ON THE HOLY MARTYRS
ARCHIPPUS, PHILEMON, LIKEWISE APOLLONIUS, ALEXANDER, EPIMACHUS, AND ONESIMUS.
Notice from the Menaia.
Archippus, Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)
Philemon, Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)
Apollonius, Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)
Alexandrius, Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)
Epimachus, Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)
Onesimus, Martyr, among the Greeks (S.)
J. P.
[1] In this order, which we have placed in the title, the printed Greek Menaia commemorate the natal of these Martyrs. Maximus, bishop of Cythera, follows the Menaia. The announcement of the same is expressed a little otherwise in the Mazarin Menaion, The sacred cult; and thus it runs: On the same day 6 July of the Holy Martyrs Philemon, crucified, Archippus, dragged by horses, Onesimus, slain by the sword. And their memory is venerated in their most holy oratory, which is beyond in Elaea. To whom the following little verses are there sung:
Γαυροῖς Χριστὸν, φίλημα ψυχρὸν, Φίλημον, Γαυροῖς δὲ καὶ σε φίλτρον αὐτοῦ τὸ ζέον. Τὴν ἀρχικήν σοι τῶν φρενῶν ἐξουσίαν, Ἄρχιππε δεῖξον πρὸς τὰ τῶν ἵππων θράση. Ἄθλησιν εὗρεν Ὀνήσιμος ἐκ ξίφους, Λαβὼν τὸ λαμπρὸν τῆς ἀθλήσεος στέφος.
To Christ, Philemon, offer a cold kiss, And offer thyself, the fervid love-charm of him. The truly commanding onrush of an unconquered mind, O Archippus, set forth against the horses' ferocity. Onesimus bore trophies by the sword, Taking the honor of the ever-flourishing laurel.
[2] Observe the allusion to the homonymous words φίλημα, and also Φίλημον, and φίλτρον. Likewise in the adjective ἀρχικὴν, an allusion to the name of Philemon. the substantive ἵππων, and the proper name Ἄρχιππε. I find our band numbered also in the sacred Fasti of the Martyrs in the Menaia of the Ambrosian Library on this day. In the Menaion of Chifflet are marked Philemon, Archippus, and Onesimus; and a little after follows Apollonius and Alexander, Epimachus being passed over.
[3] Of St. Apollonius, Of St. Apollonius we have from the supplement to the printed Menaia, from the Synaxarium of Sirmond and the manuscript of Chifflet: Ὁ ἅγιος Ἀπολλώνιος ἐν πλοίῳ βληθεὶς, πλοίου πυρποληθέντος, ἐν θαλάσσῃ τελ. St. Apollonius, cast into a ship, the ship being set on fire, consummated his martyrdom in the sea; to whose triumph is there sung:
Ἀπολλώνιος ἀμφιδεξίως ἔχει Ἀθλεῖν πρὸς ἄμφω καὶ θάλασσαν καὶ φλόγα.
Apollonius must, ambidextrous, Resist two enemies, both flame and sea.
[4] Of St. Alexander Of St. Alexander, or, as it is there written, Alexandrius; I find the following in the same supplement, the title of St. Epimachus being passed over, whose name however is expressed in the distich presently to be given: Ὁ ἅγιος Ἀλεξανδρίων εἰς τρόχον δεθεὶς, καὶ εἰς κατωφερῆ τόπον ἀφεθεὶς τελ. St. Alexandrion, bound to a wheel, and let down to a place sloping downward, finished the course of his martyrdom.
Ἀλεξανδρίων καὶ κατωφερῶς τρέχων, Ἀνωφερῶς ὑψοῦτο, πρὸς θεῖον λόγον.
Alexandrius, falling into lowly places, According to divine oracles shall be exalted.
[5] and of St. Epimachus. Of St. Epimachus, the title being passed over, as I said, thus it is sung there:
Πλέον τι πάσχειν ἤθελον καὶ τοῦ ξίφους Ἔφασκε πάσχων Ἐπίμαχος ἐκ ξίφους.
"I wished to suffer something more than the sword," Epimachus said, suffering by the sword.
But the place dedicated to their cult is declared by these words: Τελεῖται δὲ ἡ αὐτῶν σύναξις εἰς τὸ ἑξάκιον. But their gathering is celebrated at the Hexakion.