Basileus

ON SAINT BASILEUS

BISHOP OF AMASEA IN CAPPADOCIA,

MARTYR AT NICOMEDIA IN BITHYNIA.

ABOUT THE YEAR 322.

Basileus, Bishop of Amasea, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.)

G. H.

[1] The holy Martyr Basileus, an illustrious Bishop of the East, was born and educated at Amasea, an episcopal city of Cappadocia, which is also reckoned the metropolis of the province of Helenopontus; which he himself administered in most difficult times, when the persecution of Diocletian, Maximian, and Maximinus was raging; and at length, in the last years of Licinius, taken prisoner, He falls as Martyr at Nicomedia on March 28, led to Nicomedia, and, his head cut off, a Martyr, in the seventieth year of his age, he flew to heaven on March 28. But because his body, thrown into the sea, was found by angelic warning, and brought to Amasea and honorably deposited there on this April 26, but deposited at Amasea on April 26. therefore for his veneration all the Orientals commonly have assigned this day. For the Arabic-Egyptian Martyrology, which Gratia Simonius, at that time a pupil of the College of the Maronites at Rome, translated for us from the Arabic language into Latin, Memory in the Arabic-Egyptian Fasts, prescribes for this April 26 the contest of St. Basileus, Bishop of Amasea: in which way it is also reported in the Typicon of St. Sabas. The Greeks have followed suit, who in the Menology of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus have this compendium of the martyrdom. Typicon of St. Sabas. "On the 26th day of the month of April, the Contest of the most holy Martyr Basileus Bishop of Amasea. Menology of Emperor Basil. The most holy Christ's Martyr Basileus, under the Empire of Licinius, was Bishop of Amasea, and sustained the torments of martyrdom in this manner. A certain handmaid of the wife of Licinius, named Glaphyra, that she might, for the study of chastity, avoid concubinage condemned with Licinius himself, by the counsel of her Mistress, secretly fled with a great quantity of money into the Eastern regions: and when she had come to Amasea, she was humanely received by Bishop Basileus, as a Christian. But when Licinius knew it, he commanded both of them, bound, to be brought before him. But Glaphyra, since she recognized herself to be thereby near death, escaped from his hands. But Basileus the Bishop, bound, was led to Nicomedia, and when he had rebuked the Emperor, he was beheaded and thrown into the sea. But his body apart and his head apart. Yet by God's providence, the body was joined to the head, and was rolled by the waves as far as Sinope, and then deposited at Amasea." So the aforesaid Menology. But the Greeks in the Menaea and Anthology celebrate the Ecclesiastical Office concerning him, with a larger eulogy from the Acts of martyrdom added: which is almost the same in the Parisian manuscript Synaxarium of the Clermont College, Synaxarium. in which at the end is added that his solemnity is celebrated "in the most holy great Church." Following the Greeks, the Muscovites set forth the same St. Basileus in Episcopal habit and gesture on this very day in the tables of their Calendar: he is also found inscribed with the title of holy Martyr in the Ruthenian Calendar in Possevinus. Of the Latins the same report Molanus, Galesinius, Canisius with the present-day Roman Martyrology: in which these things are read: Roman Martyrology. "At Amasea in Pontus, St. Basileus, Bishop and Martyr, who under the Emperor Licinius consummated an illustrious martyrdom: whose body, thrown into the sea and found by Elpidiphorus at the warning of an Angel,

was honorably buried."

We give double Acts of the martyrdom, Double Acts from the Greeks, translated from the Greek: the author of the earlier is John the Presbyter of Nicomedia, who himself dealt with St. Basileus, saw the martyrdom with his own eyes, and learned the rest from Elpidiphorus and the Deacons of the same Bishop. These Acts, found in the monastery of Cryptoferrata, twelve miles distant from Rome, by John the Presbyter, William Sirletus translated into Latin, and Aloysius Lipomanus published in volume 7 of the Lives of the Holy Fathers, and from it Laurentius Surius on this day. We have found other Greek Acts at Rome in the illustrious library of the Most Eminent Cardinal Federico Sforza, of the title of St. Peter in Chains, and they are inscribed, and of another later one. Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τὸν ἅγιον Ἱερομάρτυρα Βασιλέα, Ἀρχιεπίσκοπον Ἀμασείας ("Encomium on the Holy Hieromartyr Basileus, Archbishop of Amasea"). From these, although their author is much more recent, we shall not begrudge to render here in Latin the received Proem, because it contains many things pertaining to Amasene antiquity and sacred history, and to place it before the older Acts: the rest may be read in full in their original Greek at the end of the book.

PART OF THE ENCOMIUM

From the Greek manuscript of Cardinal Sforza,

as a Prologue to the following Acts.

Basileus, Bishop of Amasea, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.)

By John the Contemporary, FROM A GREEK MS.

[1] Those who have been allotted earthly power, and have obtained royal reins and scepters, if from elsewhere they enter some city, Beyond the victory of earthly Kings, and especially if they celebrate a triumph for a victory obtained, by their approach they gladden and adorn the city, and show it made more splendid. And such things earthly Kings afford to the cities subject to them. What, further, will you say of those who have reigned in God, and have obtained an unshaken and tranquil kingdom: greater is the triumph of St. Basileus. such as the excellent victor and great Pontiff Basileus? Has he not received greater and more divine gifts, surpassing any city which he first entered on account of a victory obtained over the princes and powers of darkness, on account of the cast-down author of all evil and the trampled tyrant? Moreover, a victory full of dripping blood, with blood poured out, and shows the purple price of redemption: by which, destroying the common enemies and evil spirits with his darts, he subdued them: and to such an extent he ascended, and miracles performed. that above nature he performed miracles, and of such a kind as no other famous miracle-worker is seen to have done. Entirely, therefore, this must be confessed, that above earthly Kings is this God-bearing and divine Basileus, adorned with such honor that after the completion of his contest of martyrdom, he ascended the sea in a wonderful way and reached the harbor of the same.

[2] And these things thus said, I thought it would be most expedient, if we bend a little aside, and bring back a well-flowing discourse to its beginning. When the Apostles at Pentecost received the Holy Spirit, After the assumption into the heavens of our Lord the Savior, and his session at the right hand of the Father, the Paraclete descending from the heavens in the form of fiery tongues, establishing the divine Apostles as Kings of this world, sent them to different places: which the Divine David and the eminent Prophet had of old thus foretold: "While the heavenly One distinguishes Kings over her, they shall be whitened with snow in Salmon": where the Holy Spirit is called heavenly; Salmon, Jerusalem; they shall be whitened, while as snow and sun they shine forth, and then the Kings designated are the Apostles. Psalm 67:15 And these things being thus ordered by the Holy Spirit, Peter was allotted those who were from the circumcision; but those from the uncircumcision were allotted to Paul and the others: for the Gentiles made up a part of the whole world. And since the Euxine Sea and the adjoining region drew near to the climate of Jerusalem, and by a great spectacle the inhabitants of Pontus and Cappadocia at the coming of the Paraclete were present at Jerusalem on the very day of Pentecost, the inhabitants of Pontus and Cappadocia heard them speaking: not far from the rays of Peter sat Pontic Amasea, a most ancient and illustrious city, which was to bring forth many fruits, with the grace of Christ cultivating the world. The rays of Peter therefore illumined Amasea: and first indeed more obscurely, but more splendidly, St. Peter taught at Amasea, when he was making his expedition to Italy and Rome: for he was directing his journey, as was fitting, through it, and therefore the place in Amasea is to this day called the "Chair of the Apostles." The chief of the Apostles, therefore, lingering at Amasea, and ordained Nicetius Bishop for them. sanctified the place, and first taught in it, and enlightened the people. Thence departing, as reason required, he ordained Nicetius, a man of Angelic morals and life, Bishop.

[3] a But in the lapse of time, that administration was reduced to nothing, while through fraud and error new things were pursued, and it yielded to the insane and those stirred with fury, and all the seeds of piety were trampled down. But afterwards, in the succeeding times, b Phaedimus administered Amasea, There Bishop Phaedimus ordained St. Gregory the Thaumaturge and other Bishops: and adorned its inhabitants with Apostolic charisms and all kinds of virtues: nor was c he deprived of the grace of prophecy, from the inspiration of the Spirit, foreseeing with the eye of foreknowledge what was to come, he first constituted Gregory, by the public name Thaumaturge, d Bishop of Neocaesarea, when the tempest of heathen storms was miserably shaking that city. This Apostolic man Phaedimus also adorned many other cities, both near and far off, with the ordination of holy Bishops, and fortified the same not moderately with the preaching of the Apostles.

[4] Lest in the persecution of the Heathens the faith should perish, But then, when impiety was dominant, and the cult of idols was agitated with mad furies, the kingdom being handed over to cruel persecutors, who were raging around the superstition of idols, then the region of the Pontic dominion and Amasea itself remained uncultivated. But the heavenly husbandman, in divine knowledge, found out from his likeness a worthy husbandman, who could purge uncultivated and desolate souls, and plant the heavenly seed, and so cultivate it, that they might bring forth fruit thirtyfold or sixtyfold or a hundredfold. But who is this, or of what kind? St. Basileus is made Bishop, By his name he makes faith good by his works. For he is named Basileus ("kingly"), very conspicuous in the sacred mysteries and contests. He was born and educated at Amasea, which was for him the midwife of his birth and his nurse; born at Amasea, this afterwards he pastorally ruled, and exhibited a new paradise, both by the irrigation of the spirit and by more divine doctrines and exhortations, and by his martyric contests and illustrious ornaments. In this word consists the head of all good things, and our discourse has assumed its crown. For this divine fighter, victor in the contest, and pastor constituted by heavenly decree, by his doctrine he illuminates the Eastern regions: administered the helm of the city of Amasea and of the Eastern regions. But again, just as foxes, hyenas, and untamed beasts, filling some place, when suddenly a noble lion appears and with a leonine roar shakes and moves the said place, and like a lion, he scatters the evildoers: withdraw into hidden lairs and caves; so also the beasts, endowed indeed with human intellect, but made the deceitful foxes of demons, flee into the mountains and deserted and waterless places lacking divine irrigation, not bearing the noble prudence and counsel of the most holy Basileus, and the manly vigor of his soul, and his strong and unforeseen attacks, and avoiding his successful results. For everywhere, urged on by divine and kingly impulse and prudence, he confirmed his household, brought back the wandering, and overthrew the defenses of errors: and as though winged, now e he ran to Ancyra, at other times to Neocaesarea, that he might abolish the foolish superstition of idols, and introduce the knowledge of the true God, and cooperate with those who were to undergo martyrdom for the faith, he teaches at Ancyra and Neocaesarea: by teaching, admonishing, cherishing, and exciting them to the contests: and this at a time when the diabolical instruments, Diocletian the proud impostor, After the persecution of Diocletian, Maximian, and Maximinus, Maximian and Maximinus, were slaughtering as in a butcher-shop whatever Christians they found, because they would not venerate the images of the Gods, nor could they be drawn to most impure sacrifices. But because, while our most valiant athlete was contending, both the errors of the Gentiles were diminished and the piety of Christians was growing, the author of all malice and the apostate infernal dragon did not bear it, but applied every effort to remove Bishop Basileus from the midst: whom, in order that he might seize him more quickly, he suffered under Licinius. he found as instrument of his evil operations Licinius, most apt for carrying out this wicked machination.

NOTES.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM

By John, Presbyter of Nicomedia, an eye-witness in most things.

From a Greek MS of the Monastery of Cryptoferrata, translated by William Sirletus.

Basileus, Bishop of Amasea, Martyr at Nicomedia (St.)

By John the Contemporary, FROM A GREEK MS.

[1] It came to pass, after God had struck that impious Prince of the Romans, After Maxentius the tyrant was slain, the most bitter enemy of his great and true confession, the tyrant Maxentius, whom, under Constantine the pious Emperor and most observant of the Christian religion, He plunged, as of old that Pharaoh, into the river, and delivered Rome into the hands of Constantine: it came to pass, I say, that the most benign Emperor provided everything for Christian people, and as soon as possible sent Licinius, the husband of his sister, to conquer Maximinus. Who, when he had been allotted the kingdom in the parts of the East, spoke iniquity against Him who is the true and only God, and by cruel tyranny afflicted the race of those who observed the piety of God, as none other had done of those who were before.

[2] Licinius therefore, aided by the almighty hand of our Lord Jesus Christ—inasmuch as he at that time sincerely observed the faith of Christ—brought back a victory from Maximinus, who was in that kingdom which he had obtained in the East. For nefarious Maximinus, thinking little of the war itself, escaped indeed in flight from the hand of Licinius, but did not altogether escape that hand of God, which so comprehends all things that nothing can be drawn away from it: which hand then exacted the accounts and penalties worthy of his most evil crimes. For when he had hidden himself at home, he was struck with a sudden and incurable disease through his whole body; and when he was pressed in a wonderful way by sharp and vehement pains, he fell prone to the earth, his flesh melting with a certain hidden fire, and all his members flowing away, and Maximinus being punished divinely, the soul itself being shut up in the bones alone: which bones, since they lacked flesh and blood, began to be torn from their proper place in which they were set. But that most wretched soul could not thus depart from its wicked and spoiled tabernacle, before it had confessed, supplicating the Lord Himself, its impiety and tyranny, which against

Christ, in afflicting his servants, he had exercised. With such a most shameful end, that wretch brought his life to a close.

[3] Therefore, after the just punishment of Maximinus and the divinely-brought wrath, Licinius, when he held the whole East under himself, Licinius rules in the East, came with great pomp to Nicomedia, the city of our region, together with his wife, that he might dwell in the royal house and govern the Empire of the East. And now at first a certain deep peace suddenly came over the whole of our region, after those vehement tossings and battles of raging idolatry, by the will and work of Licinius. at first peaceful, But the devil, enemy of good things, could not long bear the tranquility and joy of those living piously. For even the overthrow and punishment of those tyrants who had been before was no example to Licinius himself, so that he should not be such, but rather do what is just, and persevere in those things. For when what he desired had prospered for him, and what was hoped for had come into his power, he showed not long after what kind of soul he had, and of what kind he really was, simulating Christianity, namely that through simulation and under a certain guise and covering of feigned faith he had dealt with that greatest Emperor Constantine, at which time, considering the deeds of Constantine, he concealed his own mind. Then therefore, when he was wholly wicked and nefarious, and had wholly accommodated himself to the will of the devil, he repudiated the confession of the one true God and Creator of all things, and that after that oath then serves idols, which he had often declared to the Emperor Constantine, most loving of God, that he would never at any time depart from the faith of Christians, but would be its defender. Making his promises for nothing, he delivered himself wholly and diligently to the worship of the Greeks, remaining with burning zeal in those execrable things, and everywhere offering sacrifices to the idols themselves. Who also, violently seizing senatorial women, wholly lascivious. in the sight of men committed foul and intemperate crimes, sparing neither mothers nor daughters, so as not to lie with them intemperately. Besides this, he did not cease to meditate endless calamities through all peoples.

[4] When the full sister of the great Constantine saw and heard these things, He drives the Christians from the court: and could not bear them, she secretly sent letters to the pious man and friend of God, Constantine, in which she signified what Licinius had dared to do. For he, devoted to the superstitious worship of demons, and hateful to God himself, Licinius, drove all Christian men far from his house: by which thing he openly showed himself bare and destitute of the divine patronage of Christ. When therefore such things were being done by him for a long time without any impediment, a certain girl, from the number of those who were engaged with burning zeal in the ministry of the Queen, of Christian stock, and flourishing in morals and temperance, He lays snares for the chastity of St. Glaphyra. when she learned these things, and abhorred being joined with Licinius, being provoked by him to fornication, and at the same time lest on account of jealousy and suspicion she might be afflicted by her mistress, she dared to open that secret to the Queen herself. "He has appointed," she said, "O Empress, to do this to me: for Benignus, who is the prefect of his bedchamber, while he hoped to confer upon me, as it were, some great gift, has made this known. I therefore beseech you by that God, who is the Lord of heaven and earth, whom you yourself fear, and the Emperor Constantine worships, that you not allow me to be deprived of my virginity, defiled by nefarious intercourse."

[5] When the Queen had learned these things, and willingly embraced the equitable mind and purpose of the girl herself, she first hid her, She, aided by Queen Constantia, under the pretense that, seized with delirium, she seemed about to die; but afterwards, seizing an opportune time, she gave her much gold and silver, and royal ornament and all furniture, as well as boys, and sent her into the region of Armenia; and instructed those men who were conducting her, that by no means should they disclose to anyone what was being done, namely who or whence that girl was, until the Lord himself should have provided. They adorned her in a man's garb: and when they had given the Queen certain assurance of the care and kindness to be preserved toward the girl, they set out for that place to which they had been commanded: and if any had asked them who that was, they answered that he was a certain Tribune. with her people she flees to Amasea: But by God's providence it happened that they came to the city of Amasea: and that city was the metropolis of the Pontic province. Glaphyra therefore (for this was the girl's name), when she had seen a most well-fortified city, was delighted with the aspect of that place, and admonished her boys that if they should find Christian people there, they should remain in that city.

[6] But when a certain young man, who belonged to Quintius, one of the most illustrious of that city, had heard that those men were Christians and were seeking she takes shelter with Quintius a Christian, whether any of the same faith were in that city, he carried to Quintius what he had heard. Who, delaying nothing, met them, and asked that they might consent to be in his house, and if it was pleasing to them, to remain there; saying that he too was a Christian, and in that place had a Christian Bishop, an outstanding man and worthy to be compared with the Apostles themselves. They, obeying his words, and taking a certain part in his house, remained with the most illustrious man Quintius: and they met the Bishop himself, who was called Basileus. He was a very eloquent man, filled with every virtue and spiritual prudence. When it had been asked of Glaphyra herself who and whence she was, St. Basileus counsels her to hide there: she answered that she was Italian by birth and Christian, and from Christian parents, and the handmaid of that Queen, who was the sister of Constantine Augustus and wife of King Licinius. She also subsequently added what was the cause of her coming to that place. They, when they had heard these things, instructed that neither she herself, nor anyone of those who belonged to her, should converse with anyone, lest in any way they should be denounced to the Prefect of the city, and that matter be for them a cause of some calamity. But the blessed Bishop Basileus said that the cause of her departure pertained to the glory of God.

[7] In those very days the Bishop was constructing a temple for the Church: for up to that time there had not been inside the city any sacred place for the Christians. She helps him in constructing the temple, That chaste Virgin Glaphyra therefore contributed much gold and silver to the building of the temple, and supplied nearly all her resources to all those things which Blessed Basileus had commanded. Moreover, she also wrote to her Mistress, where she was, and with whom she had decided to stay, and made her aware of that sacred building, asking that she might send more money to her, by which the holy temple might be completed for the Christians. This the sister of the great Constantine most willingly did, who also sent to her very much money and many gifts: she also wrote letters to the Bishop, in which she commended the girl to him.

[8] It is said that after an interval of time, by the art of a wicked demon, it happened that Benignus, of whom we spoke, found Glaphyra's letters. Having read them, when he heard that the girl lived, and was with a certain man at Amasea, he made this known to King Licinius. Who, when he had been inflamed with wonder by fury, in that very hour sent an edict to the Governor of the province, about to be brought to Licinius, she dies. in which he commanded Basileus himself and the handmaid Glaphyra to be sent to him bound in iron chains. But before the King's letters had come to the Governor, it happened by God's providence, that Glaphyra herself departed from human affairs. c But that corrupt and inhuman Governor, when he had received the King's edict, seized the most holy Bishop Basileus and sent him to the King bound in iron chains. But concerning Glaphyra he wrote that she had died. Two clerical Deacons followed the blessed Bishop Basileus, one of whom was called Parthenius, the other Theotimus: but all were vexed on the very way by the impious soldiers and executioners. St. Basileus, led away, is enclosed in prison. But when they had come to the royal city of Nicomedia, the servant of God Basileus was cast into prison: but Parthenius and Theotimus were received hospitably with kindness and much mercy with a certain Elpidephorus, a Christian and hospitable man, who lived next to the prison.

[9] He summons Elpidephorus and the 2 Deacons at night, The most faithful Elpidephorus, therefore, when he had learned everything about that man, and was known to the keeper of the prison, obtained from him by gold that, without any impediment, both he and the Deacons and whoever he wished might enter the great Pontiff of God, and might together with him sing divine prayers and psalms, especially at night. The day therefore drawing near, on which Basileus himself was to be presented before the tyrant, at the time of midnight, the keeper of the prison being summoned, he sought his Deacons and the admirable Elpidephorus. The keeper therefore most quickly led them all to Basileus. But he, as he was accustomed, was even then singing psalms, beginning from that decade of psalms, he sings psalms. "Remember, Lord, David, and all his meekness." Psalm 131:1 Then, when he had proceeded further in saying the psalms, three times this verse, with hands stretched out to heaven, and pouring forth tears, he said: "If I shall dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me, Lord." Psalm 138:9 But those Deacons, when they had seen Basileus in his prayers, as if perplexed, suspected that he had lapsed. But he himself knew what he was saying, as the end of those things, which were decided concerning him, showed.

[10] He exhorts the Deacons, Then when he had finished the hymns and prayers, the day itself now dawning, addressing the Deacons: "Temptations," he said, "brothers, are upon us, stirred indeed by the devil himself, but brought upon us by men. Be not sluggish, nor fall in mind on account of those hardships which are to come: but endure, remaining stable in the faith: nor suffer yourselves to be moved, that, proved, not confounded, you may be in the coming of the Lord; vigilantly and firmly holding the eyes of your soul intent on Him, who can save us from death, and turn mourning into joy, the very straits into gladness, tears into laughter, he asserts that Christ has appeared to him. labors into rest. Reckon all the pleasures of this life and the enticements of the senses to be most abject for the sake of the Son of God Jesus Christ, that you may be made his heirs together with all holy men, enjoying the delights of his kingdom. For know, my sons, that this night my Lord has truly appeared to me, and has declared to me of what sort will be the end of my dissolution and migration to him, and whatever in short he will do, great and illustrious, on his servant."

"You therefore be of tranquil mind, and returning in Christ, confirm the brethren themselves. d And Eutychius, He indicates the successor Bishop: the son of Callistratus, you will take as your Bishop: for so the Lord has revealed to me, who, moved by his grace and benignity, will cause this lowly body of mine to be restored to you."

[11] When his clerics poured forth bitter tears, he, applying his accustomed doctrine, admonished and exhorted them that they be willing to return, commending them into the hands of Elpidephorus, to whom also he said this: "You, brother, have been chosen by God himself, that you may receive the reward of charity: suffer hardships therefore together with them, nor dismiss them, to whatever place the Lord shall have invited you for their ministry." As soon as Basileus had dismissed them, He is presented before Licinius, the King himself commanded him to be led to him, and first he cast up to him the charge of the girl Glaphyra, that he had received her, and had signified nothing concerning the matter. He opposed a just defense to all these things. But the King commanded the Bishop to be removed from his sight: to whom also, signifying through the Tribune of the city: "I will pardon you," he said, "this error, and the Pontificate of the idols having been spurned, and moreover I will add the greatest honors, if you will obey me and offer sacrifices to my gods: and moreover I will constitute you Pontiff of those priests who are here." But that blessed minister of God, Basileus, answered the Tribune: "These things you shall say to the King: Though you should will to give me your whole kingdom, you will never give me so much as you wish to take away, when you strive to separate me from the living God, and to join me to demons, corruptors of souls, and to alienate me from infinite, eternal, and immortal glory, and to drive me to fleeting honors, whose honor is shame, and whose splendor a certain useless abuse. But if you will hear me as a good counselor, obey me, and return there whence you departed; and throw yourself as a suppliant to him whom, rejected, you have despised. He attempts to bring him back to the faith, For our God is good, nor is anyone else just, holy, and savior except him. Therefore do penance, and depart from these vain things; lest on account of your folly, evils and calamities come upon you, brought by that very just judge whom you, denying, said was not God."

[12] These things the Tribune immediately reported to the King: whom the King again sending to Basileus: "Again," he said, "admonish him, unless perhaps he wishes to be compelled. He despises the threats of death, But if he will not obey me, immediately let his head be cut off and let him be cast into the sea, that we may see whether that Galilean can save him." Again therefore the Tribune came to him, and said: "You are now placed between life and death: choose one of the two: either obey me, and worship the King himself, sacrificing to the gods whom he venerates; or know that you shall be struck with the sword, and cast into the sea." When that holy man had heard these things, very joyful, he answered: "I strive to worship my immortal God and King, and to obey his precepts: but those whom you call Gods are demons, with whom also those who believe them will, in that very time of judgment which He has defined, by my true and only God who holds the rule over all, be cast into the fire of Gehenna which is never extinguished, into outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do therefore against me whatever you wish: prepared to suffer everything for Christ, for I am prepared not only to be deprived of my head, and to be cast into the sea, as you said, but also to endure infinite torments for my Christ. For as long as the breath itself shall remain in my nostrils, I will not deny my Maker and God, nor will I be made guilty of that fire which devours all things."

[13] When the Tribune had understood from these things that the man's opinion was stable and immovable, he commanded that he be moderately beaten with whips and deprived of his head, and his body thrown into the sea. He is beaten with whips, For in this way he had cast most of those who worshipped the faith of Christ, especially those who presided over the flocks of God, as food for the fishes, beheaded. But that most grave and very religious martyr of Christ, Basileus, receiving the very blows with grateful mind, said: "Not tribulation, not distress, not many dangers, not sword, not fire, nor death can separate me from the love of Christ: for He is able to deliver me from all things." And as he was being led, he sang those verses of the psalm: "Thou that feedest Israel, give ear, who leadest Joseph like a sheep: who sittest upon the Cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy power and come, that thou mayest save us." These things were most desirable to him, and looked to the indicating of those things which afterwards happened to Elpidephorus and those who were with him. Psalm 79:2 But Elpidephorus, together with the Deacons and certain Christian men, followed Basileus, whom the very executioners were urging vehemently. They therefore came to that place where his martyrdom was to be undergone. He is led to the shore of the sea: But Elpidephorus approached the executioners, to whom he also gave some silver coins, and asked them that it might be allowed to Basileus to speak with his household members what he wished. When the executioners had most willingly granted this, that divine athlete of Christ and Bishop Basileus, when he had bent his knees on the seashore, and had stretched his hands to heaven, prayed to God with theological utterances, and with others bringing attention, in this sense brought forth:

[14] "You, who established the heavenly and incorporeal minds; He prays God for the faithful people, who stretched out the heaven as a skin, and established the earth itself upon the waters; who created the sea and all things which are contained in these things, Lord my God, who to each and in every place and in all things are always present; and who do the will of those who fear you and keep your commandments, hear my prayers, and guard your faithful flock, over which you have deigned to place me your useless servant: free it from all vanity and violence of the Gentiles, and keep it untouched from every boasting and impious tongue of heretics, speaking blasphemies against you. You, who can do all things, exterminate the madness of idols, and destroy the works of Satan, but increase the assembly of your Church. May you make this whole city and those neighboring to it one people, whose same mind and same spirit may be in holding the right confession of you, who are the true God. Constitute the same people as an emulator of good works and of things pleasing to you, that by all gloriously the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit may be celebrated, now and unto the ages of ages." And when he had added the word, "Amen," he embraces Elpidephorus and the Deacons, embracing Elpidephorus and the Deacons themselves with a holy kiss, just as the great Paul embraced the Presbyters of the Ephesians of old, he said: "Blessed be God, who has not given us as a prey to the teeth of those enemies who are not seen with bodily eyes; but has broken their snares, and has freed us, and has afforded aid that we might be rescued from straits; nor has he suffered us to be tempted above what we can bear. Salute the brothers and my sons, whom I begot in the Holy Spirit. The grace of our Savior Jesus Christ be with all of you. The Martyr dies. Amen." Then, turning to the executioner: "Do," he said, "friend, what you have been commanded, and on whose account you are here." And when he had bent his knees, and stretched out his neck, joyful and exulting, struck by a single blow, he most bravely completed that good contest.

[15] Then Elpidephorus, offering gold to the executioners, asked them not to sink the body of Basileus in the sea, but to hand it over to him to be buried: but they did not wish to do this, suspecting that, if perhaps they were caught, they too would be beheaded, condemned to their own heads by the King. And when he had asked from the executioners the precious head of the Martyr, he could not obtain even that. The body and head are thrown into the sea, Therefore those executioners, when they had seized a boat of certain fishermen, cast into it the body of the Martyr with the head; and going farther from land, in the deep sea they sank in one place the head, in another the body, we seeing it, and were confounded with groans. But Elpidephorus, the most faithful minister of Christ, when he had received the Deacons into his house, consoled and refreshed them.

[16] But on that night a certain divine vision of an Angel was presented three times to Elpidephorus, and at the same time the Angel himself thus addressed him: "The Bishop Basileus has come to Sinope, and there awaits you. Rise therefore, and having the Deacons with you, board a ship, and set out to him." By the warning of an Angel, Elpidephorus, when he had arisen three times at the same time, and had considered the vision with himself, explained it to the Clerics; asking them whether in truth they had ever heard of any place or region called Sinope anywhere. Parthenius said it was a city of Pontus. "And I," said he, Elpidephorus and the Deacons "seemed in dreams to extend my hand to that great man, and to enter with him into the temple of the Lord, who also said this to me: As you see, so shall it be to you." When therefore Elpidephorus had taken gold and provisions, and deemed the faith of Christ greater than all other things, and had it with him, and followed as a guide of the way, having found an Amasean vessel, he boarded it together with the Deacons of Basileus. They sail to Sinope: They therefore sailed to the maritime city of Sinope, and prayed to God that what they had been commanded to do in the beginning might be revealed to them again more manifestly.

[17] At the second indication of the Angel, On that night, therefore, he who had before appeared to Elpidephorus, was present, and said: "Cast down the net itself at the right bay of the city, and you will find the pearl you desire": and suddenly showed him both the place and certain signs, and a shining house, and the holy man sitting in it with a multitude of soldiers, and said: "Behold you see him, therefore when you come in the morning, you shall take him." Aroused therefore and very glad, he signified to those who were with him that he had seen these things. Who, when they had risen at daybreak, went, as they had been instructed by that vision. And when they had found both the signs and the place, behold a boat of fishermen, who were mending their nets, was presented. When the admirable Elpidephorus had called them to himself: "What," he said, "do you wish us to give you, that you may cast the net for us?" But they most willingly made an agreement with them. When they had boarded the boat, they cast lots among themselves concerning the first cast, and the lot fell upon Theotimus. In his name therefore the nets were cast down into the sea, which, drawn out, had nothing caught in them. They cast the net: Then Parthenius cast the lot for Elpidephorus, and the second cast of the drag-net fell upon Parthenius. But neither thus was anything taken by them. But Elpidephorus said: "I am not

in my own, but in the name of my God I commit to you that you cast the drag-net into the sea: for I have faith in God himself, that what has been proposed to me, I shall be able to attain."

[18] This therefore being done, the body of the glorious Bishop and Martyr Basileus, they draw out the body of St. Basileus: in a certain admirable manner and beyond what can be said, was enfolded in that drag-net. When therefore the fishermen, drawing out the drag-net, had perceived that there was much weight in it, smiling: "Most fortunate," they said, "is the God of this man." But when the nets had been drawn to land, and they had seen a man slain in the sea, changing their opinion, they complained of their fortune. But Elpidephorus, when he had seen him, and had recognized the holy man Basileus, could not contain himself from weeping much and groaning. But Parthenius, bending over his ear: "Let us not," he said, "give these men suspicion, but, as it were pursuing the common nature of the human race with mercy, let us ask them to give him to us, so that we may commit this corpse to the earth." For the fishermen were consulting about casting him again into the sea. Wherefore they said to the fishermen: "You indeed, brothers, have labored, and that which was given by God himself, you have taken: give us him who was drawn out in place of fish, that we may rightly apply to him what pertains to burial, that that which is kindred to him may be joined to the earth." But the fishermen would not allow nothing to be given them for the corpse. But Elpidephorus: "You," he said, "have suffered labor, and that which was imposed on you, you have discharged: it is just therefore that you receive a reward." When he said this, he did not desist before they had received what had been determined for them.

[19] When therefore they had sailed to a certain shore of the sea, that body being received and laid down, The head joined to the body they were left by the fishermen, as the sun was already inclining to evening. Then they began to embrace the honored tabernacle of the holy Martyr with tears and groans, and rejoiced much at that matter. For since the head of the Martyr without the body, and the body without the head, both with us ourselves watching, had been cast into the deep sea, it was an admirable and very remarkable work of Divine power, that the same head should emerge joined to the body: since the mark of the section existed, which, brought by the sword, indeed showed itself on all sides on the neck of the Martyr, but in such a way that it was not disjoined from that sacred head. Nor had that body received any loss at all, or swelling from those waters, it gives forth a sweet odor: by which it had been long tossed, as all other things are wont to: nor did it smell ill, but even gave forth a certain sweetness of odor: for indeed it was free from all corruption. Neither from the head, nor from the eyelids, nor from that grey hair, which had recently begun to flourish, had the hairs fallen away; but such as it was, when still living he slept, such also now was seen placed before them, and smelled sweet with the sweetness of many ointments. But he had not yet passed the seventieth year. But let no one not have faith in these things, as if these were not done in the order of Divine power, when he knows what was formerly done by God in the Red Sea, and in the river Jordan under Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha, and what was afterwards done in Jonah, that divine man, by a miracle similar to what was formerly done. and in the three youths, who bore themselves bravely in that Babylonian furnace, whose neither hairs nor garments were corrupted by the fire's heat or burning. For these things all happened by the power of God, doing and disposing by his will, at whatever time he wills, those things which are contrary to the opinion of all: for it is the same God, who both then and now is wont to effect all wonders in those whom he has found worthy of himself, even after their death.

[20] The body is carried to Amasea: When therefore they had wept enough, and evening was now approaching, Elpidephorus ran to the city, and bought a certain veil: and when it was deep night, he wrapped the body itself in that veil, which, laying it down in the house of a certain Christian man, who was one of the good citizens f and with whom they had already lodged before, together with those who were there, he decently cared for the funeral. And as soon as possible, Elpidephorus composed a certain chest from boards, and, the body having been placed in a vehicle hired for a price, he set out with the Deacons to that city Amasea, and consumed five full days in the journey. But late at night, in the recently constructed temple, they laid down those relics. But at dawn the whole multitude of Christians, gathered together to that place, secretly indeed because of fear of the Governor, lest if he should know this, he might do them harm, hastened to give the body of the holy man to a sepulcher. But since it was likely that some either did not believe, or were desirous of seeing his body, when they had unrolled that veil, they saw a specimen of all virtues and of continence, and their sense was delighted with a certain admirable sweetness of odors. buried amid the tears of his people. And when they had inspected that whole body of the holy man, which had been a temple of the Holy Spirit, and had been struck by that matter and by a miracle surpassing all opinion, and had followed the spiritual father and teacher with tears, and had finally given glory to God himself, the worker of miracles, with psalms and lamps and many aromatic spices before that temple which had been constructed by Basileus the martyr, with the help of God assisting, in that part which looks toward the East, where also the bodies of many other holy Martyrs are said to have been laid, they also buried his body, having him up to now as Bishop, Pastor, and most vigilant keeper of his flock even after death; and the same as most diligent persecutor of the most grievous and ferocious wolves (of what sort are the Arabic ones), which are comprehended not with bodily eyes but with the mind, and of other beasts, Greeks, I mean, and heretics.

[21] After the remarkable slaughter of that holy man, therefore, Constantine the Emperor, when he had learned these things, Licinius, defeated by Constantine the Great, perishes miserably, both from the letters of his sister, and from other Senatorial men, who had been vexed by Licinius and had fled for refuge to Constantine, as to a savior and corrector of evils, g departed from Rome moved with the greatest anger, or rather by divine counsel, with Crispus his son, who was in all things a good King, and similar to him from whom he was born. Constantine therefore came into the East, to seize Licinius, who had prepared himself for waging war against the Emperor: but his whole army went over to that Emperor, most glorious and carrying back noble victories, and adhered to him. But Licinius, when the Emperor had nearly punished him to death, deprived of the royal power and of all that princely authority, was consigned to Gaul, that he might dwell in that region: for on account of the fact that he was his affinity, he did not wish to punish him with death, who by right a thousand times ought to die. But to him, with the whole Senate hearing, he said: "Mourn, and do penance for what you have dared, and being zealous for good works, never cease from them: perhaps God will be propitious and benevolent to you, and you, who have been devoid of all benevolence and an insidious plotter, perhaps will escape the sentence of eternal punishment." Nevertheless, divine punishment vehemently attacked him: for in that region to which he was sent, certain difficult ulcers, remedies congruent to his malice, brought a plague similar to that which Maximinus had suffered. When therefore he groaned heavily, and had confessed that the one and true God had been rejected by him, from this h life the wretch was torn away.

[22] Further, when the great and truly elect of Christ Emperor Constantine had attained the invincible and impregnable Empire, those divisions, and the Christian faith flourishes. which Diocletian, the first of the Roman Emperors, had devised, being restored to their former state, he joined to divine laws and statutes: and through all peoples he reduced to nothing the rite and tyranny of Greek superstition: but he caused the affairs of Christians to be increased, exalted, and with all confidence the most right and true confession of Christ to be preached: and he commanded by edict that all things which pertained to the temples of the idols, whether monies or revenues, should be distributed to the Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ: and finally, referring the Empire itself as received from the same Lord, he constructed the city of Byzantium to be called by his own name, which the King and Emperor of all, God, loves. But the blessed Basileus, having discharged martyrdom, and among Priests and illustrious Martyrs foremost as excellent and faithful, died in the month of March, on the twenty-eighth day: but was buried in the city of his sacred flock on the twenty-sixth day of the month of April, under the reign of Constantine, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and Empire forever. Amen.

[23] After the beloved Elpidephorus had completed such a ministry in Christ, John the writer of the Life, and in the city of Nicomedia was with me, the least John among the Priests of Christ, he set forth to me all the deeds of Basileus which have been said above, God as witness. Wherefore for the edification and utility of those who shall read these things or shall wish to hear them, I have striven to commit them to letters, and to leave writings, whatsoever I have seen, heard, and learned: for I myself also was held worthy, through the beloved Elpidephorus, to enjoy the spiritual converse of that blessed man, at the time when he was being guarded in prison, from whom also I received the greatest benefit. For when, at that time, contention and dissension had arisen among the Christian faithful, he was instructed by St. Basileus on the Incarnation. I, as a suppliant, asked from that man, who was free from every affection and was a truly great teacher, that he would say whether they rightly thought, who held the Son himself to be at once equally eternal and without beginning with the supreme God of all, saying that he was of the same essence, of which the Father is, and also affirming these two to be without beginning and endowed with equal honor; or whether they rather maintained a heretical disputation, when in a certain place the Son himself with a clear voice says, "The Father is greater than I": likewise that, "I go to my God." Then he: "If," he said, "you shall have willed to read the divine oracles diligently and accurately, free from all affection and hatred, you will find those to think most rightly who confess that God himself is worshipped by them, when John openly cries: John 1:1 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; this was in the beginning with God': 1 Cor. 1:24 and Paul testifies that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, the image and character of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, and the Creator. Col. 1:15 'For in him all things were created, whether visible or invisible, and all things were made through him, and without him was made nothing that was made.' But if in him and through him all things were created,

and established, we manifestly understand that time and the ages were created.

[24] But if anyone arrives at such madness as to say that the Father and God was without power, wisdom, and word, and the Son is consubstantial with the Father, let him have such an opinion also of the Son, that he was passible, and grew little by little, and received addition, and refer the whole nature of the same one, a divine existent (as he opines), to a beginning: for increase and addition which happens little by little has altogether as its beginning that which happens in time. But I do not think that anyone of those who think rightly would opine such a thing, nor do I think this to dissent from the truth, that the Father is without beginning, and the Son, with God, is himself also without beginning. For the Father is not in time, but above time, above which it is manifest that the Son also is. Therefore, since God and the Father always was, the Son himself also is eternal, beyond what can be thought, begotten in a divine way from the Father. For when we confess that He always was without beginning, always wise and powerful, we must necessarily confess then that there was a Word, and a Begetter of the Word: which Word is not dissolved into air, as our words are dissolved, but it subsists and is truly indissoluble, always from Him who is without beginning, from Him, I say, the begetter, according to the true essence, having a principle above principle. For that the Word itself, that is, the Son, is of the same substance as the Father, the Son himself, made man, affirms with a clear voice, when he says, 'I and the Father are one'; and, 'He who sees me sees also my Father.' For these words cannot be understood otherwise than as showing that the kinship of the same substance fitly agrees with those who truly are. John 10:30 & 14:9 I consider the same opinion to be contained also in those words: 'Going, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' Matt. 28:19 When he says this, he shows one name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Why then did he do this? That he might teach that there is the same kinship of the same substance, will, kingdom, power, and virtue, and show the diversity of persons, which are considered in the Trinity.

[25] But as to the fact that he said: 'My Father is greater than I': and, 'I go to my God': this must be taken in the same part in which we take it when we hear that he hungered, thirsted, slept, was tired, anxious, and sad, finally endured the cross and death. John 14:28 & 20:17 For all these things pious men ought to attribute to the human nature of the Son of God, that is, of the only-begotten Word, assumed for our sake: since he took the form of man, and of his own accord emptied himself, and, being rich (as the divine Paul says), for our sake he became poor, that we might be made rich by his poverty. 2 Cor. 8:9 For he was like us in all things, except sin. Such humble words, therefore, and agreeing with a passible nature, must be thought to agree with him, in that part in which he was man: but those great words, and agreeing with God, we shall think concerning the same, in the part in which the Word was of God in the beginning, and God one with the Father: which has been shown by divine signs. Therefore he will understand that he was like to the Begetter, who has willed to contemplate him with the eyes of the soul not clouded.

[26] When by these words I had been aided by that blessed Martyr, and, turned to the most firm stone of right and sincere faith, I had confirmed my mind on him, The author asks that nothing be changed. and I had execrated the empty and adulterous doctrine of those who tried to disjoin and alienate the Son from the substance of the Father, or rather who separate themselves from the providence of the only-begotten Son, I joined myself to the most chosen number of those who rightly believe God, celebrating in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit the glory of the same Trinity, both now and forever. Amen." So was completed the martyrdom of St. Basileus, who was Bishop of the city of Amasea. And his memory is celebrated on the twenty-sixth day of the month of April. But you, who either read or write these things, I beseech by that very God who sees and can do all things, not to subtract anything from this narration, nor to add anything to it, on account of the malice of perverse men, and of heretics, who are our worst enemies.

NOTES.