Roman Martyrs Cyrillus

ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS CYRILLUS, ELEUTHERIUS, MARIANUS, DOROTHEA,

IN THE MONASTERY OF S. LAMBERT IN STYRIA.

Cyrillus, Roman Martyr in Styria (S.)

Eleutherius, Roman Martyr in Styria (S.)

Marianus, Roman Martyr in Styria (S.)

Dorothea, Roman Martyr in Styria (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

So illustrious throughout the lands was the fame of S. Lambert

Bishop of Maastricht and Martyr,

that propagated even to the outermost peoples of the German Empire,

it gave name to the famous

monastery, which on the borders of Styria and Carinthia,

uncertain at what time first founded,

under Otto III began to flourish again, The now ruling Abbot of that Monastery, with monks of the Benedictine

profession introduced there; who, while the more ancient beginnings lie

in the dark, sufficiently consider the first Dukes of the Carinthians, instituted by

the aforesaid Otto, to be acknowledged as founders. The series of Abbots

and Princes, under whom each of them flourished,

with an accurate commentary, at the beginning of this XVII century,

was published at Salzburg by Georgius Ulricus Chemnicensis.

The Abbot who now presides over that monastery, the Most Reverend D.

Franciscus, when he had obtained the three first months of our work,

and also received the brief Notices, taken from that quarter

and published in the year MDCLXVIII, at the end of which is appended

some notice of the work still remaining and of help desired for it;

gave to us a most kind letter, through the Most Reverend

Lord Christopher Iager, Subprior of his monastery,

in these words.

[2] zealous to promote this work Later there came to me the brief Notices,

printed after the published March of yours, in which for

enriching the Acts of the Saints, with the highest diligence and

eminent erudition already to some extent advanced, further

informations are desired by you to be supplied.

I feel myself vehemently incited to contribute in this part

some kind of contribution, both

by zeal to assist pious lucubrations of this kind in which

I burn, and by the pleasure with which I am suffused in perusing

the first quarter of these same Acts. So having shaken out

the monuments of my monastery, by the injury of times

for the most part long since lost, I find and transcribe three things,

which I judged would be to the present purpose. among other notices, The first

is concerning the Relics of S. Candidus the Roman Martyr, in the year

MCXXVI found, of whom we shall treat on III

October. The second concerning the pieces of bread, which Beatrix,

sister of Henry Prince of the Carinthians, was carrying in her bosom,

converted into roses: which can be of use on XXIX June for the life

of B. Hemma, which most laboriously gathered and illustrated

by the kindness of the aforesaid Lord Subprior we have afterward received. The last

I add here in the words of the Abbot himself, and is the very thing for whose

cause we have touched on these things. So therefore he writes:

[3] he communicates the translation of these Saints; My predecessor Abbot Benedict of pious memory from Rome

received as a gift four whole bodies of Saints:

namely of S. Cyrillus, S. Marianus, S. Eleutherius, and

S. Dorothea. Whether these names are genuine, or

rather adopted, is not certain, nor is it expressed by Alexander

Victricius Bishop of Alatri in letters patent,

dated at Rome VII September in the year MDCL,

by which moreover he gives public faith, that the said sacred

bodies by the mandate of Pope Innocent X were extracted from the

cemetery of Calepodius, with the faculty of exhibiting them in

churches to the public veneration of the faithful.

But prevented by death the same Predecessor of mine, left to me

the entire task of adorning these sacred ashes:

which task I have already discharged in S. Cyrillus

and S. Eleutherius; of which two enclosed in precious arks their Relics with gold,

silver, gems and pearls, with what magnificence and art

could be done, with great expense adorned,

and in the sacrarium of the miraculous church of Blessed Mary

the Virgin in Cella of Styria, likewise pertaining to my monastery

and administered through my Religious,

with many other relics of Saints, in the midst

of the treasure of sacred votives and offerings,

most famous both in price and number, were placed: where

by pilgrims, with incredible frequency yearly there

flowing together, with no less sense of piety than admiration

they are seen. in Cella of B. M. the Caesar with his wife Claudia venerates, And in these very days, when the Most August

Emperor and Empress on the Kalends of May, were in

Cella for the cause of a vow, both their Caesarian Majesties,

and all the Magnates and the Court retinue

and nobility hastening to the same place, beholding the bodies of the said

Saints so adorned, extolled

them with praise and venerated them. If life shall remain to me,

my mind is to expose the two remaining bodies of S. Marianus and S.

Dorothea, decorated with equal ornaments,

to public veneration. For the rest

in the aforesaid Cella church the solemn and anniversary

memory of the same Saints Cyrillus and Eleutherius

Martyrs, on the day XI of this month

is celebrated.

[4] These things, Reverend Fathers, are what to satisfy your desire

at present I have had to communicate.

Praying God meanwhile, that He may favor your distinguished labors,

with the patronage of the very Heavenly ones to whose honor you toil

bestowed, so that, happily placing the desired finishing touch

on your work, you may behold yourselves at length

bringing back exulting the most abundant handfuls of the fruits sown

by you. in the year 1675. We embrace the best

wishes of the most loving Prelate, measured to his affection more than

to the magnitude of the work remaining; ours do not extend so

far, the sum of which is, that the same who

drew us unworthy to this labor, may be sufficient for others to advance and

complete what has been begun. He wrote in the year MDCLXXV

on IX May, when he was still living, but using adverse

health, the Most August Claudia of Tyrol, then

the most worthy wife of the Caesar Leopold: whose chief vow for

the perennity of the Austrian House before the Virgin of Cella, she

now sees fulfilled from heaven, while in this year in which we write

MDCLXXVIII in the month of August, to the Most August Caesar

from a third well-omened marriage with the Princess of Neuburg,

a male offspring came to light, whom to perennate unharmed

and after many years at last to succeed to the Empire, and to hold it

long, may the same divine Clemency that gave him do, by the prayers

of nearly the whole Christian world to be entreated.

[5] As regards Saints Marianus and Dorothea,

to them also, for the other two the same day of cult is designated. when their bodies have been adorned

and placed either in S. Lambert's church, or in another

subject one, the day XI May is to be held sacred decreed

the same Most Reverend Abbot; that of those whose other things are common

to all, common also, though in different

places, may be the day of veneration and the common commemoration

in the Calendars of the monastery. Thus he wrote to me in the year MDCLXXVI,

on XX February the aforenamed Subprior: in the same letters also

indicating that the cult of S. Lambert the Martyr in those parts

does not consist in that monastery alone, but in three

other places besides not so far distant the same number of monastic churches

have been erected to his honor; namely

S. Lambert in Altenberg, in Lower Austria, of the Order

of S. Benedict; S. Lambert in Seon, in Bavaria

of the same order; and S. Lambert in Suben, of the Order

of Canons Regular, in the same Bavaria;

his own monastery moreover from those is distinguished by the added epithet

of S. Lambert in the Wood, and the church is believed to have been built

for the expiation of a sacrilegious slaughter, by the descendants of those who perpetrated it,

under the rule of the Franks powerful in Carinthia.

ON S. MOCIUS OR MUCIUS

PRESBYTER MARTYR AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

XI AND XIII MAY.

Mocius or Mucius Presbyter, Martyr at Constantinople (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

This holy Presbyter and Hieromartyr

both Greeks and Latins celebrate; the former on the day XI

of May and call him Mocius; the latter on the day XIII

of the same month of May, and write Mucius. He suffered

various torments under Diocletian, and at last at Constantinople

was beheaded: and there an annual solemnity was wont

to be celebrated in the Martyrium or temple dedicated to him,

Sacred cult at Constantinople 11 May, is read in the MS. Synaxarium of the Church of Constantinople,

preserved in the Clermont College of the Society

of Jesus at Paris, and other Menaea both printed and by hand

written. That moreover that Martyrium for him was constituted by Constantine

the Great, and his sacred Relics there placed,

is added in the same Menaea and Synaxarium. George

Codinus on the Origins of Constantinople pag. 37, where

he treats of the buildings of the same city, has these things: The temples of SS.

Mocius and Menas Constantine the Great dedicated, when

before they were temples of idols. And what then about S. Menas

is added, in the temple constituted to him by Constantine the Great, will be referred to his birthday XI November.

But about S. Mocius these things then are read: The temple of S.

Mocius, twice as great then as it is now, by the middle

part Constantine the Great contracted, and the altar there

erected. Since indeed there formerly S. Mocius had been killed,

for that reason this temple to his name

he dedicated, and his body thither translated. In the time

of Theodosius the Great the Arians were ejected from the great Church:

and afterwards returning, by the permission of the Emperor occupied

the temple of S. Mocius. But in the seventh year,

after this temple began to be possessed by the Arians,

it collapsed while sacred things were being done, which collapsed Justinian restored, and crushed many

of them. But in the time of Justinian

the Great, that temple was again built, and to this

time has remained safe. Thus Codinus. But Procopius in book 1

on the Buildings of the Emperor Justinian chap. 4 thus writes:

I almost passed over the Martyrium sacred to S. Plato,

splendid indeed and august

and near the forum of Constantine: likewise the temple of Mocius

the Martyr the greatest of all, and also of Thyrsus likewise

the Martyr, of Theodore, of Thecla, of Theodota…

For all those this our Prince, at the time

when his uncle Justin reigned, built from the foundations:

which neither could anyone easily describe, nor

worthily admire as a spectator. Thus Procopius. But,

as George Cedrenus asserts in the Compendium of Histories,

the Emperor Basil the great temple of Mocius the Martyr, as afterwards Emperor Basil.

and its inner shrine leveled to the ground, the broken

sacred table also, raised up from the ruins. And these things

about the care of Emperors in raising up and restoring the temple

of S. Mocius. Besides in the Acts of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus

held in the year CCCCXXXI, vol. 2 according to the Translation

of Theodore Peltanus chap. 19, in which a letter against Nestorius is read. the Archimandrites are ordered by mandate

of the Emperor Theodosius to go to the basilica of S. Mocius.

All therefore… to the Martyrium of S. Mocius

withdrew. Finally when all had entered into the basilica of B. Mocius,

publicly was recited the letter

of the Council on the condemnation of Nestorius.

[2] The contest of S. Mocius the Martyr is adorned with this elogium

in the Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor: Mocius

the Hieromartyr of Christ, born in the city of Byzantium, Elogium from the Menology of Basil the Emperor,

son of Euphratus and Eustathia parents

Christians, who from old Rome drew their origin.

Since indeed Mocius was a Presbyter of the Church

of Christ, he exhorted all, that from the worship of idols

they should withdraw, and venerate Christ, and Him

as God and Lord of all things adore. On a certain

day, when by the Governor and the people sacrificing

victims were being immolated to the gods; moved by divine zeal,

running up he overthrew the altar and dispersed the victims.

Seized therefore he was subjected to torments, and

cast into the fire. But in the midst of the flame

he was seen together with three men chanting psalms: of whom

to one above the rest the face shone brighter than the sun. And

he indeed escaped from the fire unharmed: but the flame

consumed those who were standing around and at the same time the Governor.

Then he was sent to Heraclea a city of Thrace,

where he was beheaded and buried. Finally

when Constantine the Great had built him a temple,

he took his sacred Relics, and there honorably

deposited them. Thus far that Menology of Basil

the Emperor, in which while the Acts of martyrdom are contracted, was omitted

S. Mocius's Presbytery in the Amphipolitan Church,

and the transit from the city of Heraclea to Byzantium, where he

was beheaded and buried the rest of the Acts have:

among which stand out what from the Synaxarium MS. praised above

of the Church of Constantinople we here add, and the MS. Synaxarium. and are of this kind:

[3] Presbyter at Amphipolis This S. Hieromartyr Mocius under the rule of Diocletian,

and the Proconsul of Europe Laodicius, flourished

Euphratius and Eustathia, very illustrious

and wealthy, originating from old Rome. Saint

Mocius however expended himself in teaching others,

and preaching Christ, and from the error of idols

striving to recall all. overthrows the altar of Bacchus: But when the festivals of Bacchus

were on and sacrifices were being prepared by the Proconsul Laodicius,

with very many worshipers of idols present,

Mocius also approached and overthrew the altar. He was therefore

seized, and because he was confessing Christ was hung up:

and the temples of his head, his jaws and sides were scraped.

hung up and unharmed by fire, Then from pitch, tow and brushwood so violently

was the furnace kindled, that its flame to seven

cubits was lifted up: and then into the middle of the fire

was cast the holy Martyr. But the pyre received him

and preserved him whole without any harm: and he seemed

to walk about in the midst of the flames with three other

men of much glory, of whom one's countenance

surpassed by its splendor the very rays of fire. He went out

so untouched and sound, that not even a hair

did the flame touch: which however poured forth

both the Proconsul himself and nine men of his retinue

utterly burned, so that not the smallest part of their bodies

was found when the pyre was extinguished. Then the blessed Martyr by

the Prince Thalassius was cast into prison: then

with Maximus entering the Proconsulate again to

the question is recalled the Saint: and when he could not be persuaded

to deny Christ, but rather to praise Him

with illustrious encomium publicly; to two wheels

he is bound, by which he might be ground and torn apart: in vain bound to wheels and exposed to beasts.

but in a wonderful way snatched from these, he is exposed to beasts, and from

these too he remained unharmed. When then the whole

people cried out he should be dismissed, he was sent

to Philippesius into Perinthus a city of Thrace, at Byzantium he is beheaded.

which is now called Heraclea, and thence to Byzantium,

where having received the sentence of death by the sword,

he is beheaded. And then indeed at one milestone from the city

he was buried. Afterwards a most magnificent, most sumptuous,

and most splendid temple having been built for him by Constantine

the Great, into it he was translated. His Synaxis

or festal solemnity in his most holy

martyrium or temple is performed.

[4] Thus far the MS. Synaxarium. Almost the same things are read

in the Greek Menaea printed and by hand written of Mazarin,

of Chiflet, and others, also in Maximus

Bishop of Cythera in lives of Saints. But in the new

Anthology of Antony Arcudius, published from Vatican type under the auspices

of Pope Clement VIII, the same elogium is had, which

we gave from the MS. Menology of Basil the Emperor. In Sirletus's Menology there are some errors: Sirletus

also from there in his Menology contracted some things, inserting

from the Menaea already mentioned, that he was sent to Philippesius

into Perinthus a city of Thrace, which is now called Heraclea.

There are meanwhile in Sirletus some errors,

while with the day XI May omitted, these and other things are referred to

the day X May: and not reflecting on this Baronius asserted

in the Notes on the day XIII May, that by the Greeks in the Menology

he is referred to the VI Ides of May. Besides in the very elogium

of Sirletus is inserted the Genethliac day of the city of Constantinople,

which separately from the rest of the books of the Greeks

is placed in the first place. Finally he is called Mochius,

who likewise everywhere by the Greeks is called Mokios, to which

name, from the word mokos meaning mocker, not far departing, in the Menaea

with this distich it is alluded.

Mocking you the wretched error,

The impious slay you, Mocius, with the sword.

Reproving the wickedness of unhappy error with laughter,

Blessed Mocius, the impious slay you with the sword.

Besides from the metrical Ephemeris is added this verse:

Mocius on the eleventh, wise, gives his neck to the axe.

[5] The Greek Acts are missing, Finally the multiplied odes and canticles in the Menaea about him

composed by the Hymnographers are exhibited: from all of which

we gather, that the Acts of the Martyrdom of S. Mocius were once

composed by the Greeks, although hitherto we have not been able to obtain them.

But this defect is supplied by the Acts of martyrdom, Once translated into Latin from MSS. they are given. once

translated into Latin, plainly conformed to those, which in the said Greek Odes

and hymns are contained. We obtained these from very ancient

MS. codices, the Hamburg one sent from the library of Frederick

Lindebrog; the Trier one of the monastery of S. Maximinus,

and another of the Queen of Sweden no. 569; which codex was indicated

to have been of the monastery of S. Dionysius. In these not Mocius but

Mucius is called. It is moreover probable that he who by origin

was Roman, took the name of Mucius from the ancient Romans,

which the Thracians corrupted in their dialect. He is said

also to have consummated his contest on the third Ides of May,

and is added the same day Constantine to venerate him and to have consecrated

the natal day of the city of Constantinople. But,

since the Greeks have always solemnly celebrated his Natal day and that Dedication

on the day XI May or fifth Ides

of May, cult among the Latins 13 May. we gather some error to have crept in formerly into the said

number of third Ides of May, and that fifth Ides of May ought to be replaced.

From these meanwhile Acts Usuard,

and perhaps Florus, referred S. Mucius to the day XIII

May: and these have been followed everywhere by later Martyrologists,

with the present Roman Martyrology, in which these things are read:

At Constantinople of B. Mucius the Presbyter and

Martyr, who under the Emperor Diocletian and the Proconsul Laodicius,

first at Amphipolis afflicted with many penalties

and tortures for the confession of Christ,

afterwards led even to Byzantium, by capital sentence

fell. Amphipolis is moreover a city of Macedonia,

on the river Strymon, Site of the city of Amphipolis which there flowing in a circle the place

of the city on both sides girded, so that even therefore Amphipolis seems

to be called; the city itself by greatness and frequency of people

once most famous, in the region of the Edones founded by the Athenians,

not far from the borders of Thrace, in which Suidas

and Herodotus place it. and of Perinthus or Heraclea. Thence S. Mocius was led away

to Perinthus or Heraclea, the metropolis of Europe, of the first

province in Thrace. This city is sited on the shore of Propontis

with a port, and is distant LX miles from the city of Byzantium,

or Constantinople, in which the holy Martyr was crowned

and was venerated XI May.

* Menaea suns

ACTS OF MARTYRDOM.

From very ancient MS. codices.

Mocius or Mucius Presbyter, Martyr at Constantinople (S.)

BHL Number: 6023

FROM MSS.

CHAPTER I.

Zeal of faith. Torments inflicted under Laodicius the Proconsul. Protection from scraping and fire. The image of Bacchus cast down.

[1] Under Laodicius and Maximus ^a, for four years

alternately holding the Proconsulate of Europe,

there was much madness of the Gentiles in the same province:

for there was a great convocation and pomp of all

the idols in the city of Amphipolis. They were sacrificing namely

to Dionysius, perfecting their demoniac error.

Mucius however, S. Mucius the Presbyter at Amphipolis, a teacher of modesty and wisdom, and

Presbyter at Amphipolis of the holy Church of God, setting himself

forth as an example to all, for many years was teaching

the saving word, saying: See and hear, execrate

and abhor the madnesses of the idols, and the seduction

of idolatry: calls citizens away from idolatry. and turn back and know the Lord

God, who through His only-begotten Son Jesus

Christ our Lord shone forth, and through the light

of justice illuminated the darkness of ignorance. And through

the single days he did this work in the city.

[2] Therefore moved by madness the citizens, danced in

the festivals of Dionysius. But in the fifth month Laodicius

the Proconsul came ^b from the city of Apollonia to Amphipolis,

and sacrificed to Dionysius. accused before Laodicius the Proconsul. And on another day it was reported

to him about the strong soldier of Christ Mucius, that many

he had recalled from the solemnity of the Gods; teaching new

seductions, by which he persuaded to turn back to the crucified

and dead man: and many believing these things,

have turned back from the worship of the gods. If you indulge this,

all believing in what he teaches, will reckon vain

our sacrifices. Inflamed with fury the Proconsul,

and sitting before the tribunal in a high place, ordered

the soldier of Christ to be brought, and the Proconsul says to him:

Tell me, who are you, who do not sacrifice; but

even those who sacrifice you make to turn back, he is set before him. and alone

you seduce them? Mucius answered: Ignorant of truth,

why do you ask what you cannot know? But compose

first the knowledge of your mind, and you will understand

the truth. For I also ^c learning the sacred letters, knew

the images of the Gentiles to be demons: and their

patronage I teach to be vain. Laodicius said: As

I see, you have learned much speaking. Mucius said:

Our much speaking is true: and that you may know the truth,

hear what I say. The gods whom you worship are

deaf and mute demons. Laodicius said: Gain your

life, and sacrifice. Mucius answered: So great

a gain, Proconsul, is death in Christ.

[3] Laodicius said: Let him be hung up and scraped

from the top of the head, Hung up and scraped, until all his bones be laid bare,

that through this man all may be taught not to blaspheme

the Gods, but to sacrifice to them ^d reverently. Scraped

strongly, refreshed in Christ he cried out with a great voice,

saying: You who reign forever, Lord,

and shine forth with the rays of justice, show to your servants

your Deity, and grant me without impediment to contend

for your precepts. And as he said these things, they scraped

him, so that the punishments descended even to his bones.

But the executioners ceasing, and now no longer

able for weariness to inflict punishments, appears stronger: Laodicius

the execrable ordered them as if idle and weak to be cast out

and sent outside, and to be reckoned as plebeian and soft.

After this S. Mucius was brought before the Governor

glorifying God; and appeared stronger and more powerful

in the testimony of truth. And Laodicius says to him: Sacrifice

to the God Dionysius, that he may free you from many evils.

Mucius said: Do you think to be God in the art of man a sculptured thing,

made immobile without voice? ^e Persuader of every

error, finder of the devil, do you not see that

my body is not weakened by your punishments, and I have not

felt the pains of them? Difficult indeed and inane is

your power.

[4] shown the fire of the kindled furnace he is not terrified: Hearing these things Laodicius said: This is not

the power of your God, but by magical art you seduce all.

I order you to be consumed by fire, that all the structure

of your bones may become ash, and by snatching winds

be dispersed. Meanwhile Laodicius orders a furnace to be kindled

from pitch and tow and brushwood, so that it seemed

the flame ascended on high to sixty cubits,

and with smoky cloud darkened the air: and seeing

Laodicius the strong flame, he ordered the Saint of God

to be brought, and interrogated him, saying: Sacrifice

to the God Dionysius. He however was silent. And again he says

to him: Do you persist in the obstinacy of your mind which you began?

the great most excellent protection of the God Dionysius:

and converted from madness, sacrifice to the God Dionysius.

Mucius answered: I have already said, Proconsul;

I do not sacrifice to the deaf, blind and mute, who destroys

souls ^g, by which by divine precept every man

is inspired. Do you wish to know, that whom you say

is God is not God, but a hand-made sculpture?

Laodicius said: Cursed one, is it not an idol

which by the power of God is composed? For the power

which dwells in this, takes sacrifices from us, and bestows

salvation on us.

[5] entering the temple, Mucius answered: Yet do you wish that approaching

I sacrifice: that through my sacrifice all

may know the power of Dionysius. Laodicius said: Adore

and sacrifice, and know his great power.

Entering then B. Mucius, and making the sign

of Christ on his forehead, the Cross, the Lord's trophy

against the devil armed ^h grasping, he entered into

the temple: and standing, where the idol of Dionysius was set,

so said: God, who hold all things, and have made all things through

the glory of your Christ; ⁱ who drew down the devil alien

from your truth to shame, with the sign of the Cross he shatters the image of Bacchus and the beatitude

of modesty to those fearing your name gave; who

shattered the mute and immobile and deaf idols of Babylon,

and with the justice and faith of your just Daniel showed

the truth; who through the three boys destroyed

the execrable throne; and ^k extinguished the overflowing flame

of the furnace; who plunged the wavering and blinded

fury of Pharaoh into the depth of the sea;

who heard Moses your servant in prayer, and

through the rod brought forth a fountain of water from the rock, and gave life

to the people knowing you; you who are, and who

were, and who shall come, eternal King, I beseech you:

now come invoked to my help, and show

to those, who hold truth in lying, that they may know

your truth: because you are who live forever and remain always,

and through you your light wipes away the eternal darknesses

and errors of idols. And saying these things,

with a great voice he said: Fruitless and inane,

deaf and immobile Dionysius, I command you through the great

and glorious name of Christ, who dwells on high;

that you fall from your firmament, and be prostrated on

the earth, because hidden error dwells in you. And at once

an earthquake was made, and Dionysius fell, and

was made as dust, so that all, who were standing near,

fleeing and terrified marveled at what had been done.

And B. Mucius said to Laodicius: Behold the error,

which men in [l] the security of their mind living

was plunging to death, has fallen: but go down

now, and gather his dust, and know in

what evils you stand.

[6] Then saddened Laodicius for the statue of Dionysius, ordered him to be cast into the furnace of burning fire. Standing there as in the pleasant places of a garden, with all marveling ^m he was seen with three men chanting psalms of one however the face was shining as the sun, is cast into the fire but unharmed: surpassing all the splendor and brightness of the fire, so that by his brilliance the fire was darkened. And opening the Just one his mouth, said: Thanks I give you, Lord God of our Fathers, by whose word all things are subjected. Blessed are you Lord God of all the army of Angels, who are praised in [n] the mouth of the Archangels, who to the three boys sent into the flame stood by as the fourth, disperse the flame of the burning oven of fire here, and burn this Proconsul. Send upon him your unbearable wrath, that all receiving your knowledge may know, The Proconsul with his attendants is burned. that you are the true God in the heavens. And at once the flame went out from the furnace to the Proconsul, and so wholly consumed him with his nine attendants standing by, so that no one at all could collect their bodies, because the wrath of God consumed them. And when this had been done, all trembled and grew faint: and the Saint went out of the furnace, unharmed by the fire.

ANNOTATIONS.

d. The same, patiently.

l. The same, sincerity.

n. MS. Hamburg, honor.

CHAPTER II.

Torments inflicted under Maximus the Proconsul on the wheel. Unharmed by beasts he is beheaded.

[7] Thalasius therefore the Prince, inflamed with fury against him, ordered him to be enclosed in prison. After twenty-six days came the Proconsul, named Maximus; and hearing about the soldier of the elder which had been done by the blessed man, and knowing the destruction of the Proconsul, was indignant greatly against him. On the first day he held council with his soldiers, that he might destroy the Saint of God. S. Mucius however was in prison, praising and magnifying God. After three days at last came the Proconsul to destroy him: and sitting in a high place, which is called ^a Sarus, B. Mucius is brought, and the Proconsul says to him: Tell me, what are you called? B. Mucius answered: If you wish to know my name: my great father [b] Euphrates and my sincere mother ^c Eustachia, purifying me with sacred baptism called me Mucius. So I grew nourished by them as a most dear son, Set before Maximus the Proconsul: he indicates his illustrious descent: and under them growing I matured, and adult by the access of time into virile age I came, and made a man now by senile maturity I begin to bend. Hearing the Proconsul said: With what kind in life? S. Mucius answered: My father [d] a Roman citizen served, and in the dignity of military service ruling those serving most clearly flourished, and from much liberality conciliated to himself the affection of nearly all the Romans. My mother however from the father Lampadius, son of Clarus, the Proconsul, most illustrious. The Proconsul said: How then since you are of such kind, did you shatter the great god Dionysius, and the friend of the Emperor the Proconsul to fire deliver, and the custom of sacrifices destroy? Mucius the holy answered: I, Proconsul, so think, that I neither shattered anything, nor delivered the friend of the Emperor to the fire: but with great fear adhering to the one King of the heavens, the sculptured idol the dwelling of the enemy I crushed, and the friend of the devil ^e put to flight; the execrable solemnities I dispersed, and through modesty and prayer beseeching God, I reduced Dionysius to nothing, standing firm in prayers from my whole heart in the confession of the testimony of Christ. Maximus said: Strong and blessed you esteemed yourself, while you are entangled in evil ways. S. Mucius answered: Through the fear of my Lord I am strong to endure the suffering for the destruction of idols. Maximus said: Forget your folly, and approaching sacrifice to Apollo, that you may not die badly. Mucius the holy answered: Badly will I die, explains the deed in the overthrow of the idol: if I forget the kindness and protection of my true God, and adhere to those who are not gods. The Proconsul said: Do not be insane, and do not be mindful of the things of your ancient thoughts, by whose impudicity you overthrew the great God Dionysius, acting foolishly, and not understanding his and the patience of prudent men. Therefore sacrifice to Apollo. S. Mucius answered: Do you not yourself rage, Proconsul, by the art of the devil? nor will you be mindful of the uncircumcised mind of Laodicius, lost and from God alienated through the exacerbation of his own mind? ^f Remember and attend to the protection of God, which has been done in me: and flee their punishment, that you may not be badly punished going out of this life.

[8] Maximus hearing these things, ordered him to be sent under two wheels, bound to 2 wheels he is torn: that turning they might divide his members. He however not fearing such punishment, said: How sweet is love to God! Wholly to the malign mind of the exposition of your art, for so through the words of your punishments to me to the soundness of my soul reward before God is laid up. Hasten then, and to me, desiring to truth, do the will of your father the devil. For to me to live is Christ, and to die in this confession is gain. The wheels turning, and the members of the Just being crushed, the pains did not prevail in his members to the failing of the soul: but magnanimous he said: Giver of modest mind and helper, protector and liberator, I give thanks to you, Lord, because unworthy me you have deigned to receive, and contending against the devil to help: because you are God, who ^g hold my mind, that the impudent mind not prevail in me; since your name is great to those fearing you. the wheels dissolved, freed, And at once the wheels were dissolved, and the Just went out seeming, as if from the whole body crushed, but in soul without pain confirmed in the Lord.

[9] Men marveling at his suffering, Maximus the Proconsul was saddened because he was being conquered: and ordered him to be thrust back into prison, after three days sound is exposed to a lioness venerating him, and after three days to be brought, that he might be consumed by beasts. And when B. Mucius came, Maximus ordered him to be brought into the amphitheater. And he sitting before the tribunal, before all the people of the city, the great Athlete of Christ entered into the amphitheater, sound in body, so that all marveled, saying: How cheerful a countenance has this man called to punishment! Silence having been made, a great lioness was released, roaring vehemently: and running fell at his feet, and licked, and kissed the footsteps of the Saint. For one hour standing the lioness embraced him and his sweat. And going out two huntsmen called her to enter into her cage. She however running and adoring the Saint, and to a lion licking his sweat: entered into her cage. After this a lion was released, who for two days had been kept from food: and running embraced the Saint of God, licking his sweat. And seeing all the assembly cried, saying: Let the Just be released, whom even the beasts ^h revere, and God merciful and compassionate loves. As they were acclaiming, the lion entered into his cage.

[10] Maximus then directed S. Mucius to Philippisius the Prefect of the city of Heraclea, writing all things which against him had been done. directed to Heraclea and Byzantium, And going he made eight days in prison: but after these days he ordered him to be led into Byzantium, that there he might be beheaded. Beginning then to undertake martyrdom, he said: Blessed are you, Lord, who made the ages, who the glorious contests of the Saints happily begun, more happily consummate: receive me in peace. is beheaded, And at once a voice was made to him: Rejoice, good victor Mucius and athlete, publicly conquering the tyrant and crushing his power: with confidence in the kingdom of heaven rejoice with the fathers: you have labored in the world, rejoice in the heavens. And this voice having been made, they beheaded him. S. Mucius consummated his contest ⁱ on III Ides of May: on which day B. Constantine the Emperor venerated the Martyr of Christ, ^k and on this day consecrated the natal of the city of Constantinople. If anyone shall be mindful of his holy memory, let him most certainly believe himself to have a share of the lot of martyrdom, with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: to whom is honor and glory, virtue and power forever and ever. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

a. MS. Hamburg, Forus.

b. Greeks Euphratius.