Roman Martyrs

ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS

ALEXANDER THE FIRST, PONTIFF, EVENTIUS AND THEODULUS PRESBYTERS,

A.D. CXVII

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

Alexander I, Pontiff, Martyr at Rome (St.)

Eventius, Deacon, Martyr at Rome (St.)

Theodulus, Deacon, Martyr at Rome (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

§ I. The most sincere Acts of these Martyrs. Sacred Cultus with various eulogies.

We published before the Acts of the Saints of the month of April

some treatise on the Supreme Pontiffs of the Roman

Church, rejoicing greatly, that

among those first Pontiffs there was one

Alexander Martyr, whose Acts of martyrdom

were extant most sincere, and venerable for their antiquity,

as having been written before the Decian persecution in the III century,

as we note at the end of them, which of the predecessors

and successors of the Pontiffs, whose Acts are wanting, The most sincere Acts of S. Alexander, could

most firmly establish the chronology. We promised to give them on this third day

of May, on which Alexander suffered with his companions, more accurately

elucidated, and we now wish to liberate the faith we have given.

Laurentius Surius published them; but with the style, as

he prefaces, modestly changed. They exist in their original style in many

manuscripts of the principal libraries of the whole world, which

we did not care to note all, nor could they be enumerated to the reader without

immense tedium. We therefore propose some and the more select.

And first the said Acts exist in the Vatican library of the Roman

Pontiffs, they exist everywhere: in parchments by the best hand in rather large letters,

drawn up before, as it appears, easily six hundred years,

and this codex is marked by number 1191. We found

the same in the illustrious library of the Queen of Sweden, perused by us

first at Antwerp, then at Rome: and indeed in

three parchment codices, marked numbers 13, 81, and 482.

[2] and are given from 6 MSS. collated: We give them here especially from seven ancient volumes

more accurately collated among themselves; namely from the Trier MS.

of the Imperial monastery of S. Maximin, the Rebdorf MS. of the Canons

Regular in the diocese of Eichstätt, the Münster MS. of Lord

Rottendorf, the Bödeken MS. also of the Canons Regular

in the diocese of Paderborn, the Saint-Omer MS. in Artois of the Cathedral

Church, and our two exemplars, of which

one in several volumes from May to the end of the year exhibits

illustrious Acts of many Saints, by us already begun several times

to be brought forth; the other exemplar, by us, lest it perish, happily

redeemed, contains some rarer Acts of the same months,

of ancient Saints and almost all Martyrs; and the codex itself

is such, that it does not seem able or ought to yield to all

which it has hitherto been allowed to see, on account of its antiquity. Finally, the same

Acts are extant published by Bonino Mombrizio, about two hundred years ago

from MS. Italian codices, and from other German MSS.

are inserted into the Histories of the Saints printed at Cologne in the year

MCCCCLXXXIII and two years after at Louvain, although here and there

abridged. These are the Acts, which because we judge

most sincere and especially venerable for their antiquity,

we wonder that they are noted in the Ecclesiastical Annals to the year CXXXII

by Cardinal Baronius, as wrongly said to be erroneous by reason of their own antiquity. erroneous by reason of their own antiquity,

and such a censure is appended in the last edition of Surius,

so that the reader may read with that caution. The cause of so unjust a censure,

nay the necessity, was made for Baronius by those very

words of the Acts, by which it is said, Under the Emperor Trajan

and Aurelian Count of both military forces, Alexander

was pierced point by point through all his limbs, and Eventius

and Theodulus were beheaded. But Baronius believed

that Alexander died in the tenth year of the Emperor Hadrian,

who succeeded Trajan: he could not therefore receive as sincere those things which

were so enormously distant from the calculation of his Annals:

in which before I show that he erred, it will be worth the trouble

to declare which and how great authors judged these worthy

of every acceptance.

[3] Saint and venerable Bede, at the end of the Ecclesiastical History

of the English nation, enumerates the books written by him, from those S. Bede had given eulogies, in the 8th century and

among others testifies that he published a Martyrology of the Birthdays

of the holy Martyrs days, in which all,

whom he could find, not only on what day, but

also by what kind of contest, or under what Judge

he had conquered the world, he diligently studied to note. This

genuine Martyrology of Bede we published before the second volume

of our March from eight ancient MSS., one of which,

because it had been found in the Vatican codex of the Church of S. Peter, we judge

was used by this Church at least. In that

Martyrology Bede thus writes: V Nones of May at Rome

of SS. Alexander Pope and Eventius and Theodulus

Presbyters, of whom the first after chains and prisons,

the rack, claws and fires, by very frequent points

was killed through all his limbs: the rest also,

after long endurance of prison, examined by fire,

and at last beheaded under Aurelian

the Judge, in the time of Trajan the Prince. On the same day the discovery

of the holy Cross. Thus Bede, who died in the year DCCXXXV

on the day of the Ascension of Christ May XXVI, who, as appears, had

the above-praised Acts of S. Alexander and his companions in his possession;

and judging them most sincere, he excerpted the eulogy already indicated from them.

A whole century younger than Bede is B. Rabanus, Abbot

first of Fulda, then Archbishop of Mainz, and in the 9th century B. Rabanus, who died

in the year DCCCLVI, on the IV day of February. He in his Martyrology

first of all sets forth a eulogy on the Discovery of the holy

Cross, then subjoins word for word the eulogy described from Bede

on SS. Alexander Pope, Eventius and Theodulus Presbyters,

with no word at all added or omitted, and with the deposition

of S. Philip the Confessor, whose Acts we give below,

he concludes this day. The said Bede and Rabanus are

two principal Doctors of their centuries, who adorned the Church with their

writings.

[4] It is said in the Acts, that in the same year in which these Saints

completed their martyrdom, by the will of God Trajan died, S. Ado Archbishop of Vienne with a long eulogy:

namely on the X day of August, when about to return from the East to Italy,

he ceased to live in Cilicia, three months and seven days having elapsed

after the said martyrdom. To whom then succeeded Hadrian

the Emperor, by certain Chronologists referred to the said

year, with perhaps the seven months of Trajan's reign neglected.

By assuming this error, the martyrdom of these Saints

seems to have been referred to Hadrian by some, whom S. Ado, Archbishop

of Vienne created in the year DCCCLIX, in his Martyrology

tacitly rejects, by giving a most long eulogy concerning these holy Martyrs,

which we have judged necessary here to set forth,

and is of this kind. On the same day at Rome on the Via Numentana

at the seventh milestone of S. Alexander Pope, with Eventius

and Theodulus Presbyters, under Trajan the Prince,

with Aurelian as Judge. Who held the Episcopate of the Roman Church

as the fifth after Peter for ten years,

two months, ten days, and incomparable in sanctity,

most illustrious in faith, converted the greatest part of the Senators

of the city to the Lord. Who afterwards by the command

of Trajan the Prince, by Aurelian Count of both

forces, was consigned to prison; after stupendous and

divine miracles, where through a boy who was carrying a burning torch,

he was led out from the prison in nocturnal silence through the window,

to the house of Quirinus the Tribune, where B.

Hermes the Prefect was held under custody, was led;

and after Balbina, the daughter of Quirinus himself,

named Balbina, was healed, and Quirinus himself converted desired

the grace of baptism; and after the liberation and baptization

of those, whom Quirinus himself had held bound

in chains in the prison, among whom he had also constrained two

most holy Presbyters among the accused,

Eventius and Theodulus, who had come from the East;

after all these things, and if there are any other things venerably done

by him, he was again exhibited to Aurelian the Count, while still Trajan

was Prince (since indeed Hadrian did not yet rule),

together with the same blessed two Presbyters:

and first lifted onto the rack, and tortured with claws,

and most grievously dealt with by torches.

[5] And when he gave no voices, Aurelian said to him:

Why are you silent? S. Alexander replied: Because in the time

of prayer a Christian man speaks with God. compiled from the very words of the Acts:

But Alexander having been laid down, the impious Judge ordered

Eventius and Theodulus to be brought, and interrogated

B. Alexander, Who are these? B. Alexander

said: Both holy men, both Presbyters. Then

turning to B. Eventius the Judge interrogated him:

When did you become a Christian? To whom B. Eventius:

Seventy years ago, and at eleven years I was

baptized, and at twenty years I was ordained Presbyter,

and now I am eighty-one years of age, which

I have completed in prison and chains. And after he had also interrogated

Theodulus, and found him remaining in confession;

he ordered the furnace to be strongly fired, and

B. Alexander and Eventius bound to be cast headlong into the midst.

With them B. Theodulus also of his own accord leapt into

the flames, singing with them and equally giving thanks;

By fire you have tested us, and no iniquity has been found in us.

When this was reported to the impious Aurelian,

he had the most blessed Alexander pierced through all his limbs

with very frequent points, until

he failed. By this kind of end the holy man completed his

martyrdom. But the two holy Presbyters were finished by

the sword. Whose bodies * Severa, a religious

woman, gathered, and B. Alexander and

Eventius she placed in one tomb, but Saint Theodulus

separately in another, on the Via Numentana on her own

estate, on the V Nones of May. All this S. Ado the Archbishop

(except a few things about the time of his See, which we shall examine below)

most excellently collected from the Acts of S. Alexander, with their very words almost

retained, and most prudently set forth.

We have therefore the consenting suffrages of three most illustrious men

in sanctity and learning, who held the said Acts

in England, Germany and Gaul; and they judged them most sincere,

and not erroneous by their antiquity.

[6] Let a fourth witness come forward, B. Notker Balbulus, monk

of Saint Gall in Switzerland, whose Acts we illustrated on

April VI. He had professed the religious life there

when in the year DCCCLXX the aforesaid S. Ado was sending the relics of S. Desiderius

the Martyr to the monastery of S. Gall, and B. Notker monk of Saint Gall, as Notker himself

testifies on the XXIII day of May in his Martyrology; into which on this

III May inserting an excellent eulogy on S. Alexander

the Pope and his companions; he seems indeed to have copied many things from Ado:

but because he adds that Balbina was healed of a swelling on the neck,

and another nurse enlightened, which Ado had omitted,

he shows that he himself also had the very Acts: and judged them

most sincere, transcribing from them that by command of Trajan Caesar,

by Aurelian Count of both military forces, S. Alexander

was consigned to prison, and pierced through all his

limbs with very frequent points. Finally among other

ancient MS. Martyrologies which we have, one is in England

written on parchment six hundred years ago, where these things

are read, almost taken from Bede, with the name of Trajan omitted:

At Rome on the Via Numentana the passion of S. Alexander Pope, an ancient MS. Martyrology,

Eventius and Theodulus Presbyters, under Aurelian

the Prince. Of whom the first after chains, prisons,

the rack, claws, and fires, by very frequent points

was killed through all his limbs, the others also after

long * custody of prison being examined by fires, at

last were beheaded. Bellinus of Padua has the same things

in the Martyrology according to the custom of the Roman curia

printed at Venice in the year MCCCCXCVIII, and afterwards more often

reprinted.

[7] But here to some, who did not have the Acts of these Saints,

or at least had not accurately weighed them, it seemed

a stone of scandal and offense, as if it were said S. Alexander

the Pope suffered under Aurelian the Emperor, the name of Hadrian Emperor wrongly intruded into Usuard. elected to that

dignity only in the year CCLXX. Therefore by their own conjecture,

since the name of Hadrian was not much different, and began with

the same letter, in place of Aurelian they substituted the name

of Hadrian; and so various exemplars of Usuard have it, and

Molanus preserved it in his first edition of the same Usuard:

but afterwards a man of great erudition and prudence corrected himself;

and in the second and third edition of the said Usuard

he restored the name of Aurelian Prince: about to remove every scruple

from his readers, if following the Martyrology, which especially

was printed from Usuard at Cologne and Lübeck in the year MCCCCXC,

he had with the same written, for Aurelian Prince, under Aurelian

Judge, in the time of Trajan Prince; or with the ancient MS. of Liège

of S. Lambert had printed, under Trajan Prince,

with Aurelian as Judge. Molanus did this most expressly

on March XXX, on which day suffered S. Quirinus the Tribune, noted also in the Fasti concerning SS. Quirinus,

converted to the faith by S. Alexander. For when here

it was everywhere read in Usuard: Under Aurelian the Emperor

he completed the contest of martyrdom by the sword, that Molanus

in the second and third edition of Usuard, with words inserted

in parenthesis enclosed by us, thus explains: Under Aurelian

Count of both military forces and Trajan Emperor.

But simply, that Quirinus suffered under Trajan the Emperor,

write Ado and Notker. The same Peter de Natalibus

book 4 chapter 14 hands down that he suffered in the persecution

of Trajan, under Aurelian Count of both provinces. Hermes,

Finally Maurolycus, Felicius, and Canisius, write that Quirinus

suffered while Trajan was reigning, under Aurelian Prefect.

The same parenthesis, by which Molanus supplied the defective text of Usuard,

is to be supplied for a similar error in Ado and

Notker, when on the day XXVIII August they assert that S. Hermes,

converted by S. Alexander, as also his Acts

below declare, suffered under Aurelian the Emperor:

where much more accurately in the Martyrology mentioned before, printed at Cologne

and Lübeck in the year MCCCCXC, Aurelian is called

Count; and Hermes himself in the Germanic Martyrology of Canisius

is said to have suffered under Trajan the Emperor. In a similar

way on the Kalends of April Usuard,

Ado, Notker, Bellinus, and others, must be necessarily explained, asserting that S. Theodora,

sister of S. Hermes, and her sister Theodora, was martyred under Aurelian

the Prince, or Emperor. But again better in the praised

Martyrology printed at Cologne and Lübeck in the year MCCCCXC

Aurelian is called Count only. We did not wish

to enumerate all and each of the martyrologies, which the bare names

of S. Alexander and his companions report, with the ancient

transcripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology; and the third almost always

call Theodolum, more rarely Theodulum; although

the latter reading is more genuine, from the Greek Θεόδουλος

Servant-of-God, and they recognize him as Presbyter together with Eventius:

Wandelbert honors them with these verses.

The Bishop Alexander and Eventius adorn the fives,

And Theodulus, equally slain for the name of God.

* others Severina.

* others "sustinentiam" Bellinus of Padua.

§ II. The time of the See from the Catalogues and Lives of the Pontiffs: dignity of the Counts of both military forces.

[8] Hitherto from the ancient Acts of martyrdom, and from the eulogies

of various Martyrologies, which we have shown to have been taken

from the said Acts, it has been sufficiently proved, that always

it was believed for certain, From the catalogue of principal faith that S. Alexander Pope and his companions

suffered under Trajan the Emperor: but how rightly and correctly

this was believed, that it may be understood, how many years and in which

he presided over the Church we now inquire. First therefore we

warn the Reader, that we, on account of the warning of Cardinal Baronius, given on day

XXVI April, in those things which belong to the Roman Church,

apply greater faith to its alumni than

to others. But among the writings of the alumni pertaining hither stand out

the Catalogues of the Supreme Pontiffs, published by us before

the first volume of April: of which the first was sent by S. Damasus

Pope to S. Jerome: and the earlier part of this

seems to have been collected by S. Anterus Pope from older monuments

around the year of Christ CCXXX, we have noted

in our Preface to the said Catalogues; and at the same time we have indicated,

that to histories deduced through Consuls the same

Baronius wishes principal faith to be applied. These things being placed, the years of the presiding

Alexander these few words will clearly show: Alexander eight years, two months,

one day. He was in the times of Trajan, from the Consulship

of Palma and Tullus, the time of Alexander is held: up to Aelianus and Vetus. Alexander

succeeded S. Evaristus Pope, whose eulogy in the said

Catalogue is this: Evaristus thirteen years, seven months,

two days. He was in the latest times

of Domitian and Nerva and Trajan, from the Consulship of Valens

and Verus, and his predecessor Evaristus: up to Gallus and Bradua. There were C. Fulvius

Valens and C. Antistius Vetus, or Verus,

Consuls in the year XCVI, in which Domitian was killed

September XVIII. But Ap. Annius Trebonius Gallus

and M. Atilius Metilius Bradua were Consuls

in the year CVIII, the XI of Trajan, beyond which

S. Evaristus seems to have lived for some time, as we have noted elsewhere. We have besides

prepared for the press a more accurate Pontifical Chronology,

founded on the ancient Catalogues, and to be published before the three volumes

of next June tripartite; where we shall show, that the aforesaid

Consuls are so to be taken, that the same Evaristus began

to govern the Roman Church, first indeed as Vicar of S. Anacletus,

from the day XXV March in the year XCV, before the Consulship

of Valens and Verus; then from XIII July, on which Anacletus

died, supreme Pontiff, until XXVI October of the year

CIX after the Consulship of Gallus and Bradua. But as for

the See of S. Alexander, the prior Consuls were A.

Cornelius Palma and C. Calvisius Tullus, (or those who were substituted

within the year P. Aelius Hadrian and Publilius

Celsus) were in the year one hundred and ninth, in the twelfth of the Empire of Trajan,

most of which S. Alexander had in his Episcopate,

first indeed Vicar of Evaristus, ordained

on the third day of March; then after his death supreme

Pontiff, in which office he saw the Consuls Aemilius Aelianus

and L. Antistius Vetus, of whom the latter suffered May 3 in the year 117 in the year one hundred sixteenth,

the nineteenth of the Empire of Trajan; but after this year

S. Alexander lived, but almost shut up in prison, until

the III day of May of the following year CXVII, and so from the year

CIX and the III day of March, he presided over the Church for eight years,

two months, one day, indicated in the said Catalogue.

[9] The Acts of S. Alexander agree, in which it is said

in the same year by the will of God Trajan the Emperor died,

namely as we noted above, three months

and seven days having elapsed after the martyrdom of S. Alexander; because Trajan

returning from the East to Italy on the X August in Cilicia

ceased to live: in which year also Emperor Trajan died on August 10, and for that reason Ado of Vienne

related above, notes that Hadrian had not yet reigned when S.

Alexander and his companions underwent martyrdom. The successor of S.

Alexander in the Pontificate was S. Sixtus the first: whose

Pontificate consequently to what was said of Alexander in the cited

Catalogue is thus described: Sixtus ten years, three months,

twenty-one days. He was in the times

of Hadrian from the Consulship of Niger and Apronianus, up to

Verus III and Ambibulus. There were Quintus Niger and

T. Vipsanius Apronianus Consuls in the indicated year

CXVII, in which we said S. Alexander was crowned with martyrdom on May III, and Trajan died on August X; both of which are confirmed from this. The remaining Acts of S. Sixtus we gave on April VI. These would seem to suffice concerning the time in which S. Alexander presided over the Church, were it not that in the Catalogue of the Pontiffs, taken from the MS. of Christina Queen of Sweden, these things are read: Alexander a Roman by birth, from his father Alexander, of the region Caput-Tauri, sat ten years, seven months, two days. He was in the times of Trajan, up to Aelianus and Vetus. The same things are plainly read in the MS. Acts of the Pontiffs deduced down to Martin V, and in the MS. codices of Anastasius the Librarian on the Lives of the Pontiffs, the Thuanian and Mazarinian. I could reply that in the printed Anastasius and in various of his MSS. it is read thus: Alexander a Roman by birth, from his father Alexander, but he sat only 8 not 10 years of the region Caput-Tauri, sat eight years, five months, two days. He was in the times of Trajan, up to Helianus and Vetus, namely Consuls, as is added in the said MS. Acts of the Pontiffs. But in vain would I have recourse to variant readings, by no means likely to decide the controversy: since this, according to the opinion of Baronius in a similar case, year 337 number 67, is definitively settled by Consuls everywhere the same. For in all the aforesaid codices the Consulship of Gallus and Bradua, of the year CVIII, pertains to Evaristus the predecessor of S. Alexander; and the last year of this is indicated by the Consuls Aelianus and Vetus, or the year CXVI, and consequently there are no intermediate years, except eight only: which we retain with the first and most ancient Catalogue, and Anastasius the Librarian, and from there we judge those to be corrected who, omitting the Consuls, attributed ten years to Alexander. Two months and one day from the same most ancient Catalogue we have added: which Ado also has, two months but ten days. If anyone prefers to assign with Anastasius five months and two days, let him remember that the beginning of the Pontificate is auspicated from the Kalends of December of the year CVIII.

[10] At Anastasius and others some deeds of Alexander in his Pontificate are added in these words: He inserted the passion of the Lord in the prayer of Priests, when Masses are celebrated. He is crowned with martyrdom, Some deeds in the Pontificate: and with him Eventius Presbyter and Theodulus Deacon. He instituted the water of aspersion to be blessed with salt in the dwellings of men. He held three ordinations through the month of December, six Presbyters, two Deacons, five Bishops through diverse places. Who also was buried on the Via Numentana, where he was beheaded, from the city of Rome at no longer than the seventh milestone, on the V Nones of May. But in these are some σφάλματα errors, because Eventius and Theodulus were both Presbyters, and completed their martyrdom by being beheaded. But S. Alexander was pierced point by point through all his limbs, or pierced through all his limbs by very frequent points until he failed, as the ancient Roman Breviaries written by hand and printed in 1479, 1490, 1522, and everywhere the Breviaries of other churches, which we have, hold: in all of which they are said to have suffered under Trajan the Prince and Aurelian the Judge. In the Roman Breviary published by command of Pius V, Alexander the Roman is said to have ruled the Church under Trajan the Emperor, with no mention made of Hadrian his successor.

[11] They suffered therefore under Trajan the Emperor, but who had set out for the East: who from there to the slaughter of the Christians at Rome sent Aurelian, Dignity of the Counts of both military forces, Count of both military forces in Isauria: to whom the whole Senate so served, that they would believe him to be Trajan the Prince himself. The County of both military forces was the highest title of honor and dignity, which lasted to the times of Arcadius and Honorius: hence in the Notitia of the Empire, then written, are recounted two distinguished men, Counts of military affairs through Egypt and Isauria, under whose disposition were various legions and ministers of the Emperors. And for this reason the said Count Aurelian seems honored with various titles, and called Judge, Prefect, President, Prince, Emperor. In the Lexicon of Hesychius Κόμης is ἄρχων, ἡγεμών. Count is the same as Prince and Leader. And in Suidas, Κόμης ὁ λαοῦ ἄρχων. Count is Prince of the people. Moreover formerly Emperors were called those who were held by others Prefects of forces and Leaders of armies: and Appian, who lived at the same time as this Count Aurelian, testifies in book 2 of the Civil Wars, that the name of Emperor in his time was customarily given to the Leaders of armies, after a victory was reported with the enemy slain. From which it is easy to render the reason, by which it came that Aurelian was called Prince and Emperor.

§ III. The Relics of these Saints in various churches.

[12] The bodies of these Saints brought to the City: Pope Paschal I, who sat from the year DCCCXVII to the year XXIV of that century, by the testimony of Anastasius in his Life, seeking many bodies of the Saints found them: which also more diligently within the city, to the honor and glory of God, he stored away. Octavius Pancirolus in the Hidden Treasure of the City of Rome region 5 church 5, says by this Pontiff the bodies of SS. Alexander Pope, Eventius and Theodulus were deposited in some oratory within the monastery of S. Praxedis, and were thence by Alexander II Pope in the year MLX extracted, and were transmitted to Lucca. But he adds it can be believed, that some part of the Relics was then given to the church of S. Lawrence in Lucina, some also to the church of S. Sabina. Paul Aringhi book 4 of Subterranean Rome chapter 22, asserts the bodies of the same Saints translated to the City, enriched many churches with precious Relics. Wherefore most of them, even those heaped with tiny particles of relics, glory to possess the sacred bodies of the same. For in the church of S. Sabina on the Aventine hill in the year MDLXXXVI a marble ark, part of which is in the Church of S. Sabina; under a very ancient altar, which had been erected by Pope Eugene II, while exploring it happened to be found: in which were preserved the bodies of SS. Alexander Pope, Eventius and Theodulus, with carved letters reading: which ark indeed was buried with great honor under the larger altar, which in latest times Pope Sixtus the Fifth erected. Thus there. The said Eugene II succeeded to the aforementioned Paschal I. The same Aringhi afterwards adds to these, part in the Church of S. Lawrence in Lucina, that under the larger altar of the church of S. Lawrence in Lucina no small part of the same Saints is preserved, two inscriptions testify: in one of which by Pope Celestine III the same relics buried under the same altar at the solemnities of the same consecration in the year MCXCVI here are enumerated in this manner with carved letters: The bodies of the blessed Martyrs Alexander Pope, Eventius, Theodulus, Severina, etc. Of this woman among the Pretermitted on this day we have treated. Pancirolus in the cited place says, that the head of S. Alexander is shown in the said church of S. Lawrence.

[13] The Tiburtines also, by the testimony of Aringhi, and the Justinopolitans in Istria, with Ferrarius affirming in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy, glory to possess the body of S. Alexander Pope. At Sulmona among the Peligni S. Alexander Pope has a celebrated temple, by the testimony of Ughelli volume 1 of Italia Sacra column* 252, in which around the year DCCCLXXX Bishop Arnulph was buried: but long before that part of the body of the holy Pope himself must have been brought there, as is easily gathered from the style of this distich, to be read on a marble tablet near the altar:

Here are stored the bones of holy Alexander.

Pope, who is held the fifth successor to Peter.

namely with those who do not number Linus and Cletus among the successors of S. Peter: but lower down it is thus noted there:

The work of strong, wise, and powerful Hugh.

If at hand were the description of the city of Sulmona by Hercules Ciofanus, together with the life of Ovid born there, published in the year 1578 and praised by Ughelli, others at Tivoli and Sulmona. in it perhaps we should find the time of that Hugh, and undoubtedly something about the aforesaid church, whence we should come into knowledge of that time at which those sacred bones were brought there. The Tiburtines could have had a part from their fellow citizen S. Simplicius Pope: nor is it proved that Paschal first brought the holy body forth into light.

[14] About the Justinopolitans, that they possess part of a Roman Pontiff, makes me doubt Ughelli, when in volume 5 of Italia Sacra column 356, treating of their Cathedral church, he says: or also at Justinopolis? Here are preserved three bodies of saints, namely of Nazarius Bishop of Tuletaris, and of SS. Alexander and Aelius. For just as Ferrarius erred when he says the day XIII Kalends of June, on which a leaden tablet found within the ark with the body testifies S. Nazarius migrated, was the day of the discovery; so also he is to be believed to have erred about Alexander, who is venerated at Justinopolis on VI Kalends of November, when similarly he calls that day the day of the discovery; from a probably false supposition that he was a Roman Bishop, who could have been a Justinopolitan or elsewhere in Istria a Bishop; perhaps he was not even a Bishop, but simply a Confessor, equally with Aelius or Helius, who is venerated on XV Kalends of August: and it is probable, that not successively, but on one and the same day from the same revelation, the sacred bodies were found, under those names, by which already before different days were sacred.

[15] On a probably better foundation the people of Parma believe that they have the body, that is part of the body of S. Alexander Pope, to whom also a monastery of nuns there consecrated, others at Parma today still flourishing notably under the Rule of S. Benedict, recognizes as foundress Cunigunda, widow of Bernard King of Italy, around the year DCCCXXXVII; who having received from Gregory IV that relic of which I have spoken, took care that it should be received with a notable concourse of Bishops summoned from neighboring cities, with also two Transmontanes Lambert and Herbert coming. So at the said year Bonaventura Angeli in the History of Parma, published in the year MDXCI: with whom an author of the same time Garofani in the Sanctuary of Parma agrees; and Ranuccio Picus follows in the Theater of the Saints and Blessed of Parma, printed nearly forty years ago, ingenuously confessing, that he does not know, and at Lucca, whence those authors got the name of Queen Cunigunda. But he rightly concludes, that from their statements it follows, that the veneration of S. Alexander Pope at Parma is much more ancient than at Lucca, where to the church of the same name there Alexander II transferred his Relics, who had been Bishop of Lucca, and not until the year MLXI was made Roman Pontiff. The testimony of that translation contains a more recent title of this kind, placed in the previous century, which Baronius brings forth as witness of the most recent translation in the year 1070 number 28, where also the chain by which the Saint was bound, and Franciotti in the History of the sacred images and Saint Patrons of the city of Lucca page 361 in these words. The body of the most blessed Alexander first Supreme Pontiff, under Hadrian (rather Trajan) Emperor crowned with Martyrdom, together with the chain by which bound he was guarded, by Alexander II in the subterranean altar of this temple buried with due

with reverence, was translated to this altar in the year MDXXXIII in the month of December, by the care of the noble man John Arnolfini Sacristan.

[16] Then Franciotti narrates a notable case concerning the aforesaid Chain. In the year MDLXXXIII, unharmed by fire when the Bishop of Lucca was the very Illustrious Lord Alexander Guidiccioni the elder; and the Rector of the aforesaid Church of S. Alexander was held to be Lord Horatio San-Miniati, who afterwards was created Archbishop of Chieti by Sixtus V of happy memory; it happened that a certain man, having entered the sacristy for the purpose of committing theft, where the Chain itself was preserved; finding nothing else of more precious metal, took it away, and sold it like useless iron for a small sum. When the Sacristan of the church discovered the loss, suspecting what had happened, he began to go around the workshops of the iron-smiths; and at length coming to him who had thrown the chain bought for four solidi into a corner, because put on the fire he had not been able to soften it for his uses; recognizing it he promptly redeemed and brought it back to the church; and at the touch of healing. and what he had learned about it from the smith, this afterwards when he was at Rome he consigned to letters in the year MDXCVI; adding that he had seen at Lucca many gravely sick who by the touch of that holy Chain recovered their health, by the merit of the holy Pontiff. Which I report the more willingly, says Franciotti, because both I deserved by singular favor to see the Chain itself, and the letter attesting all the above.

[17] Gabriel Bucelinus in the Benedictine Sanctuary says, the most sacred body of S. Alexander Pope is held and venerated with great veneration in S. Denis at Paris; The body of S. Alexander in Gaul, some parts of the ribs at Weingarten, which is a monastery of most ancient foundation at Altdorf in Franconia. But concerning the Saint-Denis Relics, writing James Doublet book 1 chapter 42, says that Pope Leo III gave the bodies of SS. Alexander Pope, Cucuphas, and Hippolytus the Martyrs to Charlemagne, who distributing them into as many Priories, to be subjected to the monastery of Saint-Denis, placed the body of S. Alexander in the Priory of the Vale of Lebrahe. Whence if it had been brought back to the church of S. Denis, Doublet would have said this equally, as he said this concerning the Relics of SS. Cucuphas and Hippolytus; which he says after the death of Charles, by the care of S. Fulrad Abbot his nephew, were brought, perhaps of another, as also other parts elsewhere. and placed in proper chapels. But as we do not dare to say these are of the more famous Martyrs of those names, of whom Cucuphas suffered at Barcelona far from Rome; so neither concerning Alexander would I assert, that he is the Roman Pope; since many Alexanders are found Martyrs, also Bishops. For by use, or rather by some abuse, founded on the lack of ancient documents, it usually happens, that to the principal Saint of one name all things are referred; and hence we judge it has come about, that everywhere all who have the body or relics of some S. Alexander Martyr look to S. Alexander the Pope. So we make an end of inquiring into other churches, which glory in such a title. Gelenius in Cologne alone found three: others will count others: we do not intend to oppose anyone's possession, nor even to vote operously for one above others.

ACTS OF MARTYRDOM

From various Codices MSS. of the best note.

Alexander I, Pontiff, Martyr at Rome (St.)

Eventius, Deacon, Martyr at Rome (St.)

Theodulus, Deacon, Martyr at Rome (St.)

BHL Number: 0266

FROM MSS.

CHAPTER I.

S. Hermes converted by S. Alexander with others. His disputation with Quirinus the Tribune on the faith.

[1] In the fifth place from the blessed Apostle Peter Alexander sat on the Cathedra of the Church of the Roman city, incomparable in sanctity; By S. Alexander Hermes the Prefect was converted, with many others young indeed in age, but older ^b in faith. But divine grace had conferred on him true affection of the whole people: so that he both converted the greatest part of the Senators to the Lord, and also baptized the Prefect of the City, ^c Hermes with his wife and sister and sons, with one thousand two hundred and fifty of his slaves, also their wives and sons, all of whom ^d on the holy day of Easter he first made free, and so baptized: to whom afterwards also, when he made them free, he granted many gifts.

[2] Whence when these works of his had reached Trajan the Prince, he sent Aurelian Count of both military forces from Seleucia of Isauria, to the slaughter of all the Christians: whence by the will of God in the same year ^e Trajan died. And Aurelian having entered the City, Aurelian the Count sent the whole senate so served him, that they would believe him to be Trajan the Prince himself. Therefore as soon as he entered Rome, the Pontiffs of the temples came to him; and suggesting in envious voices the things that had been done, so stirred Aurelian's mind to anger, he encloses each in prison. that he sent Hermes the Prefect of the City into chains, and also consigned S. Alexander the Pope to prison: whence arose ^f a great sedition of the Roman people. For some cried out, Let Alexander burn alive: others said, Hermes ought to be burned alive, who turned away so many thousands of men from the cult of the Gods, whom he made abandon the temples, and each one to break in his own home the ^g household Gods.

[3] where Hermes disputes with Quirinus the Tribune, Therefore while Hermes Prefect of the City was held in chains at Quirinus the Tribune's, Quirinus says to him: What reason is it that an illustrious man, judging by sacred deputation, should not only wish to be reduced to that injury, but also, lacking the ^h honor of the Prefecture, bear with equanimity to be burdened with chains as a private man? Saint Hermes said: I have not lost the Prefecture, but exchanged it: for earthly dignity is taken from earth and changed; but heavenly dignity subsists with eternal sublimity. Quirinus says to him: I wonder that you, a prudent man, have come to such ⁱ folly, that you should believe you will have something outside this life; when the ashes of the human body are so reduced to nothing, that not even the bones themselves subsist. Hermes said: I too ^k before these years derided these things, and I said this carnal life was useful. Quirinus says to him: Make me also prove it, so that if it is so as you have believed, I too may believe.

[4] Hermes said: Saint Alexander, who is held in chains, taught me this. Hearing this Quirinus, professing another life shown to him by S. Alexander: began to curse Alexander, saying: My lord, illustrious man Hermes, take back your prefecture: come back to your senses: take back your patrimony: take back your family, and the ornament of your house. For to this end my Lord Aurelian Count of both military forces sent me, that, if you are willing to sacrifice, you should not abandon your Prefecture: that also you may avenge yourself on these who, having enmities against you, insult your misfortunes. Hermes said: Did you not allow me to speak to you, what you wished me to speak? Quirinus says to him: I asked you saying, Make me prove that you have rightly believed; and you have named to me a magician, whom I hold in chains and shut in the depths of prison: and therefore as soon as you named to me the name of the wicked man, by whom you were deceived, I could no longer hear you. For I see you like a rustic seduced as if by a ^l Samardacus, who deceived both himself and you, a most wretched man placed in chains and darkness, and perhaps to be burned in flames for his crimes. But if he can do anything, let him free both himself and you. Hermes said: he promises he will believe, To my Lord Jesus Christ placed on the cross the Jews said: If he can do anything, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He, however, if their heart had not been horrified, full of the squalor of perfidy, and he had truly seen they wished to believe, undoubtedly would have come down. Quirinus said: If you speak truly, I go to him and say to him: If you wish me to believe you to be a true herald of God, and the God you worship to be true, if he should find them themselves together at night. either I shall find you at Hermes' house, or Hermes at yours, and I will believe everything you tell me. Hermes said: So be it. Quirinus says to him: I shall go therefore now, and I will triple chains and guards over him, and I will tell him that I shall find him at your place at the dinner hour. And if he can do this, through the whole night, I will believe that he can also instruct me.

ANNOTATA.

^g The same, "bright."

CHAPTER II.

S. Alexander led from prison to S. Hermes and led back. His son resuscitated from death, and his blind nurse enlightened.

[5] And when Quirinus the Tribune had gone and said this to Saint Alexander, S. Alexander asks for an Angel by whom he may be led to Hermes, and had tripled guards and bars over him; sending himself into prayer Alexander said: Lord Jesus Christ who made me sit on the Chair of your Apostle Peter, grant me ^a that without harm to my passion you may send me your Angel, who today, at evening time, may bring me to your servant Hermes, and again at morning time recall me here, with no one perceiving until I return here. First therefore in nocturnal silence a boy was present, carrying a burning torch into the prison, and said to Saint Alexander, Follow me. and he proves him appearing in boyish form, But he replied: My Lord Jesus Christ lives, that unless you bend your knees with me, and ^b say the prayer of my Lord Jesus Christ, I will not follow you. But the boy, who was seen, was no more than five years old, and bending his knees prayed for nearly half an hour: and rising said the Lord's Prayer: and seizing his hand the boy and he follows: led him to the window which was closed, and as if a door he opened it, and led him to Hermes in the house of Quirinus, into the closed bedroom.

[6] And coming after Quirinus opened the door: and finding them together with hands extended in prayer, and seeing the burning torch, was terrified. And when they saw him made out of his mind, they entice the terrified Quirinus to the faith: they said to him: Since by faith you held this resolution in your heart, that if we, who were separated in body, yet were joined in spirit, you also saw associated in body, you would believe; behold you have seen us, believe. But do not think that for the cause of our escape we have shown ourselves loosed from chains to you, whom again in the morning you shall find as you yourself bound: but it has been done rather for the cause of your liberation, that you may believe Christ the Son of God to be true God, who hears those believing in him, and whatever you ask ^c of him you shall receive. Quirinus says to them: Magic arts also could have done this. Hermes replied to him: Did we burst the prisons by our own will? But because you said you would believe if you saw us together, behold you see us whom you consigned to triple guards. Believe: for our Lord Jesus Christ himself manifested himself by indications of such benefits, when he illuminated the blind, Christ's miracles teach. cleansed the lepers, healed paralytics, drove out demons, raised the dead.

[7] Finally so it came about, that I believed in this holy Pope Alexander. When I had an only son, placed in great languor, who was still walking to the studies of letters, he was taken to the Capitol by me and his mother; and when we had sacrificed to all the Gods, and given rewards to all the Pontiffs, he died. Then his nurse began to rebuke me, saying: If you had brought him to the threshold of saint Peter, and had believed in Christ, today you would have your son safe. To whom I said: Since you yourself have been made blind, and have not been cured, how will you restore my son to me safe? But she said: [S. Hermes narrates the nurse of his son blind for 5 years healed by S. Alexander,] Just as I am blind these five years, if I had believed in Christ, my eyes would be returned to me. To whom I said: Go, and believe: and if Alexander opens your eyes, I will believe that he can also restore my only son to me. Then she went to him blind around the third hour: and behold at the sixth hour of the day, she returned to me healed, and placing my dead son on her shoulders began to run, so that scarcely could young men and boys follow her. Who when she had come to Alexander threw him before his feet saying: Lord, let blindness return to me, only that this one may be revived to life. Then saint Alexander said to her, So may Christ resuscitate this boy, and his dead son resuscitated, that he may not take away the eyes which he once gave back to you. And when, prayer being made, he had healed him, and he himself coming to me by himself, had returned my son living and healthy; immediately I sent myself to his feet, and asked him to make me a Christian: and from that day I believed in Christ. And so converted I appointed him guardian of my son, and I conferred on him all the patrimony of his deceased mother, I added also some from my own: but the rest I gave to all my slaves, who were made Christians with me, together with liberty: but whatever was left over I distributed to the poor. Now indeed placed in readiness, I neither fear confiscation, nor do I dread the offense of a man about to die, eager for martyrdom. believing that I have a part with these who have come to the crown of martyrdom for the name of Christ.

[8] Hearing this Quirinus threw himself at their feet, and began to say: Quirinus desires his daughter Balbina to be healed, May Christ then gain my soul through you in this manner. I have a grown daughter, and I wish to give her to a man, whose appearance beauty indeed adorns, but a swelling surrounds her neck. Make her safe, and I will confer on her all things, and with you I will confess Christ. Saint Alexander says to him: Go and bring her to me at the prison quickly, and take the iron-collar from my neck, and place it on her, and make her stay with the collar, and in the morning you will find her safe. Quirinus said to him: Behold since you are here in my house, which Alexander promises how shall I find you in prison? Saint Alexander replied to him: Go in haste, since he who brought me to you before you came, will make me to be brought back there. When he had said this Quirinus went out, and began to wish to leave open the place where he held Hermes shut up. Pope Alexander and S. Hermes say to him: Close as is your custom. And when he was unwilling, they compelled him, and he closed it. And when they were saying farewell to one another in prayer, when he should come to him in prison. behold that little child with a torch ready opened the window for him, saying: Follow me. And within one point of an hour he led him back to the prison, and put back his chains and departed.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER III.

SS. Quirinus and his daughter Balbina and other captives baptized by S. Alexander. Martyrdom of SS. Quirinus, Hermes and others.

[9] But after one hour Quirinus came to the four guard men, S. Alexander receives Quirinus with his daughter Balbina whom he had set before the depths of the prison: and when he had found them awake, and all the bolts most intact and sealed, just as he had left them; opening, he found Saint Alexander Pope, at whose feet falling down, he began to cry out saying: I beg, Lord, that you pray for me, lest the wrath of God come upon me, of whom you are Bishop. To whom replying S. Alexander said: My God does not wish anyone to perish, but that sinners be converted. For when he was placed on the cross, he prayed for those crucifying him. Then prostrating himself Quirinus said: As you ordered, behold your handmaid, my daughter. S. Alexander says to him: How many persons are shut up in this prison? But he: ^a About twenty. Saint Alexander said to him: Inquire if there are any here shut up for the name of Christ. And when he had inquired, he found and reported to him saying: ^b There is Eventius the elder Presbyter, and Theodulus, whom they say came as Presbyter from the East. Pope Alexander says to him: Go quickly, and with honor lead them to me. However, while you go and come, take the iron-collar from my neck, and put it on your daughter. Immediately taking off all the chains from him, Quirinus and her swelling healed by the imposition of the collar, began to kiss the feet of S. Alexander, saying: With your hands place it on her. But when he had placed it Alexander began to urge Quirinus to go. Who while going, behold that boy suddenly with a torch appeared, and came to the girl saying to her: Be safe, and remain in your virginity, and I shall make you to see your bridegroom, who shed his blood for love of you. When he had said these things, he departed.

[10] But the father of the girl Quirinus coming with Eventius and Theodulus the Presbyters, found his daughter healed, and began to cry out: Come out from this custody, Lord Alexander, lest perhaps, while you ^c tarry here, fire come from heaven and consume me. S. Alexander says to him: If you wish to confer a benefit on me, persuade all who are in the prison, to be baptized, that they may become Christians. Quirinus replied: You Christians are Saints, but of these some are ^d burglars, others adulterers, others ^e sorcerers, others guilty of various crimes. he asks that the other captives be brought to be instructed in the faith: S. Alexander says to him: For sinners the Son of God Our Lord Jesus Christ descended from heaven, and born of a Virgin calls all to indulgence. Therefore do not doubt, but make all come to me. Then Quirinus said to all in a clear voice: Whoever wishes to become a Christian, let him become so: and whoever shall be baptized, let him go free wherever he wishes.

[11] And when all had come to S. Alexander the Pope, to whom when he had preached Christ God opened his mouth and he began to say: O little sons, hear and believe. God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all things which are in them: who sends lightnings and thunders, who mortifies and gives life, whom serve the sun and moon and stars and clear weather, and clouds and rains; he sent his son from the kingdom of heaven through the womb of a Virgin, that he should be born from man, and begin to be born, who never had a beginning of being born, with him who was being born of the Virgin. He began to invite every kind of men to his faith: but when the Jews were hard to believe, and would not believe him, he made this sign: Dining with them, when wine had failed at the banquets, he turned water into wine: likewise the thoughts of men one by one he began to express: likewise to open the eyes of the blind, to loose the mouths of the mute, to give walking to the lame, to drive away demons, to save the languid and feverish; and also to raise the dead, to command the winds, ^f to ward off tempests, to walk on the sea with feet: and when he was doing all these things, and an innumerable multitude believed in him, the Pharisees and Jews led by zeal crucified him: whom he therefore did not forbid to do this, while he could, because he sought to capture the author of our death. Which being done, on the third day he rose from the dead, and before many witnesses ascended into the heavens, giving power to his disciples to exercise the same virtues. He, after the end of the age, will come as judge, to render to the good good things, and to the evil evil things. Therefore see whom you have believed, and give your names that you may be made Christians.

[12] he baptizes all with Quirinus and his household: And when all had believed, he commanded Eventius and Theodulus, that they should impose hands on them, and make them catechumens. After this however Quirinus, together with his daughter Balbina and his whole house, was baptized, and all who were together in custody. And all being baptized the prison was opened, and began to be as a church.

[13] Then the Commentariensis went to Aurelian, and told him all that had been done. Quirinus before Aurelian the faith, Whence angered he ordered Quirinus to be brought to him, and said to him: I loved you as a son, but you have mocked me, deceived by Alexander. Quirinus says to him: I have become a Christian. Do you wish to kill, do you wish to flog, do you wish to burn,

I shall be nothing else. For I both made all who were in prison Christians, and dismissed them, and [g] they would not go anywhere. But I asked Saint Alexander Pope, for himself and others he confesses: and the illustrious man Hermes, to depart, and they would not, and there they all are in the prison, saying: If for our crimes we had to die and perish, how much more for the name of Christ do we offer our souls? But I asked them all who were baptized to go out, and clothed in white and new ^h garments, because the Christian religion requires this: but to martyrdom they all stand even now, prepared for their death, as a hungry man for a feast. Now what pleases you, begin to do.

[14] Then he had his tongue cut out, saying: I take away your tongue, because you have not feared so audaciously to disclose your secrets to me, that I should order you, while silent, to be tortured ⁱ on the rack. Quirinus said: Wretched and unhappy man, free your soul, lest eternal punishments take you. Who tortured on the rack ^k when he did not cease from injuries from Aurelian, he ordered his hands and feet to be cut off, and so he be beheaded, and cast to the dogs. and after various torments is beheaded. Then Christians snatching his body buried him on the Via Appia ^l, in the cemetery of Praetextatus ^m: but his daughter the holy Balbina remained in sacred virginity. To whom often kissing the iron-collar by which she had been saved, S. Balbina seeks the chains of S. Peter S. Alexander said to her: Cease kissing this iron-collar, but rather seek the chains of blessed Peter, and kiss them, and cease kissing my collar. Then with effort given with study and great desire S. ⁿ Balbina came to those, and gave them to Theodora, the most illustrious woman, sister of saint Hermes Prefect of the City. S. Hermes is beheaded. Who when he had been beheaded by Aurelian, his sister Theodora gathered his body, and buried it on the Via Salaria the old, not far from the city of Rome, on the fifth day before the Kalends of September ^o. All baptized in prison Aurelian ordered to be led with an old ship into the high sea, and there with stones tied to their necks [p] to be drowned.

ANNOTATA.

[p] The sacred memory of these Martyrs is celebrated on April 10.

CHAPTER IV.

Various torments inflicted on SS. Alexander, Eventius and Theodulus. Their martyrdom and burial.

Then he ordered Saint Alexander the Pope to be exhibited to him, and said to him: I require of you first, that you manifest to me all the mysteries of your sect, that I may know why for Christ, I know not whom, you choose rather to be killed than to be conquered. S. Alexander refuses to disclose to Aurelian the mysteries of the faith: S. Alexander said: What you seek is holy, and we are not permitted by Christ to give what is holy to dogs. Aurelian the Count said: Am I therefore a dog? S. Alexander replied: Would that you were a dog, but what is worse for you, you are even worse than a dog: for a dog for evil deeds shall not be sent into eternal fire, but once dead, both with body and breath dies. But a man, who is made to the likeness of God, if by wicked works he depart from the cult of God, will be subjected to eternal punishments: just as that one is guilty before you, who has dared to defile the likeness of your image or your statue. his unbelief But you also, since you are a temporal man, inflict temporal punishments on men; but God, who is eternal, inflicts eternal punishments and eternal fires on sinners. Aurelian the Count said: If you do not satisfy my interrogations, know that you are to be handled with stripes. S. Alexander said: Aurelian tyrant, what is it that you seek with such temerarious daring? and this from me, who, besides my King, who is in the heavens, fear absolutely no other? You err, if you think that you are educated by Christian men, not by believing, but by debating.

[16] Aurelian the Count said: Let your artificial loquacity cease, for you do not speak before any kind of judge, but before him, whose power the whole world has experienced. S. Alexander said: Do not glory in your power, for he is near to ceasing to be powerful who glories in his own power. and rebukes his cruelty Aurelian the Count said: Therefore you are permitted to speak, most wretched, because by various kinds of torments your soul is to be quickly extorted. Alexander said: You will do nothing new: for who innocent has escaped your hands? Only those live with you, who have denied themselves to be servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. But I, because I am certain that I will never deny my Lord, must necessarily be killed by you, like Hermes the holy man, who now truly is illustrious; and Quirinus, who now truly is Tribune; and all those who recently illuminated have migrated to the starry kingdoms. Aurelian the Count said: This is what I inquire from you, what is the cause of so great a thing, that you choose to be killed rather than conquered. Alexander said: I have already told you, it is not lawful to give what is holy to dogs. Aurelian said: Am I a dog? Let words cease, since stripes are at hand. he scorns threats. Alexander said: I do not fear those stripes, which pass with time, and quickly find an end: but I fear those torments, which you do not fear.

[17] Then enraged Aurelian ordered him to be raised on the rack, and tortured with claws, and dealt with by torches. And when for a long time he did this, and that man emitted no voice, Aurelian said to him: Why are you silent? S. Alexander said: Because in the time of prayer a Christian man speaks with God. Aurelian says to him: Answer all that I ask you, and I will make the stripes cease from you. S. Alexander said: Foolish one, I rebuke you, and torments: because I do not care about your cruelty. Aurelian the Count said: Consider that you are thirty ^b years of age, why do you wish to lose your youth? S. Alexander said: Would that you not lose your soul. And when saint Alexander was suspended on the rack, his wife sent to Aurelian saying: Free yourself, and dismiss this saint Alexander, because both you will die a bad death, and will leave me a widow. Aurelian said: Is he not your friend, and therefore you speak such words for him?

[18] And S. Alexander being laid down he ordered Eventius and Theodulus to be brought: and interrogating B. Alexander he said: Tell me, Alexander, who are these? Alexander replied: Both holy men, both Presbyters. Therefore S. Eventius being brought, Aurelian said: S. Eventius 81 years old What are you called? S. Eventius replied: By a carnal name I am called Eventius, by a spiritual name I am a Christian. Aurelian said: And when did you become a Christian? S. Eventius said: Seventy years ago, because when I was eleven years old I was baptized, and when I was twenty years old, I was ordained Presbyter: solicited to defection but now I am eighty-one years of age, ^c and one year of this I have in prison and in chains, whence I rejoice. Aurelian said: Consult your old age: deny that Christ is your God, and I will make you my friend and rich and a count. Eventius said: Where is your sense, and where is your understanding? I thought you knew something: but you, blind in heart, cannot see what things are of God. Whence, wretched one, even tardily understand, he rebukes Aurelian: that you are a mortal man; and do penance, and believe that Christ the Son of God is true God, that you may be able to find his mercy. Then Aurelian had him removed, and ordered Theodulus to be brought to him, to whom he also said: Are you Theodulus, who reckoned my commands as nothing? S. Theodulus said: the same does S. Theodulus Indeed I will always reckon you yourself as nothing, who macerate the Saints of God with these tortures. For what did S. Alexander do, that you should afflict him with such great torments? Aurelian said: As if you will be exempt? Theodulus said: I trust in the mercy of my God, that I shall not be separated from the company of his holy Martyrs.

[19] Then Aurelian ordered the furnace to be strongly fired, and ordered Alexander and Eventius to be tied back to back, and so to be cast headlong into the white-hot furnace. and with Alexander in the burning furnace they remain unharmed. But he commanded Theodulus to stand before the furnace itself, that as if terrified by their suffering he might consent to sacrifice to the idols. But saint Alexander cried out saying: Brother Theodulus, hasten to come here, and ^d act with us, because that fourth one, who appeared among the three Hebrew boys, is now here with us. And leaping into the fire S. Theodulus entered the furnace: and giving thanks to God they were saying together: By fire you have tested us Lord, and no iniquity has been found in us. with him they complete the martyrdom When this had been reported to Aurelian, angered he groaned, and oppressed by fury, ordered Eventius and Theodulus to be beheaded, but Alexander ^e to be pierced point by point through all his limbs.

[20] And when he was insulting them as if dead, a voice was suddenly made to him from Heaven saying: Aurelian, Aurelian terrified by voice and vision, to these whom you insult, paradise of delights is opened, but to you tartarus and hell is opened. At these words trembling seized Aurelian, and he began to say to ^f Severina his wife: There came to me a certain young man with an iron rod heated, and threw it before my feet, saying: You have, Aurelian, what you have done. And from that hour I trembled all over, and was rolled in fever, and what I shall do I do not know: pray for me, Severina, to your God, that he may indulge me. But Severina

said to him: he asks for his wife's prayers, I will go and bury them myself, lest the same happen to me also. But going on the seventh milestone from the city of Rome on the Via Numentana into [g] her own estate, she placed Eventius and Alexander in one tomb, but Theodulus alone in another place she buried. who buries the Saints: But all the Roman Clerics, and religious men who had come to the funeral, remained there. But Severina hastening returned, and found Aurelian speaking strange things, glowing with fevers, and reckoning all miseries to himself. To whom replying Severina said: and, her husband being dead, You did not wish to hear my voice, and behold you yourself shall die a bad death, and shall leave me a widow. Who soon expired chewing his tongue: but Severina his wife clothed herself in haircloth, and lay so long before the thresholds of the Saints whom she herself had buried, she puts on haircloth. until saint Sixtus the Bishop came from the East, from whom Severina obtained, that in the same place of her own estate a Bishop be ordained, who every day should celebrate the things that are ^h holy for the Martyrs: and therefore that place has its own Priest, even to this present ⁱ day. But the birthdays of the Saints themselves are celebrated with all glory and honor on the fifth of the Nones of May; blessed God in ages of ages. Amen. ^k

ANNOTATA.