ON SS. THEODULUS AND JULIAN, MARTYRS AT CAESAREA IN PALESTINE
The year of Christ 308.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Theodulus, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (St.) Julian, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (St.)
By the author G. H.
[1] This is a part of the illustrious crown of twelve Martyrs who suffered at Caesarea in Palestine and are venerated on various days. The first of these is St. Pamphilus the Priest, to whom and to SS. Valens the Deacon and Paul the Kalends of June are sacred. Another seven are SS. Elias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel the Egyptians, Porphyrius the servant of St. Pamphilus, SS. Theodulus and Julian, companions of the 12 Martyrs, venerated on February 17 and St. Seleucus the Cappadocian, concerning whom we treated on February 16. But the only ones who remain, SS. Theodulus and Julian, are ascribed to February 17, and indeed with this eulogy in the Calendar of the Roman Martyrology: At Caesarea in Palestine, of St. Theodulus, an elderly man, who, being of the household of the Governor Firmilian, was moved by the example of the Martyrs, and when he steadfastly confessed Christ, he was affixed to the cross and merited the palm of martyrdom by a noble triumph. Likewise there, of St. Julian the Cappadocian, who, kissing the bodies of the slain Martyrs, was reported as a Christian and led before the Governor, and was ordered to be burned by a slow fire.
[2] Galesininus reports the same with the other Martyrs both on June 1 and February 16. by others on June 1 and February 16 On the latter day they are also reported by the Greeks in the Great Menaea and Anthologion, and by Cytheraeus in his Lives of the Saints. We gave an epitome from there on February 16: on which day Lipomanus published their Acts, which were reprinted by Surius for the Kalends of June. Those Acts are transcribed from Eusebius, The Acts are found in Eusebius and Metaphrastes. as we then noted, and we gave excerpts pertaining to the seven Martyrs who are venerated on that day: the complete Acts from the Greek manuscript to be given on the Kalends of June. What pertains to these two Martyrs, Eusebius thus narrates in book 8, chapter 21, after relating the death of St. Seleucus:
[3] In the footsteps of Seleucus followed Theodulus, a venerable and pious old man, St. Theodulus, an old man from the Governor's household one of the household of the Governor Firmilian, and honored by him above all his domestics, partly on account of his advanced age (for he was the father of a third generation, that is, a great-grandfather), and partly on account of the goodwill and most faithful spirit which he had maintained toward him. When he had acted in the same way as Seleucus, he was brought before his master Firmilian: and because he provoked him to greater anger than the others, affixed to the cross he was handed over to the cross of the saving Passion and endured martyrdom. So Eusebius concerning him. But Metaphrastes adds that, just as Seleucus had done before, he had greeted some Martyrs with a kiss. Gentianus, in place of "father of a third generation," translates that he was the father of three children. In Greek he is called "trigonias pater," and by Eusebius "trigeneias pater." Concerning St. Julian, the same Eusebius narrates the following:
[4] When after these there still remained one who would complete the number of twelve among the said Martyrs, St. Julian Julian appeared to fulfill it. He, having already arrived from abroad and not yet having entered the place, suddenly, just as he was from his journey, having heard of the slaughter, betook himself to that spectacle of the Martyrs, and when he saw the bodies of the Saints lying on the ground, filled with joy, he embraced and greeted each one individually. While he was doing this, the lictors and ministers of the execution immediately seized him and brought him before Firmilian. wondrously joyful, burned by fire The latter, acting in accordance with his custom, delivered him to a slow fire. Thus Julian, exulting with joy and giving thanks in a loud voice to God who had deemed him worthy of such great blessings, was gifted with the crown of the Martyrs. He was of Cappadocian descent according to the flesh, but in his character most holy, most faithful, and most noble; and as he was distinguished in other respects, so also was he imbued with the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit himself. Such was the company of those who through the grace of God were admitted into the fellowship of martyrdom with Blessed Pamphilus.
[5] The following is common to these two along with the other Martyrs. The sacred and truly holy bodies of those men, he says, by the command of the impious Governor, were kept in the open for four days and as many nights The bodies are not touched by beasts so that they might be devoured by carnivorous beasts. But when, as if by a miracle, no beast, no bird, no dog came near them, they were again, through the dispensation of Divine Providence, taken away whole and unharmed; and having received their funeral rites, they are buried they were honorably committed to customary burial...
[6] Moreover, it is worthwhile to record in this place in what manner at length, and not long afterward, the heavenly and Divine Providence avenged those impious magistrates together with the tyrants themselves. For Firmilian, Firmilian is punished along with his own who had so wantonly and contemptuously raged against the Martyrs of Christ, together with other participants in the same crime, suffering the ultimate punishments, met the end of his life by the sword.