CONCERNING SS. PRISCUS, MALCHUS, AND ALEXANDER, MARTYRS AT CAESAREA IN PALESTINE.
AROUND THE YEAR 259.
CommentaryPriscus, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (Saint)
Malchus, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (Saint)
Alexander, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (Saint)
[1] These illustrious athletes of Christ -- Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander, crowned at Caesarea in Palestine -- are celebrated on this 28th of March by many Martyrologies, some of which, written by an ancient hand, are preserved at Rome in the Vatican church of St. Peter, in the library of Cardinal Barberini, and in the Vallicellian library of the Congregation of the Oratory. The author who supplemented the Martyrology of Bede in the Dijon manuscript also celebrates them. sacred veneration of these Martyrs The persecution of Valerian is added in the Trier manuscript of St. Paul and in the Cologne manuscript preserved at the Carmelites; in another Cologne manuscript of St. Mary ad Gradus they are also said to have been given to beasts; in another of the Queen of Sweden, devoured by the same beasts. In other Martyrologies lengthy eulogies are given; of these, the same is found plainly in Ado, Notker, the printed Bede (for the genuine one is silent), and in the Roman Martyrology in these words: "At Caesarea in Palestine, the holy Martyrs Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander, who during the persecution of Valerian, while dwelling in a little farm in the suburb of the aforesaid city, and while the heavenly crowns of martyrdom were being set before them in that city, being inflamed with divine heat of faith, voluntarily approached the Judge and reproached him for why he raged so much against the blood of the pious. He immediately delivered them to the beasts to be devoured for the name of Christ." The same, with a few words omitted or changed, is read in Usuard, Bellinus, Maurolycus, Galesinnius, Canisius, and others.
[2] The Emperor Decius stirred up the seventh persecution against the Christians; and when he was removed, Gallus and Volusian prosecuted the same slaughter. time of the martyrdom As Valerian and his son Gallienus succeeded them, they likewise renewed the persecution against the Christians, especially in the fourth year of the Empire, the year of Christ 257, in which persecution Stephen the Pope suffered at Rome, and his successor Sixtus II with St. Laurence and others; Cyprian at Carthage; and others elsewhere. Concerning these three, Eusebius reports the following in book 7 of the Ecclesiastical History, chapter 12:
[3] "Furthermore, in this persecution of Valerian, three men, after a notable confession of Christ, were condemned to the beasts at Caesarea of Palestine, eulogy from Eusebius and were crowned with divine martyrdom. Of these, one was called Priscus, another Malchus, and the third Alexander. These, while living in the countryside, are said to have first accused themselves of being cowardly and idle -- since while the occasion itself was distributing rewards to those burning with heavenly love, they were sitting idle and not seizing the crown of martyrdom. Then having taken counsel among themselves, they set out for Caesarea, approached the Judge himself, and received the sentence we have described." Nicephorus follows Eusebius in book 6, chapter 11, and generally more recent writers. whether the relics of St. Priscus are at Bologna Masini in his Bologna Perlustrata asserts that certain relics of St. Priscus the Martyr are preserved for veneration in the church of St. John on the Hill and in its major sanctuary on this day. But that they belong to this Priscus crowned in Palestine we cannot affirm without greater proof. Galesinnius also treats of these Martyrs on the 18th of January in these words: assigned to 18 January "At Caesarea in Palestine, SS. Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander, Martyrs. Under the Emperor Valerian, inflamed with zeal for eternal life, they were adorned with a heavenly and divine martyrdom with the highest praise of constancy." In his notes he observes that Marcus is also read for Malchus; but on this day he reports from the monk Nicholas that Mark, Asterius, and Senator are added as companions. But for these we believe should be read Marinus and Asterius the Senator, companions elsewhere joined whom we celebrated as having suffered in the same city of Caesarea of Palestine in the same persecution of Valerian, on the 3rd of March. In the manuscript Florarium at this 28th of March the following is found: "At Ostia, Asterius the Senator, in the year of Salvation 271." Finally, for Malchus not only Marcus but also Matthaeus and Melchius are read in manuscripts. Wandelbert celebrates them in this verse:
"On the fifth, Priscus, Alexander, and Malchus are venerated."