect prudence, ascended the mountain of the Lord, and dwelt in his holy place, and received blessing from God his Savior, and beheld the face of the God of Jacob. This man, who in our times was left as a leaven from the perfect leaven of those holy Martyrs who from the beginning were perfect: by the slaying and blood of this holy man, the weakness of our times is strengthened. This was truly a faithful stone, cut from the mountain of those who from the beginning were faithful: for he was suited to the cause of the mystery, that he might be a way of salvation to us all. Such noble and constant purpose he showed in undergoing martyrdom, and such an ardor of soul toward God he displayed, and in such a way did he show himself pure from every stain, spot, and blemish, that wicked deeds could find no place against him. Robbery was at once far from him; He extirpated the vices, desires were altogether extinguished and could do nothing against him; mammon, knowing his virtue, was amazed; gold hid itself from him; riches were at once spurned by him; arrogance was immediately broken before him; pride in his sight was suddenly humbled; swelling and elation of mind, like dust, and practiced the virtues: were trodden under his eyes. Poverty was entirely fixed and strengthened at his feet; meekness embraced his sides; truth rose in him, and justice was set up; charity embraced him,
and peace kissed him and rejoiced in him; concord was placed in his sheepfold; and that man was full of all the fruits of justice. All these virtues dwelt in that man, because the sweet odor of his soul was wonderfully pleasing to each of the virtues, and they gladly received as it were a certain fruit from the brightness of his soul.
[3] When therefore he had passed four months in prison, bound together with those seven disciples, afflicted and beaten with continual scourges, He is cruelly tortured in prison. he bore all things with ready mind, for the sake of his hope in God and his trust in the truth. There was at that time a certain man, named Nersan, prince of the city which was called Aria, in the territory of Bedgerme. This Nersan, since he was a Christian, was compelled by the King himself to adore the sun: but since he would not do anything contrary to the faith of Christ, he was kept in chains. But afterwards, becoming more feeble in mind, and stricken in heart, Nersan, falling away from the faith, and held back by fear of martyrdom, on account of the torments which were violently to be inflicted on him, he did not persevere to the end as he had begun: but being captivated by the love of the mortal and brief things of this world, he yielded to the anguish of torments. And thus the wretch, while he sought both, fell from both. For he lost the divine life, fleeing martyrdom, and could not enjoy the delights of this world, seeking earthly glory. For since he loved the honor of the fleeting and earthly King more than of the eternal and heavenly God, he professed to wish to fall away from God himself, and to obey in all things whatever the King willed.
[4] The King therefore, as he heard that Nersan was of this mind, was greatly glad, and at once thought of Saint Bademus, and ordered him, loosened from his chains, to be brought into the courtyard of the palace through a side door. When Bademus had entered the place where Nersan had been kept in chains, the King said this to two of his chief men: "If Nersan kills Bademus, let him be freed from his chains and receive his goods." For the King himself had ordered all his goods to be confiscated into the treasury. And he was ordered to inflict death upon him. Immediately, therefore, they set Saint Bademus in the midst. But that wretched Nersan, when he heard what had been said by the King, since he was seeking the fleeting goods of the world, set out with drawn sword to kill the Martyr of Christ. But seized with a certain trembling, when he wished to strike a blow on the holy man, he stood still, immovable as a stone. But the servant of Christ, raising his eyes to him, he upbraids the dastard said: "Has your malice, O Nersan, advanced so far that it is not enough for you that you have denied your God, but that you strive also to kill his servants? Woe to you, unhappy man. What will you do on that day, or whither will you flee from the terrible judgment, when you shall stand before that dreadful tribunal to render an account to the great and eternal God? I indeed, O most wretched man, shall be consummated with the martyrdom of my Christ with a ready soul: but I would rather not be consummated by your hand, but would have preferred to suffer death from some other."
[5] Often struck, he gives up his spirit: But he, neither blushing at these words nor able to carry out what he had been commanded, set his face as a stone, and having an iron and hard heart, struck the holy man often with that sword. But he could neither strike a fitting blow at once nor kill him; for his hand was trembling very much. But Blessed Bademus, while he was afflicted with such anguish, gave up his spirit, worn out by so many and so great sword-strokes, so that all the Gentiles marveled at the firm patience of the holy Martyr, who, remaining like an unmoved pillar, received the violent onslaughts of the blows and remained steadfast in heart. But that murderer they mocked and cursed for his weakness and slowness. And this Nersan not long after received a reward worthy of what he had committed against the Martyr of Christ, being overwhelmed by many and various evils, and badly destroyed by the sword.
[6] The holy Bademus was consummated in martyrdom in the month of April, on the eighth day, and is buried. in Christ Jesus our Lord. His relics, cast outside the city, religious men took up secretly, and applying all diligence, laid them away. But his seven disciples, shut up in prison, remained four years, and after the death of King Sapor were dismissed in peace; and it was permitted that they should remain in their own faith, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.