ON STS. JOHN, ANTHONY AND EUSTACHIUS, MARTYRS AT VILNA IN LITHUANIA.
AFTER THE YEAR 1328.
PrefaceJohn, Martyr at Vilna in Lithuania (St.)
Anthony, Martyr at Vilna in Lithuania (St.)
Eustachius, Martyr at Vilna in Lithuania (St.)
G. H.
[1] The Acts of these Saints from old Livonian and Ruthenian MSS., faithfully translated into Latin, Matthias Casimir Sarbievius, Priest of our Society, and in his time prince of Lyric poetry, sent to us from Vilna; Acts of martyrdom and the Most Illustrious George Tyskiewicz, then Bishop of Methone, as Suffragan and Administrator of Eustachius Vollovicius Bishop of Vilna, then promoted to the Bishopric of Samogitia and at last to Vilna, that they might be published had fortified them with the public credit of his handwriting and seal. Albert Wijuk Kojalowicz of the same Society of Jesus, Doctor of Sacred Theology, and Vice-Chancellor of the distinguished University of Vilna, in the year 1650 inscribed to the said Tyskiewicz, then Bishop of Vilna, Miscellanea of things pertaining to the Ecclesiastical state in the great Duchy of Lithuania: and first he sets forth the proper Patrons of the great Duchy of Lithuania, of whom some are of the Latin rite, some of the Greek rite, and among the latter, celebrates the aforesaid Saints with this eulogy.
[2] an epitome of these: "Saints John, Anthony, Eustachius Martyrs, chamberlains of Olgerd, great Duke of Lithuania, noble Lithuanians, popularly called Kukley, Mihley, Nizilo: converted to the faith by the Christian household of the same Russian Duchess, baptized by Nestorius the Christian Priest, on account of constancy in the religion taken up, especially because they refused to eat the forbidden foods on appointed days
were killed by the order of Olgerd: John hanged on April 24, Anthony on June 14, Eustachius finally after many other torments, and especially scourging, the breaking of his legs, the violent tearing off of his skin and hairs (which he did not allow to be shaved from himself in the heathen manner), on December 13 ended this life by hanging. They suffered at Vilna after the year of Christ 1328, buried at Vilna in the temple of the Most Holy Trinity, of the Greek-Russian united rite, by whom their memory is recalled on April 14. Relative to the number of Saints under Alexis the united Metropolitan of Kiev. cultus April 14." Thus the said Albert, and the Acts confirm, in which Anthony is said to have suffered on January 14 and Eustachius on December 31. Ferrari in the general Catalogue of Saints celebrates the same on this said April 14 with these words: "At Vilna in Lithuania of the holy Martyrs Anthony, John and Eustochius." He cites in the Notes the monuments of the same monastery of the Most Holy Trinity: where not Eustochius but Eustachius is named the third of the brothers. He is mistaken, however, in writing that they were killed by the Tartars. The same are venerated not only by the Lithuanians, but also by the Muscovites: for in the often praised Tables of the Moscow Calendar, to be seen with the distinguished man Laurence vander Hem in Amsterdam, one can see them painted in courtly attire, also among the Muscovites. with the cross, the sign of martyrdom, and the sword, the token of nobility. And Anthony indeed and John wear caps on their heads: John also, beardless with a youthful appearance, stands in the middle between Anthony and Eustachius, well-bearded; whom however from the Acts we know to have been the elder of both: which the worthier place itself seems to indicate. Concerning Eustachius it is established that he was altogether a youth: and so either the order of names in the Table or the situation of the images placed beneath the names should have been changed. Moreover Vilna is the chief city of Lithuania, at the confluence of the Vilna (from which it took its name) and the Viliya. The Acts of the mentioned Alexis, Metropolitan of Kiev, we gave on February 12; when his death is also seen painted in the aforesaid tables, as also the finding or Translation of the body. Olgerd, Olgerd the Duke, father of Jagiello. Great Duke of Lithuania, was the father of Jagiello, and presided from the year 1329 until the year 1381, when he died leaving numerous offspring: whose deeds and many wars waged by him are described by the Albert Wijuk Kojalowicz indicated above in part 1 of the History of Lithuania, book 8.
ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
From Livonian and Ruthenian MSS.
John, Martyr at Vilna in Lithuania (St.)
Anthony, Martyr at Vilna in Lithuania (St.)
Eustachius, Martyr at Vilna in Lithuania (St.)
[1] These were by nation Lithuanians, similarly as other men of the same nation, Anthony and John are baptized, servants of Fire. Anthony then and John were brothers; but with their whole soul lovers of Christianity and Catholic truth. When a certain Priest, Nestorius by name, had come into Lithuania, from him they received divine baptism; in which, the elder in years, John; and the one following him, Anthony were named.
[2] After their baptism therefore they took up a life fitting for Christians: but they lived in the service of the Prince of the Lithuanians, yet hid that they were Christians. But because it was impossible entirely to conceal what was in every way contrary to the institutes, customs, and life of others, such as shaving the head and beard, eating flesh, and other things; being asked therefore sometimes by the Prince, they constantly confessed themselves to be Christians. They are therefore compelled to deny the Catholic truth, and to eat the flesh placed on the Prince's table: but it was a day of fasting. who refusing to eat flesh, are sent into prison. Which because they refused, they are enclosed in a dark prison: which they entered joyful and cheerful, because they had been held worthy to suffer such things for the name of Christ: for they thought themselves led rather to a kingdom than to a prison.
[3] But when a year had elapsed, John fell entirely; fearing the torments, he sent to the Prince asking to be freed from prison, and promised that he would do whatever he should be ordered by the Prince: John obeys the Prince, which also was done. He was therefore made distinguished by this very thing, and in all things similar to the others, except that he kept Christianity in his heart, which he did not dare to profess on account of the fear of torments. At that time therefore Anthony also is led out from the prison, and both remain free; but Anthony did not conceal his faith as John did: Anthony now free reproves him. nay, he made it manifest, and reproved his brother, and corrected him according to his powers. At a certain time, when according to custom he was standing before the Prince, John ate flesh, but Anthony, commanded, refused, and confessed himself to be a Christian: wherefore he is again handed over to prison.
[4] But John is despised by the Christians, and very often insulted by the Gentiles, because he kept neither his paternal nor afterwards the beloved faith. and again cast into prison He comes therefore to the aforesaid Priest Nestorius, and asks him to intercede with his brother, that he might be received into his fellowship. Which after Anthony heard, he said he would not by any means consent, unless his brother had first publicly confessed the faith. Having been entirely changed, he sought a suitable time, he refuses to receive his apostate brother. in which he could publicly confess the Catholic truth. Once therefore standing before the Prince, and according to custom serving him in the bath, he boldly confesses himself to be a Christian. But the Prince, because he was alone in the bath, did not dare to show anger, nor do anything to John. But he again with many already present confesses himself to be a Christian, here again he confesses the faith. and immediately is struck with fists and clubs by all who were present, and dragged away to prison. When he arrived there, he made ineffable joy to his brother. Both therefore remained in prison praising God. and is struck with clubs: Not many days after, they were made partakers of the Most Holy Eucharist.
[5] After however some years, Anthony was condemned to hanging: who when the decree had now been issued, spent that whole night sleepless, praising God, and at the same time confirming his brother and exciting him to martyrdom, and recalling his first fall, and foretelling that he would depart by a similar death. and with his brother hanged But first at dawn, both were made partakers of the Body and Blood of the life-giving Christ God. When the day dawned, Anthony was killed by hanging on January 14. John however, he himself is also hanged. when the days foretold by Anthony had elapsed, similarly condemned to hanging, ended his life on April 24. But their venerable Relics some of the faithful receiving, buried devoutly.
[6] Eustachius, however, was a young man, and still placed in the flower of age, strong and handsome, Eustachius is baptized, not only in soul but also in body. With his whole heart he too embraced Christianity, and was baptized by the aforesaid Nestorius. He remained thenceforth as a Christian, leading a chaste life and pleasing to God, in fastings and other virtues. At a certain time, while he was following the Prince, then staying in Lithuania; the Prince saw growing hairs on his head and in his beard unshaven. For it was the custom of those who worshipped Fire, handed down by the demon, to shave the hairs of the head and beard. But Eustachius, just as he rejected their impiety, as wicked and alien from all reason; so also kept his hair unshaven: which when the Prince saw him to have, and having professed the faith, he asked if he was a Christian. And when he had confessed himself a Christian, the Prince, moved with anger and madness, took up the purpose of leading the Saint from the right faith, and first of all forced him too to eat flesh: which he by no means ate: for it was Friday and the vigil for the Nativity of Christ the Lord. When therefore the Prince had observed, that he did not even look at the flesh with his eyes; first he ordered him to be beaten with iron rods without any pity. he is severely beaten, While this was being done, and the executioners were urging more fiercely, the Saint emitted neither any groan nor tear; but rather was seen to praise God, who had made him worthy to suffer such things. And therefore with greater anger and fury moved, the Prince and he is variously tortured ordered cold water to be brought and poured into the Saint's mouth. Which when it was done, he by no means consented to eat flesh. Wherefore the Prince brought still greater torments on him: he broke and crushed the bones of his feet, from the sole to the knees: afterwards he ordered the hairs together with the skin to be plucked from his head, similarly also the nose and ears to be cut off. These torments he bore for three days, as if not feeling them: in which he also spoke to the Christians, lamenting and bewailing his torments.
[7] Thus almost lifeless, the Prince commanded the lictors, that they should hang him on the same oak and he is hanged. on which the first two were hanged. The Saint therefore, although he dragged his crushed legs, as if having suffered nothing bad, followed those leading not only briskly, but even supernaturally. Who when they came to the aforesaid oak, with a rope placed around his neck they killed the Saint, and thus he delivered his soul to God on December 31. untouched by beasts after three days he is buried. Because there hanging for three days he was preserved untouched by any, accessible to the beasts, received from thence by the faithful, he was honorably buried.
[8] A miracle also occurred, God glorifying his Martyrs. For after their killing, no one of the condemned was judged to hang on that oak (for that was a place of public punishment), but the Christians gathering together asked from the Prince that place to be given to them: a church is built. who willingly granted the place, and a church was built. Some of the sacred relics were also translated to the Cathedral church also: but the bodies themselves of the Saints lie with the Basilians, in the church named of the Most Holy Trinity, to the Trinity one God be glory and honor for ages of ages, Amen.