ON SAINT SILVANUS
BISHOP OF GAZA, MARTYR,
AND OTHER XXXIX OR XL MARTYRS.
A.D. CCCXI.
CommentarySilvanus, Bishop of Gaza, Martyr in Palestine (S.)
Other XXXIX or XL Martyrs in Palestine
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
The illustrious of these Martyrs, and especially of S. Silvanus the Bishop contest is celebrated among the Greeks and Latins: to whom all went before Eusebius: Eulogy from the Menology of Basil the Emperor. but it pleases in the first place to bring the eulogy from the Menology Greek of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor, which a clear torch to the rest of the history may kindle, and is of this kind. On the fourth day of the month of May. The contest of the holy Martyr Silvanus. Silvanus the sacred martyr of Christ, was from the region of the Gazaeans, first indeed a soldier, but afterward for Christ having abdicated the camp of the earthly King, the soldiery of the heavenly King Christ assumed. Wherefore also of the Priesthood great worthy held, first Presbyter then Bishop he was ordained. But when of the Church to him committed to the rule with the highest tolerance he applied himself, and many of the heathen by his doctrine to Christ brought: caught by the idolaters, and before the Caesarean people in the midst set, cruelly he was beaten, then hung and with scourges received, and afterward to the metals of brass to be dug condemned: where when many hardships he had sustained, and Christ not only to profess he ceased not, but also to others and chiefly to those, who with him were of the same punishment partakers, Christ the true God he announced; together with other forty Martyrs, and the MS. Synaxarion of Clermont. who by him the faith of Christ taught had been, beheaded he was. These things in the said Menology. In the ancient MS. Synaxarion of Clermont of the Society of Jesus at Paris, in which almost the same are recounted, is added, of the Priesthood made worthy, on account of the eminence of urbane manners and the chastity of life, and at length beheaded with other forty Martyrs, of whom some were from Egypt, others from Palestine sprung.
[2] These reported, what by Eusebius are indicated we bring forth. First he book 8 of the Ecclesiastical History chapter 13 reports the Presidents of the Churches, From Eusebius is had that in the year 308 who of the religion which they preached, the sincerity with shed blood declared: then, Among the Martyrs of Palestine, he says, Silvanus of the city of Gaza Bishop, at the metals of brass, which are at Phæno, with thirty-nine others was beheaded. But in the subjoined treatise on the Martyrs of Palestine more accurately each thing, which to S. Silvanus and these Martyrs pertains, he describes, and chapter 7 these things has: When the fifth now year of the persecution was rolling (that is the year of Christ CCC VIII, together with many to the metals condemned Silvanus (after the narrated martyrdom of S. Theodosia the Virgin, of whom largely we treated on the second day of April) the Governor Urbanus, to the rest of Christ's Confessors transferring himself, all to the metals of brass, which are at Phæno of Palestine condemned. After these things on the fifth day of the month Dius, that is as the Romans say, on the Nones of November, in the same city Caesarea Silvanus, who even then Presbyter and Confessor was, but a little after to the honor of the Episcopate elevated, the martyrdom consummated; and others certain his companions, when for true piety singular constancy they had shown, to the work in the same metals to be done, by him whom I said the Governor, were condemned, and it was decreed that the joints of the feet with glowing iron first to them should be disabled. Again chapter 13 these things he sets forth: The seventh now of the persecution year to its end was verging, and there after some rest, and our affairs gradually without sense by the molestation of the calumniators freed to the eighth even year had proceeded. And when in the metals of brass at Palestine the greatest of Confessors multitude into one gathered an incredible liberty enjoyed, so that churches even they built; the Governor of the province, a man savage and wicked, as from those things which against the Martyrs he did to be perceived easily can, thither carried, having heard their manner of living, the matter at once to the Emperor referred, whatever, as to himself had seemed, calumniously against them writing. Then the Prefect of the metals there arriving, as from an Imperial precept the Confessors into various troops distributed, and some indeed in Cyprus, others in Lebanon ordered to dwell … Others again there abided, again in the year 311 vexed a region separate from the rest apart to be inhabited having obtained by lot: as many namely of the Confessors, on account of old age, or weakness of members, or various diseases of the body, from the work to be done were exempt. Of whom the chief was Silvanus, from Gaza sprung the Bishop, a man who of the Christian religion a most absolute and venerable example stood forth. He when from the first so to say day of the persecution, and through all thenceforth that time, with various contests of confession had grown famous; to that very time was preserved, that all that in Palestine contest the last as with a seal he might close …
[4] at length with companions 39 he was beheaded. Moreover the above-said men, who apart living to prayers and fasts and exercises of this kind after the wonted manner applied themselves, God indeed with a blessed and salutary exit to gift now was preparing, a helping to them extending hand. But that enemy and of all goods the foe, when them always armed with assiduous to God prayers, and to battle ready to bear he could not; to slay, as to himself troublesome, and from the midst to take away strove. Which indeed God to effect to him permitted; partly lest he from his spontaneous wickedness be deterred, partly that these of so many and so great contests the rewards at length might receive. So therefore thirty-nine men, by the command of the most wicked Maximinus, on one and the same day beheaded were. Thus far Eusebius, from whom the indicated year VIII of the persecution falls in the year of Christ CCCXI, in which still raged in the East Maximinus the Emperor. But John who with a great eulogy was praised in this 13th chapter, seems by the Greeks in the Menaea and in the Synaxarion of Clermont to be reported on the day XX of September, when of him it will be possible to treat.
[5] Thus far the Greeks with Eusebius. Among the Latins went before Rufinus the Presbyter, The same praise Rufinus who book 8 of the Ecclesiastical History these things chapter 14 writes: In Palestine first Silvanus the Bishop at Gaza, with very many of the Clergy: but in the metal Fanensian forty together beheaded. Thus his editions of the year MCCCCLXXIX and of the year MDXXVI. Usuard and other Latin Martyrologists. Followed Usuard on this day with these words: IV Nones of May. In Palestine, the city Gaza, the birthday of B. Silvanus of the same city the Bishop, who in the persecution of Diocletian, with very many of his Clergy, with martyrdom was crowned: then S. Quiriacus interposed these are had: Likewise in the metal Fanensian of the holy Martyrs forty, who together were beheaded. Which same consequently, S. Quiriacus being put after, have Ado, Notker and the later Martyrologists. In the day to be assigned went before the Martyrology of S. Jerome, after S. Jerome, in whose apograph Epternach thus is read: At Caesarea the birthday of Silvanus, Alexander and others XL. In the copies Lucca and Blume these thus are indicated: At Caesarea the birthday of the Saints Silvanus. At Alexandria of XL Martyrs. In the MS. Corbie but at Paris printed he is called Silvinus, and Vibianus is added. Like things in other MSS. are read. Who here Vibianus is read, seems repeated Urbanus, among the Martyrs of Africa before placed. So, and Alexander, in others Alexandria, is interposed. Whether because partly Egyptians they were, there some cult they had, or for another cause, it pleases not to conjecture. In the present Roman Martyrology these are had: In the metal Phennensian of Palestine the birthday of B. Silvanus of Gaza the Bishop, who in Diocletian's persecution by Galerius Maximian's mandate, with very many of his Clergy with Martyrdom was crowned. Likewise of the Saints thirty- nine Martyrs who there to the metals condemned, after the burning of glowing iron and other torments together were beheaded. In the Notes is alleged Eusebius, who, as above we saw, asserts by the command of Maximinus beheaded.
[6] The Greeks on other days also S. Silvanus and other Martyrs celebrate: they are remembered also May 2. and especially in the MS. Menaea, which at Dijon in the keeping of Peter Francis Chifflet we found, on the second day of May are reported, with added to the eulogy a distich, one for S. Silvanus, another for the XL Martyrs, who partly from Egypt, partly from Palestine are said to be sprung. Of Silvanus the distich is this. The white-reddish Silvanus' white hair To have dyed the sword and old age I know. The whitening hair of white-ruddy Silvanus The sword and old age, I know, have dyed. To the forty Martyrs these verses are sung. A double score of Martyrs the sword bore, Whom Egypt bore and Palestine. A double score of Martyrs the sword bore, Whom Palestine brought forth and whom Egypt.
[7] October 14. Besides on the day XIV of October is reported S. Silvanus, in the MS. Synaxarion of Clermont and in the printed Menaea and in Maximus of Cythera, with this eulogy. Silvanus from Gaza sprung, a man of mild disposition and sincere faith, of the Gazan Church Presbyter, now great in age to the people of the city of Caesarea led, with scourges most bitterly
is beaten, and on the sides lacerated. Then to the brazen mines of metal condemned, by the faithful with the Pontifical office was set over them. But somewhat after with age worn out, and with weakness broken, he was beheaded.
Finally on the fifth day of November is reported S. Silvanus to the metals condemned, and November 5. where altogether to be believed this Bishop to be understood, because this is the same day, on which the given against him and his companion Confessors sentence indicates Eusebius: and because on the same day in the Martyrology of Basil the Emperor and other Greek MSS. with SS. Domninus, Theotimus and others not only, to the metals condemned he is said; but expressly is added in some, that he was at length beheaded, and that under the Governor of Palestine Urbanus.