Martyrs of Pontus — Acta Sanctorum

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF PONTUS, MOSEUS AND AMMONIUS.

Commentary

Moseus, Martyr in Pontus (S.) Ammonius, Martyr in Pontus (S.)

[1] The acts of the holy Martyrs Moseus and Ammonius seem to have been lost. The Roman Martyrology recites this eulogy: "In Pontus, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Moseus and Ammonius, The birthday of these Saints who, being soldiers, were first condemned to the mines and at last delivered to fire." Bede, Usuardus, Ado, Notkerus, Bellinus, and Maurolycus say the same. Moseus Names is called Moyseus by Notkerus, Mosaeus by Ado; by Maurolycus and Felicius, Musaeus. Ammonius is called Ammon by Bellinus and Maurolycus. The manuscript of S. Jerome: "In Pontus, in the city of Assia, Moseus, Ammonius."

[2] Galesinius specifies their era, but does not indicate from what source he learned it: "In Pontus," he says, [Era] "the holy Martyrs Moseus and Ammonius, who, being soldiers, were first condemned to the mines, then snatched therefrom and afflicted with various torments, and finally burned with fire under the Emperor Decius for the faith of Christ." Petrus de Natalibus treats of them, Book 2, chapter 97.

ON THE THIRTY-SEVEN EGYPTIAN MARTYRS: PAULUS, PANSIUS, DIONYSIUS, THONIUS, HORPRESIUS, HORUS, DIONYSIUS, AMMONIUS, BESSAMMONIUS, AGATHO, RECUMBUS, BASTAMUS, SARMATA, PROTEAS, ORION, COLLUTUS, DIDYMUS, PLESIUS, ARATUS, THEONAS, HIPPEAS, ROMANUS, SATURNINUS, PINUTUS, SERAPION, BASTAMMONIUS, PAPAS, PANTHERUS, PAPIAS, DIOSCORUS, HERO, POTAMON, PETHECUS, OECOMENUS, ZOTICUS, CYRIACUS, AMMONIUS.

Preface

Paulus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Pansius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Dionysius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Thonius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Horpresius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Horus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Dionysius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Ammonius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Bessammonius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Agatho, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Recumbus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Bastamus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Sarmata, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Proteas, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Orion, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Collutus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Didymus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Plesius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Aratus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Theonas, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Hippeas, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Romanus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Saturninus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Pinutus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Serapion, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Bastammonius, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Papas, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Pantherus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Papias, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Dioscorus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Hero, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Potamon, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Pethecus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Oecomenus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Zoticus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Cyriacus, Martyr in Egypt (S.) Ammonius, Martyr in Egypt (S.)

Our Rosweyde had copied the Acts of these illustrious champions from ^a very ancient manuscript codex of M. Welser, but they were mutilated. A fuller copy was furnished to us by an ancient manuscript of the monastery of S. Maximinus at Trier, The Acts of these Saints differing slightly in wording here and there. The time of their martyrdom is not specified.

[2] The manuscripts of the Martyrology of the monastery of S. Martin at Tournai, Birthday and the Laetian, indicate their birthday in these words: "On the same day in Egypt, thirty-seven soldiers, who, divided into four groups, were ordered to be killed: so that those who were separated to the eastern part were to be delivered to fire; the northern ones to be beheaded; the southern to be burned; and those who were stationed in the western part to be given over to the Passion of the Lord." Whether they were soldiers, as is said here, or Presbyters, Deacons, or of some other sacred order, and perhaps trained together in piety in some monastery (as those times allowed), whence that great unanimity for propagating religion, one may rightly question.

[3] Variant names Certain names were written differently, even in the same codex: for those who at the beginning are called Ammonius, Bassammonius, Agathus, Collutus, Aratus, are afterward called Ammon, Bastammon, and Ammon, Agatho, Collotus, Arato.

ACTS FROM ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS.

BHL Number: 6584

From manuscripts.

[1] The testimony of Paulus, Pansius, Dionysius, Thonius, Horpresius, Horus, Dionysius, Ammonius, Bessammonius, Agathus, Recumbus, Bastamus, Sarmata, Proteas, Orion, Collutus, Didymus, Plesius, Aratus, Theonas, Hippeas, Romanus, Saturninus, Pinutus, Serapion, Papas, Bastamon, Pantherus, Papias, Dioscorus, Hero, Potamon, Petecus, Oecomenus, Zoticus, Cyriacus, and Ammonius.

[2] The Saints voluntarily offer themselves for martyrdom These thirty-seven most brave men and athletes of Christ approached martyrdom with one mind. They went indeed to the Judge, ^a multitude of those who offered themselves, and so great that it not only terrified him but even nearly drove him to madness. For the martyrdom of the more distinguished men of Egypt was taking place, and none among them was ignoble or of lesser fortune; but they were of ^a certain principal and honorable lineage among them, All noble whose names it was difficult to retain in order under ^a single heading. But the sufferings of each one must be related, just as it happened that they came to their rest.

[3] For the discourse of these men, of this multitude and most beautiful army, was not one and the same, They had distributed Egypt for preaching but as if from the Holy Spirit they had encompassed all Egypt in ^a fourfold manner: some to the morning of the East, some to the evening of the West, others to the Northern quarter, and others to the Southern. It is therefore most necessary to recount the divisions of these companies. For the Lord, placing them in the number of holy Teachers, sent them about in ^a circuit to instruct the unlearned. They are arrested But the foolish and less educated, not recognizing their kindness, seized them as though they were pernicious and wicked in their deeds, bound them, beat them, and afflicted them with torments. All these things, however, those who were being led to martyrdom embraced gladly, and the more the wicked advanced toward hindering them, the more they grew in the benevolence of piety.

[4] They are brought before the Prefect This therefore was not unknown to the Governor of Egypt, who, inflamed by his own malice and bitterness of cruelty beyond measure, having taken domestic counsel, ordered them to be brought before him just as they were planted throughout Egypt in ^a fourfold manner. They, however, not discordant in mind, nor in faith, nor in will,

but imitating the divine company, had thus encompassed Egypt, teaching the right and most just way. And Paulus held the leadership of this sacred company, not unlike that Doctor of the nations who showed the true way to those who erred. Like unto him was B. Pansius; and following him came the third, the most holy Dionysius, and as companions on the journey, Thonius, Those who preached in the East Horpresius, and Horus; whom Dionysius and Ammon accompanied, and with them Ammon and Agatho, preaching the word of the Lord in the choir of the eastern part.

[5] In the northern part, however, those who had taken up this course were no less strong than these, but rather shone more in their profession, even if there was ^a certain contention of faith among them. Those in the North For what was the contention of those Saints, so to speak, except that each of them might be proved more and more to Christ? In the same choir were accompanying the most holy Recumbus, together with Bastamus, Sarmata, and Proteas. Not far behind them followed Orion, ^a man shining among the rest, Collotus and Didymus; with whom Plesius and Aratus filled out the same choir.

[6] Those in the South In the southern part was Theonas, planted for the Lord, to whom had also been entrusted the holding of the rudder of the faith and the persuading of those who approached; who was not isolated alone in this ministry, but filled out the same number of the Sindonian company with the previous ones, together with Hippeas, Romanus and Saturninus, with Pinutius also adhering to them, Serapion, and Bastammon, and Papas, and Pantherus, with faith overflowing as their companion. This choir was deployed in the South to prophesy the word of God and to provide instruction to the others.

[7] Those in the West In the western part the Lord established as Teachers Papias, Dioscorus, Hero, and Potamon; with Pethecus, Oecomenus, Zoticus, Cyriacus, and Ammonius inseparably adhering to them in the same choir.

[8] All these therefore, encompassing the word of the Lord through all Egypt, A pious contention among them had this one contention: which of them might serve the Lord more, or which might more readily endure the adversities of suffering. Wherefore we have not judged it idle, Brothers, to make this very thing known to you also. For he is free from the fault of ignorance who has not been willingly ignorant. Therefore receive the memory of our carnal fathers, and learn how they sinned and strayed from the right path before the Son of God appeared in the flesh, while he still remained in the bosom of the Father. For this reason, God the Father, not enduring to contain the Son, gave the promise; nor was the Son in turn sluggish toward the flesh, but clothed in it he first preached God the Father, then taught that he was the Son of God; and at last he confirmed the word of justice with the voices and teachings of the Prophets, whom they themselves had not proclaimed without his own inspiration; and before he deigned to come to us, it was he who through the Prophets gave the law and prophesied. Surrounding this Egypt, then, in ^a similar circle, all the aforesaid Saints taught those who erred, instructed those who obeyed, and rendered ^a most true account for the sins of their fathers. If therefore the fathers sinned, let us amend their fall; if they strayed through inconstancy, let us, established in faith, run. For the contention among the aforesaid Saints was not contrary to faith, but religious. They strove among themselves as to which of them might first gain ^a person from error; they ran to see who might unite ^a greater people to God.

[9] Hearing these things, the impious Governor of Egypt ordered them to be presented to him; and when they were presented, he began to address them with flattering words, that they might sacrifice to the gods, adding: "Free yourselves from ^a most bitter death; overcome the cruel necessity, for the law of the Emperors commands either to sacrifice or to die." To whom the Blessed ... responding said: "We know that to sacrifice to the gods is pernicious; but you, kill and do not spare, for we will not sacrifice to demons." Hearing this, the Judge, exasperated by his words, They are killed by various kinds of death ordered those who had been assigned to the eastern part to be delivered to fire; the northern ones to be beheaded; those who were in the southern part to be burned with fire; and those in the western part he commanded to be given over to the Passion of the Lord. And to speak more truly, the Lord Jesus Christ bestowed these Saints upon us, so that guarded by their fourfold protection we might live in this world, to the praise and glory of his name, to whom is honor and glory forever and ever, Amen.

Notes

ON S. ATHENOGENES, MARTYR.

Commentary

Athenogenes, Martyr (S.)

[1] At what time or place S. Athenogenes underwent martyrdom is not recorded. S. Basil mentions him in his book On the Holy Spirit to Amphilochius, chapter 29: "But if anyone," The death of S. Athenogenes he says, "knows the hymn of Athenogenes, which he left to his disciples as ^a kind of farewell gift, hastening now to the consummation through fire, he also knows the opinion of the Martyrs concerning the Holy Spirit." His valedictory hymn So far Basil. "Farewell gift," as our Fronto Ducaeus notes, is in Greek exitērion, which Erasmus translates as "aggressorium" (he should have said more correctly "egressorium"); Billius translates "legatum" bequest. The Royal Codex, which Fronto used, had alexētērion, that is, "amulet."

[2] Birthday The name of S. Athenogenes is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on January 18 in these words: "In the same place (in Pontus), S. Athenogenes, an ancient theologian, who, about to consummate his martyrdom through fire, joyfully sang ^a hymn, which he also left written to his disciples." Whence Baronius learned that he died in Pontus, we do not know; Homeland Basil certainly does not say so, except that he cites the hymn as commonly known. Baronius mentions him in volume 2 of the Annals, year 196, number 7, where he confesses that the era in which he died is unknown.

[3] The same, in his Notes to the Martyrology, comments thus on Athenogenes: "I once thought that the very learned commentary against the Gentiles, written under the name of Athenagoras, belonged to this Athenogenes, of whom we are here treating; Whether the same as Athenagoras since among neither Greeks nor Latins is there any mention of an Athenagoras, whereas Athenogenes was very well known among the Greeks, celebrated for both his learning and the crown of martyrdom. The error could easily have crept in, that by the fault of copyists that commentary was inscribed with the name of Athenagoras instead of Athenogenes; but I would not dare to affirm this." We dare even less, especially since the philosopher Proclus, cited by S. Epiphanius, Heresy 64, number 21, cites that commentary under the name of Athenagoras, as Halloix, Petavius, and Paulus Leopardus restore that passage.

Notes

a. Welser manuscript: Pitinius.

b. The same: "in order and under one heading to retain the names."

c. That is, the Augustal Prefect, who governed Egypt with royal power.

d. We do not understand what this word means.