ON THE HOLY MARTYRS HILARY THE BISHOP, TATIAN THE DEACON, FELIX, LARGUS, AND DIONYSIUS, AT AQUILEIA IN ITALY.
THE YEAR 285
PrefaceHilary Bishop, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Tatian Deacon, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Felix, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Largus, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Dionysius, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
[1] Aquileia, an ancient city of the Carni, situated in the territory now called Friuli, was destroyed by Attila King of the Goths after a three-year siege, and although it was restored by Narses, it experienced various fortunes thereafter and was finally reduced to a village. Having embraced the Christian faith in the time of the Apostles, when Saint Mark the Evangelist was sent there, it received Saint Hermagoras as its Bishop, At Aquileia S. Hilary Bishop. who, crowned with the palm of martyrdom on the twelfth of July, left the city without pastoral care for about two hundred years, or at least if there were other Bishops, which we do not reject, both their names and their deeds remain hidden. Afterwards Saint Hilary was given to this city as Bishop, called by others Hilarus, Helarus, Acts of Martyrdom. or Ylarus, who was slain on the sixteenth of March along with his companions for the faith of Christ. We present the Acts of their martyrdom from three manuscript codices, namely from the monastery of the Imperial Abbey of Saint Maximin near Trier, from the monastery of Canons Regular at Bodeken in the diocese of Paderborn, and from the Church of the Holy Saviour at Utrecht: in this last some passages were abbreviated. Moreover, the tables of the Roman Martyrology agree with these Acts, Sacred veneration in the Martyrologies with four companions on March 16, in which the following is read: At Aquileia, the birthday of Blessed Hilary the Bishop and Tatian the Deacon, who under the Emperor Numerian and the Governor Beronius, after the rack and other torments, together with Felix, Largus, and Dionysius, completed their martyrdom. The same things about these five Martyrs are found in the Martyrologies of Usuard, Bellini, and very many other manuscripts. Likewise Maurolycus, Galesinius, Canisius, and others. Notker and others, mixed in with other Saints, mention Hilary alone, as do the manuscripts of Aachen, Saint Maximin of Trier, Saint Ulrich of Augsburg, and others. But of Hilary and Tatian, the manuscript Martyrologies of Saint Jerome — the Blumian, the Luccan, and our manuscript of Reichenau, the Vatican of the Church of Saint Peter — likewise the Calendar prefixed to the ancient computus of the Venerable Bede, and another manuscript Calendar of the Church of Aquileia, to which a double feast celebrated there is ascribed: but the name of Saint Tatian is found written variously, being called by some Titianus, Tassianus, Cassianus, or Datianus. Whence Datianus is read as a Martyr distinct from Tatian or Tasian in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome printed at Paris, and in the manuscripts of Corbie, Tamlacht, and another of the Queen of Sweden, from which Holstenius in his Notes on the Roman Martyrology records the following reading: At Aquileia, the birthday of Saints Clarius, Cassianus, Datianus, for which we believe should be read Saints Hilary, Tatian. Masini in his survey of Bologna reports that some relics of Saint Hilary are preserved at Bologna in the Church of Saint Stephen. But on the fifteenth of March these five Martyrs are celebrated in a manuscript Martyrology preserved at the Carmelite house in Cologne. The Acts of Martyrdom which we are about to present were abridged by Peter de' Natali in his Catalogue, book 3, chapter 203, and following him, Ughelli in volume 5 of Sacred Italy (who adds that he was of Pannonian origin), Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, and Baronius, but briefly, at the year 284, number 9.
[2] On the following day the Birthday of Saint Hilary the Bishop is recorded in the manuscript Martyrology of Monte Cassino: and March 17. indeed in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome several are more clearly repeated in these words: At Aquileia, Largus, Hilary, Titian, who belong here. Added are Cato or Catonus, Datian or Dativus, perhaps names badly formed from Datian the Deacon. In the Martyrology of Saint Jerome printed at Paris, on this day is added Julian the Martyr, and on the following day, Jocundus. These seem to have been transferred here from elsewhere, and perhaps Julian is the Martyr of Anazarbus, about whom we treat below on this day. If nevertheless it should seem to some that Julian and Datian should be added to these besides Tatian the Deacon, we would gladly subscribe, if mention of them were made in the following Acts.
ACTS OF MARTYRDOM
From Three Manuscript Codices.
Hilary Bishop, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Tatian Deacon, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Felix, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Largus, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
Dionysius, Martyr at Aquileia in Italy (S.)
BHL Number: 3881
[1] With the help of God the Father and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, most beloved Brothers, we relate to you a great mystery, which He Himself from the heavenly kingdom of heaven deigned to grant to the human race, Prologue, who wishes no one to perish; but what He Himself fashioned with His own hands in the beginning of the world, He guards and promises heavenly rewards, who said: I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he be converted and live. To His servants who believe in Him He gives such grace as is today brought to our ears, how great are the consolations the Lord bestows on those who believe in Him.
[2] S. Hilary devoted to virtue, The most blessed Hilary, instructed from his infancy, girding himself with the arms of faith, merciful and benevolent, separated from every worldly pursuit, thoroughly learned in the divine Scriptures so that he had the capacity of memory in place of books; while he was still in the youthful years of his age, he becomes Deacon, seized by the people he was ordained Deacon. Then at the insistence of the people, after some time he was ordained Bishop: then Bishop, who faithfully fulfilled the precepts of the Lord, tolerating no flattery nor respect of persons, as is the custom of men who place their hope in this world. creates S. Tatian Deacon, Therefore, since in his life, with God's help, he governed all his children well, he had a disciple named Tatian, and seeing him to be of good conduct, he promoted him to the honor of the Diaconate: then Archdeacon: who afterwards through his ordination was made Archdeacon.
[3] At that same time, when an order had come from the Emperor Numerian that Christians should sacrifice to idols, Under the Emperor Numerian. Beronius was appointed Governor at the city of Aquileia, and sitting at his tribunal, he commanded that Christians held in prison custody be brought before him to offer incense, before the Governor Beronius, There was a certain man named Monofantus, a priest of the idols, full of malice, and coming to the Governor Beronius, he said to him: What you are doing is not right: rather, command that Hilary the Bishop of the Christians be brought before your eyes, called by Monofantus the sacrificial priest, so that when he is tortured, all his followers may be corrected by his example. Hearing this, the Governor commanded the most blessed Hilary to be brought. When Monofantus heard this, he immediately went forth, and coming he found Saint Hilary reading with his Archdeacon Tatian. He said to them: Come, the Governor summons you. Why do you delay further? Then Saint Hilary, looking at him, said: What is it, friend? And he replied: I have already told you, the Governor summons you. Saint Hilary said: Let us go in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. They came immediately to the hall of audience. Entering, he presented himself to the Governor, keeping his mind with joy. he approaches: But when the Governor saw him with a cheerful face, he said to him with great astonishment: What is your name? Saint Hilary answered: I am called Hilary, and I am Bishop of the Christians. The Governor said: Since you have declared yourself to be a Christian, sacrifice to the gods according to the decrees of the Emperors: for thus they have ordered that all Christians sacrifice to the gods; and those who refuse shall be afflicted with various punishments; but those who obey shall obtain a great honor of goods. Therefore take thought and comply: and sacrifice to the gods.
[4] Saint Hilary answered: From my childhood I have learned to sacrifice to the Lord the living God, he steadfastly professes the faith of Christ: and I do not cease to adore Jesus Christ His Son with a pure heart: but to empty and vain demons, who are called gods but are not, I do not sacrifice. The Governor said: Christ, whom you say you worship, was crucified by the Jewish people. Saint Hilary answered: If you knew the power of this Cross, you would abandon the error of idols and would adore Him, so that you might heal the wounds of your soul. For the only-begotten Son of God, with the will of His Father and His own, gave Himself into human nature for the life of this world: so that those who, bound by snares, were held captive by the devil, He might redeem with His precious blood, and might condemn the madness and vanity of the impious, which you worship, by the judgment of His power to the punishments of eternal death. The Governor Beronius said: With many words and seductions you have filled my ears, as though you could persuade me to abandon the glory of the gods, that I might worship that Crucified One, just as you seduce those others who have made you their Bishop. Therefore sacrifice to the gods, before those who follow you receive correction from your torments. Saint Hilary the Bishop answered: He whom I have always worshipped until now as my provider, the almighty Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Him I always worship: nor is he frightened by threats: but you appear to be a minister of demons, and you shall be tormented with no small punishments. The Governor said: Because I allowed you to speak with boldness, you blaspheme the gods, and moreover you think I have a demon.
If I break down your pride, as I say, and torture you as a blasphemer with punishments, and compel you to worship the gods, who provide the safety of this city and by whom the world is governed. Saint Hilary the Bishop said: Truly, because you are blind and wretched, therefore you are ignorant of God the maker and governor of the world: and you think the world is governed by unclean demons like yourself. Beronius said: Sacrifice to the gods: for I will have your tongue cut out. Saint Hilary answered: If you are accustomed to strike fear, do not threaten with words: but carry out at once what you have begun: because my protector is at hand, to whom I always offer a pure sacrifice.
[5] At these words the Governor, moved to anger, entered the temple, he is led into the temple of Hercules, which was magnificently built with a whitewashed altar, full of silver images, and itself of silver, and he ordered Saint Hilary to be brought in there, and said to him: Sacrifice to the great Hercules, and behold his glory and power. Saint Hilary answered: You are deceived, wretch, and you do not know what is to come upon you. For these things of stone, wood, iron, or bronze have been made by human hands, and adorned with gold and silver to deceive your hearts: so that you follow them through perverted understanding, things that neither see, nor hear, nor can speak, nor walk, nor help in anything, nor save themselves if someone should break them. Hearing this, the Governor Beronius, inflamed with fury, ordered him to be stripped and beaten naked with rods. he is beaten with rods: And while the blessed Hilary was being beaten for a long time, he raised his eyes to heaven, saying in a clear voice: Behold, Lord, and help your servant. The Governor then ordered him to be beaten more forcefully. And when thirty centurions had relieved one another, and the rods and clubs had been changed; he began to rage even more, and ordered him to be stretched on the rack and scraped with claws, so that his innards might be seen laid open. Then Saint Hilary, with a cheerful countenance, was singing a hymn to God, saying: Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; and from those who rise up against me deliver me. scraped with claws: Rescue me from workers of iniquity, and from men of blood save me. And all the people marveled that, though so cruelly torn by blows, he rejoiced with a brave spirit and a cheerful face.
[6] Again the Governor said: Sacrifice at least now, and I will release you. Saint Hilary made no reply. burned with coals, Then the Governor, raging with anger, ordered his back to be burned with glowing coals, and sprinkled with salt and vinegar, and his wounds to be rubbed with camel-hair cloth. While this was being done, Saint Hilary, looking up to heaven, said: You who consumed the land of the Sodomites with fire for the disobedience of their iniquity and destroyed it and made it desolate; so now, Lord, show through me a sign of Your power, that this impious Judge may be confounded with all his idols and all who worship idols. by the sign of the Cross he casts down the images: And making the sign of the cross on his lips, he blew upon the images, which were immediately dashed down like dust. And the Saint of God said to them: Behold, wretched ones, see what you worship, where is their power? Why could they not help themselves? Then all the priests of the idols, seeing this, cried out to the Governor saying: Remove the sorcerer, kill the wizard: whose magic arts have prevailed over the gods. Then the Governor, inflamed with anger, ordered him to be thrust back into prison, saying: he is shut up in prison. I will not give him a common death. But when he was being thrust into prison, the Saint of God was singing psalms thus, saying: You have saved us, Lord, from those who afflict us, and those who hate us You have put to shame.
[7] On the next day the office reported to the Governor, saying that there was another Deacon with him, S. Tatian brave and steadfast in the faith whom the Governor ordered to be brought in. And when he had been brought in, the Governor Beronius said to him: State your name and your country. Tatian the Archdeacon answered: By my earthly name I am called Tatian, but by my spiritual name Christian; I am a Deacon of the Church of Aquileia, ordained by my Lord Father Hilary the Bishop. The Governor said: Sacrifice to the gods: for just as I had your Bishop tormented, so I will have you tormented: and both of you, having endured more cruel torments, already exhausted, will deny the Crucified One. Blessed Tatian answered: May you never prosper, fool, for I do not sacrifice to your gods, which fell through the prayer of my Father Hilary the Bishop. Are you not yet ashamed? Then the Governor ordered him likewise to be stretched out and beaten with rods. And when he had been beaten for a long time, he ordered him to be spared, saying: beaten with rods: If you do not yield to me and do not obey the decrees of the Emperors, you shall see each other's torments, and thus I will order you to be killed. Saint Tatian answered: So the holy Scripture admonishes us, that sons should go with fathers and fathers with sons to the kingdom of heaven.
[8] he is shut up in prison with S. Hilary: Then the Governor ordered him to be thrust back into prison together with the most blessed Hilary. When the most blessed Hilary saw him, he gave thanks to almighty God: that He had deigned to make Tatian follow in his footsteps. And bending their knees they prayed together to the Lord, saying: Lord God almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reign with Your Son and the Holy Spirit: hear our prayers for the praise of Your name, that all who worship graven images may be confounded, and those who glory in their idols: show to all who believe in You what the power is in which we believe. Stretch forth, Lord, Your hand from on high, so that the very temple may fall, where their images were placed, that all nations may know that there is no other God besides You. both by prayer cast down the temple of Hercules: And immediately there was a great thunderclap, so that the foundations of the city were shaken, and all the pagan people of the city of Aquileia fell on their faces in fear, and many died, and the temple of Hercules fell at once, so that the place where it had stood was never seen again.
[9] Seeing this, the priests of the pagans began to cry out to the Governor, at the urging of the sacrificial priests saying: What have you done? For the decree of our Lords the Emperors requires that, if anyone is found among the Christians, he shall be examined and punished; but you, exalting yourself, seem to spare them, and behold they have destroyed all the gods: moreover, while you spare them, they have destroyed the temple: and you know that if these things reach the Emperor, you will come into greater danger. Hearing this, the Governor Beronius ordered the executioners to behead them and plunge a sword into their breasts. And when this had been done, they are beheaded, they gave up their holy souls. And there suffered with them others who had been bound in prison for the name of Christ, namely Felix, Largus, and Dionysius, with SS. Felix, Largus, Dionysius, on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of April. On that very night, men of the holy Church came together with other faithful men, who gave many and very precious rewards to the guards: and taking the bodies outside the city walls they buried them worthily, to the praise of the name of Christ. And the glory of the faithful increased, the Lord providing, and they are buried. while confusion fell upon the pagans and idol-worshippers, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is honor and glory for ever and ever, Amen.