Theogenes and Companions

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS THEOGENES, PRIMUS, AND CYRINUS.

Under Licinius.

Theogenes, Martyr in the Hellespont (St.) Cyrinus, Martyr in the Hellespont (St.) Primus, Martyr in the Hellespont (St.)

[1] The memory of these holy Martyrs, and especially of Theogenes, is celebrated in the ecclesiastical calendars on January 3rd. The Martyrology of St. Jerome: "In the Hellespont, in the city of Parethia, of Ciricus, Primus, and Theogenes." The most ancient MS. of the monastery of Rhinow: "In the Hellespont, of Ciricus and Primus." The Roman Martyrology: "In the Hellespont, of the holy Martyrs Cyrinus, Primus, and Theogenes." Usuard has the same, except that for Cyrinus he has Cyricus; the MS. of the house of St. Cecilia at Leiden reads Tiricus. But most manuscript copies, and some printed editions, have Diogenes for Theogenes, and the Menaea have Theagenes.

[2] Bede and Rabanus corrected. Bede: "And the birthday of St. Theogenes the Martyr, and of St. Peter the Martyr; in the city of Tomi, the birthday of St. Filius the Bishop, who after other torments was plunged into the sea." These are transposed. Read: "In the city of Tomi, the birthday of St. Theogenes the Martyr, the son of a bishop, etc.; and of Peter the Martyr." So also Rabanus: "In the city of Tomi, the birthday of Titus the Bishop" (rather: of Theogenes the son of a bishop), "who under Licinius was seized among the recruits, and because he refused to serve in the army, was beaten nearly to death, committed to prison, placed in the stocks until a response was received to the report; and when his body was cast into the sea and carried to the shore, it was laid to rest by most devout men in the estate of Amandus, a devout man, where great healings occur." The MS. Martyrology of the Church of St. Lambert at Liege: "In the Hellespont, of the holy Martyrs Ciricus, Primus, and Diogenes; and by a more recent hand was added: who in the time of the Emperor Julian completed their martyrdom by the sword."

[3] The Martyrology of Usuard, published at Cologne in an expanded edition in 1490: "Also, at Cyzicus in the Hellespont, the passion of St. Diogenes the Martyr under King Licinius; who after many sufferings was at last cast into the sea, and was honorably buried by the faithful." The MS. Florarium of the Saints: "In the Hellespont, of the holy Martyrs Cyricus, Primus, and Diogenes. The passion of St. Theogenes the Martyr, who, because he refused to serve in the army, was beaten with clubs; afterwards he was placed in prison and strengthened by the Lord. Finally, sentenced to drowning, while he prayed for three hours, a great light shone upon him, by whose brilliance the eyes of the sailors and soldiers were blinded; and so, cast into the sea, he completed an illustrious martyrdom." The German Martyrology also says that the sailors' eyes were blinded, and that their sight was then restored by the holy Martyr. Peter de Natalibus, book 2, chapter 41, says that after they had been converted to the faith of Christ and received baptism, they recovered their sight after nine days. In the Acts they are only said to have been blinded so that they would not see the angelic host — that is, they were dazzled and violently struck.

[4] Maurolycus: "At Cyzicus in the Hellespont, of the holy Martyrs Cyriacus, Primus, and Theogenes the Martyr, who under Licinius was bound to four stakes, beaten, and plunged into the sea." Galesius has nearly the same, but errs when he states in his Notes that they suffered around the year of Christ 256.

[5] Another Theogenes on January 26th; another on October 3rd. Another Theogenes seems to be the one whose basilica stood at Hippo Regius, of whom we shall treat on January 26th. Yet another is the one who is recorded in the Menologion and the Menaea on October 3rd, and who is said to have been killed by the punishment of fire.

[6] The Menaea record Theogenes on January 2nd with these words: "On the same day, of the holy Hieromartyr Theogenes. He was a bishop at Parium in the Hellespont. Brought before the Tribune Zelicinthius and having confessed Christ as God, he was atrociously beaten with clubs; then bound, he was cast into the deep, where he completed the course of his contest." Where, for "He was a Bishop" (houtos en Episkopos), St. Theogenes, son of a bishop, captured at Parium. Rosweyde suspected it should be read "he was the son of a bishop" (en episkopou, namely huios). Parium is a city of Asia on the Hellespont; whence perhaps Parethia, whether a diocese or prefecture, in which the Martyrology of St. Jerome says he underwent his martyrdom.

[7] Notker also records him on the same January 2nd, but erroneously calling him "Philus the Bishop" instead of "the son of a Bishop," in these words: "Also, at Tomi, of Philus the Bishop, who under Caesar Licinius was seized among the recruits, and because he refused to serve in the army, was beaten nearly to death, and long wasted away in prison, and placed in the stocks, then plunged into the sea, completed his martyrdom. His body, carried to the shore and laid to rest by devout men, shines with great miracles."

[8] On January 4th the same is recorded by the same Rabanus, Notker, and the MS. Martyrology of the monastery of St. Maximin already cited: "The birthday of Theogenes the Martyr, who under Caesar Licinius, through the Tribune Zelycentius (Rabanus: Telicentius; Notker: Licentius) completed his passion in the Hellespont. First, stretched between four columns, he was beaten with clubs; then he was cast into prison so that he would die there of hunger; but by the Lord's mercy he was fed there for forty days with invisible food, and remained continuously in praises of God. At last he was cast into the sea and martyred (Rabanus and Notker: was martyred). And Eutychus and Eustochius and Zoticus (Rabanus: Zozius) and Germanus (absent in Notker) took him from the sea and placed him in a coffin, and buried him in the market of the Hellespont." Maurolycus also on the same day: "At Cyzicus in the Hellespont, of Theogenes and his companions, of whom we spoke the day before." Peter de Natalibus, cited above, also records them on the 4th.

[9] Whence these Acts are taken. I transcribed the Acts of St. Theogenes from an ancient handwritten codex of the Imperial monastery of St. Maximin, and collated them with the MS. of St. Mary de Ripatorio, Boninus Mombritius, the printed Agonies of Martyrs, and the MS. of the Church of St. Martin at Utrecht. Vincent of Beauvais relates the same in his Speculum, book 13, chapter 60.

ACTS.

Theogenes, Martyr in the Hellespont (St.) Cyrinus, Martyr in the Hellespont (St.) Primus, Martyr in the Hellespont (St.) BHL Number: 8107

From MSS.

[1] Many martyrs conquered the devil and all his devices in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who crowned them; among whom he deigned to number the most blessed Martyr Theogenes, who thus conquered the mocking¹ enemy. For in the time of Licinius, the most pagan Tyrant, he was seized in Phrygia — he being the son of a Bishop — and was brought to the legion called the Second Trajana, Theogenes is captured; he is forced to serve under Licinius to the Tribune² Zilicentius and the Commander Possidonius, which legion was stationed at Cyzicus, the capital of the Hellespont; and he was being compelled to serve in the army by the Tribune Zilicentius and the Commander Possidonius. But that most faithful soldier of the true God, filled with the Holy Spirit,³ steadfastly said in the midst of the legion: "I am a Christian, and I serve my King, who is the King of Kings; serving him, I cannot serve another." The Tribune Zilicentius said: He refuses to serve the Tyrant. "Rather, take the military cloak and belt and all the arms of good fortune, and serve Licinius the great Emperor." Theogenes said: "I have already told you: I serve my King; I cannot serve another." The Tribune said: "Does not Emperor Licinius please you?" Theogenes said: "I do not know him. I am a Christian, and it is not fitting for me to serve this world, which I have renounced;⁴ nor can I deny that my eternal King, whom I serve, exists." The Tribune said: "Behold, all these soldiers who stand here are Christians, and yet they serve." Theogenes said: Some Christians served under Licinius. "Each one knows how he serves; I too know which King I serve."

[2] The Tribune said: "Are not the gods spiritual, while you are corporeal?" Theogenes said: "I do not know who the gods are, except one omnipotent God, through Jesus Christ his Son." The Commander Possidonius said: "So God has a Son?" Theogenes answered: He confesses Christ the Son of God. "He has a Son, born from the word of his truth." The Tribune said: "Can we know him?" Theogenes said: "If God grants you such understanding that you may know him, you will be able to see him." The Commander Possidonius said: "And if we know him, can we leave our King and come to him?" Theogenes answered: "If you wish, there is nothing to prevent you. Moreover, if you leave the darkness of this world and the positions and honors you now hold, even temporarily, and come to the living God and eternal King, and serve him as I do, you will live in eternal life."

[3] He is stretched on four stakes and beaten with clubs. The Tribune Zilicentius, raging like a lion and gnashing his teeth at him, ordered the entire legion to march out at night to the field outside the city. And when they had marched out at dawn to the field, he ordered four stakes to be planted and the most blessed Theogenes to be stretched upon them. And when he was stretched on the four stakes, he ordered him to be beaten with the stoutest wooden clubs until eight Centurions were exhausted. Then the Tribune said: "Will you serve, or not?" Theogenes said: "I serve the King of Kings, my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who will come to judge the living and the dead. Then no King or Prince on earth will be able to escape him, nor the day of his judgment."

[4] While he was saying these things, the Tribune again ordered him to be beaten a second time as one spouting delusions. The most blessed Theogenes, while being beaten, was singing a hymn to God, and his face was radiant with joy and great gladness. The clubs are shattered like chaff. And when eighteen Centurions had been rotated and all the clubs had been broken like chaff, he, possessing greater strength of spirit, giving thanks to God, sang a hymn: "Blessed are you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who have deemed me worthy to come to this day, and have led me, your servant, into this joy; and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son, King of heaven and earth, the sea and the underworld, and of all things visible and invisible. I praise and glorify you, Lord God, who have deemed me worthy to suffer for your name and to become a companion of the holy Martyrs."

[5] While he was saying these things, the Tribune and the Commander thought that he was begging them to release him, and they said to him: "So do you wish to serve?" Theogenes, the servant of God, cried out in a louder voice, saying: "I told you before, and I say it now: I am a Christian, and I serve the King of Kings, and I cannot be a deserter of my Lord and King. He scorns all torments. But you who wish to compel me with these punishments are preparing eternal punishments for yourselves. For these punishments that you think are real are nothing." The Tribune said to him: "If you have not yet felt anything from the punishments, greater ones will follow." Theogenes answered: "I do not suffer these things, nor do I feel them. And you can do nothing to me, nor can you sadden my spirit, which is firm in the Lord Jesus Christ, because of these punishments. You have power over my body alone; torture it as you wish, for you will not be able to separate me from my King. Bring bigger logs and apply stronger workmen against me; for these that you have are weak and can do nothing to me."

[6] When he had said these things, the Tribune ordered him to be led into the city. It was about the ninth hour, and he stretched him out publicly in the⁵ city. He is stretched in the stocks. An Optio of the legion, passing by and seeing him, said: The Optio of the legion insults him. "Where is your God and the King whom you serve? Why does he not free you from these punishments?" Blessed Theogenes answered: "I have said before and I say now to you: these punishments will not follow me at the judgment of my King. For my King and my God is my defender, and he frees me from these punishments. But you do not see him because you are blind in mind and in eyes." The Optio answered him: "If I had the power, I would have you cut to pieces with swords and throw you to the dogs." He predicts the death of the Optio and the Tribune, and the ruin of Licinius. Blessed Theogenes said to him: "You can do nothing to me. But the days will come after a short time, and your legs and those of your Tribune will be broken, and your bodies will be consumed by wild beasts and birds, and all of you who do not believe in my King will perish. For even your own King will soon be struck down by his pursuers, and there will be great tribulation for you who serve him."

[7] He is fixed with four nails, to be killed by starvation. While Theogenes was saying these things, the Tribune ordered him to be placed in prison, stretched in the stocks, and fixed with four nails; and he himself sealed the prison and left him, so that he would die there from punishment and hunger. But there Theogenes was fed by the Holy Spirit. That same night,⁶ the Lord stood beside him and said: Christ appears to him. "Theogenes, be strong, for I am with you. Do not take food or drink from any of these. For imperishable life awaits you in heaven." And saying this, he departed from him. When the Lord had departed, he joyfully began to sing a psalm because of the Lord's promise; and there were voices answering him like Angels, like a great multitude of people. Then the guards ran to the door of the prison, and they saw the door closed and the seal intact; peering inside, they saw a great multitude in white garments singing psalms Angels respond to his singing and saying: "Glory to Almighty God." Terrified, they reported this to the Tribune.

[8] He immediately rose and ran to the door, and examined the chain that had been placed and the intact seal; he also heard a great voice of those singing psalms with Theogenes. He therefore stationed a crowd of armed soldiers with shields before the prison, and hastily opening the prison, he entered, thinking that Christians were with Theogenes. But entering, he found no one inside except the one stretched in the stocks singing a psalm. Then a great trembling seized the Tribune, and the entire multitude of soldiers with him; and they closed the door and withdrew from there. He refuses food offered to him. Then the Tribune, repenting of what he had done, ordered bread and water to be given to him. But Theogenes refused to accept it, according to the Lord's command that he had previously heard, saying: "My King feeds me, and I receive his rations daily."

[9] And when morning came, he sent a report to his King Licinius, relating everything he had done to Theogenes who refused to serve in the army. Licinius wrote back that he should be cast into the sea and his body not collected. When the Tribune received the message, he ordered him to be cast into the sea. Then the blessed servant of God, Theogenes, deemed worthy of such a sentence, walked rejoicing into eternal life, About to be cast into the sea, he is brought from prison in good health to which God had called him. And his countenance and his entire body were healthy, as if he had come from a bath and not from prison, setting forth to great joy; and coming out of the prison, he was placed on a ship, and they brought him to the place where they intended to cast him into the sea.

[10] While praying, he is surrounded by light; Angels attend him. Then he called the soldiers and sailors together, asking them to give him time to pray. And standing facing the East, the blessed servant of God, raising his hands, prayed for nearly three hours; and behold, a light shone there, by whose brilliance the eyes of the sailors and soldiers were blinded, so that they could not see the angelic host — they only heard voices conversing with the most blessed Theogenes — so that the sailors, terrified with fear, did not want to cast him into the sea. He is cast into the sea. But he adjured them, saying: "Do what you have been commanded, and returning to the city, believe in God, so that you may have eternal life." While he was saying these things, they cast him into the sea.

[11] The sailors and some soldiers are converted. And the sailors, returning to the city, reported what they had seen, and believed in Christ — they and their children and many others from the people on that day, and some from the legion itself. After⁷ sixty days a violent battle occurred against Licinius; in it, whoever from the legion did not believe in God fell by the sword. Angered by this, the Emperor Licinius ordered the same Tribune The Tribune and Optio have their legs broken by order of Licinius and the Optio of that legion to be led out twelve miles from the city and their legs to be broken as an example to the other legions, just as the most blessed Martyr had predicted.

[12] After the most blessed Martyr was cast into the sea, faithful brothers came — namely Eutyches,⁸ Eustathius, Zoticus, and many other brothers — and took up his body from the shore. They too were faithful and God-fearing, and they placed his body in a coffin and carried it by night and buried it beside the walls of the city, St. Theogenes is buried in the estate of Adamantius, a most faithful man, in an underground chamber. In which place great miracles now occur, and people suffering from any infirmity are cured. He is famous for miracles. The Saint himself spent forty days in prison while the reports were awaited, tasting no food whatsoever, and drinking neither water nor any other drink, having heavenly sustenance.

[13] All these things were written for all the Churches of God — in Nicomedia, Bithynia, Heraclea, Cyzicus — so that among all peoples the passion of the holy Martyr might be proclaimed, and serve as a source of strength for the brethren in the faith of the Lord. His feast is celebrated on the 3rd of the Nones of January, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever, Amen.

1. MS. S. Max. reads "had." 2. alt. Zylicintius; Greek: Zelikinthion. 3. alt. "standing." He refuses to serve the Tyrant. 4. MS. Rip. adds "having received the faith." 5. alt. "stocks." He is stretched in the stocks. 6. The printed Agonies: "the visitation of Christ came to him through his Angel." 7. Agonies of Martyrs: 40. Mombritius: 9. 8. S. Max.: Euthasius. MS. Rip.: Eustachius.