ON SAINT ADRIAN,
MARTYR IN GREECE.
CommentaryAdrian, Martyr in Greece (St.)
G. H.
We proceed, together with the ancient Menology of the Emperor Basil, to this holy Martyr: who, together with the preceding, seems to have obtained the palm of martyrdom at the same Paschal time and in the same Greece. Elogy from the Menology of the Emperor Basil Of him this elogy is contained in the same place: "And the contest of the holy Martyr Adrian. The Martyr of Christ Adrian also was one of those who at that time had been arrested and thrust into many separate prisons. But when the customary worship of impious sacrifice was being offered to those falsely called gods, and all the Greeks, led astray by sacrilegious error, were sacrificing, he too was compelled by force to approach the altar and burn incense. He himself not only refused to do this, but acting strenuously and bravely, overturned the altar, cast down the offerings and victims placed upon it, and scattered the fire. Having thereby provoked the Governor to anger, and having kindled the spirits of the idolaters who were present, he was seized by them and cruelly beaten with whips. For one was striking him with a rod; another was crushing his mouth with a stone; another, turning his head downward, cast him there: and so he gave up his blessed soul to the Lord."
[2] Thus far the said Menology of the Emperor Basil on this April 16: another from the Menaea on April 17 on which day also the Corinthian Martyrs and Saint Irene, together with this Menology, are reported in the printed and handwritten Menaea. But Saint Adrian is transferred to the following day, April 17, and is placed after the Martyrs who suffered in Persia, as though he were to be added to them, whereas we consider him rather to be joined with the Corinthian Martyrs and Saint Irene, on which day Saint Adrian Martyr is recorded without elogy in the Menology of Sirletus. Moreover, because in the former relation some things concerning his death seem to have been very notably omitted through the carelessness of the scribe, we also repeat the encomium from the Menaea, which is as follows: "This Martyr Adrian too was one of those who had been arrested and cast into various prisons. Being therefore led out of prison, at the time when the Greeks, deceived by false religion, were sacrificing to their gods bearing the false names of gods, he too was compelled to approach the altars and burn incense. Which he not only refused to do, but driven by a manly spirit and generous soul, he ran forward and overturned the altar of the idol, poured out all the victims and libations placed upon it, and scattered the hearth. Therefore, the Governor and the profane people, worshippers of the gods, being roused to anger, he was seized and cruelly beaten with whips. For one beat him with rods, another crushed his mouth with stones, another rained blows upon his head: and at last, when they had kindled a great furnace, they cast him into it, and thus he ended his life in the Lord." These things in the Menaea, with these verses concerning the fire endured:
"Have you not learned who it is who stands amid the flame? You shall know as he speaks, Adrian, hold firm!"
"Perhaps not knowing who stands in the midst of the pyre, Come, Adrian, act bravely; when you hear, you shall know."
By which words it seems to be indicated that such a voice descended from heaven to Adrian, already set upon the pyre, and was heard by all the bystanders. We cannot say more while the Acts of this and of the other aforesaid Corinthian Martyrs remain hidden: which we do not doubt were before the eyes of the authors of the Menologies, as well as of him who adorned the encomium of Saint Codratus.