Eusebius the Bishop

ON SAINTS EUSEBIUS THE BISHOP, POLLIO THE LECTOR, AND TIBALLUS,

MARTYRS AT CIBALAE IN PANNONIA.

UNDER Diocletian

Eusebius, Bishop, Martyr at Cibalae in Pannonia (Saint) Pollio, Lector, Martyr at Cibalae in Pannonia (Saint) Tiballus, Martyr at Cibalae in Pannonia (Saint)

By G. H.

The most ancient copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, written about a thousand years ago, which we have used from the beginning of this work, Memory in the ancient annals introduces this 28th day of April thus: "On the 4th day before the Kalends of May, In Pannonia, of Eusebius the Bishop, Pollio, Tiballus." Another copy of the said Martyrology is held by Henry Julius Blumius, recently ambassador of His Imperial Majesty to the Duke and Elector of Saxony, in which they are listed in this order: "In Pannonia, of Eusebius the Bishop, Tiballus, Pollio." Notker in his Martyrology lists them in the same order. To these three a fourth, Saint Vitalis, is added, in the first place in the Lucca copy, Should Saint Vitalis be joined? and in the second place in the Corbie copy printed at Paris. But since we think that this may be Saint Vitalis the Martyr, father of Saints Gervasius and Protasius, whose cult is most celebrated on this day, we omit in the title to add Saint Vitalis to these among the Martyrs of Pannonia. If, however, it should appear from elsewhere that he should be joined, so be it for us.

[2] In the Martyrology manuscript of the Queen of Sweden published by Holstenius, and the Roman of Cardinal Barberini, Saint Pollio to others Apollio is reported: "In Pannonia, Saint Eusebius the Bishop." In another Corbie MS. these are read: "In Pannonia, of Eusebius the Bishop, Tiballus." But omitting these, Usuard reports: "In Pannonia, Saint Pollio the Martyr." Ado has the same, as does the Spurious Bede's author, with the ancient MSS. Richenau, Rhinau, Centula, and others, in some of which it is written Pallio and Pullio, in others Apollio and Appollio, also referred to the 27th and 29th of April; to whom in the Trier MS. of Saint Maximin is joined Saint Eusebius the Bishop. On the former day Galesinius published from manuscripts this encomium: "In Pannonia, Saint Pollio the Martyr, who under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, Suffering with companions under Diocletian having striven in the stadium of Christ in enduring severe contests gloriously, gave a signal testimony of faith by the pouring out of his blood." To the same day it is attributed in the Acts and in Petrus de Natalibus, as will be said below. Maurolicus has this on this 28th: "In Pannonia, Saint Pollio the Martyr, under the Emperor Diocletian and the prefect Probus, And the Governor Probus in the city of Cibalae." Which nearly the same are read in Felicius and Canisius, and more briefly in today's Roman Martyrology, to which Baronius annotates: "The Acts of this man, briefly summarized, Petrus recites in his Catalog, book 4, chapter 94, though in a faulty codex there is read for Pollio 'Pullio,' for Cibalae 'Civalis,' and for Sirmium 'Firmus.'" These, emended, we produce thus, leaving "Pullio," because it is also so written in the Acts, though we altogether think it should be written "Pollio."

[3] "Pullio the Martyr, in the city of Cibalae, was Chief of the Lectors; After the Martyrs of Sirmium from which city the Emperor Valentinian came. In it this Martyr himself, under the persecution of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, suffered martyrdom, with Probus the governor acting. For this governor, after he had caused Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of the said city, with Saint Montanus, priest of Singidunum, corrected from 'Smeruleum', to be drowned in the river at Sirmium; and had also beheaded Saint Demetrius, Deacon of the same Church; came to the city of Cibalae, in which Saint Eusebius, the Bishop of that city, had suffered some time before, and caused Pullio the Lector to be arrested. Steadfastly confessing Christ and refusing to sacrifice, and saying that he wished to imitate the footsteps of his Fathers who had suffered for Christ, he ordered him to be burned with flames. He suffered on the 5th day before the Kalends of May." Thus far Petrus de Natalibus. A somewhat fuller Acts, and almost word for word taken from the Proconsular Acts, we subjoin from a very ancient Bertinian MS.

[4] We treated on March 25 of Saint Irenaeus or Hyrenaeus, Bishop and Martyr, Saints Irenaeus, at Sirmium in Pannonia, beheaded under the Emperor Diocletian and the Governor Probus, and cast into the river Sava. Then we treated on March 26 of Saint Montanus the Presbyter, cast into the river at Sirmium in Pannonia; Montanus, to whom on the said day is joined Saint Demetrius the Deacon, in the Martyrologies of Maurolicus, Felicius, Galesinius, and Canisius. Demetrius But on April 9, Saint Demetrius the Deacon, Martyr at Sirmium, is reported in the Richenau and Rhinau Martyrologies. Indeed it seems that the Martyrology of Saint Jerome and others referred there can be so explained. These martyrdoms completed, the Governor Probus departed to Cibalae, a chief city of Pannonia between the rivers Drava and Sava, In the city of Cibalae whence that region was once called Pannonia Cibalensis. There, therefore, suffered Saints Eusebius the Bishop, Pollio the Lector, and Tiballus, whom on this 28th day of April the ancient Martyrologies join. Petrus de Natalibus with the Acts hands down that Saint Eusebius suffered some time before; but it is said in the Acts on the same day; Saint Pollio May 29 and so in the Index of Petrus subjoined, he is referred to this day. Ghinius celebrates Saint Pollio the Lector among the Canonical Saints. But on May 29, in four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, the Nativity of Saint Pollio the Lector at Cibalae is again recorded, so that it could be said that here he is reported on the occasion of Saint Eusebius the Bishop, but that he suffered martyrdom then.

* Rather, "of Singidunum," in the Acts.

ACTS OF THE PASSION

From a MS. codex of the monastery of Saint-Bertin.

Eusebius, Bishop, Martyr at Cibalae in Pannonia (Saint) Pollio, Lector, Martyr at Cibalae in Pannonia (Saint) Tiballus, Martyr at Cibalae in Pannonia (Saint)

BHL Number: 6869

FROM THE MSS.

[1] By the edict of Diocletian Diocletian and Maximian, reigning, decreed that at the start of their persecution they should either destroy all Christians or make them deviate from the faith. When this command had come to the city of Sirmium, Probus the governor, taking up the persecution imposed on him, began with the clergy, and ordered to be put to death the arrested Saint Montanus, Presbyter of the church of Singidunum, long conversant in the virtues of the Christian faith. After the slain Martyrs of Sirmium He also compelled Saint Hireneus, Bishop of the church of Sirmium, bravely fighting for the faith and the constancy of the people entrusted to him, by a similar sentence to the heavenly palm; and, as he renounced idols and despised the impious commands, having been afflicted with various kinds of torments, he delivered him to temporal death, to live in eternity. But when his cruelty had not been satiated in these, he believed he must travel to nearby cities; and when under the pretext of public necessity he had come to the city of Cibalae, Probus the Governor proceeds to Cibalae from which the most Christian Emperor Valentinian is known to have come, and in which in the previous persecution Eusebius, the venerable Bishop of the same church, is known to have triumphed over death and the devil by dying for the name of Christ, Where after Saint Eusebius the Bishop was slain

it happened, by the providence of the Lord's mercy, that on the same day Pullio, chief of the Lectors, most noted for his ardor of faith, was brought to the examination of his cruelty by his ministers, saying: Saint Pollio is seized "This one has burst forth into such arrogance that he does not cease to blaspheme the gods and Princes."

[2] Standing before him, Probus the Governor said: "What are you called?" He replied: "Pullio." Probus the Governor said: Examined, he steadfastly professes the faith "Are you a Christian?" Pullio answered: "A Christian." Probus the Governor said: "What office do you hold?" Pullio answered: "Chief of the Lectors." Probus the Governor said: "Of what Lectors?" Pullio answered: "Those who are accustomed to read the divine eloquence to the people." Probus the Governor said: "Those who, while they forbid frivolous little women to marry, are said to pervert them and persuade them to one chastity?" Pullio answered: "You will be able today to prove our frivolity and vanity." Probus said: "How?" Pullio answered: "Frivolous and vain are those who, having abandoned their Creator, acquiesce in your superstitions; but those are proved devout and constant in the faith of the eternal King, who strive to fulfill the commands which they have read, even when tortures forbid." Probus the Governor said: "What commands, by reading, and of what King?" Pullio answered: "The pious and holy commands of Christ the King." Probus the Governor said: "Which?" Pullio answered: "Those which show one God in the heavens thundering, And he explains the precepts of the faith which by a saving admonition testify that one who is made of wood and stone cannot be called God; which correct and amend faults; which strengthen the innocent in the perseverance and observance of their purpose; which teach virgins to obtain the summits of their integrity; the chaste wife to preserve continence in the bearing of children; which persuade masters to rule over their slaves more with piety than with rage, under the contemplation of one condition; which teach slaves to render service more from love than from fear; which teach to obey Kings commanding just things, to comply with higher powers when they command good things; which command honor for parents, reciprocation for friends, pardon for enemies, affection for fellow citizens, humanity for strangers, mercy for the poor, charity for all, to do evil to none; to bear injuries inflicted patiently, to inflict none at all; to yield to others in one's own goods, not to covet the goods of others even with the delight of the eyes; to live forever—whoever for the faith shall have despised that momentary death which you can inflict. If these things displease you, well known as they are, you may detract from them by your judgment."

[3] Probus the Governor said: "And what good will it do if a man, being killed, lacks this light and loses all the goods of his body?" He spurns the threats Pullio answered: "Because better than this brief light is that perpetual light, and sweeter are those goods which remain than those which perish; nor is it the part of prudence to postpone eternal things to fleeting ones." Probus the Governor said: "What of these things? Do what the Emperors have ordered." Pullio answered: He is burned with fire "What is this?" Probus said: "That you sacrifice." Pullio answered: "Do what has been commanded you; I am not going to do this, because it is written: 'He that sacrifices to demons and not to God shall be rooted out.'" Probus said: "You shall be struck with the sword if you do not sacrifice." Pullio answered: "Do what has been commanded you; as for me, it behooves me to follow in all truth the footsteps of the Bishops, Presbyters, and all the Fathers by whose teachings I have been imbued; whence also I receive with all exultation whatever you wish to inflict." Probus the Governor, sentence having been given, ordered him to be burned by flames. And immediately, seized by the ministers of the devil, and led a mile away from the city, the Martyr, undaunted, fulfilled his contest, ^b praising, blessing, and glorifying God; who already knew the venerable passion of his saint, On the same day as Saint Eusebius and also the martyrdom of the holy Bishop Eusebius of the same city, who many years before had ended his life on the same day, to the heavenly glory. Celebrating this today with joy, we beseech the divine power that he would deign to grant us to be partakers in their merits. These things were done in the city of Cibalae on the fifth ^c day before the Kalends of May, by the command of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning for ever and ever. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.