Papas

ON SAINT PAPAS, MARTYR AT LARANDA IN LYCAONIA.

UNDER THE EMPEROR MAXIMIAN.

Papas, Martyr at Laranda in Lycaonia (S.)

[1] The tables of the Roman Martyrology at the sixteenth of March record the birthday of Saint Papas the Martyr, in these words: In Lycaonia, of Saint Papas the Martyr, who for the faith of Christ was beaten with rods, lacerated with iron claws, and ordered to walk in shoes studded with nails: Veneration in the Roman Martyrology. then tied to a tree, passing to the Lord, he rendered the same tree fruitful from barren. In the Notes it is added that the Greeks treat of him in the Menologion, where the torments of his martyrdom are narrated more fully. These are near the end of the month of March, because some days were missing in this copy, supplied from other Menaea: in which the following is read: On the same day, the memorial of the Holy Martyr Papas. in the printed Menaea of the Greeks, While he saw the world exposed to shipwreck, he approached the Governor and put him to shame, professing the faith of Christ with great freedom of speech. Thus thrown to the ground, he was beaten with rods, and first his body, then even his face was bruised. Then raised on high, he was scraped with iron claws: and wearing sandals fitted with iron nails, he was driven to run along a long road. Finally, tied to the trunk of a barren tree, he rendered the tree fruitful, and at the same time ended his life. The Lycaonians, possessing his sacred relics, rightly glory in them. The same is read in Maximus Bishop of Cythera, and in the first place in the manuscript Synaxarion of Paris, of the College of Clermont. In the Menaea this couplet alludes to the said tree:

You are bound with fetters to a tree like a sheep, Papas, And panting, you behold Christ like Zacchaeus.

There is also added one hexameter verse, marking the sixteenth day on which he was thus tied to the tree: from which we gather that for the author of that metrical Calendar, who marked only one Saint for each day, and for the church that used it, the veneration of Papas alone was then preeminent, although in the Menologion collected at the command of the Emperor Basil only the bare memory of this martyrdom is found.

[2] Another manuscript Menaea on parchment we discovered at Paris in the convent of the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin of the Dominican Fathers: and other MSS. in which for the month of March few things were found intact or uncorrupted, and from those which pertained to Saint Papas the Martyr, we excerpted the historical account: which the Reverend Father Francis Combefis, out of his kindness, transmitted to us rendered into Latin, together with the remaining Odes (which is another argument for a preeminent veneration on this day): all of which we give here, and from them we learn that Saint Papas was a native of the city of Laranda in the province of Lycaonia, mentioned by Ptolemy, book 5, chapter 6, Born at Laranda, in which Eusebius, book 3, chapter 19, near the end, records that Neon was Bishop at the beginning of the third century. suffered under Maximian: Secondly, we know that Saint Papas fought under the Emperor Maximian, under the Governor Magnus, and that his sacred relics are joyfully held by the people of Seleucia. All of which is confirmed in the encomia of the same Saint Papas, which are recorded on the fourteenth of September: on which day the following is found in the Menaea: Saint Papias the Martyr lived under the Empire of Maximian and the Governor Magnus of the city of Laranda in the province of Lycaonia. The manner of his martyrdom was varied: blows were inflicted and his cheeks were bruised, and when hung up he was lacerated with iron claws, and wearing shoes perforated with iron nails, he was compelled to walk before a chariot, and gave up the ghost. The same is read in the manuscript Synaxarion already indicated, and the following is added: Compelled amid beatings to run before horses, led from Laranda to Diocaesarea and Seleucia: he came from the city of Laranda to the city of Diocaesarea, and from there to Seleucia, making the ground wet with the copious blood which a certain devout woman wiped away with a precious cloth, running with him along the road. Finally, resting against a certain wild and fruitless fig tree, and having poured forth prayer to God, he gave up his spirit. And after his death that fig tree, as it is said, became fruitful. So much for that, to which allusion is made in this couplet prefixed in the Menaea to the fourteenth of September:

Papas could not bring himself to groan at the wounds, Having God so near at hand as his helper.

[3] Moreover, among the many cities named Diocaesarea and Seleucia, those are to be understood here which are nearest to Laranda and to each other. Now Laranda is on the border of Cilicia at Mount Taurus: where relics were preserved. and in that part of Cilicia which by others is called Isauria, there is the archiepiscopal city of Seleucia, surnamed Aspera, and under it the episcopal city of Diocaesarea. And so the city of Seleucia may have obtained the relics of this Martyr, and composed the following hymn, divided into nine odes or parts, for adorning his office, which are as follows.

HYMN FROM THE MANUSCRIPT MENAEA

Papas, Martyr at Laranda in Lycaonia (S.)

ODE I

Hymn concerning the same. The pious soldier of Christ the King, who with the life-giving sword of the Cross defeated the power of the enemy, Papas the unconquered Martyr, fellow citizen of the Angels and mediator of men, let the faithful celebrate. An inheritance troubled by no labors you acquired by laboring, by the shedding of blood you copiously watered the hearts of the faithful, O wise Papas, glory of Athletes, pride of Lycaonia, and most fervent Patron of those who honor you. O most brave Martyr, beaten with clubs, dreadfully scraped, with sharp nails driven into your shoes, wearied over long stretches of territory you rejoiced, until you entered the divine rest, your contest consummated.

ODE II

With divine praises we celebrate your sacred memory, O illustrious Martyr. For you exist as a true Martyr of Christ, who bore with brave spirit dire torments, sufferings, and death, by which the Divine life is obtained. The kingdom of heaven you acquired with a small price of martyrdom's blood, and a heritage free from labors with slight labors: wherefore, all gathered together today, we proclaim you Blessed with a great voice. Seeing the world shipwrecked by the superstition of the gods, as if by a storm, steering with the rudder of the cross, O illustrious conqueror, most bravely governing, you brought it to tranquil shores, keeping the cargo of souls safe.

ODE III

Standing on the rock of Divine patience, you remained with feet unmoved, you overturned all the devices of the enemies, O glorious one, checking their steps. You stood, O most Blessed, before the tribunals of judges,

proclaiming Christ: and amid beatings you rejoiced, wounding the demons, O wise Papas, with the wounds of your flesh. When blows fell upon you thick as hail, like a tower you remained unshaken, O Papas the Martyr, dissolving the fortification of error by the grace of the Most Holy Trinity.

ODE IV

Your face, O most blessed Papas, struck with many blows, as if adorned with the most precious trophies of contests, was striking back the faces of the incorporeal enemies. You preserved your mind unharmed amid the blows; for the ministers of the enemy cruelly afflicted you, O glorious conqueror, you who remained utterly unmoved and unconquered by any insults, O most Blessed one. The blows imprinted on your flesh became blows to your enemies: your wounds and scars stung the demons, and provided divine medicine, O Papas, to all who honor you.

ODE V

Papas, strengthened by the power of God, hung up and enduring the scrapers, you yourself, O most noble athlete, were tormenting the demons who were the authors of your torments. Raising the gaze of your mind to the King of all, O Martyr of Christ, with your body stretched out you were in no way conquered, but like an immovable column you endured the torments. You preferred death to life, delighting in the labors heaped upon you: and you attained the future life, O Papas, most illustrious in victories.

ODE VI

Fortified with patience and faith, you blunted the darts of the wicked one, you slew him with the swords of your fortitude, and you won, O most Blessed, the diadem of victory. Pious Papas, having lived holily upon earth, you became as a stone: destroying the idols of the demons, you dissolved all the defenses of error. Like the splendor of the sun, your memory, O illustrious Martyr, shines forth and illumines the ends of the world. For you, O most brave conqueror, approaching nearer to the purest light itself, became yourself a light. Raised on high and broken with clubs, you endured the wounds of your flesh, O illustrious man, as if another were suffering: and being tied to a tree long barren, you made it fruitful: after you ascended from earth to the stars, therefore pray, O most illustrious Papas, that we may obtain the same mercy with you.

ODE VII

With shameless speech the senseless Tyrant was driving you, pious and wise as you were, to sacrifice to idols: but you yourself became a pure victim to God. You overturned the tortures of the enemy, proceeding on the chariot, bound in iron, and guarded by sentries as if you were a guardian of the ordinances of Christ, O Martyr Papas. After a thousand blows, with nails driven through the soles of your feet, you traversed the life-giving paths of martyrdom, O Papas, breaking the weapons of the enemy.

ODE VIII

Proclaiming the living God and venerating Him who by His passion destroyed the enemy, the author of evil, you did not worship dead gods, O wise one: therefore He who alone is immortal translated you in death to immortal abodes. Led forth to voluntary death, O Martyr, you had your venerable and blessed feet pierced with nails, while you cried out: Relying on Your illumination, O my Jesus, I will delight in the way of Your testimonies. Spurning the broad way, you narrowed all the paths of the pestilent enemy, and smoothing for all the paths that lead to heaven alone, you extolled the Lord and His works with cries of praise.

ODE IX

A wonderful prodigy was seen fulfilled in you. For the barren fig tree immediately became fruitful when you, O admirable one, were bound to it, and placed your blessed spirit in the hands of God. You received the blows of your flesh with a willing spirit, traversing great journeys: and bravely released from the body, you were joined to the incorporeal beings, O Papas, illustrious conqueror, henceforth incessantly concerned for the salvation of those who honor you. The dust of your relics, O Wise one, disperses the diseases of men and the ranks of demons: your holy memory, copiously pouring forth true sanctification, sanctifies souls.