Ananias

ON ST. ANANIAS, APOSTLE, AT DAMASCUS, AND MARTYR.

FIRST CENTURY.

Ananias, Apostle and Martyr in Syria (Saint)

[1] We have not found the martyrdom of the holy Apostle Ananias in any printed or manuscript codices of the Latins. It survives among the works of Metaphrastes, rendered into Latin by Gentianus Hervetus, The Acts of the martyrdom of St. Ananias, and published by Lipomanus in volume 6 of the Lives of the Saints under October 1, on which day Surius also placed it in his own work. We, having obtained an ancient Greek manuscript copy, translated it into Latin from that source and collated it with Hervetus's translation.

[2] His feast among the Greeks is October 1. In those Acts it is recorded that he completed his martyrdom on the first of October, on which day the Greeks celebrate him, as all their Menologia, Menaea, Anthologion, and other liturgical calendars indicate. A summary of the Acts is given thus in the Menologion of Henricus Canisius: The commemoration of the holy Apostle Ananias, one of the Seventy. He, being a disciple of the Apostles, was made by them Bishop of Damascus, and, admonished by a divine revelation, baptized the Blessed Apostle Paul. When therefore he healed many in the city of Damascus and at Eleutheropolis and converted them to the faith of Christ, standing before the Governor Licinius and professing Christ to be the true God, he was beaten with dried sinews, torn apart, led outside the city, stoned by the Governor's order, and awarded the crown of martyrdom. The Menaea give even fuller accounts: Of the holy Apostle Ananias. The holy Apostle Ananias was a Damascene by birth, who baptized Paul at divine command; he was Bishop of that same city. Having therefore performed many miracles of healing at Damascus and brought many to Christ at Eleutheropolis, he was beaten by the Governor Lucian with ox-hide sinews, his sides were lacerated and burned with torches; finally, cast out of the city, he was buried under a shower of stones, and thus completed his martyrdom and departed to the eternal dwellings. Maximus Cythereus and the Anthologion approved by Clement VIII have the same account.

[3] The Latins honor St. Ananias on the same day as the Conversion of St. Paul. The ancient Roman Martyrology published by Rosweyde: Among the Latins, January 25. The eighth day before the Kalends of February. The Conversion of St. Paul. At Damascus, of St. Ananias, who baptized Paul himself. Bede, Usuard, Ado, Notker, and other Martyrologies, both manuscript and printed, have nearly the same. From all of these, both Greek and Latin, the following eulogy was composed in the modern Roman Martyrology: January 25, at Damascus, the birthday of St. Ananias, who baptized the same Apostle (he had already treated of Paul's conversion). He, having preached the Gospel at Damascus, Eleutheropolis, and elsewhere, was beaten with sinews and torn apart under the judge Licinius, and finally crushed under stones, completing his martyrdom. Notker also assigns his birthday to this day. Peter de Natalibus, book 3, chapter 21, says that he died in peace at Damascus on the same day on which he had begotten Paul as a son through baptism, namely the eighth day before the Kalends of February. But on what basis does Peter claim he died in peace? The same is read, but drawn from Peter, in the German Martyrology.

[4] The ancient Cologne Martyrology: At Damascus, of St. Ananias the Priest and Confessor, who baptized the same Apostle. That he was at least a priest is indicated by St. Augustine, book 2 of the Questions on the Gospels, question 47, where he says Whether he was a Bishop: that Paul was sent to him so that through that Priest he might receive the sacrament of instruction in the faith, which is established in the Church, and its true character might be confirmed. Oecumenius writes that he was merely a Deacon; many others say he was Bishop of Damascus. The way was led, though not by a sufficiently reliable guide, by the pseudonymous Dorotheus in the Synopsis, whom Peter de Natalibus, Canisius, Maurolycus (who cites Sophronius — but which one?), and Galesinius followed, the last of whom makes him the first Bishop of that city. The manuscript Florarium for this day: At Damascus, of St. Ananias, a disciple of Christ. He illuminated Damascus with the faith of Christ; there also he baptized the fierce persecutor of the Christians. So in Acts 9, verse 10, it is said of him: There was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, etc. Cassian, Conferences 2, chapter 15, calls him the Elder — that is, the superior and teacher — of Paul. The Apostle himself delivered this eulogy of his spiritual father before Agrippa in Acts 22: Ananias, he said, praised by St. Paul, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony from all the Jews dwelling in Damascus, came to me and, standing beside me, said: Brother Saul, receive your sight. And in that same hour I looked up at him. And he said: The God of our fathers has foreordained you to know His will, and to see the Just One, and to hear the voice from His mouth; for you shall be His witness to all men of the things you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name. With as much fervor as he addressed Saul, he dealt with Christ Himself with equal or even greater confidence and familiarity; and by St. Chrysostom. wherefore St. Chrysostom, weighing his words, says that Ananias must have been a very distinguished man, since he answered Christ Himself so freely, and Christ set forth future events to him so clearly — something that not even the Angel had done with Philip in Acts 8.

[5] Gagnaeus, from the passage cited above concerning the Jews dwelling there, conjectures that he was of the tribe of Judah. His house at Damascus. Adrichomius, in Manasseh 2, chapter 40, reports on the authority of Breidenbach and Fretellus that the house of Ananias at Damascus is shown to this very day. Quaresmius, in volume 2 of the Elucidation of the Holy Land, book 7, pilgrimage 6, chapter 3, describes its location and form and provides an engraving; he visited Damascus for the second time. He adds that the house was later converted into a church dedicated to Christ the Lord and to St. Ananias, and is now a Turkish mosque. Christopher Radziwill also mentions that house.

ACTS FROM A GREEK MANUSCRIPT.

Ananias, Apostle and Martyr in Syria (Saint)

From a Greek manuscript.

[1] When the impious Lucianus had been sent to the eastern regions, to Bethagaure of Eleutheropolis, by those who had assumed no less the madness of idol worship than the scepters of empire, The persecution of Governor Lucianus, a most fierce inquisition of the Christians was set in motion. Lucianus, then, sitting at his tyrannical tribunal, breathed forth the fury of his soul in words even before the deeds themselves, contriving evils, as it were, for the Christians. Letters and edicts were sent frequently throughout the entire province, ordering that those unwilling to sacrifice to demons, who confessed Jesus Christ our Lord as the true God and followed His sacred rites, should not only be subjected to the most cruel torments and endure death through fire, wild beasts, the sea, and other forms of torture; but also that their sacred bodies should be deprived of family burial, dragged away to serve as food for dogs and wild animals.

[2] Ananias, therefore, that interpreter of the heavenly mysteries and Apostle of God, himself one of the seventy disciples of Christ, endowed with a certain divine power and invisible radiance, St. Ananias comes from Antioch to Damascus: came from Antioch — where our people first began to be celebrated by the name of Christians — to Damascus, so that it too might not be deprived of the seeds of truth, nor remain barren of the fruits of piety.

[3] Meanwhile, Paul, conceiving ever greater rage against the company of the Apostles, hurling intolerable threats against them, and inflamed with an almost unbelievable hatred toward them, asked the chief priest Saul raging, to send letters to the synagogues there, so that those who had refused to abandon the Christian religion might be dragged bound and under guard to Jerusalem, even against their will. But Providence, which wisely governs all things, intervened in this matter — Providence, which is accustomed to arrange occasions from afar when it foresees that something will succeed in such a way that some good may arise from it. Paul was therefore on his way to Damascus; and when he was already approaching the city, he saw a heavenly light shining around his eyes, and, prostrate on the ground, heard himself addressed with these words: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And He said: Arise, go into the city, where you will be told what you must do. And divinely struck blind, And when he had risen, though his eyes were open he could see no one; but he was led by the hand into Damascus. And God commanded Ananias: Go, He said, to the street called Straight, and, laying your hands on Paul of Tarsus, remove the darkness from his eyes. For he too shall be a vessel of election for me, and shall bear my name before the nations and kings and the children of Israel. The divine Ananias therefore came, restoring his sight, as the Lord had told him, and restored to Paul the faculty of sight. There is no need to pursue every detail, since it is easy for anyone who wishes to learn them from the Acts. He was converted to piety and changed his name together with his character, and ascended to the third heaven; baptizes him: and, preaching the Gospel, he traveled throughout the world, becoming as great in love for Christ as he had previously been thought to be in rage against the Christians, displaying in both the strength of his nature and the greatness of his soul.

[4] Thus Ananias, having led Paul to the true life, having illuminated him in a twofold manner, and having prepared him — together with the light that is seen by the eyes — for the proper contemplation of that light which is perceived by the understanding, preaches in Bethagaure: went about Bethagaure preaching the Gospel; and like a rational dragnet — that is, by divine teaching — he drew all whom he encountered to the knowledge of God.

[5] He is seized: While he was engaged in these activities, he was seized by those whose duty it was to hunt down Christians and brought before the son of darkness, Governor Lucianus. Lucianus immediately presided in the public theater. He greatly admired the man, seeing the outstanding beauty of his appearance shining forth, and his singular composure of character, and a tongue flowing with many graces. Perceiving this, he put on the mask of benevolence and feigned gentleness, while concealing much savagery within. In a speech composed to sound cheerful, he said: Believe me, he is tested with flattery, Ananias, I am advising what is beneficial. Assent to our gods, and repudiate the Crucified One whom you preach. Do not cause this form, by far the most beautiful in appearance, to be consumed by torments. But Ananias replied: I adore the true God; I cleave to Him; I look to Him alone; nor can anything be sweeter to me than He — I who was made the minister both of imbuing Paul's mind with the knowledge of the truth and of restoring sight to his eyes. He who was formerly called Saul was renamed Paul by the Lord, inasmuch as, having overcome the tossing of ignorance, he drew near through recognition to the firm and only harbor: faith in my Jesus.

[5] You seem, said the Judge, relying on your great size and bodily strength, to raise your brow against the very torments. Wherefore your wisdom has been turned to madness, and, as I see, levity has replaced your abundant prudence. Hearing this, the master of truth, with threats, immediately raising his eyes and hands to heaven, said: Lord Jesus Christ, God of hosts, may the enemy never entangle me in his nets. But grant that I may suffer for You, and be adorned with Your crowns, and be joined to the company of Your disciples, so that salvation may be mine, as it was for Paul. He persisted in this prayer; but soon the blows, inflicted on his bare back, succeeded the prayer. With scourges: At this the heralds cried out: Obey the Governor and sacrifice to the mighty gods. But Ananias moved his lips and sent his prayer upward to God without a voice.

[6] Thus he proved superior to the torments and threats, and the executioners wearied of inflicting the blows before he wearied of enduring them. The Disciple and Martyr was then released from the torments; he scorns renewed flattery: but the fox — I mean the Governor — turned again to flattery. Come now at last, he kept saying to the Disciple, return to your senses, spare your soul, and have pity on your beauty, which will otherwise perish. For greater torments await you — I swear by the gods themselves. But Ananias, his heart inflamed with great love of Christ, replied boldly and fiercely, taunting him: not only would he never sacrifice to demons, but he would endeavor to convert to the faith of Christ as many as he could. Then he directed the force of his tongue against the Governor himself and assailed him with sharper words: Are you not ashamed, he said, O truly wretched man, and do you enter the pit of disgrace, now raging with scourges, now creeping with flatteries, and coaxing us with soft words as though we were some delicate little boy?

[7] He is scraped with iron claws: Provoked by this, the Judge ordered the Martyr's naked body to be torn with iron claws, and then burned with torches, so that as the body was gradually melted away, burned with torches: the more prolonged pains might flow to the heart. But the Martyr scorned the iron claws as though someone else were suffering them; the fire likewise had no effect on him, nor was it believed to be fire. But in a certain way it penetrated the very heart of the tyrant, goading him further to madness. How long, he said, will you refuse to obey the commands of the Emperors and honor the gods whom they worship? But Ananias replied: Why do you compel me, he wittily mocks the one who repeatedly asks the same questions, to speak the same things about the same matters again and again, turning the course of speech round and round like those who dance in a ring? Know therefore, know and believe, that not only will I be broken by nothing — not by torture, not by gifts, not by flattery, not by threats, nor by any other thing — but that I also bitterly weep for those who have already been overcome or have fallen into error of their own accord, and I deplore you above all others, who are the cause of ruin not only to yourself but also lead many others, partly by persuasion, partly by coercion against their will, to embrace impiety. Do you not know that the things worshiped by you are bronze, wood, and stones, which man — himself a creature of God — fashions by using as raw material? How then can it not seem absurd that the maker should worship his own handiwork? Or what man of sound mind would render worship to the work of his own hands, or seek blessings from it?

[8] The servant of perdition, further enraged by these words and unable to contend with the athlete in words, ordered — himself a stone — he is buried under stones; that he be stoned to death outside the city by those standing around. But he who was about to suffer such things launched his tongue like a missile against those who are not gods, saying: Let the gods who did not make heaven and earth perish. When he had reached the appointed place and was already being buried under stones, raising his hands to heaven, he said: O King of Kings and Lord of lords, receive this acceptable sacrifice, this my consummation by stones. Immediately his prayers were followed, as was fitting, by a crown offered by God and a summons to the eternal Kingdom, on the first day of the month of October.

[9] The truly blessed body of the Martyr was, after the lictors had returned home, he is buried, magnificently taken up by certain lovers of the Martyrs, and, wrapped most splendidly, was laid to rest in the region of Damascus, on his ancestral estate, to the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one and undivided Trinity, to whom belong honor, dominion, majesty, and magnificence, now and forever. Amen.