Hesychius

ON S. HESYCHIUS, OR YSICIUS THE SOLDIER,

MARTYR AT DUROSTORUM IN MOESIA.

From the Acts of S. Julius Martyr.

Hesychius, or Ysicius, Martyr at Durostorum, in Moesia (S.)

G. H.

Among the many Martyrs crowned at Durostorum, was Julius, whose Acts we have referred to on the XXVII day of May. In these are read these things: But a certain Esychius a Christian, when he was a soldier, & himself was being guarded, said to the Martyr: bidding farewell to S. Julius about to die I beseech thee, Julius, with joy fulfill thy promise, & receive the crown: for I will follow thee. But salute much Pasicrates & Valentio. But Julius, kissing Esychius, said: Brother, hasten: for they have already heard thy commands; for just as thee, I see them now standing around me. he adds that he will soon follow. And taking a kerchief, he bound his eyes, & stretched out his neck. But the soldier bringing the sword, put an end to the martyrdom.

[2] SS. Pasicrates & Valentio had died Martyrs two days before S. Julius, as we said on XXV May. Then S. Hesychius followed on this XV day of June, on which thus he is celebrated in the Martyrology of Usuard: In Moesia in the city of Durostorum of S. Esychius the soldier, & similarly under President Maximus is crowned, who being apprehended with B. Julius, under President Maximus, was afterwards consecrated by martyrdom. The same is read in Ado, but the President is called Maximianus. Ado is followed by pseudo-Bede with Maurolycus. But in the Acts of S. Julius he is called Maximus, as also in today's Roman Martyrology & others.

[3] Four ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology auspicate the day XV June with these words: & he is brought back into the ancient & new fasti. In the city of Durostorum the birthday of S. Ysicus, or Isicus: whom under the name of Isicus or Isicus: bring forth the Mss. Aquisgranense, Augustanum S. Udalrici, Parisiense Labbei, Gellonense & others. In the Corbie copy at the end are added the names of Felix & Lupus, but these are unknown to other Hagiologists. In the Ms. Kalendarium of the Carmelites of Mechelen, in smaller character, Esichus the Martyr is placed on the preceding day, who seems to be referred here.