Maximus

ON SAINT MAXIMUS,

MARTYR IN ASIA.

ABOUT THE YEAR 250.

Maximus, Martyr in Asia (Saint)

G. H.

[1] On this day we bring forth two Martyrs, whose name was Maximus: one from Greek sources alone, who, a sword being thrust through the middle of his belly, obtained the palm of martyrdom: the other from various Latin sources, who, overwhelmed with stones, was crowned among the Martyrs. Of the latter, Florus in his Supplement to the Martyrology of Bede, Commemoration on April 30 in various Latin Martyrologies. wrote these things formerly, and they are read in the Manuscript Martyrologies of Arras, Tournai, and Liège: "On the same day, April 30, in Asia, the passion of Maximus the Martyr, who in the time of the Emperor Decius and of the Proconsul Optimus, after he had been beaten with rods, and suspended on the rack, was then taken down and overwhelmed with stones." Ado, somewhat younger than Florus, has this both in the edition of Mosander and Rosweyde, and in all manuscripts: "In Asia of Saint Maximus the Martyr, whose deeds are held." Nearly the same things are handed down by Greven and Molanus in their Additions to Usuard; by Canisius and others. Galesinius formed a fuller elogium from the Acts. In the present-day Roman Martyrology these things are held: "At Ephesus of Saint Maximus the Martyr, who in the persecution of Decius was crowned." And in the Notes these things are added: "His Acts are extant, which are known to be so much more trustworthy as they are shorter. Surius has them." Acts of the Martyrdom They seem to have been taken from public acts, which were called Proconsular: for thus they are found called by Augustine against the Donatists. We give them from four manuscripts: namely, of Marcus Welser, Nicolaus Faber, of the monastery of Saint Maximinus at Trier, and of the Parisian monastery of Saint Germain. No day is assigned in the Trier manuscript and in Surius. But in the Welser and Faber manuscripts he is said to have suffered on the day before the Ides of May: from 4 Mss. for which Florus and Ado seem to have read the day before the Kalends of May. In the Parisian manuscript he is said to have suffered on the 13th day before the Kalends of December. He is venerated by various on April 21 under the name Marcellinus: commemorations April 21 and 25. again on April 25 with the name Marcellus replaced, and elogia are added from the Acts.

[2] The Greeks celebrate with solemn rite on May 14 the same Saint Maximus in the Menology of the Emperor Basil, cult on May 14 among the Greeks, and in another of Cardinal Sirleto, in the Parisian manuscript Synaxarion, and in the Great Menaea both printed and in manuscript: these things indeed are contained almost everywhere, thus rendered in Latin by Sirleto: "On the same day of Saint Maximus the Martyr. He, when he had preached Christ with free voice, and had led many to Christian piety, and had borne various injuries and blows from the infidels, was at last struck with stones, and as though crowned by them, passed to the Lord." Galesinius has almost the same things, citing the Greek Horologion, and Ferrarius noted it in his General Catalogue. Notker on the same May 14 brings forth the memory of Blessed Maximinus in Asia, which is to be understood of this Saint Maximus: on which day also is read, on which day Saint Maximus in the Epternach manuscript, Maximinus in the Parian, and Maximianus in the Lucca copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, Martyr in Asia is commemorated.

[3] Again in the Menaea and with Maximus, Bishop of Cythera, he is celebrated on May 7 with the same elogium, May 7, which we have already reported from May 14: and among the Latins the same is done by Galesinius, whom Ferrarius follows. Moreover on March 6, March 6, Saint Maximus Martyr overwhelmed with stones has some memory in the same Greek Menaea. The same Maximus some Latins celebrate on September 28: September 28. on which day Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard has these things: "In Asia of Maximus Martyr, who by command of Decius the Emperor, having been beaten with rods, was raised on the rack, and so torn with claws that his flesh with his blood flowed down to the ground. At last, overwhelmed with stones, he gloriously fell asleep." Similar things are read in the Germanic Martyrology of Canisius: and more concisely they are had in Maurolycus thus: "In the city of Asia of Saint Maximus the Martyr, after rods, the rack, and claws, overwhelmed with stones." Galesinius adorns him with this elogium: "In Asia of Saint Maximus the Martyr, who under Decius the Emperor, greatly inflamed with desire of Christ, for his holy religion and faith in Him, having declared himself by every torture, is crowned with martyrdom." A written book is cited in the Notes. Baronius following him inscribed in the Roman Martyrology with these words: "On the same day the passion of Saint Maximus the Martyr under Decius the Emperor." And so from one Maximus twins have been made.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM.

From 4 Mss. codices.

Maximus, Martyr in Asia (Saint)

BHL Number: 5829

[1] The Emperor Decius, wishing to suppress or overcome the law of the Christians, In the persecution of Decius, established decrees

throughout the whole world, that all Christians, withdrawing from the living and true God, should sacrifice to demons; and those who would not, should undergo punishments. At that time the servant of God Maximus, a holy man, of his own accord showed himself openly; for he was carrying on the management of his common business. Having been seized, therefore, he was brought before a man named Optimus, the Consular in Asia. The Proconsul said to him: "What is your name?" He replied: "I am called Maximus." The Proconsul said: "Of what condition are you?" Maximus said: Saint Maximus of his own accord professing the faith, "Freeborn by nature, but a servant of Christ." The Proconsul said: "What office do you hold?" Maximus answered: "I am a plebeian man, living by my own business." The Proconsul said: "Are you a Christian?" Maximus answered: "Though a sinner, yet I am a Christian." The Proconsul said: "Did you not know the decrees of the most invincible Princes, which have recently come forth?" Maximus answered: "Which?" The Proconsul said: "That all Christians, having abandoned their superfluous superstition, should know the true Prince, to whom all things are subject, and worship his Gods." Maximus answered: "I have learned the unjust sentence pronounced by the King of this age, and therefore I have shown myself openly." The Proconsul said: "Sacrifice therefore to the gods." Maximus answered: "I do not sacrifice, save to the one God alone, to whom I rejoice to have sacrificed from my very youth." The Proconsul said: "Sacrifice that you may be saved; but if you will not, I shall cause you to perish with various torments." Maximus answered: "This is what I always desire: for on that account I showed myself, that being at last freed from this wretched and temporal life, I may merit to receive the eternal one."

[2] The Proconsul ordered him to be beaten with rods; and as he was being beaten he said to him: "Sacrifice, Maximus, that you may be freed from these torments." he is beaten with rods; Maximus answered: "These are not torments which are inflicted for the name of the Lord, but they are unctions. For if I withdraw from the precepts of my Lord, by which I have been instructed from his Gospel, then true and perpetual torments shall remain for me." The Proconsul ordered him to be suspended on the rack; he is suspended on the rack: and as he was being tortured, he said to him: "Now come to your senses, wretched one, from your folly, and sacrifice, that you may gain your soul." Maximus answered: "I shall gain my soul, if I do not sacrifice: but if I sacrifice, I lose it. For neither the rods, nor ^a the claws, nor fire give me the feeling of pain; because in me remains the grace of Christ, which will save me for eternity, by the prayers of all the Saints, who striving in this combat overcame your madness, and left us examples of virtues." Then the Proconsul pronounced sentence on him, saying: "Him who would not give assent to the divine laws, that he should sacrifice to the great Goddess ^b Diana; to strike fear into the rest of the Christians, the divine clemency commands to be overwhelmed with stones." And so the Athlete of Christ was snatched away by the ministers of the devil, giving thanks to God and the Father, through Jesus Christ His Son, who had judged him worthy, in striving, to overcome the devil: and led outside the walls, struck with stones, he gave up his spirit. The servant of God Maximus suffered in the province of Asia, ^c the day before the Ides of May, under the Emperor Decius and the Proconsul Optimus, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen.

NOTES.

ON SAINT MAXIMUS

MARTYR AMONG THE GREEKS.

Maximus, another, Martyr among the Greeks (Saint)

G. H.

This is the other Saint Maximus the Martyr, who is celebrated on April 30 by the Greeks in the printed and manuscript Menaea, and in Maximus, Bishop of Cythera. Sirleto in his Menology has this: "And of Saint Maximus the Martyr, who, having found the middle letter x, signified a sword thrust through the belly." He excerpted this from a distich appended in the Menaea, which we judge is to be read thus.

Μάξιμος εὑρὼν τὴν Ξί συλλαβὴν μέσον, τὸ γαστρὸς ἡμῖν μηνύει μέσον ξίφος.

These verses speak not of one letter, but of a whole syllable. For if the name Má-ξι-mos is divided into its three syllables, the middle syllable will be ξι, beginning the word ξίφος, sword, and indeed cleaving the belly, namely the middle part among the limbs of the human body, and so the holy Martyr turned his name into an omen; and understood himself to be pierced through the middle of the body or belly by a sword. Now by this kind of death he is rightly distinguished from the other Saint Maximus, of whom we have just treated, whom the Greeks celebrate on March 2, May 7, and especially May 14. But at what time or place this one suffered, is not indicated.