ON SS. HERACLIUS, PAULINUS AND BENEDIMUS,
MARTYRS AT ATHENS IN GREECE.
CommentaryHeraclius, Martyr at Athens in Sicily (S.)
Paulinus, Martyr at Athens in Sicily (S.)
Benedimus, Martyr at Athens in Sicily (S.)
G. H.
[1] The martyrdom of these athletes is described in the Menology of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus in this manner. On the same day, the XV of May, the combat of the holy Martyr Heraclius and his companions. The Martyrs of Christ Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus, citizens of the city of Athens, Christians, with great confidence openly preached the name of Christ: and exhorted all worshippers of idols, that, withdrawing from vain idolatry, they should be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. For which cause they were apprehended by the idolaters, and delivered to the President of Athens, and according to custom being interrogated, having confessed Christ, they taught that He was the true God and Creator of the universe. But, on the contrary, that the idols were deceitful, figments of men, made from stones and woods, and the works of art. Accordingly, when they spoke this truth, they stirred the President to wrath; by whose command they were cruelly beaten and first tortured with every other torment: but afterwards with their disciples cast into a huge furnace of fire, they consummated their martyrdom. Thus far has the Menology of the Emperor Basil spoken.
[2] Another and somewhat briefer eulogy is contained in a MS. Synaxary, which we very often use, lent to us at Paris from the College of the Society of Jesus; which is of this kind: On the same day, the XV of May. The combat of the holy Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus. These were Athenians, and preached the word of truth, and exhorted the worshippers of idols, that they should abstain from the vain worship of idols. Being apprehended therefore, and delivered to the President of the Athenians, they are cruelly beaten, and tortured with various other torments, and at last cast into a furnace, they consummated their martyrdom. Thus there. In the MS. Menaea, formerly preserved at Dijon in Burgundy with Peter Francis Chifletius, toward the end some things are related otherwise, and they are said on the XVI day of May to have been cast into a furnace: and when they remained unhurt, with their heads cut off by the sword to have departed. Then of S. Heraclius that distich is added.
Εἷς ἄθλος Ἡρακλεῖε σὸς πρὸς τὸ ξίφος, Ἄθλους καλύπτει τοὺς ὅλους Ἡρακλέους.
This one labor of thine, Heraclius, by the sword Makes obscure all the labors of Hercules.
The Companions of the same combat are then together praised in this distich.
Ὁρῶν, Βενεδῖμε, τὸν σὸν Παυλῖνον Τμηθέντα, Συντμήθητί φησὶ Παυλῖνος.
Beholding thy Paulinus cut down by the head, Benedimus, offer thy neck, says Paulinus.
As to the day here noted, the Synaxaries of Milan and Turin agree. P. Francis Combefisius of the Order of the Reformed Preachers at Paris exhibited to us a twin Synaxary from the domestic library: in one of which these holy Martyrs were ascribed to the XIV day; in the other to the XVI day. Certain ones with the printed Menaea hold the XVII day; and among these is one Mazarine. The same are commemorated in the said Greek Menaea also on the XVIII day of May, subjoined in the title to the Martyrs of Lampsacus, of whom we have already treated; and for that cause we judged that into certain of their Greek Acts had crept the notion that SS. Andrew, Paul and others were led from Lampsacus to Athens.