Glyceria the Virgin and Laodicius the Prison Keeper

ON SS. GLYCERIA THE VIRGIN AND LAODICIUS THE PRISON KEEPER,

MARTYRS AT HERACLEA IN THRACE.

ABOUT THE YEAR 177

Glyceria the Roman, Martyr at Heraclea in Thrace (St.)

Laodicius, keeper of the prison, Martyr at Heraclea in Thrace (St.)

G. H.

[1] Most illustrious is the memory of the most holy matron Glyceria,

chiefly in the Patriarchate

of Constantinople and among the Easterners

on this XIII May: on which day in the Typicon,

according to the Ecclesiastical custom

among the Hierosolymitans of the sacred Laura of the most holy Sabbas

and of other monasteries, Cultus also in the East. a solemn veneration

of St. Glyceria the Martyr is appointed. Likewise the contest of St. Glyceria

the Martyr is celebrated today in the most ancient Arabic-Egyptian Martyrology,

which Gratia Simonius the Maronite translated for us out of the Arabic

tongue into Latin. But the Greek

Church, imbued with a clearer knowledge of the Acts of the martyrdom, honors her

in the Menology of Emperor Basil composed in the X century, in the first

place with this eulogy: Eulogy from the Menology of Emperor Basil. Glyceria was a Martyr of Christ

in the times of the Emperor Antoninus; and of Sabinus, President

at Trajanopolis in Thrace: who, when on a certain occasion

he was sacrificing to the idols, she, fortified on her forehead

with the venerable sign of the Cross, approaching him,

freely professed herself to be a Christian and a handmaid of Christ. Then by the order

of the President, that she also should sacrifice, having entered the temple

of the idols, and prayers having been poured forth to Christ,

she cast down and shattered the image of Jupiter. Wherefore

suspended by her hair, beaten with iron rods, then cast into

prison, she is fed by an Angel; and then led forth from the prison,

she is cast into a burning furnace: but

the fire being extinguished by divine dew, she escapes unharmed.

Afterwards, the skin of her head being torn off, she is again thrust into prison:

where, healed by an Angel, she converted the keeper of the prison

to the faith of Christ: who is on the spot beheaded.

But the holy Martyr of Christ, exposed to wild beasts, fell asleep, and

her body was deposited at Heraclea in Thrace.

Thus far the text: which is read almost the same in a very ancient MS. Synaxarium

of the Church of Constantinople, now belonging to

the Clermont college of the Society of Jesus at Paris. Another

somewhat more exact eulogy is contained in the Greek Menaea

and the New Anthology, which is of this kind.

[2] This Glyceria was in the times of the Emperor

Antoninus and of Sabinus the President at Trajanopolis: and Menaea. and when

the President in that place was sacrificing to the gods, she, having on her forehead

the holy Cross depicted, approached the President;

and professing herself a Christian, attested herself to be the handmaid of Christ.

Whom when the President exhorted to sacrifice to the gods,

having entered the shrine, prayers having been poured forth to God,

she cast down to the ground the image of Jupiter and shattered it.

The pagans there present, attacking her with stones,

were never able to touch her. Then suspended by her hair

she is grievously beaten, and afterward is cast into prison,

and there for many days is ordered to be left without any food.

But fed by an Angel she received no harm therefrom:

and all were thrown into amazement, both the President

and his council, when they saw in the prison both a table

set, and bread, and milk and water: and meanwhile

no entry whatsoever lay open to any mortal through the most vigilant guards

and bolts. Cast

thence onto the pyre, but by dew sent from heaven the fire was extinguished,

and she came forth unharmed from the furnace. Then, the skin

torn from her head down to her forehead, and her hands and feet bound,

she is led back into prison upon strewn stones.

But by an Angel she was loosed from her chains, and given

soundness of head, struck the Prefect of the prison with admiration:

who immediately confessing Christ, was beheaded.

But the holy Martyr, led to the President,

is exposed to wild beasts, of which one so touched the Martyr,

that no trace of any wound or bruise was discovered except a single

bite on the body: from which she gave up her spirit

to God. Her Relics were deposited

at Heraclea in Thrace. Thus far the text: which proves that the Acts of the martyrdom

were already long ago composed.

[3] Greek Acts found at Rome, We found them at Rome among the books of the Count Palatine,

transmitted to the Vatican Library, in MS. codex marked number

27, where they are contained from page 19, under this title.

The contest of the holy and beautifully-victorious Martyr

of Christ Glyceria. We give them below also in Greek, and here

in Latin, collated with the translation of Guilielmus Sirletus, who found the same

in Greek in the monastery of Crypta-Ferrata, the same are also given in the Latin tongue: of the Order

of St. Basil, distant XII Roman miles from Rome. But that he ascribes those Acts

to Symeon Metaphrastes, we do not admit, since the style is concise,

and most foreign to his periodic manner of writing:

which Leo Allatius, most versed in distinguishing his genuine writings,

acknowledging, numbers them among those which under the name

of Metaphrastes, but by common error, are reported by Lipomanus

in volume 7 of the Lives of the Holy Fathers, and by Surius: where

at the end the death is indicated on the tenth day of May, from

that version of Sirletus: whereas the day XIII is accurately indicated in

the MS. of the Count Palatine, and this is confirmed by all the Menologies,

Synaxaria, and Greek Menaea, and the very Menology which Sirletus

drew from them. With this cited, the following are read in

the present-day Roman Martyrology: Memory in the Roman Martyrology. At Heraclea, of St. Glyceria

the Roman Martyr, who suffered under the Emperor Antoninus

and the President Sabinus, no mention being made of Laodicius,

though it had been made in the said Menology. A particular

notice of him is had on this XIII May in the MS. Menaea, found by us

at Dijon in the college of the Society, with this distich added, in which

his confession of the Christian faith in the presence of the people, the Greeks add Laodicius, and his martyrdom

consummated by the sword, are thus praised.

Λαοδίκιος

ἐν

μέσῳ

λαῶν,

Λόγε,

Θεὸν

καλῶν

σε

πρὸς

δίκην

ἤχθη

ξίφους.

But Glyceria alone is praised in the metrical Ephemeris on this day

Τῇ

δεκάτῃ

τριτάτῃ

τίς

δάμασε

Γλυκαὶρίην;

Who on the thirteenth, Glyceria, overcame you?

The figured Calendar of the Muscovites also places her alone on this day:

Possevinus found the name written corruptly as Cilaria.

[4] St. Glyceria is also mentioned by Genebrard in his

Calendar of the Greeks, Molanus in the Auctarium of Usuard, Arthur

in the Gynaeceum sacrum, Laherius in the Menology of Virgins, and

Gallonius in the History of the Holy Roman Virgins published

in Italian, where he extensively sets forth her Life, and in the second

Annotation carefully examines many things, whether she is to be held a Virgin, and the title of virginity.

since concerning that state nothing is said in the Acts of the martyrdom, whose

interpreter altogether twelve times inculcates the name of female

or woman: but the word γυνὴ, which here in the Greek ought to correspond,

is not even once in the Palatine MS. The Greeks however

in the Menaea of this day so begin the Canon concerning St. Glyceria:

Διὰ

πόνον

ἀθλήσεως

τῷ

δεσπότη

νενύμφευσε

παρθενίας

κάλλεσι

διαλάμπουσα. On account of the labor of the contest

she has been espoused to the Lord, shining with the beauties of virginity.

The Acts also favor this title, while they once

and again exaggerate the nobility of the Saint on the side of her father and mother,

with no mention anywhere made of a husband. Why then

should she not also on account of virginity have been called Sister by St. Euphemia, Virgin and

Martyr, cultus and Relics at Lemnos. (as below in the Appendix to

the Life will be related), when her body was driven to the island of Lemnos in

the Northern Archipelago, where also the cultus of St. Glyceria was celebrated,

on account of certain Relics of hers preserved there?

We have given on the III of April the Life of St. Nicetas

Hegumen of Mediciun in Bithynia, who afflicted on account of his faith by Leo the Armenian

the Iconomach Emperor, was relegated from Constantinople

to one of the small islands, and on a neighboring island,

which are in the gulf, called of St. Glyceria, as in his

Life written by Theostericto his disciple is read at number 44. This

island we then conjectured to be one near Proconnesus,

not far from Heraclea on the shore of the Propontis, in which

city was a temple of St. Glyceria, and in it her sacred Body

frequented by a concourse of pilgrims on account of the ointment

which flowed from her tomb, the temple at Heraclea as below in

the Appendix is related from Nicephorus Callistus and Theophylactus

Simocatta: who in book 6 of the Mauricianic History chapter 1 narrates,

how the Emperor Maurice, hastening to sail to Perinthus or Heraclea,

restored by the Emperor Maurice. on account of a turbulent tempest, put in at

Daonium, and thence on the imperial horse went to Heraclea,

and entered the temple of Glyceria the Martyr, and

venerating it as much as possible, also disbursed money

for those parts of it, devastated and fallen into ruin

through the fire brought by the Avars, again to be raised up and adorned.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM

Rendered into Latin from the Greek MS.

Glyceria the Roman, Martyr at Heraclea in Thrace (St.)

Laodicius, keeper of the prison, Martyr at Heraclea in Thrace (St.)

FROM A GREEK MS.

CHAPTER I.

Lineage, the Faith of Christ announced, Torments inflicted at Trajanopolis.

[1] In the first year of the Emperor ^a Antoninus, Sabinus being President

of Greece, there was much agreement

of the Christians, who dwelt in the city ^b Trajanopolis.

But each day they used to gather into one place,

and with much labor and zeal from God peace

they sought: Antoninus, given to superstition for few were they who feared God. But the Emperor Antoninus,

since he followed the superstition of the Greeks,

sacrificed to all the idols, those, namely,

who by a false name were called gods: but

much more diligently and frequently he made offerings to Jupiter,

and seemed to be assiduously engaged in the error of his superstition.

But on a certain day in the temple of that same Jupiter

with those execrable priests he took counsel, a cruel edict is promulgated and into

all cities, regions and provinces he sent, that all

men should approach, and sacrifice to the gods, especially to Jupiter.

This consultation having been made, he published a terrible proclamation

through the whole earth, thus commanding,

All who shall refuse to sacrifice to the gods, I order

to be cruelly killed. When that edict so

iniquitous was being divulged everywhere, into ^c Europe also

it was carried. When the President had received it, first

he was offering sacrifice in the temple at ^d Maximianopolis,

showing the law of the Emperor, but compelling no one

as yet. But on the next day in the morning, having set out for Trajanopolis,

likewise to those also who were there, he showed the law,

and proposed this edict. Sabinus the most strong

President and very illustrious, at Trajanopolis by Sabinus the President: to all peoples and

illustrious regions greeting. With one mind and judgment

all gathering, within three days let us purify

ourselves, and let us enter into the temple of Jupiter; and

celebrating the natal day of the Emperor, to the great god Jupiter

let us offer sacrifice. But whoever will not obey,

nor holding a lamp will offer sacrifice,

let him die tortured by grievous punishments.

[2] Then all the Christian men in that city

were beseeching God, asking for peace. But Glyceria

a certain Roman, daughter of ^e Macarius thrice Consul, when

she was in that city, St. Glyceria encourages the Christians: and on each day and hour

would enter into that small house, in which Christian men

were gathered, was purifying herself to God and his Christ,

speaking thus to all: Brothers, sisters,

children, fathers, and whoever are to me in the place of mother,

see and beware for yourselves, and diligently take note,

what kind of Emperor that one is, whose mark we have,

and with what form we have been signed on the forehead, and finally what coin's

inscription we have received. Knowing therefore these things,

let us give effort, that as diligently as possible

keeping the precepts of our Lord, we may with him,

the eternal King, attain salvation: also the mark

which we have received, free from every stain and pure

guarding it. When that woman had said this: We desire,

said all, of all these things, which you have said,

to be made partakers. Then she: Let your prayers therefore

be offered to God himself.

[3] But after three days had passed, the citizens

all with lamps were running together raving. She addresses the President:

Glyceria also came, who had the sign of the Cross of Christ

inscribed on her forehead, by which she might illuminate

her soul. To the President therefore she ran: and when

she had stood before him, thus she spoke: Most illustrious President,

behold, of the sacrifices, which to God himself are to be offered, I myself

shall make a beginning. For I am the first, and born of that father,

who was thrice Roman Consul. And where, said

the President, is your lamp, by which you would signify yourself about to do this?

To whom Glyceria: I have my lamp inscribed on my forehead,

which since it cannot be extinguished, illuminates our sincere

sacrifices, which we offer to God himself, and presents to the eternal

King. Then the President, not understanding it, said:

Approach therefore and sacrifice. Not at all, said Glyceria,

does the eternal King and God need lamps emitting

smoke: but order them themselves to be extinguished, that my sacrifice

may not be sullied. The President therefore ordered, and the lamps

were extinguished. Which extinguished, St. Glyceria,

her breast girt with temperance and fortitude,

raised her eyes to heaven, and, with hand extended

to the people, Do you see, said she, this illustrious lamp

inscribed on my forehead? And as she said these things,

she showed the Cross of Christ, and said: Almighty God,

who through the Cross of your Christ are gloriously praised

by your servants, who showed yourself to those holy three children

and freed them from the furnace of fire, who closed the mouths

of the lions and made your servant Daniel victor,

who Bel having been overthrown and the dragon killed

shattered the image of demons, Jesus Christ, by her prayers she shatters the statue of Jupiter: purest

Lamb of God, come, I pray, and aid me lowly,

and shatter this demon, raised by human art,

and disperse and dissipate the new and vain sacrifices

of these. Suddenly there was heard a great

thunder, and Jupiter himself fell and was shattered:

for he was made of stone.

[4] When the President had seen these things, stirred to fury together

with those priests, who were with him, he ordered Glyceria

to be killed by stones cast at her. She is stoned, but is not touched, So a multitude of nefarious

men descended, and stones at

Glyceria they cast. But the stones themselves, as if into

a certain place set aside, surrounded her indeed,

but did not touch her. But when they did not understand this

to be a benefit of God, they said she was a sorceress ^f

and on that account not to be struck by the stones. Then

Glyceria said, Rightly do you say me to be a sorceress:

for the medicines of Christ, working through me with their power,

refute your error, and his help

disperses your injuries. These things heard, the President

said: Until tomorrow let her be kept in prison, enclosed in prison

lest perhaps using her witchcraft she escape, and say she has been helped

by her God, and so deceive many.

Then Glyceria: Foolish, said she, blinded and most impure

man, do you not perceive me by the precepts of God

to be bound, and fixed to his law, from which I cannot

be loosed? For his bond is indissoluble, by which

the bonds of the proud are dissolved, and the counsels of those who resist

God himself are dissipated. When she had said these things,

she went off to prison. To her Philocrates the Presbyter approached:

But Glyceria said to him: Sign me with the sign of Christ,

and with the precious Chrism of truth adorn me,

and to that God and Emperor, she is comforted by Philocrates the Presbyter, for whom you serve, and

whose arms you bear, commend me, that fortified by that sign

I may overcome the malice of the most depraved demon. To

these things Philocrates the Presbyter: May the sign, said he, of Christ

fulfill your vows, and may the precious ointment of Christ

bring it about, that what you desire, that you may obtain. When he had said these things,

praying peace upon her, he departed.

[5] But on the day which followed, the President himself

in the morning came to the royal house, that he might have Glyceria

led to him, again she answers the President, and might interrogate her, whether she was willing to sacrifice

to the gods: which if she should refuse to do, with many torments

to be afflicted, and with death finally to be condemned

he judged. She therefore was led, and stood before the President

with cheerful countenance. To whom the President: Tell me, said he, Glyceria:

are you not yet persuaded, to sacrifice to the great god Jupiter,

to whom the Emperor himself sacrifices? How, said

Glyceria, shall I sacrifice to him, who has been broken, and into

many parts shattered? And he who was not able to bring help

to himself, to him you wish me to offer sacrifice?

I have knowledge of that great God, who sits in the heavens,

and who brought help to me, and dissolved your nefarious

power: to him it befits me to offer sacrifices, to him

it befits me to be pleasing. When the President had heard these things:

Sacrifice, said he, before I torture you. Then Glyceria:

But my God will torture me, if I obey you. Indeed,

said the President, do you wish to die? Glyceria responded:

I am eager and hasten by the labor of my body to heal

the wounds of my soul.

[6] Then the President ordered Glyceria, suspended by her hair

and torn, to be killed. But she suspended was saying:

Glory be to you, suspended by her hair she is torn, almighty God, who to this dull

President have shown, that he has no other torments,

except those hairs given to me by your kindness, with which

my head is surrounded. With those hairs, I say, by which

the President tortures me, he himself is refuted: for they

were given to me as a covering of body and for your glory by you my helper,

and they themselves now against this enemy of good things,

the President, are an aid

to me. When she had said these things, the President ordered her

to be torn. Who while she was being torn: O nefarious, said she, and

filled with all malice minister of the devil, but she does not feel the torments: these

your torments are nothing, which I myself do not feel: for I have the Lord

God of all, who through Jesus Christ saved me,

who also now aids me. Prepare therefore some greater

torments: for these are nothing. Such

things Glyceria was saying, and the hands of the executioners by tearing her

were already wearied.

[7] But the President, when he saw himself overcome by her,

ordered her to be taken down, struck with blows and her face to be beaten. Then Glyceria:

My light, said she, is God, and my firmament

is Christ, who by his goodness confirms the thoughts

of his handmaid. I beseech you, Lord, that my countenance

you would illuminate, and to receive the blows make me

more prepared. You, Lord, in your patience strengthen me:

for you are God, who through our Lord Jesus

Christ are accustomed to confer the treasures of your Holy Spirit on those,

who profess the confession of your name with firm

and stable prayer. Who to all your holy men have brought

aid, through whom I myself also received knowledge of you,

and embraced it, hear now your handmaid:

since for the cause of your name I am eager to be freed from the snares of the devil

and from the mouth of the serpent. When she said these things,

by the executioners she was being beaten. she is protected by an Angel, But an Angel of the Lord God

suddenly stood there, and prostrated those executioners

so that they seemed dead. Then the President: Tell me, said he, Glyceria:

Why do you not obey the Emperor? But she:

Whom do you wish me to obey as Emperor? I say, said

the President, that you obey him, who has the empire of things,

and ordered this law to be kept. Glyceria responded:

I obey God, the Emperor of all things, and his

law, and I keep it. Then the President: Obey,

said he, and sacrifice to the gods. But to him Glyceria: I am unwilling

to offer the sacrifice, which you order, since it is empty:

but I shall offer sacrifice to my God, which he himself in the Holy Spirit

requires, and which father Abraham sacrificed,

when he offered Isaac his son, and to the true God

was pleasing, from whom he received the benefit, that he should be father

of many nations. Do, said the President, what I say,

and sacrifice; lest deceived in womanly fashion, by a grievous and shameful

death you perish. But she said: Christ the prefect

of our contest, in the spiritual stadium not only men

contending, but even women themselves against the devil

your father fighting splendidly crowns. For common

is the stadium of truth proposed to those who run

in it.

[8] But the President ordered her to be led to the prison,

and that food should be brought to her by no one. led back to prison She therefore went

very glad, and celebrating the divine glory, into the prison

she entered. But the keeper himself with much fear her

was guarding in the prison, who thus praised God: Blessed

are you, Lord God of our fathers, who

are known to the holy men observing your precepts:

who showed yourself to St. Peter as he was leaving Rome,

and refuted your adversary Simon Magus through

him; who were a great help to David,

and trampled Goliath his adversary under his feet.

You venerable and most pure God, hear

me, and be together with your handmaid, sealed up and snatch her

from the most depraved President. When three days had passed,

the President said to the Tribune: Taking this seal-ring,

go, seal up the prison, in which that sorceress is kept.

The Tribune therefore went off, and entering the prison, found Glyceria

herself diligently guarded, and praising

God. With the seal therefore impressed on the bolts, he ordered also

the outer places of the prison to be guarded. But while she was inside,

and was praising God, Angels were bringing her food.

But the President when after some days he was about to set out for the city

of Heraclea ^g, approached the prison

to see her, that he might order her to be led after him. she is fed by Angels, But seeing

the seal applied, he supposed her to be already dead:

for many days had passed. But opening it, he saw her

loosed from her chains, and a tray set before her, in

which were bread, and milk, and water in a bowl. So

stricken with amazement he led her out, not understanding, that it was God,

who was nourishing her. But she so beseeched God:

Lord God, who teach us the knowledge

of truth: who attend your people with greatest providence,

who provided food for Daniel through an Angel,

and to that holy man Elijah at the brook

and illuminate the blind: you, I say, God have remembered

me also, your humble handmaid, and from those treasures of yours,

which cannot be plundered, drawing forth beneficence,

have heard me your humble handmaid.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

Various torments inflicted at Heraclea. Holy death. Burial.

[9] When she had said these things, she went off to the city of Heraclea,

praising the glory of God. But when the President himself

was there, at Heraclea she is honorably received by the Christians, in the temple of Jupiter he was sacrificing. But the Christians,

who were in that city, heard of her contest,

and all together with the venerable Bishop Dometius

came out to meet her, three miles distant

from the city. Then the Bishop himself sent this prayer

to God: Christ the light, that is never extinguished,

sun of justice, light of those who are in darkness, and leader

of the wandering, who led Moses and cast Pharaoh into

the sea, you, I beseech, be also a leader to your handmaid in

the confession of your name. When the Bishop had said these things,

the holy Martyr of Christ Glyceria entered the city.

But on the next day the President ordered the Saint to be led

to him, and, if she should refuse to sacrifice to the gods, to be burned by fire.

She therefore was led. To whom the President said: Have you, Glyceria,

deliberated anything certain? Matthew 4:7 and 5:37 Then she: In the law it is written:

You shall not tempt the Lord your God: and,

Let your speech be, Yes, yes; No, no. For I told you,

that I was joined to my God, and to the devil, whom you serve,

I had renounced: how therefore having been joined to Christ,

can I ever be separated from him, and choose death

instead of life? Do therefore whatever pleases you: for I

am ready to despise these short and fleeting things, that I may attain those

heavenly goods.

[10] fortifying herself with the sign of the Cross, Then the President ordered her to be cast into a furnace of fire.

The furnace having been kindled, the holy woman fortified herself

with the sign of the Cross, and said: Lord God almighty,

I bless you, and celebrate the glory of your name,

since the present day and this hour

you have granted to me your handmaid for eternal exultation.

You have written ^a my confession before the Angels

and men: fulfill the desire of my soul, and to the iniquitous

and impious President show, that you are my helper.

she is cast into the furnace: which extinguished by divine power, When she had said these things, and had been cast into the furnace,

suddenly dew sent down from heaven extinguished the flame

of the fire, and the Saint in the furnace itself, like a certain pure

lamb, stood singing these words: Holy are you God,

who by your divinity to your humble handmaid Glyceria

have sent help from heaven, that all subject to you and to your

will might know you. The rays of this flame,

not bearing your terrible commands, fled away, and

now burn the mind of the iniquitous and wicked President.

When she had said these things, she came forth from the furnace without any

injury. Then the Judge: By whose, said he, help relying,

do you not sacrifice? Glyceria responded: My God

and his Christ. Then the President: Use no more

artful words, and deceive all. To whom Glyceria: Not

with words, said she, artful, but by good works and discourses

I make faith to all.

[11] Then the President ordered the skin of her head from the crown

down to the forehead to be torn off. the skin of the head is torn off, So the attendants when

they held her bound by hands and feet, did that

which they had been ordered. But holy Glyceria, while the skin

was being cut from her, thus prayed God: Lord God, who

send forth shining light, and make justice to flourish,

through this tearing-off of my skin, to the wicked

President Sabinus show this, that, whoever placed their hope

in you, are eager through the very greatest

afflictions to receive from you the crown of confession.

Wherefore I give thanks to you, that through this skin of my

flesh torn off, all things, which are in me, you have uncovered,

so that, illustrated by your light, I may be able to say: Reveal

my eyes, and I shall consider the wonders of your law. Psalm 118

The President not bearing this his disgrace ^b, ordered her

to be led into the prison, but in prison she is restored by an Angel. that until the next day with hands

and feet bound she should be kept, and over sharp stones

prostrated, by which over those tossed about, troublesomely

and most miserably she might perish. The ministers did what

they had been ordered, and so disposed of her. But in the middle of the night

an Angel of the Lord came, and from her chains Glyceria

unbound, and her face so cured, that

it was such, as God had made it.

[12] But on the next morning the President, when he had gone forth,

ordered to be led to him the holy woman Glyceria.

So the keeper of the prison, when with the doors thrown open he had seen her

loosed, and had not recognized her, Laodicius believes in Christ, fell into despair,

and wished to kill himself. But she, Be still,

said she, and spare yourself: for I am she, whom you

seek. Then the keeper trembling, said: Have mercy, I beseech,

on me, that I may not die: I believe in that God, who has brought

aid to you. But she: Follow therefore Christ, who brings

salvation. Then she led Glyceria out, and bound himself

with her chains was following her. When the President had seen this:

What, said he, is this, that you have done, Laodicius? Where

is that woman, who bound was committed to you?

Then Laodicius: Behold she stands by the tribunal, who in the immediately

preceding night illuminated by divine light, received the splendid and brilliant

appearance of her face by the hand of an Angel sent from God,

and by the same was loosed from her chains: but her

chains, when I had perceived the miracles of God, I myself received:

for I believe and wish to be made partaker of the same

death. Then the President: Let him be struck, said he, and

deprived of his head. Let it be, let us see, whether Christ will bring help to him.

But he when he was about to be struck with the axe, brought forth these words:

You God of the Christians, count me, I beseech,

with your handmaid Glyceria. So she thus prayed God:

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who dissolved

the pain of death, and freed the captives; you, I beseech,

free your servant Laodicius, and grant, that in the confession of your

Christ he may be perfected, and his spirit in peace to

you gather. These things heard, Laodicius added, Amen. And when

he had said this, with the axe ^c he was struck, and his body

by the Christians was taken up.

[13] Then the President to Glyceria: You know, said he, Glyceria,

you born of a father, and she is beheaded, who at Rome thrice held the consulship,

and of a mother, who no less than her father, and herself

is noble. Tell me therefore: Who is that, who to you

brings help? Christ, said Glyceria, the Savior of the world,

and God of all consolation, who sent me dinner

into the prison, and freed me from chains, and

restored to my face an honest appearance: he, I say,

is my helper. When the President had heard these things, he ordered

her to be exposed to wild beasts, and to fight with them. But she to

the wild beasts, as if to some most pleasant feast, approached.

The President therefore being seated, St. Glyceria exposed to wild beasts which became tame Glyceria entered with composed

walk and cheerful countenance, and stood in the middle of the stadium,

awaiting Christ her helper. And when

she had so stood, the ^d master of the wild beasts lifted the bars,

and a lioness of huge body roaring came forth, who to Glyceria

ran up, and rolled herself at her feet. Then

she having raised her eyes to heaven: Thanks,

said she, I give to you, almighty God, God of fathers,

God of mercies, who have made the wild beasts more tame

to prove the power of your Divinity; as she desired, suffocated by the light bite of one,

who have rendered rough and difficult things smooth and level

to me; who have filled dry places with multitude of waters.

Hear me God, and render to the malign President

things befitting his counsels. Grant, I beseech, to me, that

I may do those things which are pleasing to you, and observe your commands,

so that I may attain the venerable crown with the holy fathers.

When she had said these things, a voice was sent down from heaven,

which said: I have heard your prayer; come in peace;

the doors of the kingdom of the heavens are opened to you. Then

another lioness was let in upon Glyceria: which

when she had come out, bit her, nor left any trace

of the bite. So that holy warrior

Glyceria, in the perfect confession of truth, died.

Then the master lifted the bar, and those wild beasts

sad returned to their den. But the President at that

very hour became dropsical, and in the street, lacking

all things as an example to others, died.

[14] But when Blessed Glyceria, by the perfect confession of martyrdom,

had died; her body Bishop Dometius received,

and laid in a certain venerable place near the city.

Whose memory we piously and religiously celebrate

on the ^e thirteenth day of the month of May, beseeching God, that

we may merit with glory to be her companions. and is buried May 13. But she suffered

martyrdom, St. Glyceria together with Laodicius, when Antoninus

was Emperor and Sabinus President: but in us reigning

our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory

together with the Father and Holy Spirit, forever and ever.

Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

APPENDIX

Relics of Lemnos. Ointment dripping from the tomb at Heraclea.

Glyceria the Roman, Martyr at Heraclea in Thrace (St.)

Laodicius, keeper of the prison, Martyr at Heraclea in Thrace (St.)

BY G. H.

[1] Great and familiar communication seems to have been

between Euphemia the Virgin and Martyr, Familiar with St. Euphemia and

this St. Glyceria. For when Constantine Copronymus

the irreligious Emperor, as Theophanes says, in the year

XXVI of his reign, of Christ DCCLXVI, the most precious body of the most celebrated

Euphemia in the depth of the sea

with the very coffin had submerged, not bearing to see the Martyr

in the sight of the Christian people exuding holy ointments:

and God preserving it unharmed,

made it swim to the island of Lemnos; then, says

Constantine Bishop of Tius in the Oration on the Finding

of the Relics of St. Euphemia, they were anxious and doubtful,

whose Saint's Relics they were. the Relics having reached Lemnos But on that night they received

a revelation of them, by the announcement of her name.

For on that island lay the Relics of St. Glyceria.

But on the said night the Martyr of Christ Glyceria seemed to come

out of the island, and this Euphemia

to come out of the ship and they were embracing each other. And when

she who had come out of the island had said, to her who had come out of the ship:

Hail Martyr of Christ Euphemia blessed, and

they had greeted each other, again separately they were withdrawing…

These things so done, the most holy Bishop of Lemnos a venerable

temple had built in those times. revealed, she is seen to embrace her. It seemed

therefore that thither should be carried the sacred blessed

Relics of Euphemia for the dedication of the temple, which

had been constructed by him. And when as a suppliant he had poured forth

prayers, and had come to the Relics of the blessed Euphemia,

and had spent the whole night there, by him was seen

in dreams the Martyr of Christ saying: Do not undertake to do

what you have determined: for I will not obey in this matter

your sanctity. and she in turn orders her Relics to be honored. But go to my sister and companion in martyrdom

Glyceria, and I shall ask her. For she

herself will give herself over to you for this, that you may fulfill what you desire.

The most holy Bishop, having awakened, did

as the blessed Martyr of Christ had ordered him. Thus far that text.

[2] But many years earlier to the Emperor Maurice various things

happened concerning the tomb of each Martyr, These the blood, which by

Nicephorus Callistus in book 18 of the Ecclesiastical History are narrated,

where chapter 21 he asserts that on the very day of passion of St. Euphemia in

the sight of all from the body of the deceased the liquid of blood

is drawn up by sponges: these drip ointment. and that the Emperor Maurice

by experiment had explored this, and his fingers brought to the blood

and bedewed by that humor, sanctifying himself

had besprinkled himself, and being in fact persuaded to believe this;

had given his praises to the Martyr. Which more at length

are to be said on September XVI, on which she is venerated. Then the same Nicephorus

in the following chapter 22, explains the miracle, which at

the tomb of St. Glyceria the Martyr, gushing with ointment,

at Heraclea of Perinthus happened: which from the Mauricianic

History of Theophylactus Simocatta, book 1 chapter 11

he thus described.

[3] But it would be by no means out of place, if to the prodigy of that most celebrated Martyr,

I should join the miracle of the admirable Glyceria, herself

born in an obscure place, however very well educated

in good disciplines, was found to have been plunged

into the manifest abyss of impostors and sorcerers.

To this enchanter and magician there was a silver

basin, in which receiving the detestable gore, for whom when a basin profaned by a magician was placed under,

through it the execrable man with apostate powers

used to converse. The vessel, necessity demanding,

he sold to the silversmiths. Who, the price paid,

received the bowl, and themselves placed it for sale

before the doors, granting to any passer-by free opportunity

of buying. But it happened that the Bishop of Perinthus

was at Byzantium, and acquired that basin as it was being sold.

So with the vessel having been bought he returned to

his See, and out of reverence for the ointment

of the Martyr Glyceria, the former bronze vessel having been removed, he placed

that silver one, it ceased to flow itself; judging this to be most fitting for the cult of the divinely

flowing ointment. And he

indeed did this: but the stream of ointment ceased.

For the Martyr herself detesting so great a profanation, restrained

her grace and gift. For it was by no means

right, even silently she was saying, that the clean

should be touched by the unclean.

[4] After the Bishop had perceived for many days this happening,

he bore it most grievously: and various

cares in his mind he himself revolved, that by his fault the Church

should be deprived of so great a benefit. Therefore

turned to tears and prayers, he supplicated God,

that he should take away this so grievous matter, and the hidden cause

of his deed should show. But God duly removing

that abomination, until that being removed, another should be substituted, and his ignorance with mercy lawfully

attending, manifests in dreams to the Bishop the profanation of the basin.

He immediately removes the silver dish,

and that former bronze one, accordingly as pure

and as it were a virgin and immaculate minister,

restored to religious cult. And behold, suddenly the ointment

again gushes forth, and the stream of miracles again

overflows. But the execrable profanation manifestly

is brought into the open, and not otherwise than on

public columns is set forth as inscribed, and to the city its

glory is restored.

[5] When this matter to the Emperor's ears, through the Bishop

of the chief See (this John was the Faster) was reported,

the Prince was excited by the same Bishop to pursue the guilty with capital

punishment: for he had wished to correct the crime by repentance

and penitence.

The greatest judgment therefore is convened, and a huge

multitude of sorcerers is brought forth. the magician with his son is punished. Who cast into a grievous prison,

to torments, debts to be paid,

were handed over. Among whom Paulinus on a stake gaping

at the top driven, basely ended his life, after

first he had watched the slaughter of his son: since indeed this one also abundantly

with prodigies of impious imposture and sorcery he had imbued.

And so this is what happened. The aforementioned John

the Faster, was created Patriarch of Constantinople

in the year DLXXXII, Indiction XV, the last year of Emperor Tiberius,

and is said to have lived until the XIII year of the Emperor Maurice in Theophanes. But the Bishop of Perinthus

is the same as he of Heraclea in Thrace,

since the city Heraclea is also surnamed Perinthia, for distinction from other

cities of the same name, and even before was called Perinthus.