ON SAINT ANTIPAS, MARTYR,
Bishop of Pergamum in Asia.
A.D. 92.
PrefaceAntipas, Martyr, Bishop of Pergamum in Asia (Saint)
BY D. P.
When Christ the Lord dictated the Letter that was to be sent to the Angel or Bishop of the Church of Pergamum (which is one of the seven foremost churches of Asia), The martyrdom of the saint appearing to John as he was writing the Apocalypse, he praises him because he had not denied the faith in those days when Antipas, the faithful witness of the divine name, was slain. The received tradition among the Greeks holds him to have been bishop of that city, as expressed in the Acts which we have transcribed in Greek at Rome from the Vatican Codex 1660, and which we give rendered into Latin by Francisco Zini from a Venetian manuscript as reproduced in Lipomanus. That the author was not Metaphrastes (under whose name Surius took it from Lipomanus), described by a cleric of Pergamum but someone from the clergy of Pergamum, no one will be able to doubt who cares to observe, in the last chapter or section of this encomium, these words: "They placed the relics in this place at Pergamum, where we who are gathered give thanks to God." I have called it an encomium because, without any particular knowledge of the deeds done in his life, composed long afterward when the affairs of Christians were tranquil and flourishing, it comprises nothing other than the saint's death, and this only as the memory of posterity preserved it from the sole tradition of ancestors, with the addition of a dialogue between the Martyr and the Governor, such as the Author conceived in his own mind in order to present to his readers the saint's constancy in rhetorical form.
[2] Andreas, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, later indeed than Basil the Great, but an ancient and distinguished commentator on the Apocalypse, says: "A certain man named Antipas was a most learned and most constant martyr at Pergamum; Andreas of Caesarea whose martyrdom I once read. And the Evangelist makes special mention of him in this place, both that the virtue and constancy of the faithful in that city may be made manifest, and also that he may set before our eyes the savagery of the seducers in it." The Martyrdom therefore already existed then, and indeed not very recently written; probably the very one we here give. Of the same, praised by his successor Arethas Arethas, successor and epitomizer of Andreas, speaks thus: "Antipas the Martyr consummated his martyrdom at Pergamum; whose martyrdom and testimony is intact to this very day; who, using great freedom against his adversaries, so far as concerns himself, went forward even unto death"; where the author, as it were distinguishing Martyrium and Testimonium, seems to indicate that not only the narrative of his noble confession, but the very tomb of the Martyr was still surviving at Pergamum when he wrote, at the beginning of the eighth century.
[3] We have an excellent manuscript synaxarium of a certain Constantinopolitan church, lent to us by our Fathers of the College of Clermont at Paris, containing an elogium of Saint Antipas more extensive than that contained in the menology of the Emperor Basil, on this 11th day of April, tomb flowing with ointment under this title: "Contest of the Holy Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum in Asia, and of the unceasing flow of ointment." The elogium itself is drawn from the encomium soon to be given, where, when it comes to setting forth the prayer poured out by the Martyr before his death, it adds further that he prayed that those who should make memory of him might be preserved free from the molestation of other diseases but especially from the intolerable torture of the teeth, and might obtain the remission of their sins and mercy in the future judgment; and having obtained this, he migrated to the Lord. "He was placed," venerated at Constantinople he says, "in the church which is at Pergamum, perennially flowing with ointments and healings. His synaxis is celebrated in the venerable Apostoleion of the holy and most celebrated Apostle and Evangelist, John the Theologian, beside the most holy greater church." where also was the instrument of his martyrdom Concerning the instrument of the martyrdom endured by Saint Antipas, translated to Constantinople, Cedrenus has the following in his Compendium of histories, no. 116, enumerating the ornaments brought into the city by Theodosius the Great: "A bronze ox was brought from Pergamum; it was a furnace, in which Antipas the holy Martyr was burnt."
[4] The Office of Saint Antipas is a principal one among the Greeks on this day, office composed by Joseph the Hymnographer as may be understood from the Jerusalem Typicon, the metrical ephemeris, and the printed menaea, in which either Antipas alone is named, or he alone has his own antiphons and odes. The author of the odes or Canon, Joseph the Hymnographer, composed this acrostic, to be found at the beginning of each strophe together with his name:
Τὸν
φαιδρὸν
ἐν
Μάρτυσιν
Ἀντὶπαν
σέβῳ
ΙΩΣΗΦ,
which in Latin rendering in the same number of letters is: "Decorum inter Martyres colo Antipam. Joseph"—"I venerate Antipas, the resplendent one among the martyrs. Joseph." The Canon itself in its fourth ode supposes that he was filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, drawn from the mouth of that Theologian who reclined upon the breast of the Lord. The ninth ode presents this strophe: "Today Pergamum rejoices in the sacred solemnity of its most holy Pastor, and calls together all the cities round about; with which also we, rejoicing with them, crown him with hymns." The Greeks are followed by the Muscovite and Ruthenian Kalendars, of which frequent mention has already been made.
[5] name added to the Latin calendars The Latins first learned of this feast to be observed on this day from Lipomanus: from whom Molanus accepted it and transferred it into his own addition to Usuard in the year 1568; but he omitted it in the second edition of 1575. But after he had seen the Kalendar of the Greeks printed by Genebrard at Paris in 1577, he believed this authority sufficient to restore Antipas in the edition of 1583. Galesini and Canisius followed Molanus; and after these, Baronius in the Roman Martyrology which he revised and augmented, writing thus: "At Pergamum in Asia, Saint Antipas, the faithful witness, of whom Saint John makes mention in the Apocalypse. He, under the Emperor Domitian, was cast into a glowing bronze ox and consummated his martyrdom." Baronius cites the Menology of the Greeks, that is, the one compendiously collected by Sirleto from the Menaea and Synaxaria of the Greeks, in which may be read the words cited above concerning the cult of Saint Antipas at Constantinople, though omitting the more extensive account of the martyrdom.
MARTYRDOM
From a Greek manuscript, Venetian, translated by Francisco Zini, collated with the Vatican Greek manuscript.
Antipas, Martyr, Bishop of Pergamum in Asia (Saint)
FROM A GREEK MS.
[1] Persecution stirred up under Domitian When Domitian, who held the Roman Empire in the time of the Apostles, had stirred up a persecution against the Christians, letters were sent throughout the whole world to all magistrates, that Christian men should obey the decrees of the Emperor, and without any excuse should worship the foolish religion of idols and venerate their temples with every honor. Then the multitude of faithful who confessed the true God was made manifest, and the great virtue of the Martyrs appeared, contending everywhere for the faith of Christ the Saviour. Then also the bulwark of the Church and of the faith, and the foundation of Christian truth, and the herald of the only-begotten eternal Divinity, John, the most excellent Apostle, was banished to the island of Patmos. Where, while he was confirming the great assembly of the Martyrs of Christ with those things he wrote about the seven Churches, Antipas at Pergamum "Antipas my faithful witness," he said, "who was slain among you, where Satan dwells." Apoc. 2. From these words of the Apostle it may be understood what manner of men they were who dwelt at Pergamum, where was the habitation of Satan. There neither was the law of nature observed, nor were there any judgments: each claimed for himself as much right as he was able to wield by strength and force; and they thought themselves sufficiently just, and brave and good, who had denounced some Christian.
[2] When, therefore, the assembly of Christians was in great danger, putting the demons to flight from the idols Antipas, a strenuous and constant man, was in no way disturbed; but as if he had been transformed from a man into the nature of an Angel, he resisted manfully, and feared absolutely nothing, nay rather he frequently went out into public and, disregarding the threats of the torturers, shone forth in the midst of them, and by the splendor of his pure and sincere faith dispersed the dark errors of idolatry. Wherefore all those who were accounted gods were fleeing; and not even one of them dared to remain in that city in which the Saint himself was dwelling. In dreams, therefore, the demons appeared to their sacrificing priests, saying that they were neither partaking of the sacrifices nor receiving the savor, because they were being driven out by Antipas, the leader of the Christians. Wherefore the enraged multitude made an attack upon Antipas, and seized him, and dragged him to the place where sacrifices were wont to be performed.
[3] And b the Prefect addresses him thus: "Are you that Antipas, who neither yourself obey the decrees of the Emperors, and exhort others not to obey; brought before the Prefect and so disturb the sacrifices which are wont to be made by us, that you allow none of the gods to enjoy the fat or the savor? From which it has come about that all the gods have withdrawn, c and the danger looms that they may no longer wish to protect the city. Let it be enough that you have devoted yourself to the Christian superstition up to this day: come to your senses now, and obey our laws, so that the gods who preside over this most beautiful city may be able to care for us and protect us. But if you refuse to do this, and out of zeal for your party neglect the religion of the gods, you shall be afflicted with deserved punishments according to the prescription of the Roman laws." Blessed Antipas answered: "This one thing
know, that I am a Christian, and that I absolutely refuse to obey the impious decree of the Emperor, which is alien to all reason. And since your questions must be answered, I shall do so willingly: for if the gods whom you worship, and whom you assert to be the lords of the whole world, say that they are put to flight by a mortal man, so that, although they ought to be your defenders and avengers, they beg for your help, and convicts the impotence of the gods you can easily recognize your error: for those who cannot avenge themselves, and confess that they are conquered by one man, how shall they be able to deliver the whole nation when placed in some danger, or any city? Considering this, you ought now at least to depart from your pernicious error, and to believe in Christ, who came down from heaven to save the race of men: who indeed, Christ, shall come at the end of the ages to judge all, and shall give to each either rewards or punishments fitting their deeds."
[4] The Prefect replied: "You wish to obey new laws and institutions invented by yourselves, neglecting the religion of the gods, which we received from the beginning handed down to us from our ancestors, from whom also d the inheritance came to us; and therefore we, cleaving to their footsteps, and reproaching him that the religion of Christ is new do not think it safe to depart from them, since the old surpasses the new, and things confirmed by length of time are more praiseworthy than new ones. Wherefore you too ought to change your mind, and not follow in your manner of living that man, who was known but a short time ago, and by certain sleights of hand disturbed the lives of mortals, especially since he was fastened to the cross under Pontius Pilate, the Governor. Obey therefore the decrees of the Emperors, that you may pass your life with us without danger: for you shall have us propitious and loving in all things, as toward sons; since your age demands that we love you even as a father." To these things the holy man said: "Although you overwhelm my ears with innumerable arguments, still I shall not be so foolish and imprudent as to change my mind, now that I have come to extreme old age and cannot be far from death, and for the sake of a miserable and ignominious life to depart from the confirmed confession of my faith. wisely confounds him Do not, therefore, try to deceive my mind, which has been practiced in the assiduous reading of divine things. Neither from the beginning has there been any of your gods, nor has anything useful ever come to you from them: but you have given yourselves over to base and obscene men, who furnish material for wicked living and point out occasions for shameful pleasures. But if all the most ancient things are to be observed, why do you not also imitate Cain, the inventor of fratricide? Why do you not set before yourselves for imitation those who tried to ascend heaven, or those who did not fear to mingle with their own sisters; whence the flood destroyed their race, because they neglected to walk in the pious and right path of living? Wherefore if you likewise wish to imitate these on account of their antiquity and their wickedness, you will be consumed, no longer by water, but by eternal fire and the worm that never sleeps, unless you come to your senses."
[5] While the just man was saying these and many other things, impious men seize him, and drag him to the temple of Diana, where was a statue of a bronze ox, and enclosed in a bronze ox which they had long before inflamed by setting fire beneath it: into this they cast the blessed Martyr. But he, having fortified himself with the sign of Christ, while he was for a long time being tortured with such torment, prayed in this manner: "O God, who hast opened to us the mystery hidden in the secret treasures of good things, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Martyr dies through whom also thou hast revealed the hidden things of thy counsel: I give thanks to thee for all thy benefits, who dost preserve us who hope in thee, and hast made me this hour worthy to be inscribed in the number of those who have borne martyrdom for thy holy name. Receive my spirit, departing today from this life, and grant that it may find grace with thee and with thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: so that those who shall hereafter be partakers of thy kindness may also praise thy holy name in Christ, through whom honor is given to thee, world without end. Amen." When he had finished praying, as if taken by a deep sleep, he rendered his spirit; and crowned with the glorious crown of martyrdom, he was borne up into heaven.
[6] and buried, becomes famous for miracles Then certain pious men, having gathered his Relics with great zeal, placed them in this place at Pergamum, where we, gathered together, give thanks to God for those things that he has kindly done for us. For he has bestowed this Martyr upon us, who performed so great a deed of virtue, that this place, where he bore martyrdom, to this very day is eminent for miracles, and great cures are made in it; by which also God, who rules over all, and his only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, is praised; and the pious memory of the holy Martyrs in Christ is celebrated, which daily incites our souls with a certain voice to imitate him in his saints: to whom be glory and dominion world without end. Amen.