Gordius

ON ST. GORDIUS, COUNT AND CENTURION, MARTYR AT CAESAREA.

Under Licinius.

Gordius, Count and Centurion, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (St.)

[1] The Roman Martyrology: "At Caesarea in Cappadocia, of St. Gordius the Centurion, in whose praise there exists an illustrious oration of Basil the Great, delivered on his feast day." Galesius says nearly the same. Molanus and the German Martyrology also mention him.

[2] The Menologion of the Greeks on this same day: "Of the holy Martyr Gordius, of Caesarea in Cappadocia; who, when he was a Count under King Licinius and held a military rank, endured a noble martyrdom on account of confessing the Christian faith; in whose praise there exists an outstanding oration of Basil the Great." The Menaea celebrate him with this more extended eulogy:

[3] He was a Cappadocian, born at Caesarea. In the reign of Licinius he held the rank of Count, commanding one hundred soldiers. Since he could neither bear nor stand to witness the shamelessness of the impious idolaters and the blasphemous words they customarily hurled against Christ, he withdrew far away and lived among the wild beasts in the mountains. But inflamed with zeal for Christ and armed with strength of spirit against the errors of the Pagans, he sprang forth from the wilderness like a lion, to seek out and assail the author of vanity. And now, having entered the theatre, he publicly proclaimed Christ as God; and when the entire spectacle turned toward him, and the very President of the games was struck with amazement at his boldness — and then driven into a rage — he fell by the sword.

[4] We have corrected the Surian edition of this life in certain passages from the observations of Father Fronto Ducaeus and Father Andreas Schott.

ON THE PRAISES OF ST. GORDIUS

AN ORATION OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT.

Gordius, Count and Centurion, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (St.) By St. Basil.

EXORDIUM.

[1] The crowd of people stirs him to speak. It is a law implanted by nature in bees, most beloved brothers, that they never leave their hives unless the king first leads the swarm. But when I see you, the people of God, now for the first time going forth to the Martyrs as to heavenly flowers, and assembling here in great numbers, I ask: under whose leadership have you done this? Who stirred up this great fervor? Who changed this wintry sadness into vernal serenity, so that the people, going forth joyfully from the buildings of the city as from beehives, have flowed together to the beauty of this suburban place and the glorious stadium of the Martyr? Since, therefore, the celebration of the Martyr has stirred even us, forgetful of our weakness, come, let us too, so far as our voice can reach, like buzzing bees pouring around spring flowers, sing aloud of his glorious deeds — performing a work both pious and pleasing to those who are present. For "when the righteous is praised, the people will rejoice." Solomon's reading was recently recited to us, and I was pondering with myself what the hidden meaning of such a proverb might intend: whether perhaps it says that the people are delighted by the magnificent and polished oration of some powerful rhetorician that charms the ears of the listeners, and desire elegance of speech, along with skillful invention and arrangement of material. Prov. 29. But this truly does not seem likely to me, since Solomon himself is never found to have used such a style of speaking. For it was not fitting to pursue the memories of the Saints with the ornament and polish of eloquence — especially for one whose writings are conspicuous for their simple speech and lack of stylistic adornment.

[2] With what profit the deeds of the Saints are commemorated. What then is the meaning of those words? This, namely: that the people rejoice with spiritual joy if they are merely reminded of what the righteous have accomplished, and from what they hear they are kindled to emulation of rightly done deeds. For the simple narrative of those who have been illustrious in faith shows, as it were, a light to the worshippers of God on the path of virtue. For this reason, when we hear the Holy Spirit recounting in the sacred volumes the life of Moses and his gentleness of character, so greatly desired by our nature, we immediately emulate him. And if the deeds of other men are adorned with the flowers of eloquence, for the Saints, to display the great things they accomplished, a simple speech will suffice. And so, while we set forth the life of those who lived in piety, we first of all glorify the Lord through his servants; then we celebrate the righteous themselves by the testimony of what we know; and we gladden the people through hearing of deeds rightly done. When we hear or read about the life of Joseph, we greatly desire to attain his chastity. But if the story of Samson is told, we are kindled to imitate his fortitude. The sacred school, therefore, does not follow the precepts or methods of the rhetoricians: it considers the bare exposition of events as sufficient eulogy, which it deems sufficient for the Saints and for us — for them, indeed, as a proclamation of their virtue; for us, as a pattern and model for imitation. Where the precepts of the rhetoricians are to be disregarded by Christians. For the law of eulogies requires showing the dignity of one's homeland, tracing the origin of one's family from far back, and recounting the cradle of one's upbringing with great care. But our law, passing over mention of neighbors, takes its testimony from what is proper to each individual. How am I made better if my city once waged great wars or triumphed over enemies? If it is well situated, enjoys moderate summer and winter weather and a pleasant climate? If it is fertile in producing men, if its land suffices to pasture cattle, if it nurtures finer herds of horses than are found anywhere? What of these things, I ask? Can they commend us more to virtue? Or if perhaps we have told of the nearby mountain peaks, how they transcend the clouds and extend far into the air, shall we deceive ourselves as though we have thereby bestowed praise on men? It is foolish, moreover, if we think the Saints, who despised all worldly things, need such commendations.

[3] The memory of the Saints is to be celebrated not for their sake but for ours. Therefore, for the sake of our own benefit alone, it will suffice to celebrate their memory. For they do not need to be adorned with our praises, but we need the narrative and commemoration of their life for the sake of imitation. For just as splendor naturally radiates from fire, and fragrance spreads from fine ointment, so from the commemoration of the Saints' deeds, benefit comes to all. It would be of no small importance to know precisely the truth of what was once done. For a certain dim report, preserving the illustrious deeds of this man, has come down to us. Therefore we shall rightly be compared to painters. For when they paint images from images, they naturally recede considerably from the original. In the same way, since we have been deprived of the sight of the events themselves, we must greatly fear lest in speaking we diminish the truth of events. But since today we celebrate the feast of the one who on such a day underwent the contest for the name of Christ, we shall narrate as much as can be gathered from knowledge of his history.

NARRATIVE.

Section I. St. Gordius's homeland, honors, and solitary life.

This most blessed Martyr was a citizen of our Caesarea; whence it is no wonder if the affection of our mind is directed above all to him, because this truly makes for our genuine and domestic honor. For just as trees that bear good fruit give the praise of their goodness to the soil that nourishes them, so this man, coming forth from the womb of our city, and raised to the highest summit of glory, bestowed upon his homeland, which produced and nourished him, the delight of domestic fruits of piety. Good indeed are even foreign fruits, provided they delight with flavor and can nourish; but far more pleasing than foreign ones are our own native fruits, which by their closeness seem to confer upon us a certain glory beyond mere delight. Gordius, a most valiant Centurion. He served in the military, in which he held a very distinguished position, so that one hundred soldiers obeyed his command; and because he excelled in virtue of soul and strength of body, he was considered superior to all soldiers in the ranks.

[5] Indeed at that time, when the impious tyrant who then ruled The bitter persecution of Galerius Maximian poured out the venom of his savagery against the Christian name and wielded a hand hostile to God against the Church, throughout the whole city the trumpet of the herald sounded, throughout the whole forum and at the crossroads the tyrannical edict was proclaimed, that no one should worship Christ; whoever acted contrary to these orders would be put to death. Idols were set forth for all to worship, and images of men in stone and wood were to be venerated as the true divinity; and if any refused, the most extreme punishments were threatened. The whole city was thrown into confusion, astounded by the novelty of the affair, and was in total turmoil. The houses of Christians were individually ravaged. The possessions of the innocent were plundered. The bodies of the faithful and freeborn were torn apart by the hands of executioners. Mothers of families were dragged through the streets. There was no pity for the young, no reverence for the aged. The innocent suffered punishments worthy of criminals and evildoers. The prisons were filled beyond measure; distinguished and wealthy homes were emptied. The woodlands were full, the deserted places full of fugitives — for one crime alone: that they worshipped Christ. Son betrayed father; father accused son; brother raged against brother; slave insulted master. So thoroughly were the minds of men possessed by diabolical arts that, living as if in darkness, they did not recognize one another. Beyond these things, houses of prayer were ravaged by the hands of temple servants, the most holy altars were overturned, and there was no offering, no incense, and no place for sacrifice was any longer left. A great sorrow, like a spreading fog, covered everything. The colleges of priests were put to flight. Every sacred assembly trembled at the unprecedented calamity. But the demons danced, and everything was polluted with the smoke and blood of sacrifices.

[6] When, therefore, the noble Centurion beheld these cruel examples, Gordius withdraws into the desert anticipating the necessity of judicial proceedings, having cast off his military belt, he voluntarily chose exile for himself. And so, leaving behind honors, leaving behind possessions of every kind, servants, relatives, friends, pleasures, and other things which others most eagerly desire and zealously pursue, he hastened to the vast deserts and places inaccessible to men — considering a life lived among wild beasts more gentle than fellowship and association with idolaters, following the example of the prophet Elijah, who, seeing the impiety of Jezebel growing stronger daily, withdrew into a cave of Mount Horeb, and removed himself from all human company to seek and see God; and he saw at last, as far as it is possible for mortal man. 1 Kings 19. In the same way our Gordius, despising all things and fleeing the tumults of the city — the clamor of the forum, the ambition of magistrates, the arrogance of tribunals, detractors, buyers, sellers, perjurers, liars, foul speech, buffoonery, and all the other things which populous cities drag along with them, like small boats tied to the stern of a great ship — moreover, with his sight, hearing, and mind purged and freed from vices, he was deemed worthy to see God himself in contemplation, and to learn great mysteries, which he was taught not by men nor through men, but using as his great teacher the Spirit of truth.

Section II. He returns to Caesarea; disrupts the games.

[7] Wherefore, meditating with himself on how deceptive and vain human life is — weaker and more imperfect than any dream or shadow — he was inflamed with love for that heavenly calling. And perceiving himself, like a strong athlete, to be well trained through fasting, vigils, prayers, and perpetual, unceasing meditation on the oracles of the Holy Spirit, and prepared for the contest, he especially watched for this day on which the crowded city was engrossed in watching the equestrian spectacle, which was being celebrated at that time in this place in honor of Mars, or rather of the raging demon of war. Equestrian games in honor of Mars. The entire populace watched from the elevated seats, and no one was absent: no Jew, no gentile, not even the multitude of Christians who were living negligently, sitting mingled with the assembly of vanity, not declining the congregation of the wicked, but themselves watching the racing of horses and the agility of charioteers. On that day servants were free from work, children ran from their schools to watch, prostitutes and common women were present; the stadium was full, and the whole crowd was already seated, intent on watching the equestrian contest.

[8] Gordius comes into the middle of the stadium. Then the magnanimous and mighty hero, hastening through the slope of the mountain into the theatre, did not shrink from the crowd nor weigh the consequences of delivering himself into hostile hands; but with fearless heart and lofty spirit, as if passing by so many continuous rocks or many trees — those who sat around the stadium — he took his stand in the middle of the arena, fulfilling the saying of the author of Proverbs: "The righteous is bold as a lion." Prov. 28:1. What more? His spirit was so fearless and lofty that, standing in the higher part of the theatre, he cried out with a mighty voice — and some who heard it still survive — and said: "Behold, I have been found by those who did not seek me; to those who did not ask for me, I have openly appeared." By these words he signified that he had come to that place not under compulsion, but had voluntarily presented himself for the contest, following the example of the Savior, who, though unseen in the dark night, manifested himself to the Jews. John 18:4. Therefore he immediately turned the eyes of all upon himself. For he was fearsome in appearance, and because he had long dwelt in the mountains, his hair was matted, his beard long, his clothing rough, his whole body lean, girded with a pouch, leaning on a staff. All of which indeed struck a certain dread into the common people as they watched, and at the same time made him remarkably distinguished. But when it became known who he was, a shout arose from both pagans and Christians alike — the latter exulting with joy at their fellow soldier, while the former, who resist the truth, inflamed the judge's spirit to kill him and were already condemning him to death. Therefore clamor and tumult filled everything; they were now despising the horses, chariots, and charioteers; in vain did the creaking of wheels strike the air; no one wished to see anything but Gordius; no one cared to hear any sound but the words of Gordius. In short, the whole theatre was buzzing like wind sounding through the air, and surpassed the racing of horses.

Section III. He laughs at the threats and flatteries of the judge.

[9] When silence was commanded by the herald, the trumpets ceased, the pipes were quieted, the various musical instruments fell silent; Gordius alone was watched, Gordius alone was heard. He is brought before the Governor: Thereupon he was immediately brought to the tribunal of the Governor, who was then sitting in the same place presiding over the contest, and was questioned in a mild and gentle voice as to who and whence he was. When he had described his homeland, his family, the rank he had held, and the reason for his flight and return alike, he said: "I have returned, openly showing that I care nothing at all for your edicts, but profess Jesus Christ as my hope and my defense; and since I have learned that you surpass all other men in cruelty, I have taken this time as most fitting for fulfilling my desire."

[10] At these words the Governor's wrath was kindled as if by fire, and whatever fury was in him He is ordered to be tortured: he suddenly turned against this man. "Let the lictors be at hand," he said, "the scourges, the lead-weighted whips! Let him be stretched on the wheel, tortured on the rack! Let the instruments of punishment be brought: beasts, fire, the sword, the cross, the pit! But what profit does this execrable man gain, since he dies only once?" "Indeed," said Gordius, "I seem to suffer a loss if I cannot be destroyed often and in various ways, and endure various torments for Christ." But the Governor, further irritated by these words, considered himself all the more injured and scorned by such freedom of speech, and a more violent impulse was added to his natural ferocity; and he became all the more savage, the more steadfast Gordius appeared in scorning punishment — since he could not be turned from his established purpose by any manner of torture or any weapons. Rather, raising his eyes to heaven, he sang the sacred verses of the Psalms: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man can do to me" (Ps. 117:6 118:6). And again: "I will not fear evils, for you are with me" (Ps. 22:4 23:4). And other passages of the same kind, He laughs at the torments which he drew from the sacred volumes, most effective for strengthening his spirit and persevering in his purpose. So far was he from dreading the threatened punishments that he actually provoked them upon himself and vehemently rebuked the delays in his torment: "Why do you delay?" he said. "Why do you stand there? Seize my body; let my limbs be cut to pieces. In short, take whatever punishment you wish upon me. Do not begrudge me my blessed hope. For the more you increase the torments, the greater the reward you will prepare for me. These are our transactions and contracts with the Lord: for the welts raised on my body, we shall be clothed in a splendid garment at the resurrection. For shame and dishonor, we shall obtain palms and crowns. For chains and prison, we shall wander joyfully through the broad spaces of paradise. For accusation and unjust condemnation, we shall receive glory from God and the Angels. Your threats are divine seeds for me, from which I shall reap immortality and everlasting joys."

[11] When at last the blessed man could not be turned from his steadfast faith by this severity, the Governor then tried another approach. He attempted to contaminate him with enticements and every sort of gentleness: He is tempted with flatteries — in vain. especially since the devil is accustomed to use this tactic: to terrify the timid with fear, and to soften and caress the brave. Imitating this, the Governor, when he had not bent him with terrible things, sought to circumvent him with tricks and gentle persuasion. Therefore he promised to give him great gifts, some of which he would receive immediately, others of which, he affirmed, the Emperor would grant him: a distinguished place among the soldiers, estates, wealth, whatever his heart desired. But Gordius, unconquered even by this, laughed at the Governor's madness for thinking he could offer anything worthy of exchange for the heavenly seats. Then the impious man, releasing the reins of his wrath, driven by fury, snatched his sword from its scabbard, ordered the lictor to stand before him, and with both hand and tongue prepared himself for the man's condemnation.

Section IV. He beautifully answers friends who give wicked counsel.

[12] A great crowd gathers to watch his torments. The entire multitude of the theatre gathered at the tribunal; and the rest of the people, who were still in the city, rushed out and hastened to this new spectacle, which was admirable to the Angels and to all creation, mournful to the devil, and terrifying to the demons. What more? As everyone flocked together, the city was nearly emptied, the entire multitude of its inhabitants flowing outside the city to the place of martyrdom like a river. Mothers of families, nobles, and common folk hastened; houses were left without guards, merchants' shops were deserted, goods for sale lay scattered in the forum. The city was safe only because, with everyone having gone outside the walls, no one remained inside who could commit a crime. Servants, neglecting their duties, were eager to watch; and whatever foreign and native populace there was, was present at this place beside that man. Then even virgins dared to expose themselves to the sight of men. The sick and the elderly themselves also made their way outside the walls.

[13] And so, in such a concourse of the city, He is assailed by the ruinous counsels of friends a crowd of relatives and friends surrounded the blessed Gordius, who was already beholding and grasping the other life through the death of the body. They embraced him, kissed him, and weeping exhorted him not to throw himself into the burning flames, not to betray the flower of his youth, not to abandon the breezes of the air and the sweet light of the sun. Some, when they could not wholly turn him from the faith, or thought it unlawful to do so, approached him with certain plausible arguments and urged him to keep Christ in his heart alone but deny him with his mouth. For God, they said, does not look at words but at the mind of the speaker. In roughly this way, they claimed, the exasperated spirit of the judge could be soothed, and God could nonetheless be rendered propitious. But he, like an unmoved cliff against the waves of the surging sea, shaken by no force and no onslaught of words, remained inflexible in his resolute and chosen purpose. For just as no force of winds, nor violent rain from the sky, nor the rush of a torrent can shake the house of the wise man built upon a rock, so neither any prayers nor threats could overturn his constancy in the faith of Christ. And when with the eye of his mind he perceived the devil running about here and there, and by his impulse and craft causing tears to arise on one side, and the force of eloquence and abundance of persuasion to be supplied on the other, he said the Lord's word to those who wept: "Do not weep over me, but weep over the enemies of God, who continually rage against Christians" (Luke 23:28). "Weep for them, I say, who prepare fire for us, while treasuring up for themselves the fires of Gehenna and wrath in the day of wrath. Cease to weep and afflict my heart. For I am prepared to die not just once for the name of the Lord Jesus, but even a thousand times if that were possible." And to others who urged him to deny Christ with his mouth, he answered: "I cannot be persuaded to let my tongue, which I retain by the grace of Christ, deny its author. For with the heart we believe unto righteousness, but with the mouth we confess unto salvation. Does the military order have a desperate salvation? Was there no pious Centurion? I remember the first Centurion who, standing by the cross of the Savior, recognizing his divinity through the prodigies that occurred, did not fear, while the Jews were still raging in their slaughter, to profess his name openly. For what he felt in his soul, he immediately manifested with his mouth: 'Truly this was the Son of God' (Matt. 27:54). Another Centurion likewise knew Christ, still living in the flesh, to be God and King of powers, who could bring his aid to the needy by a single word through the ministers of his spirit; and the Lord preferred his faith to that of all Israel (Matt. 8). Cornelius the Centurion likewise was deemed worthy to see an Angel of the Lord, and to be saved through Peter; the Lord looked upon his prayers and his alms (Acts 10). Therefore I gladly desire to be the disciple and imitator of these Centurions."

[14] Shall I deny my God, in whose worship I was raised? Would not heaven shudder above? Would not the stars grow dark because of me? Or would the earth bear me at all? Do not be deceived. God is not to be mocked. He refutes these arguments brilliantly. He judges us from our own mouths. From our own words, I say, he saves and condemns us. Have you not heard the fearful sentence of the Lord: "Whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:33)? You counsel me to pretend not to know God? For what reason? To prolong my life? To postpone death? To add more days? But I would lose the long years of the heavenly life. Or to escape bodily torture? But then I would not see the good things of the righteous. For to go to perdition deliberately, and by fraud and deceit to purchase the savage punishments of Tartarus, is manifest madness. I counsel you, therefore: if you are thinking wrongly, learn wisdom and truth. But if you are dissimulating and yielding to the times, I exhort and beg you: abandon falsehood and speak the truth. Say: "Because our Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father." For the tongue will utter this confession when at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. All men are certainly mortal, but martyrs are few. Let us not wait until we become dead, Exhortation to martyrdom but let us pass from life to life. Why do you await a natural death? It is fruitless, without any profit, common to brutes and men alike. For whoever have been born either waste away in old age, or are undone by bodily illness, or fall by some violent and unforeseen accident. Since, therefore, we must all depart from life once, cheerfully embrace martyrdom for the name of Christ, so that you may live forever, and do not spare the life which must in any case be left behind. Let will take the place of necessity. And even if these earthly things were everlasting, they should still be exchanged for heavenly ones. But since they are fleeting and fragile, and greatly unworthy in comparison with those things, what madness is it to be vigilant over these and to neglect that blessed hope laid up for believers by devotion to those?

Section V. He dies nobly for Christ.

[15] The sign of the cross. When Christ's soldier had said these things, he fortified himself with the sign of the cross and with great constancy of spirit, fearless countenance, and unchanged color, advanced cheerfully to his punishment. There he displayed such alacrity of heart that he seemed to be committing himself not to the hands of lictors but of Angels, who immediately after his death, The killing of Gordius; the acclamation of the people like Lazarus of old, would carry him aloft into heaven. At this, such a great shout and tumult arose from the people that nothing like it was ever heard even when the heavens thunder.

[16] This, therefore, was the contest of this illustrious martyrdom. This was the spectacle that this day beheld — one which, beyond all doubt, neither the length of time can ever abolish, nor the tedium of long custom remove, nor any other thing, however great, can surpass. The eternal memory of the Martyr. For just as the more we gaze upon the sun, the more we admire it, and it is in no way diminished by familiarity, so also the memory of this most holy man: the longer the span of time we retain it, the more freshly it flourishes in our minds. For "the righteous shall be in eternal remembrance" — on earth, as long as the earth endures; and in heaven, before the just and most high Judge, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and dominion forever and ever, Amen.