ON SS. ATTICUS AND SISINNIUS AND IBISTION, MARTYRS AND CONFESSOR.
Their cult from the Greek Fasti.
Atticus, martyr, among the Greeks (St.)
Sisinnius, martyr, among the Greeks (St.)
Ibistion, confessor, among the Greeks (St.)
BY J. P.
The Greek Menology, rendered into Latin by Cardinal Sirleto, says: On the same day — namely the XXVI of August — the commemoration of the holy martyrs Atticus, Sisinnius, and of our holy father Ibistion. In altogether the same manner the great Menæa announce them then in Greek, except that instead of Sisinnius they write Sisinius. But the first two Martyrs are there honored with these little verses, so widely applicable that they might be said of any others whatsoever beheaded for the faith of Christ. Here they are for you in Greek with our Latin rendering:
Συσταδιοδραμοῦσιν Ἀθληταὶ δύω, Ξίφους δραμόντες στάδιον κουφοδρόμως.
In the same stadium two Martyrs run, To whom the sword gave a swift and nimble course.
But of holy Ibistion there follow in the same place these two verses, which we likewise render thus from the Greek into Latin:
Ῥυφθεὶς ὑσσώπῳ δακρύων Ἰβιστίων, Εὔθυμος εἰς ἄδακρυ χωρεῖ χωρίον.
Ibistion, whom the hyssop of weeping bedews, Ascends in gladness to a place devoid of tears.
To this Saint is attributed the gift of tears, but not of martyrdom; and therefore we have named him above with the title of confessor, which Castellanus also rightly gave him, announcing him thus on this day: Among the Greeks, St. Ibistion, confessor. But it is likely that the poet in the former verse had regard to that word of Psalm 50: Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed, etc.; concerning which the interpreters may be consulted. And these indeed are the few things which it has been possible for us to gather concerning the aforesaid Saints.