ON ST. ASTEIUS, ASTIUS, OR ABERISTUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
Historical Collection.
Astius or Aberistus, Bishop and Martyr, at Dyrrachium (S.)
J. P.
The Basilian Menologium on this day announces the natal of this holy Martyr in these words: Ἄθλησις τοῦ ἁγίου ἱερομάρτυρος Ἀστείου, ἐπισκόπου Δυῤῥαχείου. The contest of the sacrosanct Martyr Asteius, bishop of Dyrrachium. The cult in the Greek tables; There follows his elogium: Asteius, holy Martyr, lived under the emperor Trajan. Captured by the idolaters, he was delivered to Agricolaus the governor. And when he was ordered to deny Christ, and to sacrifice to the idols, and could not be brought to it, he was sent to prison. Moreover, before he was seized, he contemplated such a dream. He saw himself standing upon a rock, anointed with pitch and oil; and, awakened, he said to his clerics: Brothers, I must suffer for Christ. But let each of you depart, where he can be safe. Having said these things, he was seized, as was said; and, standing before Agricolaus, and having confessed Christ, he was shut in prison. Whence, being let out, he was beaten with leaded scourges; then, anointed with honey, he was hung upon a tree in the summer season, that, devoured by wasps and flies, he might depart from life. This done, gladly enduring the torment, he gave up his soul to Christ.
[2] the time of the martyrdom; A little more contractedly the printed Menaia record the holy Martyr, with whom agrees Maximus, bishop of Cythera. Mention of him is also had in the Menaia of the Ambrosian Library, and of Chifflet. Sirletus wove for him a very brief elogium in these words: The contest of St. Astius, bishop of Dyrrachium, who under the emperor Trajan, Agricolaus being governor, persevering in the confession of the Christian faith, was beaten with leaded scourges, and after other torments, prayers being sent to God, gave up his soul to God. From the added note of the Emperor and Governor, under whom the holy Prelate is said to have suffered, the chronological character easily becomes known to anyone, to be placed at the beginning of the second century from the childbirth of the Virgin.
[3] whether he is rightly called Aberistus. Ferrarius in the new Catalogue of the Saints writes Aberistus for Astius; rightly observing in the notes that he suspects it is an error in the codex, whether Greek or Latin. The Roman Martyrology venerates the sacred memory of the Martyr on the 7th of this month.