ON SS. EUSTATHIUS, POLYCARP, AND EUANGELUS, MARTYRS
An account from the Greek Menaea.
Eustathius, Martyr among the Greeks (S.)
Polycarp, Martyr among the Greeks (S.)
Euangelus, Martyr among the Greeks (S.)
J. P.
The sacred passing of these three Martyrs to the better life is marked in more than one of the Menaea of the Greeks. The Menaea of the Ambrosian library have them; the supplement to the printed Menaea, from the Synaxary of Sirmond and the manuscript of Chifflet, Concerning SS. Eustathius, the designation of the place being added in which they are venerated: Τελεῖται δὲ ἡ αὐτῶν σύναξις ἐν Σεβωνίᾳ. (Elsewhere I read ἐν Σιμωνίᾳ. In the Menaea of the Ambrosian library it is ἐν Συμβούλοις.) But their sacred memory is kept in Sebonia; likewise they are noted in a certain Chifflet Menaeum, and to Polycarp is added the surname Νέος, Junior or Younger. In the aforesaid Supplement St. Eustathius is honored with these two little verses, after it had been premised there that he consummated his martyrdom by fire:
Πρὸς εὐστάθειαν καρδίας Εὐσταθίου Καὶ πῦρ συρίζον, ἠρεμοῦν πάντως ὕδωρ.
Before the steadfastness of the heart of Eustathius even the hissing fire grows mild, as though it were placid water.
There is an allusion in the substantive εὐστάθεια, steadfastness, to
the proper name of the Martyr Eustathius, as though you should call him steadfast, or unconquered.
[2] Polycarp in the same Supplement is handed down to have met his end μαχαίρᾳ, by the sword, Polycarp, these little verses being added:
Οὗτος ὁ νέος ὢν σφάγιον εὐθελημάτων, Σφάττειν τάχει με τὸν Πολύκαρπον θέλε.
I am now a ripe victim, and willing to die: come, slay Polycarp. Why dost thou weave delays?
What ὄναος means in the copy, for which I have substituted ὁ νέος, the Martyr's surname, I do not grasp. Perhaps ὥραιος, ripe, might not amiss be put, that there may be an allusion to the proper name Polycarp, which signifies him who bears much fruit. Do thou choose which thou wilt.
[3] and Euangelus, little verses. The kind of martyrdom by which St. Euangelus ended his life is expressed in these words: Ὁ ἅγιος Εὐάγγελος ξίφει τελ. St. Euangelus undergoes martyrdom by the sword. To whom it is thus sung:
Εὐάγγελος τὸ θεῖον ἐκ ξίφους τέλος Εὐαγγελισμὸν εἶχε τοῦ Θείου στέφους
To Euangelus the sword gives a holy end, bearing the divine tidings, the crowns of heaven.
There is a charm in the proper name Εὐάγγελος, signifying glad tidings, or him who announces glad things, and in the substantive εὐαγγελισμὸς, glad announcement.