Jews

ON THE HOLY JEWS, CONVERTED TO THE FAITH,

MARTYRS AT LEONTINI IN SICILY.

UNDER DECIUS

Holy Jews, converted to the faith of Christ, Martyrs at Leontini, in Sicily (SS)

G. H.

We have often made famous mention of Leontini, even after the city's ruin, on account of the various persons crowned there with the laurel of martyrdom for the faith of Christ. Now the tablets of that church bring to our attention some Jews Sacred cult: converted to the faith of Christ and made glorious martyrs under the Emperor Decius, concerning whom the Ecclesiastical Office, approved by Pope Paul V, is recited. Octavius Cajetanus mentions them in the Sicilian Martyrology with these words: "At Leontini, of the holy martyrs

Hebrews, in the persecution of Decius and Valerian under Tertullus the governor. Elogium from the Acts of Saints Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus." The Acts of their conversion and martyrdom are contained in the Life and history of the martyrdom of Saints Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus, by whom they were converted to the faith, to be set forth in full on the birthday of those men, May 10. Here we give beforehand what the same Cajetanus has excerpted concerning them; and they are of this kind.

[2] In the persecution of Decius and Valerian, with Tertullus governor of Sicily, the Confessors of Christ Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus were brought to Leontini for trial. At almost the very entrance of the city, they were met by the son of a certain Hebrew, who, possessed by a demon, A Jew possessed by a demon, had now been tormented for thirty days and lay in the road; for a demon was dwelling in the neighboring caves and very often troubled passers-by grievously. The father therefore, and the mother weeping for her son, together with the brothers, entreated the Confessors of Christ on behalf of the possessed brother: to whom these said, "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" And they, "We believe, my lords." The soldiers themselves who were guarding Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus, moved with compassion, begged them, that they might be moved by the tears of the wretched. The blessed Confessors said, "Loosen the shackles, that we may compose our hands to pray to God." When the soldiers refused out of fear of Tertullus, the chains fell off of their own accord. Then the holy brothers, falling to their knees, prayed: is freed by the prayers of the Martyrs. "Lord God, maker of heaven and earth and the sea, hear the prayer of thy servants: have pity on the work of thy hands, and free this man vexed by the devil, that in this place, in which it was thy will we should be brought, thy power may be made manifest, and thy holy name exalted." When they had said this, they rose up. Soon Saint Alphius, going up to the possessed man, said, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, unclean demon, depart from the image of God." Immediately the demon fled, crying out that Tertullus, who had sent the servants of Christ Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus to Leontini, would give him as food to wild beasts, because by their command he was being driven from his seats.

[3] Bound by the miracle, the Hebrew parents and relatives received the faith; but seeking a sign of salvation, parents and friends converted are baptized: the holy youths exhorted them to go to the Bishops and Presbyters hidden in the mountains and caves, by whom they might be baptized. And they departed, rejoicing and praising God. After about four months, they happily returned to Christ the benefit of the faith which they had received. For when the blessed Martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus, loaded with a wooden yoke, went around the city and, by Tertullus's command, were led through the high caves and the suburbs of the Jews, the Hebrew parents, together with their sons and all their family, long to die as martyrs: running to meet the Saints, begged that, taking pity on them, they would order them to be added as companions to the martyrdom. Blessed Alphius, together with his brothers, replied: "May the Lord grant you to be partakers of the lot of the Saints." Then with one voice all cried out: "We are Christians." Which when the rest of the Jews heard, having come out of the caves in which they lived, they began to stone them, because they openly confessed Jesus Christ, whom their fathers had crucified.

[4] These things being known, Tertullus ordered them to be brought before him in chains by his apparitors. Before the governor they confess the faith. Immediately the men and women were seized, three in number, and being asked why they had forsaken their ancestral laws, they replied: "Our teachers have deceived us, O Tertullus: but by the help of God and the miracles of Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus, we know that no faith is true except the Christian. We believe in Jesus Christ, whom we confess to be true God, and for him we greatly desire to die." Then Tertullus, having called the chief men of the Hebrews, consulted them about what should be done with those wretches. They die overwhelmed with stones: They replied: "If they persist in their opinion, let them be wretchedly destroyed." Again Tertullus, having summoned the Hebrew father of the possessed man, addressed him thus: "Do you still persist in your madness? Take notice, unhappy man, what wise Gentile men say." But he and the rest with him said: "We know not how to speak more; one thing we profess: We are Christians, we do not sacrifice to demons." Then Tertullus, when he saw them constant in the faith of Jesus Christ, handed them over to his Gentiles to be stoned; by whom, cast out far from the city and overwhelmed with stones, they rendered up their spirit to God on the 5th day before the Ides of April; with these gems the Lord adorning their crowns, who reigns forever and ever.

ON THE FIVE HOLY VIRGINS

MARTYRS AT SIRMIUM IN PANNONIA.

Five Virgins, Martyrs, at Sirmium in Pannonia (SS)

G. H.

That the ninth day of April may rightly and deservedly be called the feast of virginal blood writes Francis Mary Florentini in his Notes to the Hieronymian Martyrology, "when," he says, "the Church of old rejoiced for a twofold choir of holy virgins and martyrs." The said Martyrology of Saint Jerome begins with the first choir, in these words: "5th day before the Ides of April. In Sirmia the birthday of five Virgins, whose names God knows." So the apographs of Lucca and Blumianum, Corbie, and the ancient Epternach, which we have hitherto used; in this last, however, the addition of "God's notice" is lacking. In another only four were noted, but by a copyist's error; for in another Corbie Martyrology, written eight hundred years ago or more, five Virgins are named. The same things are found in the very old Martyrology of Saint Maximinus, and another of the Queen of Sweden much praised by Luke Holstenius; also in a manuscript Calendar found before some works of Isidore in the Vallicelliana library of the Congregation of the Oratory. But for "Sirmia" was written "Syria." The same five are commemorated also in the manuscript Martyrology of Tamlact, and in Notker. And from these five are distinguished another seven Virgins, who are reported in many calendars together with other holy Martyrs, as will be clear from the following class of Martyrs. For the rest, what is here called Sirmia is commonly called Sirmium, a city once most illustrious in lower Pannonia, and most famous as the arena of very many Martyrs, as we have said many times.