ON THE HOLY VIRGIN MARTYRS ARCHELAA, THECLA, SUSANNA, AT SALERNO IN ITALY.
Under Diocletian.
PrefaceArchelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.)
[1] That at Salerno, now the metropolis of the Picentini, in the church of S. George, the bodies of the holy Virgins and Martyrs Archelaa, Thecla, and Susanna are preserved, is recorded by Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy and in the general Catalogue; the relics of these Saints, their feast, he says that they were crowned with martyrdom about the year of Christ 293. They are venerated on 18 January, whether that is the day of their martyrdom or of their Translation. We have received a manuscript office of theirs from our Antonio Beatillo, in which this Prayer is found: their office. "Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we may attain to the eternal joys of Thy holy Virgins and Martyrs Archelais, Thecla, and Susanna, in whose venerable virtue Thou hast granted us to rejoice by an annual solemnity. Through Christ, etc."
[2] Antiphons at first Vespers. On the feast and translation of the holy Virgins Antiphons at Vespers. and Martyrs Archelais, Thecla, and Susanna; on whose vigil, at Vespers, the Antiphon: Let the Church, fruitful in Virgins, rejoice, since they make her joyful with so many feasts. Ps. Dixit. Ant. Archelais by name, with blessed Thecla, and the Virgin Susanna joined to them. Ps. Laetatus sum. Ant. These maidens, brides of the King and companions at His table, timbrel-players of the Lamb, equal to the Angels. Ps. Nisi Dominus. Ant. As women they received adornment for the world, and entered upon the true and blessed end. Ps. Lauda Jerusalem. Ant. These are the flowers of loveliness, which the spring of breathing grace and the summer of charity have brought forth today. Ps. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes. Resp. O happy Virgins, conquerors of evils, you held the fight even unto blood; not empty of oil, nor sluggish like the foolish, you entered together into the heavenly nuptials. O blessed ones, when the cry came suddenly, you were then ready for the Lord with your oil. Hymn: Jocundare et laetare. V. Prudentes Virgines. Ant. at the Magnificat: O happy Church, adorned with a devout offspring of Virgins! Blessed soldiery, enriched with the precious blood of Martyrs! Truly and justly do you rejoice, you who rejoice in a treasure nobler than gold.
[3] The Acts. Then the acts followed, divided into twelve lessons. But because these are obscure and faultily written, we shall subjoin the same, narrated more clearly in Italian by Paolo Regio, Bishop of Vico, in the first part of his Saints of the Kingdom of Naples. Ferrarius pursues the same more briefly. She who is Archelaa to Regio and Ferrarius is called in the manuscript Archelays, or more correctly Archelais.
ACTS
From an old manuscript Legendary of Salerno.
Archelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.)
BHL Number: 0660
From manuscripts.
Lesson I.
[1] In the times of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian there was a persecution of the Christians throughout the province of the Romans, that whatever Christians worshipped Christ should be punished with death. Hearing of the persecution through all the provinces, that those who believed in Christ should be beheaded, in ancient times therefore, when this had been heard, the handmaid and Virgin of Christ, S. Archelais comes to Nola with her companions. named Archelays, a Virgin dedicated to God, fleeing with Thecla and Susanna a from Rome, came to the city of Nola, and dwelt there for a long time.
[2] There was also in the Virgin of Christ, in the fear of the Lord, a suffering: she was tormented in her body, and stood day and night in prayer, She shines with holiness and miracles. and poured out prayers before God. And all the sick were cured before her, and all besought her to give them health. But Blessed Archelays said to them: "Brothers and sisters of Christ our Lord, I ask you by the charity of Christ not to speak of me, nor to make known this anointing which the Lord has given me, whereby our Lord Jesus Christ has shown it as a medicine; but our Lord fulfils my desire for me, His handmaid, this consecrated garment with Thecla and Susanna."
[3] And they dwelt outside the city, to the east of Nola, one stadium away. And all the Christians ran there, and besought God to send them knowledge through His holy Angel. She is accused before the Governor: For the most blessed Archelays was cheerful in her countenance, and all who saw her garment reckoned her not as a woman, but as a man. The report went through the whole province that the Virgin of Christ healed all the sick. They accused her before the Emperor of the army. There was there Leontius, a most wicked man, and he rules b Scorpion, and afterwards he was lord of Salerno. And Diocletian and Maximian handed her over to Leontius, that he might put her to death.
[4] Then Leontius said to her: "Hear me, Archelays: for what reason do you beckon to all men, good and bad, and call them to Jesus the Nazarene, who could help neither himself nor others? You by your sorceries have presumed to anoint, and this into these headlong falls and into errors, as all say. False woman, if we do not separate you from us, she answers him nobly: all will believe in him." And the Virgin of Christ said to him: "By the power of Christ I make the diabolical and wicked works depart. And they are the works of Christ, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them." Leontius the Proconsul said: "Let everyone who contends against the command of the Princes perish miserably."
[5] The most blessed Archelays answered: "We have our Lord Jesus Christ, who contends over all things, and makes all things, and holds together heaven and earth and all who dwell in it." Leontius the Proconsul said: "Our gods hold together all the things you speak of, and their names are many: first of all Saturn, and Trismegistus, Venus, and Mercury, c Elzon indeed, Juno, Minerva. These are the powers of God, and they make all things." The Virgin of Christ answered: "Those gods of yours are blind, she mocks the gods: and all have blindness in them, and so do all who believe in them." Leontius said: "Your God is one, and so he could not help himself, and caused himself to undergo the cross, and received the sponge, and was pierced with the lance, and was fastened with nails, and bore a crown of thorns on his head."
[6] She preaches Christ: Blessed Archelays of Christ answered thus: "Since Jesus Christ endured torments for our sake, all who believe in Him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life. But your gods do not see; they are deaf and dumb, and cannot help themselves or others." Leontius, filled with anger, had lions brought which had not eaten for seven days, so that they might devour the Virgin of Christ. thrown to the lions, she is not harmed: The lions, coming forward first of all to seize the Saint, threw themselves at the feet of the handmaid of Christ, and licked her feet. And Blessed Archelays said: "You are my Lord, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, who have guarded my body from all carnal iniquities, and have given me Your victory over the fierce lions and over the wicked Leontius, son of the devil, who wished to shake me with most shameful fear and to destroy my soul. You are my helper. Lord, into Your hands I commend my spirit."
[7] The most ferocious Leontius struck the lions and killed them, and said to his soldiers: "Go, seize Archelays, and put her in the custody of the prison, while I prepare other torments; she is strengthened by an Angel: and by her magic arts the lions do not eat her." But an Angel of the Lord came down from heaven into the custody of the prison, and said to her: "Archelays, handmaid of God, do not fear, for a crown is prepared for you in heaven, and your prayers are before the sight of God." The jailers who guarded the prison were greatly afraid, and said among themselves: "One is the God whom Blessed Archelays preaches." And their eyes saw the marvels which the Angel of the Lord ministered to the handmaid of Christ.
[8] On the next day Leontius said to the jailers: "Bring me Archelays, who does me injury and has brought my gods to nothing: for what reason does she not depart from sorcery, and why does she blaspheme me?" The holy Virgin of God Archelays answered: "Leontius, Proconsul, hear me: I do you no injury, nor do I practise sorceries. she invites the Governor to the faith: O wicked tyrant, the works which you do are themselves what bring you injuries and blasphemies and the everlasting fire, which kills soul and body. But if you will hear me and attend to my words, believe me in what I tell you: believe in God the Father almighty, and in Jesus Christ His Son, who created you, and has lit up the hidden things of darkness, and has manifested Himself to all nations."
[9] The Proconsul said: "If you believe in my gods, I will give you honor among all the more noble women; and if you do not believe, I will make you live in shame, she despises his threats: and bring your body down to ignoble uses." Blessed Archelays of Christ said: "I have as my helper the Lord Jesus Christ, who guards my body from all your foulness, and makes me rejoice with His Angels, who with exceeding zeal guards my body from all iniquity, and makes me rest with the holy Virgins."
[10] Then Leontius the Proconsul, enraged, had a frying pan made to boil, and oil brought with pitch, and an iron comb striking, and willing obedience, she is drenched with boiling pitch and oil: and iron combs to scrape her flesh; and d from above he poured the boiling pitch itself upon her. The blessed handmaid of Christ Archelays, spreading out her hands to heaven, said: "Look down, Lord, from above according to Your works, and think of us. Quench the fire upon me and refresh my body from all pain, and our wound, which the cruel one has inflicted." Then, when the prayer was finished, a light came from heaven upon the handmaid of Christ: "Martyr, do not fear; she is encouraged by a heavenly voice: a crown is prepared for you in heaven. Do not fear, for I am with you, and I furnish you refreshment and help."
[11] Leontius the Proconsul said: "Go, bring me heavier weights, she is freed from new torments. and put them on her; by which let her head suffer, and all her bones be broken." When the soldiers had done this, they put the weights upon the handmaid of Christ. But the Angel of the Lord moved the stone and rolled it to the other side, upon those who had put it on the Martyr of Christ, and killed the soldiers who had carried that stone: and the Virgin of Christ was made safe, and magnified God, saying: "Blessed are You, Lord God of our Fathers, who are the Saviour of all who hope in You." And all who stood by said: "One is the God of the Christians, whom Blessed Archelays preaches."
[12] Seeing such things, Leontius said to his soldiers: "What shall I do with Archelays? She has brought all our torments to nothing. Seize her, and make her die in shame. Thrust her out of the city of Nola one mile, and strike her with the sword, that she may die: and let those women who were with her be struck with the sword." When Blessed All are beheaded, an Angel standing by. Archelays had finished her prayer, she said: "Brothers, do what you will according to the command of the Emperor." They said: "Lady, since we have seen the Angel of the Lord with you, we do not dare to presume to do such things against you." The holy Virgins said: "If you do not do as the Emperor has commanded you, you will have no part with us." When the soldiers had heard such things, they drew the sword and struck the holy Virgins, and they are in peace.
NotesTRANSLATION, FROM THE SAME MS.
Archelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.)
BHL Number: 0661
From manuscripts.
… came in sleep to one of the handmaids of God, who was surnamed Agneta, where the college of the holy Martyr George was, S. Archelaa admonishing in sleep, and she heard her say through a dream: "Our blessed sister Agneta, go, and gather our bodies with Thecla and Susanna, and carry us back together into this city; and there will be everlasting benefits there." And that Christian handmaid fulfilled it as the command … had said. Since the dream troubled the Virgin of Christ so much every night; and they came there day and night. Then Archelays, coming to Agneta, spoke to the sisters who dwell in the college of Blessed George; as many sisters in Christ heard it, hearing the sound they were terrified. Blessed Agneta said: "That sound, I will tell you what it is: the Revelation of the holy Virgin Archelays, who is outside the city of Nola, one stadium away." The Provost himself heard it, their bodies and those of her companions are translated to Salerno. who with the holy Virgins, and he went to Bishop John, who was quite far away in those days. And he went out with a great host from this city, and came into the city of Nola, and they find the bodies of the holy Virgins with the blessed Virgin Agneta, and they carried them with glory and honor, and worked many marvels on the way, and placed them in the church of S. George the Martyr, to whom be honor and dominion for ages of ages. Amen.
THE ACTS OF THE SAME
Written in Italian by Paolo Regio, Bishop of Vico.
Archelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salerno in Campania (S.)
Author: Paolo Regio.
CHAPTER I.
The holiness and miracles of S. Archelaa and her companions.
[1] Virginity conquers the world, restrains carnal appetites, being removed from the unhappy lot and companionship of our mother Eve, to whom was divinely declared: "In sorrow you shall bring forth children, and you shall be under the power of your husband;" Praise of virginity. and enjoying the full possession of her own liberty, she is injured by no injury of time, but flourishing with perpetual vigor she brings an excellent ornament of pious and religious life, and joined with it enters the heavenly bridal chamber of her Spouse, Christ. Gen. 3:16.
[2] S. Archelaa lives devoutly with her companions: Endowed with this noble and divine gift, Archelaa, having already taken the veil as a bride consecrated to Christ, was leading a chaste and religious life in a certain monastery removed from the crowds, such as the times then permitted to be built and maintained. Then, as the persecution of Diocletian raged, in order to escape the fury of the impious, she fled from Romagna with two companions, her sisters in Christ, She comes to Campania: Thecla and Susanna, and settled not far from the city of Nola, in a humble and poor place, where day and night she poured out prayers to God and devoted herself to other holy works.
[3] She becomes renowned for miracles: As many sick persons as were brought to her immediately obtained health from God through her merits. Her countenance was cheerful and modest; in dress both she and her companions used garments not womanly but rather manly, on account of which they were believed to be men by those who came to them for help. For they were clad in a tunic of coarse and rough cloth hanging down to the feet, and in a cloak, with their hair shorn, their faces worn by fasting and penances; in short, they bore a certain appearance of Hermits. As their fame spread far and wide, people began to flock to them in great numbers, to obtain either bodily or spiritual health. For together with that holiness of life was joined the grace of healing incurable diseases and the preaching of the Christian religion.
[4] The virtue of Archelaa and her companions was therefore celebrated in the talk of all. She preaches Christ: But since everywhere the agents and ministers of impiety were keeping watch, as though stationed at fixed posts, to spy out every movement of the Christians, they were at length denounced to Leontius, the Governor of Campania. When he was holding court at Salerno, She is arrested: he ordered them to be arrested and dragged before him, so that unless they offered sacrifices to the gods, they should be punished with death according to the edicts of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian.
[5] She is brought before Leontius the Judge: Brought therefore to Salerno, they are presented to Leontius. Here, as though secure of obtaining by divine gift the glory of martyrdom, since they sensed that the goal of their mortal course was at hand, they freely declare that they are virgins dedicated to God, and bound by a vow of preserving chastity, having received from Christ the ceremony of voluntary devotion. Leontius, beholding a certain marvelous cheerfulness and majesty in the countenance of Archelaa, turned to her and said: "Listen, Archelaa. Why do you summon people to yourself, good and bad alike, and persuade them to worship Jesus of Nazareth, who could neither defend himself in former times, nor can now be a protection to others? Why have you dared to cure diseases with magic spells, and thus to hunt for a reputation of holiness, in order to allure mortals into fraud -- concealing your wickedness under this deceptive garb, and counterfeiting the male sex, when you are a woman, and indeed a most harmful and most impious sorceress? Moreover, you have perhaps induced these girls too to practice the same impostures. Wherefore, unless I take punishment upon you, She answers him nobly: all the more ignorant will be led into deceit." "By the power of Christ," said Archelaa, "I suppress the works of the devil, and summoning mortals endowed with reason, I imbue them with the knowledge of the true God, who created heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them: and moreover, through Jesus Christ, the only-begotten of the same almighty God, I restore health to all who are sick. Nor do I counterfeit my sex under this garb, since I have at once confessed myself the handmaid of Christ: and these are my sisters in the Lord, raised with me from infancy in the Christian faith." Leontius said: "Whoever resists the commands of the Emperors is guilty of a dire death." Archelaa answered: "We have as Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake we despise the world with its vanities: from him we await mercy, who governs heaven, earth, and all other things by his providence."
[6] Then Leontius: "Our gods contain and rule all things: She mocks the gods and proclaims the power of Christ: and their names are many -- Saturn, Trismegistus, Venus, Mercury, Juno, Minerva, and Jupiter, who is greater than all the rest. These are the powers of God, and they act and govern all things." The Virgin answered: "Those gods of yours are blind, and blind are those who adore them or believe in them." "Your God," said Leontius, "is alone, and cannot sufficiently defend himself, seeing that he was long ago nailed to a cross, given vinegar to drink, crowned with thorns, and pierced with a lance." "But these things," said B. Archelaa, "he endured for our sake, so that all who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. But your gods do not see, do not hear, do not speak, and can help neither themselves nor others."
[7] She is thrown to lions, which do not harm her: Irritated by these words, Leontius orders lions to be brought into the enclosure prepared there, driven by enormous hunger, for they had never been given sufficient food for a space of seven days; and he orders the Virgin to be violently thrown to them by the lictors, and those standing by believed she would immediately be torn apart. But the opposite happened: for by divine power they were made gentle and tame, and prostrate at the feet of the holy Martyr, they seemed as if to declare that they wished to be her protection with their claws against the fury of the most impious tyrant. And Archelaa began to pray to God thus: "Lord God, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, who have until now preserved my body from all defilement, and have today caused me to overcome the lions themselves and Leontius, who is more savage than the lions, the son of the devil, who wished to strike me dead with servile fear and to crush my soul -- be today and always my helper: into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit."
[8] When the most ferocious Leontius saw and heard this, inflamed with fresh rage, he orders the lions themselves to be killed by his attendants; She is bound and thrown into a dungeon. and the hands of Archelaa and her companions to be tightly bound behind their backs, and they to be shut up in a most foul dungeon, so that he might afterward torture them with other torments. And thus the holy Virgins, leading an angelic life on earth, were savagely tormented by the worshippers of demons for the name of Christ, who by this means was calling them to heavenly triumphs.
CHAPTER II.
Various tortures, glorious death.
[9] There is nothing sadder or more grievous for human life than when men's minds are detained by earthly desires and pleasures. Nor, on the other hand, is anything more suited to true rest and tranquility than to desire nothing at all except to serve God and to expose one's body to every torment for his honor. And therefore the one who has less acquaintance with pleasures fears death less: but the one who hopes for no life after death fears to die. The servants of God knew this: wherefore it should seem surprising to no one if they esteem mortal life as of little worth, since they know that it is appointed for men to die once; but that for those who have lived their life with virtue, another blessed and immortal life awaits. Proof of this is the most sacred virgin Archelaa, who, shut up in a dark prison, placed all her hope and protection in God. But behold, when she seemed to have been brought into the greatest straits, an Angel of God appears to her, She is strengthened from heaven: and bathes her in an incredible light, and comforts her with these words: "Archelaa, servant of God, fear not; a crown is already prepared for you in heaven: your prayers have reached the sight of God."
[10] The guards of the prison also saw the unusual light, and struck with great terror they cried out: "One is the true God, whom the blessed Archelaa proclaims." The next day Leontius orders Archelaa to be brought before him: "Drag here," he says, She exhorts the Governor to embrace the faith, "Archelaa, who both insults me and overthrows my gods with her sorceries and blasphemies." When Archelaa was brought to the tribunal, she said: "I neither insult you with injury nor do I commit any sorcery; but your own works, most impious tyrant, bring injury upon you, and your own blasphemies are preparing you as fuel for eternal flames. But if you listen to me and give credence to my words, believe in God the almighty Father, and in Jesus Christ his Son, who created you, from whose mutual love with the Father there proceeds from eternity Love itself, driving away all darkness. This one God in Trinity has long been known to all nations."
[11] The Governor, despising these words as though they were some ridiculous ravings, said: "If you too are willing to believe in my gods, you shall be adorned with riches and honor and shall obtain a distinguished place among the Roman matrons: but if not, I shall inflict upon you a death full of ignominy, and expose your body to be devoured by ravens and wolves." Archelaa answered: "I have as my helper my Lord Jesus Christ, who will protect my body from every injury you meditate, and will make me a partaker of eternal joy with his Angels, if, as hitherto, I guard my mind from all iniquity. In him my body, like those of other holy virgins, shall blessedly rest."
[12] The Proconsul Leontius, kindled with anger, orders a great fire to be set beneath a frying pan, and it to be filled with oil and pitch. While the pan is being heated, She is beaten, and anointed with oil and pitch: he meanwhile orders Archelaa to be stripped and torn with iron combs, and then beaten, then sprinkled with burning oil and pitch. By this means, burned deeply to the very bones and foully disfigured, she struck the lictors themselves with immense admiration: that one so tender and weak by nature could endure such savage torments. She herself, with arms extended in the form of a cross, eyes turned to heaven, said: "Look down, Lord, from heaven, from your holy seat, upon your faithful handmaid: extinguish with the dew of your grace this burning pyre that scorches me; refresh my body and free it from all pain and from the wounds that the cruel tyrant has inflicted." Scarcely had Archelaa uttered these words She is encouraged by a heavenly voice: when a light was seen above her head, and a voice, sent from no mortal author, declared this: "Handmaid of Christ and holy Martyr, fear not; a crown is prepared for you in heaven: fear not the punishments threatened by the tyrant, because I am with you, to help you and lead you into refreshment."
[13] When Leontius saw that no torture could break the exalted spirit of the Virgin, he orders the lictors to place her under an enormous rock, to be utterly crushed by its weight. Placed under an immense rock, she is divinely delivered: But suddenly an Angel of God rolled that immense rock to the other side, and by its size and weight it crushed the very executioners who were attempting to destroy the Martyr with it. And thus Archelaa also escaped this manner of death, while Leontius gnashed his teeth in vain. She, however, was singing praises to God, using these words: "Blessed be the God of our fathers, who saves all who hope in you." The spectators, astonished at this prodigious outcome, cried out: "True is the God of the Christians, whom B. Archelaa proclaims."
[14] When Leontius heard this, turning to his men, he said: "What shall we do with this sorceress, who has overcome all torments? Seize her and inflict upon her an ignominious death. Lead her a thousand paces outside the city of Nola, and there put her to death with her two companions." Immediately the three virgins, Archelaa, Thecla, and Susanna, with their hands bound behind their backs, were led to the appointed place of martyrdom. Then Archelaa urged the lictors to carry out the orders of the Emperor. But they, terrified by the angelic apparition that had presented itself to them, She is beheaded together with her companions, said: "By no means, Lady, shall we undertake such a thing." The holy Virgins answered with one voice: "Unless you do what the Governor has commanded, you shall have no part with us." Hearing this, the executioners at last drew their swords and with single strokes immolated all three, one by one, as undefiled victims to God. Thus they concluded a most praiseworthy life with glorious martyrdom, around the year of Christ 293.