ON SAINT PUBLIUS THE SOLDIER, MARTYR AT NICOMEDIA.
UNDER Licinius.
CommentaryPublius, soldier, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.)
G. H.
The Menology published by the care and command of Basil Porphyrogenitus, the Emperor, in the tenth century of Christ, proposes this Martyr to us: whom we know to have suffered at Nicomedia, because he was converted upon hearing there the preaching of Saint Basileus, Bishop of Amasea, concerning Christ; whose Acts of martyrdom we will bring forth on the following day, 26 April. Of him in the said Menology this eulogy is given. The contest of the holy Martyr Publius. Encomium from the Menology of the Emperor Basil, 25 April. This holy one
Martyr of Christ, Publius, was a soldier enrolled in the forces of the Emperor Licinius, and highly beloved by him, because in very many occasions of war he had borne himself valiantly and bravely. But when the most sacred Martyr of Christ, the Bishop of Amasea, was brought bound before Licinius himself, and nobly rebuked him; and detesting the foolish worship of impure demons and idols, explained more fully what pertains to the knowledge of the true God and to the Incarnation of our Savior Jesus Christ; immediately casting aside the military belt by which he was girt, and throwing down his arms, he professed himself a Christian, and proclaimed himself a servant and soldier of the heavenly God. Therefore Licinius, stirred up into great anger, his face suddenly changed, first tried with all his efforts and with many blandishments to turn him from that resolve of mind. Which when he could not do, he ordered him to be cruelly tortured, and at length his neck cut off with a sword.
[2] In the Menaea he is venerated on 27 April, and he who in the said Menology is called Πούβλιος is there called Πουβλίων, Memory in the Menaea 27 April. and is said to have ended his life by the sword, with this distich added:
"Sphageis Poupliōn haima son Christō cheeis, Hōs ēgorastheis haimati Christou palai."
"Redeemed once by Christ's blood shed, You, Publion, pour your own blood to Christ."
Elsewhere 28 April. In the Synaxarion of Paris of the Clermont College of the Society of Jesus, the same Saint Publion Martyr is venerated on 28 April.