Philip of Piacenza

ON B. PHILIP OF PIACENZA

OF THE ORDER OF HERMITS OF S. AUGUSTINE.

IN THE YEAR 1306.

A HISTORICAL COLLECTION.

Concerning his age, cultus, native country, body.

Philip of Piacenza, of the Order of Hermits of S. Augustine (B.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Peter Mary Campi, Canon of the Cathedral Church of Piacenza, in the 3rd volume of the Ecclesiastical History of his native country, printed in Italian about the year 1662, asserts that B. Philip of Piacenza, of the Order of the Hermit Brothers of S. Augustine, died his last day at Piacenza in the Convent of S. Lawrence of the said Order in the year 1306, The time of his death. and that he is celebrated every year with a solemn concourse by the said Brothers of S. Lawrence, on the third feria of Pentecost: which in the said year 1306 fell on this XXIV of May. For then with the cycle of the Moon XV, of the Sun XXVII, with the Dominical letter B, the Pasch was celebrated on the day III of April and the feast of Pentecost on XXIV May. Concerning him the aforesaid Canon writes the following: B. Philip is our fellow-citizen in great esteem and reverence with his dear fellow-countrymen, sacred cultus and illustrated by the Lord God with miracles, both in life and after death: and his sacred body was deposited by the Brothers in a particular sepulcher.

[2] It matters not, that in a certain Ms. Chronicle he is called Philip of Mantua: perhaps that happened for this reason, that at Mantua he received the monastic habit, his native place rather than Mantua or even for a long time dwelt there; in the manner in which S. Nicholas of the same Augustinian Order is surnamed of Tolentino, although he was born in the diocese of Fermo. And why might not a family also be surnamed of Mantua at Piacenza, as now there are the Parmensis, Cremensis, Neapolitana, commonly called da Parma, da Crema, da Napoli and the like. Besides the Mantuans, who are most diligent in enumerating even more recent Saints and Blessed born there (among whom are B. Juliana of Mantua, Abbess at Venice, B. Clara and B. Claromonda nuns of Goadara, and B. Margaret a nun at S. Vincent) do not however reckon B. Philip with them; must be said of Piacenza. although they could not, on account of the nearness of the places, be ignorant of the sanctity of his life and the fame of his miracles. Hence it can be believed that B. Philip was born at Piacenza, and must be reckoned among the Saints and Blessed, by their origin and nativity of Piacenza: as many and most trustworthy writers, even foreign and not of Piacenza, judged him to be. Wherefore the authority of Lord Locatus of Piacenza is not adduced, who might seem to favor the Eremitan Fathers of Piacenza, when concerning him he says: There is also Philip held for a Saint. But in the first place let Ambrose Coriolanus be taken, who as General of his Order could have had full knowledge of his sanctity, and visited his body, and examined the book, in which all his miracles were contained, which the Fathers assert perished in a fire. This General therefore, in his Chronicle printed at Rome in the year 1481, places among the Saints and Blessed of his Order B. Philip with these words: The twenty-sixth was B. Philip of Piacenza: whose body rests in the church of S. Lawrence of Piacenza, of the Order of the Hermit Brothers of S. Augustine in great veneration and reverence: by whose merits God continually shows many signs to all, and especially to those of Piacenza, which it would be long here to narrate. These things there. In the same manner Raphael of Volterra book 21 of the Commentaries, where he treats of this Order of Hermits, brings forward these words: Among the Blessed are also reckoned those, commonly known by the merits of their life, Vitus the Pannonian, and Philip of Piacenza. So also Philip of Piacenza is called by Jerome Seripando the Cardinal, who as Pontifical Legate presided in the Council of Trent, and wrote a Compendium of Augustinian matters. But also Joseph Pamphilus Bishop of Segni in the Chronicle of the same Order printed at Rome in the year 1581, at the year 1441 has these things: Philip of Piacenza, a man as endowed with much sanctity, also miraculously healed many sick, especially William the Prior General, who, seized by a grave disease, was ceasing to live. Finally (which must be greatly weighed) at Pavia in the Convent of the Hermit Brothers of S. Augustine, among the images of the Saints and Blessed of the Order painted in the Cloister, is a devout effigy of this B. Philip, holding in his right hand a lily with some Office, with bald head and beard sparse or almost none, appearing as if he were about fifty years of age, around whose head in a circuit these words are read: B. Philip of Piacenza.

[3] And all these things we have culled from the narration of Peter Mary Campi the Canon of Piacenza, concerning the sanctity and native place of the said B. Philip. by others Mantua is assigned. Meanwhile Jerome Roman, and from him Herrera, of whom we shall treat below, and Ludovicus Torellus of Bologna in his Compendium of Men and Women Illustrious in sanctity of the Augustinian order century 2 chap. 48, think that B. Philip, although by nativity he was of Mantua, is surnamed of Piacenza, because there for almost his whole time he lived, and renowned with miracles even in life he died: just as S. Antony of the Order of Minors, born at Lisbon in Lusitania, is surnamed of Padua, because renowned for merits and miracles he fell asleep in the Lord at Padua. Moreover Thomas de Herrera in volume 2 of the Augustinian Alphabet p. 241 asserts, that in an ancient Ms. Chronicle of Piacenza these things are contained: In the same year 1306 Blessed Brother Philip of the Order of the Hermit Brothers died in the city of Piacenza, glittering with miracles, and was buried in the Church of the Hermit Brothers of Piacenza. Where it is not said born at Piacenza: which we leave to the further examination of others, and from the same Herrera we add these things. If it is true what Pamphilus and Jerome Roman a contemporary of Pamphilus related, namely that B. Br. William of Cremona the Prior General, who, seized by a grave disease, was ceasing to live, was restored by B. Philip to his pristine state of soundness; it must be understood of William still a youth, who in the year 1326

to be taught, it is given here on account of his memory in the life of S. Martha. no more apt place seemed able to be offered, in which he might be placed, than this very one; where at least there is some reason and connection, that in the preceding life, as I said, of S. Martha he is treated of, perhaps never to recur elsewhere. But that this Thomas, who becomes known from the aforesaid Life Num. 24 and 28, is the same with him, who was long ago known to Euagrius in the Ecclesiastical History book 4 Chap. 35 will clearly be established to one considering both passages soon to be brought forth.

[4] Ἦν δὲ τηνικάδε καὶ Θωμᾶς τόνδε διαθλεύων, τὸν βίον, ἀνὰ τὴν Κοίλην-Συρίαν, ὄς πρὸς τὴν Ἁντιόχου γέγονε τὴν ἐπίτειον χορηγίαν κομιούμενος τῆς κατ᾽ αὐτὸν μονῆς· ἐτέτακτο δὲ ἐκ τῆς αὐτόσε ἐκκλησίας. Τοῦτον ὁ Ἀναστάσιος οἰκονομῶν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἐπειδὴ συχνῶς αὐτὸν ἠνώχλει, τῆ χειρὶ κατὰ κοῤῥῆς ῥαπίζει· καὶ δυσανασχετούντων τῶν σφίσι παρόντων, ἔφη, οὔτε αὐτὸν ἔτι λήψεσθαι, οὔτε τὸν Ἀναστάσιον δοῦναι· καὶ ἄμφω γενέσθαι· Ἀναστασίου μὲν μεθ᾽ ἢμέραν μίαν τὸν βίον ἀναστρέψαντος, Θωμᾶ δὲ ἐν τῷ τῶν νοσούντων καταγωγίῳ ἀνὰ τὸ προάστειον Δάφνην, ἐν τῇ ἀποπορεύσει, πρὸς τὸν ἀγήρω μεταστάντος βίον. Ἐπειδὴ ἑνὸς καὶ δευτέρου τεθέντοιν, ὕπερθεν αὐτοῖν τοῦ αὐτοῦ σῶμα γέγονε, μέγιστον θαῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ μετὰ θάνατον αὐτὸν ἀναδεικνύντος (ἀπεπέμποντο γὰρ μακρὰν ἀποκρουόμενοι) θαυμάσαντες τὸν Ἅγιον, Ἐφραιμίῳ διαγγέλλουσι. Καὶ μετὰ δημοτελοῦς ἀγερωχίας καὶ πόμπης μετακομίζεται ὁ πανάγιος αὐτοῦ νεκρὸς ἀνὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχου, ἐν δὲ τῷ κοιμητερίῳ τιμᾶται τὴν τηνικαῦτα φοιτήσασαν λοιμώδη νόσον παύσας· οὗ καὶ τὴν ἐτήσιον ἑορτὴν μέχρις ἡμῶν παῖδες Ἀντιωχέων μεγαλοπρεπῶς ἄγουσιν.

ON B. PHILIP OF PIACENZA

OF THE ORDER OF HERMITS OF S. AUGUSTINE.

IN THE YEAR 1306.

A HISTORICAL COLLECTION.

Concerning his age, cultus, native country, body.

Philip of Piacenza, of the Order of Hermits of S. Augustine (B.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

was assumed as General, and survived up to the year 1354 and more. But why should it not be understood that he was healed, the patronage of the dead B. Philip being implored? But Herrera proceeds.

[4] In the church of our convent of Piacenza (as Peter Mary Campi reports) from time immemorial there is held every year a feast of B. Philip, The blessing of water: although he is honored neither with the celebration of the divine Offices, nor of Mass, on the third feria in Pentecost: and in his honor a solemn blessing of water is made, the people concurring, as Andreas Gelsominius narrates in the Heavenly Treasure of devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Formerly his body for many years was laid up above a certain altar in a stone urn, the body carried to the Sacristy, worshipped and adored by the people of Piacenza. But when some years ago a certain noble man wished to adorn and decorate it; in honor of this Blessed one, his sacred pledges were incautiously removed thence, no instrument being asked, nor the Ordinary assisting, and translated to the sacristy; where they now are within a chest. From that carelessness it arose, that now the Bishop of the place juridically doubts of the identity of the body, before it be restored to the aforesaid place more decently and beautifully adorned… Jerome Roman adds, that in his time on the third feria of Pentecost concerning B. Philip every year the divine Office at first and second Vespers, formerly in his own little Chapel. and at the holy sacrifice of Mass was wont to be celebrated: and his spoils in a peculiar little chapel sacred to him, under a marble tomb supported by four columns, were laid, and the sepulcher adorned with these verses.

Lo, holy Philip, who long lay hidden, fragrant, Is enclosed, found lately in this marble.

APPENDIX

TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY.

ON THE MARTYRDOM OF S. MELETIUS AND COMPANIONS.

UNDER THE EMPEROR ANTONINUS.

A CRITICAL PREFACE

Why the narration, in our judgment wholly fabulous, is given here, and indeed in Greek and Latin.

Meletius the Duke, Martyr in Galatia, of suspect faith (S.)

John, the Count, Martyr in Galatia, of suspect faith (S.)

Stephen, the Count, Martyr in Galatia, of suspect faith (S.)

Soldiers 252, with wives and little ones, Martyrs in Galatia, all of suspect faith (SS.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

Of the holy Martyrs Meletius the Duke, and his companions two hundred and fifty-two, who by a diverse kind of death completed martyrdom: likewise of the holy Martyrs Susanna, Marciana, Because the Martyrdom is inscribed in the present Roman Martyrology and Palladia, the wives of the aforesaid soldiers, who together with their little ones were broken in pieces, the Roman Martyrology makes mention on this day, as it is had augmented by Cardinal Baronius, following in these things the Menology of Sirletus, where they are treated of as also in the Synaxaria the Basilian, Claromontane, Chiffletian, Mazarine, Ambrosian, not without notable variety as to the number. For in some there are given to Meletius a thousand two hundred fifty companions; in some, a thousand above a myriad (or eleven thousand) two hundred and eight. Prolix elogia are everywhere added, in which there are named in particular, besides the women named above; Stephen and John the Counts, Festus, Faustus, Marcellus, Theodore, Meletion, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus, Mercurius, and Didymus; Serapion the Egyptian, Callinicus the magus, Christianus and Cyriacus boys. Whatever notice of all these has passed into the aforesaid Synaxaria from Acts, which we copied in Greek in the Laurentian Library at Florence, and they are of such a kind, that we are compelled to doubt, whether they have any foundation at all in true history; and therefore, whether they can prudently be reckoned among the Martyrs who became known from these alone.

[2] The whole tragedy is said to have been enacted under Maximus the Governor of Egypt, sent into Galatia against the Christians by the command of the Emperor Antoninus, in the Tabian Metropolis, of which the Bishop then was Dicasius: but this man was present at the Council of Nicaea long after the times of any Antoninus. it had to be given here, although fabulous: Then, by an example to be read nowhere else, the bodies of nearly all are said to have disappeared after death, whence there is of none of them in any particular church a cultus or veneration. But (to be silent about very many other things) what especially deters one from giving faith to the said Acts is the described end of the tyrants, Maximus the Duke, and Antoninus the Emperor: of whom this one coming into Egypt perished by lightning, but to that one succeeding the Prince Leo (unknown to all Roman history) freed Dicasius the Bishop found amid tortures from them, opened the church of the Christians hitherto closed, turned the persecution from the Christians upon the Gentiles themselves. Which things if the most wise Baronius could have read, we think he would have proceeded more cautiously, in inscribing to the Roman Martyrology those, of whom he would have recognized such a source. We had these things indeed already rendered into Latin by no slight labor of our Daniel Cardon, but fearing the scandal of the little ones, however great caution we should apply, we did not dare to set them in their proper place. Lest however we seem to have given nothing to the authority of so many Synaxaria, and to have attributed too much to critical severity in rejecting them; after a long deliberation upon these things, it pleased to enter a new way, by which neither be inserted into the number of certain Saints those, of whom we so deservedly doubt; nor however be withdrawn from the reader the power of judging of the whole matter, who will perhaps bear it ill, if so great and so notable a number, and already received into the Fasti of the Church, be expunged by our private judgment. But if we shall now see it to please, it will be permitted us elsewhere also to proceed in a like cause after this example, to be argued from neither head, either that, suppressing something of the old monuments, we do injury to antiquity; or that, admitting doubtful Saints with the more certain, we obscure the truth.

[3] We retain the day XXIV May, with the aforesaid Synaxaria and Sirletus and Baronius following him, and indeed on 24 May. although in the Florentine Ms. the Acts found are noted In the month of May, on the day XXV. The same, no express number, simply prefix this title: Μαρτύριον τῶν ἁγίων Μελετίου Στρατηλάτου, Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου Κωμήτων, καὶ παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους αὐτῶν: The Martyrdom of the holy Meletius the Duke, John and Stephen the Counts, and of all their multitude. They who took care that the great Menaea and the rest of the ritual books of the Greeks be printed at Venice in the last century, either found no memory of these anywhere, or (which I scarcely believe) on purpose omitted them, otherwise by no means severe explorers of fables. The author of the Spanish Martyrology John Tamayus de Salazar, by the example of Bivarius and from the authority of his Pseudo-Dexter, transcribing them all to Clunia, an old town of Spain among the Arevaci, when also it is inserted into the Spanish Martyrology. today called Cruña del Conde (for this license the silence of Baronius and Sirletus concerning the place and region of the Martyrdom afforded to the author, shall I say, or impostor, of the Dextrine trash), because he saw them referred there to the year 300; thought there pertained hither a monument found at Clunia on a polished stone, in Roman letters thus engraved.

DIOCLETIAN. IOVIUS. MAXIM. HERCUL. CÆSS. AUGG. THE STATE BEING ENLARGED THROUGHOUT THE EAST AND WEST OF THE ROMAN PEOPLE AND THE NAME OF THE CHRISTIANS BEING BLOTTED OUT, WHO WERE OVERTURNING THE COMMONWEALTH.

But these things need no refutation, since to the more learned Spaniards the imposture of the Pseudo-Dextrine Chronicle and others like it is now everywhere known; and to have related such things before sensible readers, is to have refuted them.

FABULOUS ACTS

From the Ms. of the Laurentian Library of Florence Pluteus IX Cod. XIV.

Translator Daniel Cardon of the Society of Jesus.

Meletius the Duke, Martyr in Galatia, of suspect faith (S.)

John, the Count, Martyr in Galatia, of suspect faith (S.)

Stephen, the Count, Martyr in Galatia, of suspect faith (S.)

Soldiers 252, with wives and little ones, Martyrs in Galatia, all of suspect faith (SS.)

FROM THE FLORENTINE MS.

CHAPTER I.

Meletius's victory over the dogs, through which the demons harmed the Christians: and a dream of one soldier concerning him.

Κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνον καιρὸν διώκοντο οἱ Χριστιανοὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ Βασιλέως Ἀντωνίνου, ἐθνικοῦ ὑπάρχοντος, διὰ Μαξίμου τοῦ Δουκός τῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἀποσταλέντος ὑπὸ τοῦ Βασιλέως Ἀντωνίνου ἐν τῇ τῶν Γαλατῶν χώρα, καὶ ἐξουσίαν λαβόντος τοῦ περιέρχεσθαι καὶ διώκειν τοὺς τῆς εὐσεβείας ἐργάτας Χριστιανούς. Οὅτος ἐλθὼν ἠνάγκασεν αὐτοὺς θύειν τοῖς θεοῖς, ἢ κολάσεσιν ἀνηκέστοις ὑποβάλλεσθαι. Ἐξεπέμφθη δὲ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ τοῦ Βασιλέως εἰς τὴν Ταβιανῶν Μετρόπολιν· ὅτι ἤκουσεν ἐκεῖ εἶναί τινα ἄνδρα τῆς αὐτῆς θρησκείας τῶν Χριστιανῶν, ὀνόματι Μελέτιον, ἐπέσχοντα τὸ ἀξίωμα τοῦ στρατηλάτου ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ χώρᾳ τῶν Γαλατῶν. Ἐλθόντος δὲ Μαξίμου τοῦ Δουκὸς ἐν τῇ Ταβιανῶν μετροπόλει τῆς Γαλατίας, προεφήτευον οἱ δαίμονες, οἱ μὲν παραμένοντες ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ λουτρῷ τῷ ἐπιλεγομένῳ Γυμνασίῳ, ὅπου εἰστήκει Ἡρακλῆς, καὶ Παλλὰς, καὶ ἡ Ἀφροδίτη, καὶ ἡ Ἄρτεμις, καὶ ἡ Ἀθηνᾶ. Οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ, οἱ ἐν τῷ τοῦ Διὸς ἱερῷ, ἐκ τῶν ἀμφοτέρων συναγόμενοι τόπων, τοὺς παρερχομένους ἀπέκτεινον. Ἦν γὰρ ὁ δῆθεν πρῶτος αὐτῶν λέγων αὐτοῖς᾽ Ὅτιπερ ἐγὼ ἀναβὰς εἰς τρίτον οὐρανὸν, ἤκουσα Ἀγγέλους πεμπομένους ὑπὸ Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Ἀρχαγγέλου, ὅτι ἀπέλθετε πρὸς Μελέτιον, καὶ διαφυλάξατε αὐτὸν, καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ. Νῦν οὖν τί ποιήσομεν; Οὐκ ἔτι δυνάμεθα παραμένειν ἡμεῖς ἐν τῷ χαλκουργήματι, καὶ διαστρέφειν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Τῇ γὰρ τρίτῃ νυκτὶ, μηνὶ Αὐγούστῳ, πεσεῖται ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ χαλκουργήματος οὐρανίῳ δυνάμει, ὑπό τινος Μελετίου λεγομένου. Ἀλλ᾽ ἡμεῖς εἴ τινα ἑόρωμεν νυκτὸς ἢ μεσημβρίας, ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτὸν, ὡς νομίζοντες ἀποκτείνειν Μελέτιον, καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ. Ταῦτα οὖν ἤκουον οἱ μιαροὶ ἱερεῖς τῶν Ἑλλήνων παραμένοντες ἐν τῷ ἱερὼ τοῦ Διὸς, καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ Σεραπίονι, ὅστις ἦν ἐλθὼν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου σὺν τῷ Μαξίμω. Χωρήσαντες οὖν οἱ δαίμονες εἷς κύνας, τοὺς παριόντας Χριστιανοὺς ἐπολέμουν· ὁ δὲ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος ἀκούσας, καὶ ζήλου θεἳκοῦ πλησθεὶς, λέγει τοῖς Κόμησι, καὶ τοῖς Τριβούνοις ἐστῶσιν ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ· Ἄνδρες νεανίσκοι, διὰ τὸν Βασιλέα ἡμῶν τὸν ὕψιστον, καὶ τὸν βραχίονα αὐτοῦ τὸν ὑψηλὸν, τὸν ἐν ἀνάγκῃ πολεμοῦντα ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, στῆτε γενναίως. Ἀκήκοα γὰρ ὅτιπερ κύνες συναχθέντες, οὐδένα καθεστίουσιν τῶν Ἑλλήνων, εἰ μὴ μόνον τοὺς γνωρίζοντας τὸν ἀόρατον ἡμῶν Βασιλέα τὸν ἐπουράνιον. Θέλω οὖν ἵνα τὸν Χριστὸν σύμμαχον λαβόντες ἀποκτείνητε αὐτούς. Εἳς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν νεανίσκων, ὀνόματι Φαῦστος Κώμης, ἐλθὼν λέγει τῷ ὄχλῳ. Τί στήκομεν, Ἄνδρες Ἀδελφοὶ; ἀπελθόντες ποιήσωμεν τὸ κελευσθὲν ἡμῖν ὑπὸ τοῦ στρατηλάτου ἡμῶν. Οἱ δὲ ὄχλοι ἀπίεσαν προθύμως, ἁρπάσαντες ξύλα τοῦ ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ἀποκτεῖναι τοὺς κύνας. Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος ποιήσας τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, ὑποβληθεὶς ὑπ᾽ Ἀγγέλου, καὶ ἁρπάσας παιδικὸν ἔνδυμα, ἐξεπήδησεν ὡς λέων· ἦσαν γὰρ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ οἱ βοηθοῦντες αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἀπελθὼν ὁ Μελέτιος, ἄντικρυς τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἔστη, καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ αἱ μιερεῖς· Μή σε διασπαράζοισιν οἱ κύνες· οὐκ οἴδασι γὰρ τὸ τίς εἶ; Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἔβλεπον αὐτὸν μόνον, καὶ ἔχοντα σχῆμα δουληκόν· οἱ δὲ ἔβλεπον αὐτὸν ἔχοντα σχῆμα ἀρχοντικὸν, καὶ ὄχλον μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ λευκοφόρων, ἐχόντων δὲ εἶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν σκῆπτρα βασιλικά. Ὁ δὲ κύων ὁ εἷς, ὁ παραμένων ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ Διὸς, πάνυ ὢν εὐμεγέθης, τρεφόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν

μιεροθύτων, προσεσχηκὼς τῷ Μελετίῳ, τοῦ μὲν ὑλακτεῖν οὐκ ἐπαύετο, τὸ δὲ ὁρμῆσαι οὐκ ἐδύνατο ὑποστρεφόμενος. Καὶ λέγουσιν οἰ Ἄγγελοι τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ἐπιτίμησον τῷ κυνὶ, καὶ διαῤῥαγήσεται. Λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ κυνὶ οὕτως· Ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ βραχίων ὁ ὑψηλὸς καὶ ἀόρατος διαῤῥήξει τὸν κύνα τοῦτον. Καὶ εὐθέως διεῤῥάγη ὁ κύων, καὶ εὑρέθη ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ δράκων νεκρὸς, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ μιερεῖς τὸ γεγονός. Καὶ ἀναχωρήσας πάλιν ὁ Μελέτιος, ἔρχεται ἐπὶ τὸ λουτρὸν τὸ δημόσιον τὸ ἐπιλεγόμενον Γυμνάσιον· καὶ προσεσχηκότες οἱ κύνες τῷ Μελετίῳ, διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὄντων Ἀγγέλων περιεστέλλοντο αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἅπερ ἐποιήσατε κακὰ, ὁ Κύριος ἐκζητεῖ, καὶ νῦν τί περιστέλλεσθε; Καὶ πάλιν λέγει ἐν προσευχῇ· Ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς ἀκοίμητος καὶ ἀόρατος, ὁ ἐπιβλέπων ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην, διάῤῥηξον καὶ τούτους τοὺς κύνας, ὥσπερ καὶ τὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῶ. Καὶ εὐθέως ὅλοι διεῤῥάγησαν οἱ κύνες, Καὶ εὐρέθησαν ἐν ταῖς κοιλίαις αὐτῶν ἀσπίδες νεκραί. καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Μελέτιος, πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τῆς γῇς εὐλόγησεν τὸν Θεόν. Καὶ ἀναστὰς καὶ ἰδὼν τὰ εἴδωλα τῶν ἀγαλμάτων ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ λουτρῷ, τοῦ Ἡρακλέος, καὶ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος, καὶ ἑτέρων ψευδευνύμων θεῶν, εὔξατο κατ᾽ αὐτῶν· καὶ εὐθέως συνετρίβησαν, καὶ οὕτως ἀνεχώρησεν ἐκεῖθεν. Ἀπερχομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μιερεῖς· Μὴ σὺ εἶ Μελέτιος, ὃν προεφήτευσαν οἱ Θεοί; Ὁ δὲ σιωπήσας ἀνεχώρησεν ποιήσας τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ αὐτοῦ. Ὑπήντησεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος αὐτοῦ, ἔχοντες ξύλα τοῦ ἀπελθῆναι καὶ ἀποκτεῖναι τοὺς κύνας. Καὶ προσχὼν αὐτοὺς ἐρχομένους λέγει αὐτοῖς· Τί κάμνετε, Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες; Ὁ Δεσπότης ἡμῶν Χριστὸς διέῤῥηξεν τοὺς κύνας. Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀκούσαντες ὑπέστρεψαν, καὶ ἀπίεσαν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ. Οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν· Τί θέλει τοῦτον εἶναι; Φαυστῖνος δὲ ὁ πρῶτος αὐτῶν λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἀδελφοὶ, εἶδον ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ ἐνύπνιον. Καὶ ἐλογισάμην ὅτι ἄρα μὴ βασιλεῦσαι ἔχει ὁ νεανίας οὗτος, ἢ ταχέως ἀποθανεῖν. Οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Ἀπάγγειλον ἡμῖν ἅπερ εἶδες. Ὁ δὲ Φαυστῖνος λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἅπερ εἶδον ταῦτά ἐστιν. Ἐνόμιζον ἐν τῷ ὑπνῷ μου, ὅτιπερ ἐκαθέζετο ὁ Μάξιμος ἐπὶ θρόνου, ὑψηλοῦ καὶ μεγάλου ὄντος, καὶ συνεκατέζετο αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπος Ἴνδος· καὶ τῇ μὲν δεξιᾷ χειρὶ ἐκράτει μάχαιραν, ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν Μαξίμου φέρων, τῇ δὲ ἀριστερᾷ νύσσων τὴν πλεῦραν αὐτοῦ, τὸ δὲ στόμα αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰ ὦτα τοῦ Μαξίμου ἔχων. Προσέσχον δὲ τῷ Μελετίῳ ἑστῶτι, λαμπρὰν ἐσθῆτα φοροῦντι, ὥσπερ ἀεὶ, καὶ διδόντι εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον ταῖς δυσὶ χερσὶ τῷ Μαξίμῳ. Ὁ δὲ συγκάθεδρος αὐτοῦ ἐπεχείρει πρὸς Μελέτιον, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐγένοντο εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω μετὰ τῆς μαχαίρας. Ἔπειτα εἶδον Ἰωάννην καὶ Στέφανον ἐλθόντας καὶ σταθέντας, ἕνα μὲν ἐκ δεξιῶν, καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων τοῦ Μελετίου, καὶ ἐνυβρίσοντας Μάξιμον, καὶ τὸν συνκάθεδρον αὐτοῦ. Ἔπειτα δὲ μέγα θέαμα εἶδον· Ἄνδρα κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, οὗ τὸ περιβόλαιον ὡς ἀστραπὴ ἔλαμπεν, καὶ ἡ ὅψις αὐτοῦ ὡς χρυσὸς ἦν ἀποστίλβων· ἐν δὲ τῇ χειρὶ τῇ δεξιᾷ εἶχεν στέφανον ποικίλον, καὶ τῇ ἀριστερᾷ σκῆπτρον· τὸν δὲ στέφανον ἔθηκεν εἰς τὴν κεφαλήν. Μελετίου, τὰς δὲ χεῖρας ἔθηκεν εἰς τὰς κεφαλὰς τῶν δύο Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου. Ὁ δὲ συγκάθεδρος Μαξίμου ἰδῶν αὐτοὺς ἀπεστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ ἡ μάχαιρα ἐξέπεσεν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ἐνεβριμεῖτο τῷ ὄχλῳ· ὁ δὲ κατελθὼν ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν τῷ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ ἐδίχασεν αὐτόν· καὶ ἐπιστραφεὶς πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἶπεν· Καὶ ὑμεῖς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐστε, κᾀγὼ μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν εἰμι. Τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι; Εἳς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν λέγει· Ἀποθανεῖν ἔχει. Ἕτερος εἶπεν· Οὐχὶ ἀποθανεῖν, ἀλλὰ βασιλεῦσαι. Ὁ δὲ τρίτος λέγει· Οὐδὲν εἰρήκατε, οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως, ἀλλὰ μένει ἡμῖν πόλεμος μετὰ Μαξίμου, καὶ νικῆσαι αὐτὸν ἔχομεν διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡμῶν. Τὸ γὰρ ἐνύπνιόν σού ἐστι τοῦτο, ὃ εἶπες. Ὁ συγκάθεδρος τοῦ Μαξίμου ἐστὶν ὁ διάβολος· ἡ μάχαιρα ὁ πόλεμος καθ᾽ ἡμῶν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἰσχύει· Ὁ δὲ στέφανος, ὃν ἐκράτει ὁ Κύριος, ἡ νίκη· αἱ δύο χεῖρες αὐτοῦ, ἡ εὐλογία Κυρίου ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς, καὶ Κύριος μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν. Ἀπελθῶμεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τὸν κοινὸν, καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ γεγονὸς τῷ Ἀρχόντι ἡμῶν, καὶ ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς βοηθεῖ.

[1] At which times the Roman empire was administered by Antoninus, the Prince being still a gentile, a great storm of persecution against the Christians was stirred up by Maximus, the Prefect of Egypt, Maximus persecuting the Christians in Galatia, sent in to invade everywhere those who professed the faith of Christ, and to urge them with harsh persecution. As soon as the impious and cruel man arrived in that province, straightway as many Christians as could be found, were compelled either to sacrifice to the idols, or to undergo most bitter tortures. The Metropolis of ^b Tabia, also by the mandate of the Emperor, the fierce persecutor entered. For by fame he had received that there dwelt in that city a man, whose name was Meletius, a most keen follower of the Christian religion, and set with the highest power over the army among the Galatians.

[2] As Maximus was coming to the city just mentioned, there were heard the voices of demons prophesying various things, the demons fearing evil for themselves from Meletius, who dwelt in that bath, which they called also by the name of Gymnasium, and in which the simulacra of Hercules, Pallas, Venus, Diana, and Minerva were beheld. But the impure spirits who had fixed their seat in the temple of Jove, from each place forced into one, afflicted many of the passersby with death. For he had pronounced, who seemed to obtain the first place among them; because I, ascending even to the third heaven, heard the voices of Angels sent by Michael the Archangel to Meletius, that they should with great diligence keep him and his companions secure against us. What therefore now, companions, shall we do? For it will not henceforth be permitted us to inhabit these bronze simulacra, as before, nor to pervert the souls and minds of mortals. For in the month of August, and on the third night of that month, the head of this bronze simulacrum shall fall to the ground by divine power, a certain Meletius performing the deed. We therefore if we shall have caught anyone at nocturnal or midday time, they conspire themselves also: let us soon slay him, just as if we had Meletius himself before our hands to be killed. These voices of the raving demons when the wicked priests of the Gentiles, who in the temple of Jove performed the impious rites, perceived, they brought the whole matter to Serapion, who had come thither from Egypt with Maximus.

[3] Meanwhile the demons, having entered the bodies of the most ferocious dogs, against whom, having entered into dogs to harm the Christians, miserably tore the Christians going by that way. But the notable servant of God Meletius hearing these things, and kindled with a certain divine zeal, addresses the Counts and Tribunes who then were present, in this manner: Young men, by our supreme Emperor, and by His excelling arm, whose help in straitened matters never fails us, I admonish and exhort you, that you stand bravely and generously in the battle-line, and do the thing which I shall say. It has come to my ears, that the many dogs of the Gentiles forced into one inflict harm on no one, Meletius encourages his companions, unless they fall upon those who acknowledge and profess our invisible and heavenly King. This therefore I will, that, trusting in the divine help of Christ, you slay those dogs as soon as possible. Then one of the younger men, Faustus, conspicuous with the title of Count, advancing into the midst, thus addresses the standing crowd: Why do we delay, men Brothers? let us go on, and what the Prefect of our militia commands, let us strenuously perform. This voice perceived, the whole multitude continually with great courage departed to perform what was commanded, especially furnished with cudgels for destroying and slaying the dogs.

[4] Meletius himself, after he had fortified himself with the sign of Christ moved by a good Angel, and the very great dog let loose against him he killed by a word. and had taken a youthful garment, like a lion offered himself to the danger; for the Angels were helping. Having advanced therefore Meletius stood opposite the profane temple, whom the impious priests soon thus addressed: Lest these dogs tear thee in pieces: for they knew not who he was. For they indeed saw only Meletius, clothed in a habit as it were servile: but to the dogs he was set forth in a far more august form and worthy of a prince, and with him a great crowd conspicuous with white tunics and royal scepters. Then one of those dogs which was kept in the temple of Jove, surpassing the others in size of body, which the priests of Jove had nourished with special care, let loose against Meletius, ceased not indeed to bark, but, repelled by a hidden force, could not at all rush upon him. Then to Meletius the Angels say; Rebuke that dog, and thou wilt see him forthwith burst asunder. And Meletius directing words to the dog, said: The Word divine, and His arm excelling and to no mortal visible, will burst this dog asunder. Which said, the dog without delay burst and fell down; in whose belly a serpent also was found dead, at which portent the nefarious priests were vehemently amazed.

[5] But Meletius taking himself thence, advanced to the public bath, then also the rest, which we said above was also named Gymnasium. And here the dogs let loose again against him, by fear of the Angels, with which Meletius was girt, did not dare to touch the holy man more nearly. Then the Blessed one; Whatsoever, said he, you have done ill, the Lord will require of you. But why do you now stand around me? Then turned to God by praying: Thou, said he, eye of divine providence, who never sleepest, who although thou be by no means seen by us, yet perceivest sharply all the things of the whole world; these dogs, I beseech, now also by the same kind of death, by which thou didst slay that former one leaping upon me from the temple of Jove, prostrate. The prayer finished, the dogs all to a man, as Meletius had willed, were extinguished, in the bodies of each of whom likewise dead serpents were found. and he overturns the statues of the Gods. Moved by the unusualness of the thing Meletius, cast himself prone on the earth and his face, and blessed the Lord. Then rising, and beholding the statues of the idols in the public bath, namely of Hercules and Artemis and of other Gods of false name, he had scarcely conceived his imprecations against them, when they all were broken into fragments; which done, he himself went on elsewhere. But the priests of the idols; Art thou not, said they, Meletius, of whom lately our Gods prophesied? But the holy man, deigning them no reply, and fortifying himself with the sign of the sacrosanct Cross, proceeded on the begun way.

[6] And now a huge multitude of his soldiers, with the woods and cudgels with which they should slay the dogs

well armed, which when he had narrated with his companions, he had to meet him, whom he thus straightway addressed: Why, most loving Brothers and Fathers, do you seek with so great labor? Our Lord Christ has by His potent power slain the dogs, of which I spoke, burst asunder. They understanding these things, together with Meletius retraced the way by which they had come: some also of them, that they might behold all these things, more diligently investigated. To whom Faustinus, the chief of the whole crowd, answered in this manner: This very night, Brothers, a dream was offered me, Faustinus too narrates from which I make conjecture, that this exceptional young man will not long be set over us with command, but will quickly make an end of living. The whole multitude then; Narrate, they cry, to us whatsoever through the nocturnal vision was beheld by thee.

[7] What I saw, answered Faustinus, are these things which I shall say. a vision offered him concerning Meletius, John, and Stephen, I seemed to see Maximus sitting on a lofty throne, and an Indian man at his side, who with his right hand brandishing a sword, seemed to attack the breast and heart of Maximus himself, and with his left to strike his side. Then about to say I know not what to Maximus, he moved his mouth nearer to his ears: but especially I was intent on Meletius, who, clothed in a splendid garment, as he always is wont, with each hand struck the face of Maximus. But he who sat as Maximus's companion attempted to rise against Meletius, and lifting his hands together with a sword on high seemed to wish to bring death. Afterward I see coming and standing by the throne John and Stephen, this one on the right, that one on the left side of Meletius. With many and most sharp reproaches these attacked Maximus, and the companion of Maximus at the tribunal. Then a notable vision was offered. For behold the appearance of a man descending from heaven itself is exhibited to me, whose garment glittering like lightning, and face radiated in the manner of gold. With his right hand bearing a crown admirable in variety, with his left a fiery scepter, he set it on the very head of Meletius, and then each hand on the heads of John and Stephen. But he who was Maximus's companion, the illustrious men whom I mentioned being beheld, fell backward from his chair, nor was he able any longer to hold the sword. But Maximus himself raged angrily against the multitude standing at the tribunal: but he who had descended from heaven, striking the raging one with his scepter, by a just judgment also dispatched the guilty one. After which that same one turned to us; And you, said he, are with me, and I with you. What, I ask, do all these things at length portend?

[8] There was one who said Meletius would without doubt die. Another on the contrary asserted, that not death, but empire was announced to him. A third finally; Nothing, said he, of the things which you have said will come to pass. For know that nothing else is announced by all these things, which another explains. than that a sharp war is at hand for us to be waged with Maximus, from which through the power of Christ we shall come forth victors. This indeed is the certain interpretation of the dream which thou hast narrated: He who sat as Maximus's companion at the tribunal, is the evil demon, whose sword was indeed intended against us, but in vain: but the crown seen by thee in the hand of the Lord, signifies the victory to be carried off, and the very hands of the Lord His kind blessing and help prepared. Let us go therefore to the public forum of the city, and let us intrepid behold what shall befall the prince of our militia, and God will no doubt be present to us.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER II.

Meletius, John, Stephen apprehended are in vain solicited, and amid the stripes insult the tyrant.

Ἀπερχόμενοι δὲ αὐτοὶ προσέσχον πρὸς τῆς πύλῃς τοῦ ἱεροῦ Διὸς, καὶ ἴδον τὸν κύνα διαῤῥαγέντα, καὶ ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ δράκοντα νεκρὸν, καὶ τοὺς μιερεῖς παρεστηκότας καὶ θαυμάζοντας. Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεόν. Οἱ δὲ μιερεῖς εἶπον αὐτοῖς· Ὑμεῖς ἀπεκτείνατε τοὺς κύνας. Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἶπον· Ἡμεῖς μὲν οὐ, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ ἀόρατος, διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ δούλου αὐτοῦ Μελετίου ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτούς. Οἱ δὲ μιερεῖς εἶπεν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Καλῶς προεφήτευσαν οἱ θεοὶ, διὰ τοῦτῳ καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἀνεχόμεθα ὑμῖν. Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀπίεσαν ἐπὶ τὸ δημόσιον λουτρὸν, θεάσασθαι καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους κύνας. Οἱ δὲ μιερεῖς τοῦ Διὸς ἠκουλούθησαν αὐτοῖς κρυπτῶς. Ἀπελθόντες οὖν οἱ στρατιῶται, καὶ ἰδόντες τοὺς ἄλλους κύνας διαῤῥαγέντας, καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα συντετριμμένα, ἐπῇραν τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν δοξάζοντες καὶ λέγοντες· Εὐλογοῦ μέν σε τὸν ἐπὶ πάντων Κτίστην, τὸν ἀόρατον Βασιλέα, τὸν ἐπὶ θρόνῳ ἀσαλεύτῳ, τὸν βραχίονα τὸν ὑψηλὸν, τὴν χεῖρα τὴν κραταιὰν, τὸν ἀόρατον πολεμιστὴν, τὸν μόνον ἐλέημονα, τὸν διδόντα δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν τοῖς ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ πεποιθόσιν, ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶ ὁ ἐλεὼν, αὐτὸς εἶ ὁ πολεμῶν τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἡμῶν, αὐτὸς εἶ ὁ συγκροτῶν ἡμᾶς, ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς ὁ ἐφορῶν ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῇν· ἐφανέρωσας τὰ θαυμάσιά σου διὰ τοῦ δούλου σου Μελετίου, καὶ νῦν ποίησον κακῶς τοῖς θέλουσι πολεμεῖν ἡμᾶς ἀδίκως, ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶ εὐλογημένος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ταῦτα δὲ ἤκουσαν οἱ μιερεῖς κρυπτόμενοι, καὶ ἰδόντες τοὺς κύνας διαῤῥαγέντας, καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν συντετριμμένα καὶ ἠδαφισμένα, ἐθαύμαζον λέγοντες· Τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι; Ἄφνω δὲ κατ᾽ ἧλθεν νεφέλη φωτινὴ, καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος ἦν, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Θαρσεῖτε, ἐγὼ μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν εἰμι. Οἱ δὲ μιερεῖς ἀκούσαντες τῆς φωνῇς, εἶπον πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Ὅτι ὁ ἀόρατος Θεὸς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς. Ἄλλοι δὲ ἔλεγον· Ὅτι ὁ μέγας Ζεὺς διηλλάγη αὐτοῖς. Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται τοῦ Χριστοῦ πεσόντες ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, ἐπὶ τὴν γῇν, εὐλόγησαβ τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἀναστάντες ἐκ τῆς εὐχῇς ἀπίεσαν. Τινὲς δὲ ἐκ τῶν μιερέων κατενύγησαν τῇ φωνῇ ᾗ ἤκουσαν, καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτοῖς λέγοντες· Ἀπέλθωμεν, ἴδωμεν πῶς εὔχονται τῷ ἀοράτῳ θεῷ αὐτῶν. Οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ αὐτῶν ἀπῆλθον ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τοῦ Διὸς, καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ Σαραπίονι περὶ τῶν συντριβέντων θεῶν αὐτῶν. Ὁ δὲ Σαραπίων ἀνήγγειλεν τῷ Μαξίμῳ, ἀγαλλιῶν καὶ χαίρων ἐπὶ τῇ συντριβῇ τῶν εἰδώλων, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς γινομένοις ὑπὸ τοῦ ὑψίστου Θεοῦ· ἦν γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁͅ Σεραπίων ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ μονογενὴς τυγχάνων Χριστιανῶν γονέων, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὁ Μάξιμος λαβὼν αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλεν ἀπὸ τῆς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτὸν ποιεῖν ἀρχιερέα τῶν θεῶν. Ἀκούσας δὲ αὐτὰ ὁ Μάξιμος ἔρξατο διώκειν σφροδρῶς τοὺς Χριστιανούς. Ὁ δὲ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος οὐκ ἠνείχετο αὐτῷ πεισθῆναι, καὶ ἐπιθῦσαι. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν συλλαβέσθαι τοὺς Ἀθλητὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Μελέτιον, καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Στέφανον. Καὶ προσῆναγκεν αὐτοὺς τῶ Μαξίμῳ. Ὁ δὲ ὄχλος τῶν στρατιατῶν αὐτοῦ ἠθέλησαν αὐτὸν ἀποσπᾶσαι ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν· ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος ἐπετίμησεν τῷ ὄχλῳ ἐάσαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Διὰ τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, τὸν ἀόρατον ναὶ φιλάνθρωπον, ἐνυβρισθῶμεν μᾶλλον καὶ μὴ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων φαγόντες γελασθῶμεν· ἐλπίζομεν γὰρ ὅτι ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἀπὸ τῆς μιαροφαγίας τῆς ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ἐκέλευσεν οὖν ὁ ἀνοσιοτώτατος Μάξιμος ἐνεχθῆναι αὐτοὺς συρομένους. Εἰσαχθέντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ὁ Μάξιμος ὁ Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Γράμματα ἐδεξάμην τοῦ Αὐτοκράτορος Ἀντωνίνου, τὰ κελεύοντα τοὺς Χριστιανοὺς θύειν τοῖς θεοῖς, καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ ὑπακούσῃ τοῖς θείοις γράμμασιν, ὑπεύθυνος ἔσται πάσης κολάσεως. Βλέπετε οὖν, καὶ ἀκούσατέ μου τοὺς λόγους, ἵνα μὴ ἕως ψυχῆς κινδυνεύσητε. Οἱ Ἅγιοι εἶπον· Ἡμεῖς στρατιῶται ἔσμεν τοῦ ἡμετέρου Βασιλέως τοῦ ἐπουρανίου. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Μελέτιε, αἴρω σου τὴν τιμὴν ἕως οὗ θήσης τῷ μεγάλῳ θεῷ Διἳ· ἐπεὶ ἵνα οἶδας, εἰς μεγάλας σε τιμωρίας ἐμβαλῶ, ἐὰν μὴ πεισθῇς μοι. Λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος· Οὐ χρείαν ἔχομεν τῆς προσκαίρου τιμῆς, τῆς ὥδε· ἀλλὰ ζητῶ τὴν τιμὴν τῆς ἐπουρανίου καὶ ἀχράντου βασιλείας Χριστοῦ, τοῦ δεδωκότος τιμὴν τῷ Βασιλεῖ σου, καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς Ἄρχουσιν. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Τιμῶ σε διὰ τὴν ζώνην σου, τιμῆς γὰρ καὶ ἄξιος εἶ. Καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Μελέτιε, οὗτοι τίνες εἰσὶν, οἱ μετά σου ἐστπτες. Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Καὶ αὐτοὶ σὺν ἐμοὶ, δοῦλοί εἰσι τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἐν μὲν γὰρ τῇ δεξιᾷ εἶχεν Ἰωάννην, ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀριστερᾷ Στέφανον. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Νουθέτησον αὐτοῖς θῦσαι τῷ μεγάλῳ θεῷ Διῒ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι. Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Δικαίως εἶπας, Διῒ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι· δεῖ γάρ σε εἰς τὴν ἀπώλειαν χωρῆσαι μετὰ τῶν θεῶν σου. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Μή με ἐνύβριζε, πατὴρ γάρ σου τυγχάνω. Καὶ πάλιν λέγει Μάξιμος· Ἰωάννη, καὶ Στέφανε, φροντίσατε ὑπὲρ τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, καὶ θύσατε τοῖς θεοῖς. Οἱ δὲ ἀθληταὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἶπον· Ἡμεῖς θύομεν θυσίαν ἄχραντον καὶ ἀναίμακτον τῷ ἀχράντῳ Θεῷ καὶ Βασιλεῖ τῶν αἰώνων. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Οὐχὶ ὁ Βασιλεὺς ὁ κατέχων τὴν οἰκουμένην, ἔδοκέν σοι ἐξουσίαν τοῦ διέπειν τὴν τοῦ στρατηλάτου ἐξουσίαν, καὶ ὑμῖν, Ἰωάννη καὶ Στέφανε, στρατείαν μεγάλην ἐν τῷ ἐξερκέτῳ ὑμῶν παρέσχετο; τί οὐ θύετε, τῷ μεγάλῳ θεῷ Διΐ· Ἰωάννης καὶ Στέφανος εἶπον· Μή σοι καλῶς, κύων ἄθλιε, ἵνα τοῦτο ποιήσωμεν· δεῖ γὰρ ἡμᾶς τῷ ἀχράντῳ Θεῷ προσκυνεῖν καὶ προσεύχεσθαι, ὅστις ῥήξει τὴν ἀλαζονίαν σου καὶ τῶν θεῶν σου τῶν κειροποιήτων εἰδώλων. Μάξιμος λέγει αὐτοῖς. Ἀναφέρω καθ᾽ ὑμῶν τῷ Βασιλεῖ. Καὶ εὐθέως οἱ Ἅγιοι, λύσαντες τὰς ζώνας αὐτῶν, ἔῤῥιψαν εἰς τὴν ὄψιν Μαξίμου. Θυμωθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς ἀποδυθέντας τύπτεσθαι ξύλοις ἀγρίοις ἀπὸ ὥρας πρώτης ἕως ὥρας ἔκτης, λέγων· Ἴδωμεν εἰ ῥύσεται ὑμᾶς, ὃν σέβεσθε Θεόν. Αὐτῶν δὲ δερομένων ἀπὸ ὥρας πρώτης ἕως ὥρας ἕκτης, καὶ ἐν ἀτονίᾳ πάλιν γενομένων τῶν δημίων, καὶ ἀλλασσομένων, καὶ πάλιν τυπτόντων, οἱ μὲν δήμιοι ἔπεσον ἀχανεῖς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν, οἱ δὲ Ἅγιοι ἀτενίσαντες εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οὐκ ᾕσθοντο τῶν βασάνων. Καὶ ἄραντες τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν ὡς ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος εὐλόγησαν τὸν Θεὸν καὶ εἶπον· Ὁ προαιώνιος Θεὸς, Λόγος ὁ ὢν ἀεὶ πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα, πρὸ τοῦ κτισθῆναι τὰ σύμπαντα, ὁ καταξιώσας ἡμᾶς ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματός σου ταύτας τὰς βασάνους ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ μὴ αἰσθάνεσθαι· οὕτως δὲ διὰ πάντων διαφύλαξον πάντας τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπί σε ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν, ἵνα καταξιωθῶσι καὶ αὐτοὶ τῆς σῇς δόξῃς, καὶ πάντες συμφώνως δῶμεν δόξαν τῷ ὀνόματί σου εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Καὶ πληρωσάντων αὐτῶν τὴν εὐχὴν, Μάξιμος

Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Φείδεται ὑμῶν ὁ μέγας Θεὸς Ζεὺς, διὸ θύσατε αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐυΐλατος ὑμῖν γένηται. Οἱ Ἅγιοι εἶπον· Ἀνόητε, καὶ ἄφρων, καὶ μιαρώτατε, ἡμεῖς εἴπομέν σοι, ὅτι ἑνὶ ἀοράτῳ λατρεύομεν Θεῷ, τῷ σώζοντι ἡμᾶς καὶ πάντας τοὺς πιστεύοντας εἰς αὐτὸν ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν· εἰ δὲ χρήζεις σάρκας, λύκε ἅρπαξ, ἴδε, σάρκας φάγε, ὡς ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ σατανᾶς. Εἰ οὖν βούλει, καὶ ἄλλας τινὰς βασάνους πρόσφερε ἡμῖν· ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς ἐνδυναμεῖ ἡμᾶς. Ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔχεις τοὺς τύπτοντας ἡμᾶς, ἐξενεύρωσεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς ὁ Κύριος. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Σὺ μετ᾽ αὐτῶν μὴ ζεύγνυε σεαυτόν· εὔτιμος γὰρ ὢν, ὀφείλεις ἐπιγώσκειν τὸ ἀξίωμά σου. Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Κύων σαρκοφάγε, πάρδαλις μαινομένη, ἄπελθε εἰς τὴν ἀπόλειαν μετὰ τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου, καὶ τὰς νουθεσίας σου· γέγραπται γάρ· Οὐκ ἐκπειράσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου· καὶ πάλιν· Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου προσκυνήσεις, καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις, τῷ διδόντι ἡμῖν ἰσχὺν καὶ δύναμιν κατὰ τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου. Ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστός μου παρέχει τιμὴν αἰώνιον· ἡ γὰρ τιμὴ τοῦ Βασιλέως σου αὐτὴ πρόσκαιρός ἐστιν, σήμερον οὗσα καὶ αὔριον οὐκ οὖσα. Ταῦτα ἀκούσας ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν φυλάττεσθαι.

[9] They went therefore, and as they stood before the temple of Jupiter, they beheld a dog killed with its belly burst open, The soldiers, beholding the slaughter of the dogs and the idols, and likewise a serpent dead in its belly, and the impious sacrificers standing by in amazement. Moved by this spectacle, the illustrious soldiers of Christ blessed God, as was fitting. To them the sacrificers said straightway: You have slain the dogs of our gods. Not we indeed, the most valiant champions replied, but our God, visible to none of mortals, through His word and through His servant Meletius, has slain the dogs. Truly, the impious priests said one to another, the things are true which our gods foretold long before; and on that account we are not able to bear your sight and presence. Then the champions of Christ went to the common bath, that they might behold the other dogs also slain by the miracle, whom the priests of Jupiter secretly followed. When they had come to the bath, and the dogs burst asunder by divine power, and the images of the false gods broken by the prayers of Meletius, were set before them, they praise God, the most pious soldiers, with hands stretched out to heaven, began thus to bless and praise God: We bless Thee above all things, the God and Creator of all, our invisible King, whose throne the power of no one can shake. We bless Thy lofty arm, and Thy most mighty hand: we confess Thee the most generous warrior, and the same invisible to us, the only merciful one, who heapest with glory and much honor those who have their trust in Thee, since Thou art merciful, Thou art He who vanquishest our adversaries, and in all things conspirest with us. The eye of Thy divine providence, ever intent upon the whole world, has abundantly shown its wonderful counsels through Thy servant of Christ, Meletius. But now also show Thyself contrary to those who unjustly prepare to oppress us, since Thou art blessed unto the ages.

[10] All these things the impious sacrificers of Jupiter received with their ears: and when they had beheld the slain dogs and the broken images of their gods, and are encouraged by a heavenly voice. and lying cast down upon the ground, marveling greatly, To what, they said, tends this strangeness of this matter? Then suddenly a bright cloud, and the Lord Himself appeared in the cloud, whose voices were openly heard thus: Be of good comfort, for behold I am with you. The voice being heard, the sacrificers thus address one another: Their invisible God has spoken to them; but others asserted that great Jupiter was conversing with the most valiant men. But the soldiers of Christ, prostrate suppliantly upon the earth, blessed God in prayer, which being ended, they betook themselves elsewhere. Yet some of the sacrificers, astonished and pricked at heart by the voice which they had heard, pressed upon the footsteps of those departing, exhorting one another thus: The matter being reported to Maximus let us go further on with them, and let us studiously observe by what manner they pray to their God, the invisible one. But the rest sought again the shrine of their Jupiter, and reported to Serapion the wretched slaughter of their gods. He, rejoicing and exulting at the breaking of the idols, and the things which God most high had wonderfully wrought (for Serapion, an only son, had fallen to Christian parents in Egypt), reported the whole matter to Maximus, who, having brought Serapion out of Egypt, had enrolled him among the priests of Jupiter.

[11] When the things that were reported had been heard, Maximus began most vehemently to persecute the Christians: Meletius is seized with John and Stephen but Meletius, the illustrious servant of the supreme Godhead, by no means suffered himself to be persuaded to sacrifice to the gods. By the command therefore of the tyrant the noble champions of Christ, Meletius, John, and Stephen, were seized, and led to the tribunal of Maximus. The remaining multitude of soldiers indeed had a mind to snatch their leader Meletius from the hands of the attendants; but Meletius himself restrained them, addressing them briefly thus: Suffer, soldiers, that for the sake of the invisible God most loving to us we rather bravely endure these contumelies, than that, eating of things offered to idols, we deservedly expose ourselves to the laughter and mockery of all. For our hope is no small one, that God will make us persist immune from the eating of unhallowed foods.

[12] and being bidden to sacrifice Them therefore, bound with chains and brought before him, the most impious Maximus addresses in this manner: Mandates have been brought to me, by which the Emperor Antoninus decrees that all Christians take it upon their mind to sacrifice to the gods, and if anyone shall by no means obey his divine edicts, that he become liable to any most grievous punishment whatsoever. You therefore look about yourselves, and suffer yourselves to be persuaded by my words, lest your life be brought into the utmost peril. Then the most holy soldiers: We, they said, have given our names to the warfare of our King, who dwells above all the heavens. And Maximus the Commander: From thee, said he, Meletius, I take away all military honor, until thou shalt have offered sacrifice to Jupiter the supreme of the gods; he steadfastly refuses: but if I shall not persuade thee, know that thou art to be put to death by my command with the most grievous tortures. To whom Meletius: We make nothing, he answered, of the fleeting honors of this temporary life: that glory alone I desire to obtain, which in the heavenly and never-to-be-destroyed kingdom is promised to us by Christ, who has conferred upon thy Emperor, as upon the rest of the Princes of the earth, that glory which they have. But Maximus: On account of thy military belt I hold thee in that honor of which I truly judge thee worthy; and proceeding: But who at length are these, said he, Meletius, whom I see have been brought hither with thee? To whom Meletius: These also, he replied, serve the same Christ with me: for John held the right side of Meletius, Stephen the left. Then Maximus: Persuade them, said he, that they sacrifice to Jupiter and Apollo, the supreme of the gods. Rightly indeed, said Meletius, thou demandest that sacrifice be made to Jupiter and Apollo, thou who with thy gods shalt miserably perish unto eternity. Do not, replied Maximus, rail at me with contumelies, who ought to be to thee in a father's place.

[13] And turning to the companions of Meletius; John, he said, his companions imitating his example. and Stephen, lay not aside the care of your salvation, but render the gods propitious to you by sacrificing. The athletes of Christ answered: We offer to the immortal God and King of the ages an incorruptible and unbloody sacrifice. Has not then, replies Maximus, Antoninus the Emperor of the world conferred upon thee the power and dignity of governing his soldiery? has not the same permitted you, John and Stephen, to lead a great part of his forces? why then do you deny worship and sacrifice to Jupiter the supreme of the gods? Not so be it as thou desirest, most wretched dog, both bravely answered, that we commit this great crime: for it behooves us to make supplication to the incorruptible God and to offer sacrifices, who will humble, when He shall will, the pride of thee and of thy gods, made by the hands of men. Maximus then: I will refer, said he, concerning you to the Emperor. Then forthwith the holy Soldiers, having loosed their military belts, cast them before the feet of the tyrant.

[14] Maximus, enraged, commands the most valiant athletes to be stripped of their garments, wherefore they are beaten with cudgels, and from the first to the sixth hour to be beaten with rougher cudgels: and, Let us see, said he, whether the God whom you worship will deliver you from your torments. When therefore from the first hour, as I said, to the sixth the Martyrs were being scourged; and when the failing torturers were changed, and fresh and new ones ever succeeded, all nevertheless wearied and stupefied slipped to the ground: but the champions of Christ, with eyes fixed upon heaven, as though feeling nothing they pray for their companions, showed no sense of the punishments; but lifting up as from one mouth a most beautiful voice, they blessed God praying with nearly these words: O Thou who before all the beginnings of the ages wast God, O Word who ever wast with the Father, even before all things which now exist were created, by the grace of Thy most sacred name we have been held worthy to sustain indeed these punishments, but by no means to feel them. In this manner, we pray, preserve all our Brethren who hope in Thee, that they also may be found not unworthy of Thy glory, and that all of us with one voice may celebrate Thy name with due praises unto the ages. Amen.

[15] When the Saints had ceased from prayer, Maximus thus addressed them: Great God Jupiter spares you, wherefore refuse not to sacrifice to him, that you may plainly render him propitious to your affairs. and they insult the tyrant. The Martyrs received the admonition of the tyrant with this answer: Madman, senseless one, and most impure of men, this sentence of our mind we freely declare, that we offer sacrifices to the one invisible God, who makes us and all our Brethren who repose their hope in Him safe and secure. But if thou cravest human flesh, ravening Wolf, lo, devour the flesh, even as thy father Satan. But if thou desirest us also tortured with other kinds of torments, behold us ready and eager: inflict what punishments thou wilt. Our Lord Christ Jesus supplies us with strength and vigor. Behold now thou lackest the torturers who scourge us, for God has rendered them weak and feeble. Maximus said: Thou at least, Meletius, do not resolve that the same fortune is to be undergone by thee with these wretches; for since thou art far superior to the others in dignity, it surely behooves thee not to be unmindful of it. Then Meletius: Carnivorous dog, and panther raging in fury, mayest thou perish miserably with thy father the Devil, who admonishest me to do such things: for it is written; Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And again: Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve, who bestows upon us strength and vigor against the machinations of the Devil, thy father. For me indeed my Christ prepares an honor that shall never perish. For that dignity, which thy Emperor can confer, is circumscribed by a small space of time, which namely today is and tomorrow is by no means had. Hearing these things, Maximus the Commander ordered him to be kept under close guard.

CHAPTER III.

On the following two days the torments are repeated: the head of Jupiter is cast down. Serapion and the guards are converted and baptized.

Καὶ καθίσας τῇ ἐπαύριον ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ὁ Μάξιμος, λέγει αὐτοῖς · Ἰδοὺ κελεύω ἡμᾶς κρεμασθέντας ξέεσθαι. Ξεομένων δὲ αὐτῶν άπὸ πρώτης ὥρας ἕως ἑσπέρας, καὶ θαυμαζόντων πολλῶν, ἀτενίζοντες πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἔλεγον οἱ Ἅγιοι· Μὴ παρίδῃς ἡμῶν τὴν προσδοκίαν, καὶ τὴν εἴς σε ἐλπίδα· ἀλλὰ τέλειον τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦτον ποίησον ἡμᾶς ἐκτελέσαι, ἵνα ἐν παῤῥησίᾳ διάγωμεν εἰς τὸν ἐκεῖσε αἰῶνα· ὁ γὰρ κόσμος οὗτος παρέρχεται· ῥῆξον δὲ τὸν ἀλαζόνα Μάξιμον, τὸν κύνα τὸν μιαροφάγον, ἵνα μὴ λυμαίνηται τὰ πρόβατά σου τὰ εἴς σε ἐλπίζοντα. Καὶ εὐθέως οἱ δήμιοι διεφώρησαν. Ὁψίας δὲ γενομένης, ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς κατενεχθῆναι, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Μελέτιε, Ἰωάννη, καὶ Στέφανε, ἤδη ὥρα τῶν θυσιῶν ἐστι, θύσατε τῷ μεγάλῳ θεῷ Διῒ, ἵνα ἐυΐλατος ἡμῖν γένηται, κᾀγὼ φείσομαι ὑμῶν. Μελέτιος λέγει· Κύων μιαρώτατε καὶ αἱμοβόρε, ἀκμὴν σαρκῶν δεῖ; ἰδοὺ σάρκας, φάγε, ὡς ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ σατανᾶς. Ἡμεῖς γὰρ καὶ κρεμάμενοι θυσίαν ἀναίματον ἀνεπέμψαμεν τῷ ἐνδυμαμοῦντι ἡμᾶς Χριστῷ, κατὰ τῶν βασάνων σου, καὶ τῆς ἀπειλῆς σου. Εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, ὥσπερ ἤδη εἴπομέν σοι, ἄλλας κολάσεις πρόσφερε ἡμῖν· ἡμεῖς γὰρ οὐκ αἰσθανόμεθα τῶν βασάνων σου, διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ ἐνδυναμοῦντος ἡμᾶς. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος θυμοθεὶς, ὅτι οὐδὲν κατ᾽ αὐτῶν ἰσχύει πλέον τι ποιῆσαι, ὀψίας γενομένης, λέγει τοῖς δημίοις ἀσφαλισθῆναι εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, ἵνα σκέψηταί τι πάλιν ποιῆσαι αὐτοῖς. Εἰσελθόντες δὲ εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, ἀκαταπαύστως πᾶσαν τὴν νύκτα ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεόν. Τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ὁ παρανομώτατος Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν ἀχθῆναι τοὺς Ἁγίους. Ἀχθέντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ἐκέλευσεν σιδηραῖς σφέραις τύπτεσθαι αὐτοὺς εἰς τοὺς ἀστραγάλους· τυπτόμενοι δὲ οὐκ ᾐσθάνοντο τῶν βασάνων, τοῦ Κυρίου βοηθοῦντος αὐτοῖς. Ἐκέλευσεν οὖν ὁ μιαρώτατος Μάξιμος πάλιν ἐνεχθῆναι ξῦλα παμμεγέθη καὶ ἥλους πηχαίους, καὶ καθηλωθῆναι τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ ξύλῳ. Τῶν δὲ δημίων κρουόντων τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν τοῖς ἥλοις πεπυρουμένοις, ἐτρύβοντο οἱ ἧλοι· οἱ δὲ Ἅγιοι οὐκ ᾐσθάνοντο τοῦ πόνου, τοῦ Κυρίου βοηθοῦντος αὐτοῖς. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος, ὅτι οὔ τε οὕτως αἰσθάνονται, ἐκέλευσεν κρεμασθῆναι τοὺς ἀθλητὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ σπατίζεσθαι τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν· αὐτοὶ δὲ ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ σιωπῇ προσευχόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐχ ἥπτετο αὐτῶν βάσανος. Κρουόντων δὲ τῶν δημίων. αἱ μάχαιραι αὐτῶν διεστρέφοντο ὠσεὶ μόλιβδος, ὡς νομίζειν ὅτι εἰς μάρμαρον τύπτουσιν· ἐστερεώθησαν δὲ τὰ σώματα τῶν Ἁγίων ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ οὐχ ἤψαντο αἱ βάσανοι. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος ὅτι οὐ δὲ οὕτως ἐδυνήθη ἀναλῶσαι αὐτοὺς; ἐκέλευσεν ὀγκίοις ὀξέσιν ἐκτείλεσθαι τὰ νευρὰ αὐτῶν ἐξ τῶν βραχιόνων αὐτῶν· καὶ οὐ δὲ οὕτως ᾔσθοντο οἱ Ἅγιοι. Πάλιν οὖν ἐκέλευσεν ὁ μιαρώτατος Μάξιμος κρεμασθέντας αὐτοὺς σιδηροσφύροις τὰ μέτωπα αὐτῶν τύπτεσθαι, ὅπου τὴν σφραγίδα ἐποίουν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· οἱ δὲ δήμιοι νομίζοντες τύπτειν τοὺς Ἁγίους, τοὺς ἑαυτῶν ἐγκεφάλους διεσκόρπισαν, καὶ τῶν παρεστώτων ἔγγιστα αὐτῶν. Τότε οὖν θυμωθεὶς ὁ ἀνόσιος Μάξιμος, καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι οὐδὲν ἰσχύει πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ὑποβληθεὶς πάλιν ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ἐκέλευσεν ἔλαισον πυρωθῆναι, καὶ εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτῶν ἐμβληθῆναι. Πυρωθέντος δὲ τοῦ ἐλαίου, ὥστε τὸν βρασμὸν μὴ ὑποφέρειν τοὺς παρεστῶτας (ἦσαν γὰρ πολλοὶ περὶ αὐτοὺς, ἐκπληττόμενοι τὴν ὑπομονὴν τῶν Ἁγίων καὶ τὸν γενναῖον αὐτῶν λογισμόν) τότε ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς τεθῆναι μετὰ τῶν ξύλων, ἐν οἷς ἐκρέμαντο, καὶ βληθῆναι τὸ ἔλαιον εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτῶν. Ἀπὸ δὲ πολλοῦ βρασμοῦ τοῦ ἐλαίου οἱ δήμιοι διελύθησαν, καὶ αἱ σάρκες αὐτῶν διεσκορπίσθησαν· οἱ δὲ Ἅγιοι οὐκ ᾐσθάνοντο τῆς βασάνου. τοῦ Κυρίου βοηθοῦντος αὐτοῖς. Τότε ἐπίστευσεν ὄχλος πολὺς εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν· ἄφνω δὲ σχισθέντος τοῦ πραιτωίου, ἀστραπὴ κατελθοῦσα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν πολλοὺς ἔκαυσεν τῶν Ἑλλήνων τοὺς περὶ τὸν Μάξιμον. Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης, μετὰ τῆς ἀστραπῆς κατῆλθον Ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπιβαλόμενοι τῶν Ἁγίων ἀπήνεγκαν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ Διὸς, τὸ ἐπιλεγόμενον Τέμενος, καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτοῖς οἱ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ· Ἐπιβαλούμενοι τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ χαλκουργήματος, ῥίψατε αὐτὸ κάτω. Καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ Ἅγιοι οὕτως. Θορύβου δὲ γενομένου, ἐκραύγασαν οἱ ἀκάθαρτοι δαίμονες· διϋπνισθέντες δὲ οἱ μιερεῖς, λέγουσιν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Ἄρα μὴ ἡ προφητεία τῶν θεῶν ἤγγισεν, τοῦ στραφῆναι τὸν Δία ὑπό τινος λεγουμένου Μελετίου; Προσακούσαντες γὰρ ταῦτα οἱ μιερεῖς, ἐφύλαττον τὸ χαλκούργημα τοῦ Διὸς, τοῦ μὴ στραφῆναι αὐτό. Ἀναστάντες δὲ οἱ μιερεῖς καὶ προσεσχηκότες, ἴδον λαμπάδας πάνυ φοβερὰς, ὥστε ἐκπλήττεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν· τοὺς δὲ Ἁγίους ἐθεώρουν ἑστῶτας ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ἱεροῦ φαιδρούς· τὴν δὲ κεφαλὴν τοῦ χαλκουργήματος τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτῶν κειμένην εἰς τὸ ἔδαφος, καὶ τὰς πύλας ἠσφαλεσμένας τοῦ ἱεροῦ. Ῥίψαντες οὖν οἱ μιερεῖς τοὺς ἑαυτῶν στεφάνους, καὶ περισχισάμενοι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν χιτῶνας, ἐπελάβοντο τοῦ Μελετίου καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου, καὶ ἐψηλάφησαν αὐτοὺς, καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτοῖς μάστιξ. Ἔτυψαν οἱ μιερεῖς τὰ μέτωπα καὶ τὰ στήθη ἑαυτῶν, ὥστε αἱμάξαι ἑαυτοὺς, καὶ λέγουσι πρὸς τοὺς Ἁγίους· Τί ποιήσομεν, καὶ τί ἀπολογησόμεθα Μαξίμῳ καὶ Σεραπίονι, διότι καὶ αὐτὸς ἦλθεν ἐνθάδε μαθεῖν τοῦ θυσιάζειν. Καὶ ἐπιβαλόμενοι ἐπηρώτων τοὺς ἁγίους λέγοντες· Τίνες ἐστὲ ὑμεῖς· Οἱ Ἅγιοι εἶπον· Ἡμεῖς δοῦλοί ἐσμεν τοῦ ἐπουρανίου Θεοῦ καὶ παντοκράτορος Βασιλέως τῶν αἰώνων. Ταῦτα ἀκούσαντες οἱ μιερεῖς,· ἐπιλαβόμενοι τῶν Ἁγίων ἔτυπτον αὐτοὺς ξύλοις, καὶ ἀπήγαγον αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ δημόσιον δεσμωτήριον, καὶ παρέδωκαν αὐτοὺς τοῖς δεσμοφύλαξιν, καὶ σφραγισάμενοι τὰς θύρας ἀνεχώρησαν. Ἄφνω δὲ διαῤῥαγέντων τῶν κλείθρων καὶ τῶν δεσμῶν, ὧν περιέθηκαν τοῖς ἀθλοφόροις τοῖ Χριστοῦ, Ἐγένετο ὄχλος πολὺς Ἀγγέλων μετ᾽ αὐτῶν, ὑμνούντων καὶ δοξαζόντων τὸν Θεόν. Καὶ ἰδόντες οἱ δεσμοφύλακες τὰς λαμπάδας πάνυ φοβερὰς, καὶ τὴν μεγάλην δόξαν τὴν γενομένην, ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστόν. Ἀπελθόντες δὲ οἱ μιερεῖς, ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ Σεραπίονι, τῷ μηδέποτε θυσιάσαντι, τὸ θέαμα τὸ γενόμενον, ὅστις ἦν ἀπὸ τῆς Αἰγύπτου ἀνελθὼν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ Μαξίμου τοῦ Δουκὸς ποιῆσαι μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ θυσίας. Ἀναστὰς δὲ Σεραπίων, καὶ λαβὼν λαμπάδα, καὶ ἀπελθὼν εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸ ἀνεωγμένον, καὶ ἰδὼν ἔσω λαμπάδας φοβερὰς, καὶ ὄχλον πολὺν Ἀγγέλων δοξαζόντων τὸν Θεὸν σὺν τοῖς ἁγίοις Μάρτυσιν, ἔκθαμβος γενόμενος, λαβὼν τοὺς δεσμοφύλακας κατ᾽ ἰδίαν λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἄνδρες στρατιῶται, δείξατέ μοι, ποῦ ἔστιν ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος τῶν εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν ἐχόντων τὰς ἐλπίδας. Ἀπελθόντες δὲ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἐν Τοικοφρόμοις ἐν οἰκίᾳ τινὶ, ὅπου ἦν ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος μονάζων, διὰ τὸ τοὺς Χριστιανοὺς ὀλίγους εἶναι, ἔκρουσαν τὴν θύραν καὶ εἶπον· Θεράπων τοῦ Χριστοῦ, φώτισον ἡμᾶς· ὡς γὰρ πιστεύουσιν Μελέτιος, Ἰωάννης, καὶ Στέφανος, οὕτως καὶ, ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν τῷ Θεῷ. Ἔξελθε, ὑπόδειξον ἡμῖν τῆς πίστεως τὰ σύμβολα, καὶ ποίησον ἡμᾶς δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν, τὸν βοηθοῦντα τῷ Μελετίῳ, καὶ Ἰωάννῃ, καὶ Στεφάνω, καὶ τῷ ὄχλῳ σὺν αὐτοῖς. Ἀνοίξας δὲ ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν, καὶ τοὺς δεσμοφύλακας τοὺς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Τεκνία, τί ἥκατε ὥδε πρός με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Δὸς ἡμῖν τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα καὶ τὸ λουτρὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας, ἵνα καὶ ἡμεῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσωμεν. Ἀπαγαγὼν δὲ αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος, ὅπου ἦν ὕδωρ καθαρὸν, καὶ εὐξάμενος καὶ κατηχήσας αὐτοὺς, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὸ λουτρὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας. Καθελθοῦσα δὲ νεφέλη παρὰ Κυρίου ἡγίασεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ τὸν τόπον, ὅπου ἐβαπτίσθησαν· Ἄγγελος δὲ Κυρίου ἔδωκεν τῷ Σεραπίονι ὠμοφόρεον εἰς τοὺς ὠμοὺς αὐτοῦ. Παραχρῆμα δὲ εὑρέθησαν οἱ ἀθλοφόροι τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Μελέτιος, καὶ Ἰωάννης, καὶ Στέφανος.

[16] On the day following, when Maximus had sat upon the tribunal, he thus said to them: Behold, I command that you, hung up from beams, be again beaten with scourges. On the second day the Martyrs are again flogged, And when from the first hour of the day until the evening time they had been most cruelly scourged, the more part who were present being stupefied, the holy Martyrs fixed their eyes upon heaven, and prayed thus: Our expectation, O God, we pray, and the trust which we have reposed in Thee despise not. This only deny us not now, that this great contest of Thy servants be bravely accomplished, whereby we may merit to fly forth into that perfect and blessed liberty which is with Thee: for the fashion of this world passeth away. Maximus also, swollen with pride, and a dog most greedy of human flesh, break and unnerve; lest he proceed to afflict with grief and sorrow the little sheep of the flock devoted to Thee. Then the strength of the executioners was exhausted by scourging. When at length the day was inclining toward evening, he thus addresses the Martyrs brought before him: they act with equal constancy: Meletius, John, and Stephen, now is the time of sacrificing. Wherefore deny not your sacrifices to great Jupiter, that both he may be rendered propitious to thee, and I may dismiss you free. To whom Meletius: O dog, said he, most impure, and most thirsting for gore, dost thou still need flesh? lo, here is flesh for thee. Devour it after the example of thy father the devil. We indeed even in this manner hung up offer of ourselves an unbloody sacrifice to Christ Jesus, by whose wholly divine power we receive courage and strength to endure bravely all these things, and we make nothing of all thy threatenings. Inflict also more and more atrocious punishments, as we have already said before, if it seem good; know meanwhile, such is the power and goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we have no sense of any of these tortures. Which being heard, the tyrant was kindled with great wrath indeed, because he had spent all his threats and torments against the Martyrs in vain. The evening therefore approaching, he ordered them to be kept in a foul prison, while he himself should determine with what punishments anew he might torture the holy Soldiers. But the champions of Christ, when they had entered the prison, spent that whole night in chanting divine praises.

[17] On the following day the most impious tyrant orders the holy Martyrs again to be set before his tribunal. on the third day they are again tortured in diverse ways, When this was done, he straightway ordered their heels to be beaten with iron balls: yet the Martyrs, strengthened by the singular grace of Christ the Lord, by no means felt the cruelty of the punishment. Then by the command of Maximus certain huge timbers were brought, and cubit-long nails, with which the feet of the Saints were forthwith fixed to the wood. The torturers therefore with great force driving the fiery nails into the feet of the Martyrs, the nails themselves indeed were worn away by the frequent striking, but yet the holy men remained free from pain, our Lord singularly aiding them. But when

Maximus had seen that not even thus could any sense of pain be wrung from the most generous soldiers, they feeling nothing. he commanded them again hung up from on high to be bravely stretched out with the whole body. But the Martyrs, lifting up their eyes to heaven, and appeasing God with a silent prayer, suffered no harm from the tortures. And when the torturers drove their knives into the bodies of the Saints, they were blunted as if of lead and rebounded, no otherwise than if they had struck against marble statues; for by divine power the bodies of the holy Martyrs had been hardened against all kinds of punishments. When therefore not even thus could Maximus hope that the generous athletes of Christ could be destroyed, he commanded this, that with the sharpest hooks the sinews of their arms should be stretched out. But neither did the Saints show any sense of this punishment. Then again the tyrant ordered them to be hung on the wood, and the foreheads of the Martyrs to be struck with iron balls, because they frequently imprinted upon their foreheads the venerable sign of Christ. But when the executioners prepared to assail the faces of the holy Soldiers with blows, they prodigiously struck their own foreheads, as also those of the spectators standing nearer.

[18] Then turned into a frenzy, Maximus, and knowing that he could effect nothing against the holy men, and as it were driven by a demon, nor yet boiling oil poured into their ears. commanded a great quantity of oil with fire set beneath to be kindled, and to be poured into the ears of the Martyrs. The oil now boiling vehemently, so that those who stood by could no longer endure the heat (and there stood by very many, stupefied with great admiration, on account of the incredible endurance of the holy Martyrs in torments, and their generous nature), the tyrant decreed that, together with the timbers to which they had hung affixed, they should be set down upon the ground, and so the boiling oil should be poured into their ears. But by the fervor of the boiling oil the torturers were rendered weak, the prætorium then falling down, many are converted. and their own flesh was scorched with the vehement heat; the Saints meanwhile, by the help of divine grace, not feeling their punishment. By which miracle many being moved embraced the religion of the Christians, especially since the very prætorium had suddenly drawn down a great ruin, and a thunderbolt sent from heaven had consumed very many of the Gentiles, who had resolved to adhere to Maximus.

[19] The day inclining toward evening, when the thunderbolts had ceased, Angels sent by God were present, the Saints entering the temple of Jupiter by night, who led the most valiant champions of Christ to the temple of Jupiter, which is also called a shrine, admonishing moreover these things: Come, lay hold with your hands of the head of this brazen image and cast it to the ground; and the Saints straightway did as bidden. But a great tumult having arisen, the impure demons raised most loud clamors: at once the impious priests, roused from sleep, thus addressed one another: Truly now is come the time, in which in very deed the prophecy of our gods must be fulfilled, asserting that our Jupiter is to be overthrown by a certain man, whose name is Meletius. For when those priests had received this oracle, they take away the head of Jupiter: they busied themselves with all diligence to guard the brazen image of Jupiter, lest it should be overthrown. Then therefore, snatching themselves without delay from their beds, when they had entered the temple of Jupiter, they beheld with incredible amazement a great force of lamps, gleaming with terrible light. But they observed the holy Martyrs in the midst of the temple exulting with joy, the head of the brazen image and of their god cast down upon the ground, and the doors of the temple itself firmly barred. Wherefore, casting upon the ground the crowns which they wore, and their tunics rent, the impious sacrificers seize Meletius, John, and Stephen, in whom they found no traces of wounds.

[20] Then beating their own foreheads and breasts, so that abundant blood flowed forth, wherefore being dragged back by the Priests into prison, they thus addressed the holy Martyrs: What shall we do, or what excuse at length shall we bring before Maximus and Serapion, since he too is wont to come hither, that he may learn all the rites by sacrificing? Adding also other things to these; Who are you, they said, and whence are you? To whom the Martyrs: We are, they answered, servants of the most high God, and of the omnipotent King of the ages. These things heard, they dragged the holy Martyrs, beaten with cudgels, to the public prison, they are visited by Angels: and delivered them to the keepers of the prison, and the doors being diligently barred returned to their own places. But suddenly the bars and chains by which the athletes of Christ were held being broken asunder, there was present a great multitude of Angels, rendering praises and thanksgivings to God together with the holy Martyrs. The keepers of the prison, as soon as they beheld the prodigious light in the prison, and the great splendor of those present, soon believed in Christ.

[21] The priests of Jupiter meanwhile reported to Serapion, who had not yet sacrificed to the Gods, Serapion, converted at these sights, all the things that had happened. He likewise had come from Egypt with Maximus, the Commander, to offer sacrifices to the Gods: but having then heard the things which the sacrificers narrated more fully, he betook himself with kindled torches to the prison; in which when he beheld the prodigious brightness of the lamps and the multitude of Angels, praising God together with the holy Martyrs, struck with great amazement, he thus addressed the keepers of the prison apart: Men soldiers, show me, I pray, the Bishop of those who have their hopes reposed in Christ. The keepers of the prison went with Serapion to a certain house, situated in Tœcophromis, where the Bishop then dwelt, he seeks baptism with the guards, living solitarily on account of the fewness of the Christians who then were. The door being knocked at, all alike said: Baptize us, servant of God; for as Meletius, John, and Stephen believe, so we too are prepared to believe in God: come forth, we pray, and teach us all the articles of the Christian faith; and bring it to pass that, not unworthy, we may be able to render praises to God, who so wonderfully affords His help to Meletius, John, Stephen, and their other fellow-soldiers. The doors being unbarred, when the Bishop had seen Serapion and the keepers of the prison present; and obtains it from the Bishop. For what cause, said he, my sons, have you come to me a sinner? They answered straightway: We desire to receive from thee the character of the Christian faith and the laver of incorruption, that we ourselves also may not be found unworthy to receive the possession of eternal life. Having therefore admitted them into that part of the house where pure water was kept, and having well prepared them by prayers and instructions, he washed them all with the water of incorruption. Then a cloud divinely sent down from God sanctified both themselves and the place in which they had been baptized: moreover Serapion merited to receive a pallium from one of the Angels upon his shoulders: suddenly also the athletes of Christ, Meletius, John, and Stephen, were present.

CHAPTER IV.

The officers of Meletius are vainly beaten with leaden weights: he with Serapion conquers fire and breaks Æsculapius.

Ἡμέρας δὲ γενομένης, λαβόντες οἱ μιερεῖς τοὺς τεχνίτας, κα τὰ χαλκουργήματα, καὶ ποήσαντες μάγγονα, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ ὄχλου βαστάσαντες τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ χαλκουργήματος ἤνεγκαν, καὶ ἤγαγον πρὸς τὸν Δοῦκα Μάξιμον. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Δοὺξ πάνυ ἐθρήνησεν διὰ τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ καθίσας πρὸ τοῦ βήματος, λέγει πρὸς τοὺς μιερεῖς· Πόσην βοήθειαν ἔσχον, ὅτι οὕτως κατέστρεψαν τὸν θεὸν ἡμῶν Δία; Ἐπυνθάνετο δὲ τοῦτο, νομίζων ὅτι σὺν αὐτοῖς ὄχλος πολὺς ἦν. Καὶ μεταστειλάμενος Φῆστον, καὶ Φαῦστον, καὶ Μαρκελλῖνον, καὶ Θεόδωρον, καὶ Μελετίωνα, καὶ Σέργιον, καὶ Μάρκελλον, καὶ Φήλικα, καὶ Φωτεινὸν, καὶ Θεοδωρίσκον, Μερκούριον, καὶ Δίδυμον τοὺς Κώμητας, καὶ τοὺς Τριβούνους καὶ τοὺς Πρίγκηπας αὐτοῦ, λέγει αὐτοῦ, λέγει αυτοῖς· Ἡμεῖς τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν τὸν μέγαν πολλῇ σπουδῇ ἐποιήσαμεν, καὶ ὑμεῖς αὐτὸν ἐκλάσατε; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Ἡμεῖς μὲν οὐκ ἦμεν ἐκεῖ, ἀλλ᾽ εἳς ὢν, ὃν κατεφρόνεις, μετὰ τῆς ἐπουρανίου δυνάμεως ἧς εἶχεν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, αὐτὸς κατέστρεψεν αὐτὸν, ὁ Στρατηλάτης Μελέτιος, καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ· πῶς οὖν ἡμεῖς αὐτῷ λατρεύσωμεν χαλκουργήματι ὄντι; Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Κᾂν ὑμεῖς θύσατε τοῖς θεοῖς. Οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Τίνι θύσωμεν, ἀνόητε καὶ διεστραμμένε τῇ καρδίᾳ; τῷ χαλκῷ τῷ ἀκεφάλῳ, ἢ τῷ καταδείξαντι τὴν πονηρίαν σὺν τῇ εἰδωλολατρείᾳ; Μάξιμος ἡγεμῶν εἶπεν· Ναὶ, θύσατε τῷ Ἀπόλλωνι. Οἱ Ἅγιοι εἶπον, Δικαίως εἶπας Ἀπόλλωνι, αὐτὸς γὰρ ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχήν σου μετὰ τῶν εἰς αὐτὸν πιστευόντων. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Οὐκ οὖν ὑβρίζετε τὸν Βασιλέα, ὅστις σέβεται αὐτοῖς; ἀναφέρω καθ᾽ ὑμῶν, ὅπως τὸ γενναῖον τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὑμῶν μεταβάλω. Οἱ Ἅγιοι εἶπον· Τί οὒν κόπους σεαυτῷ παρέχεις; ἢ οὐκ οἶδας, ὅτι σκληρόν σοί ἐστι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν; ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας γὰρ μέγας ἐστὶν ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Χριστιανῶν. Θυμωθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος λέγει τῷ Σεραπίονι· Ἐγὼ μὲν ἐφειδόμην σου, σὺ δὲ μετὰ τῶν φαρμακῶν ἔμιξας σεαυτόν. Ἀπαρτὶ οὐ φείσομαί σου. Καὶ εἰπὼν ταῦτα ὁ Τύραννος, ἐκέλευσεν μετὰ μολίβδων τὰς σιαγόνας αὐτῶν τύπτεσθαι. Ααβόντες οὖν οἱ ὑπηρέται τοῦ διαβόλου τοὺς μολίβδους, ἔτυπτον αὐτῶν τὰς σιαγόνας, ἕως οὗ ἔρευσεν τὸ αἷμα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν. Ὁ δὲ μακάριος Σεραπίων μὴ αἰσθανόμενος, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐνδυναμούμενος ᾖρεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ εἶπεν· Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Δέσποτα παντοκράτορ, αἰώνιε Βασιλεῦ, ὁ ποιήσας ἐνὶ λόγῳ τὰ πάντα, δός μοι ὑπομονὴν τελείαν τοῦ καταξιωθῆναί με ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματός σου βασανισθῆναι διὰ τοῦ μολίβδου τούτου. Καταξίωσόν με μετὰ τῶν θεραπόντων σου συμμιγῆναι· καὶ νῦν πάλιν δός μοι τὴν ὑπομονὴν, ὡς ἔδωκας τοῖς σοῖς ἀθλοφόροις Μελετίῳ, καὶ Ἰωάννῃ, καὶ Στεφάνῳ τοῖς σοῖς δούλοις. Ναὶ, Δέσποτα, ὅς δεδωκώς μοι τὴν ἄσπιλον σφραγίδα διὰ τοῦ θεράποντός σου καὶ λειτουργοῦ Επισκόπου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ διασπῶν τοὺς δεσμοὺς θανάτου, καὶ λυτρούμενος φθορᾶς τοῦ λομεῶνος ὄφεως τοὺς ἐλπίξοντας ἐπί σε. Πρόσδεξαι τὴν δέησιν τοῦ δούλου σου, καὶ ποίησον ἄξιον γενέσθαι καὶ τέλειον ἐμ᾽ ἐμοὶ τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦ σταδίου τούτου, καὶ στερέωσόν μου τὴν ψυχὴν, καθὼς καὶ τῶν τιμιών σου Ἀφλοφόρων· καὶ μὴ ἐνκαταλίπῃς με τὸν ἐπί σοι πεποιθότα, ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Ἰδοὺ Σεραπίων, πόσον ἐφλυάρησας, κἀγὼ ἠνεσχόμην σου, ἄφες οὖν τὸν λοιπὸν τὰς μωρίας, καὶ προσελθὼν λοιπὸν θῦσον τοῖς θεοῖς. Σεραπίων λέγει· Μιαρώτατε, καὶ ἀκάθαρτε κύων, ἐχθρὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ φίλε τοῦ σατανᾶ, οὐ νοεῖς ὅτι ἔσχω τὸν δυναμοῦντά με Χριστὸν κατὰ τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου; Καὶ σὺ, ἀνόηστε, κελεύεις με πιστεύειν εἰδώλοις ἢ πνεύμασιν ἀκαθάρτοις; Μάξιμος Ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν· Ἰδοὺ Μελέτιε, φείδομαί σου, ὡς τέκνον, ποίησον οὖν τοὺς σύν σοι ἑταίρους θῦσαι τοῖς θεοῖς· καὶ ἀπόλαβέ σου τὸ ἀξίωμα τοῦ Στρατηλάτου, καὶ δῶρα πολλὰ δώσω σοι. Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Τὰ δῶρά σου πρόσφερε τῷ πατρί σου τῷ σατανᾷ, τῷ ὁμοίῳ σου· ἐμοὶ γὰρ ζητήθω ὁ Χριστὸς, ὁ διδούς μοι τὸ ἀξίωμα ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ δῶρον τῆς ἀφθαρσίας· ἕνα γὰρ ἐξ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπηρεάσεις. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος μανίᾳ πυρωθεὶς, ἐκέλευσεν πυρὰν μεγάλην γενέσθαι, ὧστε τὴν φλόγα παμμεγεθεστάτην εἶναι, καὶ ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς ἐμβληθῆναι ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ πυρᾷ. Ὁ

δὲ Σαραπίων λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Δοῦλε τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ διδάσκαλε ἡμῶν, ποίησον εὐχὴν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν τὸν ὕψιστον, καὶ πρόλαβε, ἵνα βλέποντές σε προθύμως εἰσέλθωμεν. Ἀναβλέψαντες δὲ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπον ὡς ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος· Ὀ σώσας τοὺς τρεῖς παῖδας ἐν τῷ καμίνῳ τοῦ πυρὸς, καὶ νῦν ἔπιδε τῷ ἀχράντῳ σου καὶ ἁγίῳ καὶ εὐσπλάγχῳ ὀφθαλῷ, καὶ σῶσον ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἐπί σε ἐλπίζοντας, καὶ δὸς ἡμῖν δύναμιν καὶ ἰσχὺν ἵνα νικήσωμεν τὸν ἀντικείμενον. Καὶ ταῦτα αὐτῶν εἰπόντων, ἐπιβαλλόμενοι ἀλλήλων τὰς χεῖρας, εἰσῆλθον εἱς τὸ μέσον τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καμίνου, καὶ εὑρέθησαν ὡς ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ δροσιζόμενͅοι, καὶ εὐχόμενοι. Μάξιμος δὲ ὁ παράνομος προσεῖχεν τῇ πυρᾷ, καὶ ὥρα χάριν ἐν κύκλῳ τῶν Ἁγίων οὖσαν, καὶ τοὺς δούλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνὰ μέσον στήκοντας, καὶ εὐλογοῦντας τὸν Θεόν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν πάλιν ὕδωρ κύκλῳ τῆς πυρᾶς βληθῆναι, ὥστε διὰ τῆς ἀναθυμιάσεως τοῦ καπνοῦ ἀποπνίξαι αὐτούς· καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσεν οὐδὲ οὕτως ἀδικῆσαι αὐτούς. Τότε οὖν κατῃσχύνθη ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ δυνάμει. Ἐκέλευσεν δὲ αὐτοὺς ἀχθῆναι ἐπὶ τὴν δημοσίαν· ἐξῆλθον δὲ οἱ Ἅγιοι ἐκ τῆς πυρᾶς ὡς ἀπὸ εὐφρασίας. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτοὺς ἀνθηροὺς ὁ Μάξιμος ἐθαύμασεν, καὶ ἐκέλευσαν τοῖς δορυφόροις αὐτοῦ συλλαβεῖν τὸν ἀθλητὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιον καὶ τὸν Σεραπίονα, καὶ ἀπαχθῆναι αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ἱερον τοῦ Ἀσκληπιοῦ, καὶ βίᾳ θύειν, λέγων αὐτοῖς· Ἀπέλθετε, θύσατε τῷ μεγάλῳ θεῷ Ἀσκληπιῷ, τῷ καταδείξαντι τὴν σοφίαν τῆς ἰατρείας εἰς σωτηρίαν τῶν ἀσθενούντων. Οἱ δὲ δορυφόροι κατὰ τὸ κέλευσμα τοῦ Μαξίμου λαβόντες τοὺς Ἁγίους ἐκ τῆς δημοσίας, ἀνέφερον αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀσκληπιόν· ἠκολούθησεν δὲ αὐτοῖς ὄχλος πολύς. Ὁ δὲ Ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ πανυ φοβερὸς τῷ προσώπῳ ἀπίει, εἰδὼς ὅτι κᾀκεῖνο πεσεῖται τὸ εἴδωλον θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Σεραπίων στυγνάσας λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Μελέτιε, δοῦλε τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου τί ποίησομεν; Ὁ ἅγιος Μελέτιος λέγει· Προθύμως βαδίσωμεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, καὶ ὁ ἐὰν βουληθῇ ὁ Βασιλεὺς ὁ ἐπουράνιος τοῦτο ποιοῦμεν· Οἶδα γὰρ ὀτι ἀπελθόνλων ἡμῶν εἰς τὸν τόπον, πεσεῖται τὸ εἴδωλον. Τότε ὁ Σεραπίων πεισθεὶς ἀπίει προθύμως· ἐνόμιζεν γὰρ ὅτι ὁ Βελίαρ διαστρέφει τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν. Ἀπελθόντες δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον ἀνέβλεψαν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ ποιήσαντες τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ ἱερόν. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Μελέτιος τὸ εἴδωλον τοῦ᾽ Ἀσκληπιοῦ., λέγει πρὸς ἑαυτὸν οὗτως· Ὁ ἀόρατος Θεὸς, ὁ τῶν κρυπτῶν γνώστης, ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάνλα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν, ἔπιδε ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν ἠμῶν, καὶ τῷ κελεύσματί σου διὰ τῶν ἁγίων σου Ἀγγέλων πεσεῖται καὶ συντριβήσεται τὸ εἴδωλον τοῦτο. Καὶ εὐθέως ἐσείσθη πᾶν τὸ ἱερόν· θαρσήσας δέ ὁ Μελέτιος καὶ πλεισθὴς Πνεύματος ἁγίου, ἑπιλαβόμενος τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ ἀγάλματος, ἕβαλεν αὐτὸ κάτω εἰς τὴν γῇν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐθρύβη τὸ εἴδωλον. Ἐπιλαβόμενος καὶ τὰ ἄλλα εἴδωλα τὰ συνεστηκότα, καὶ αὐτὰ συνέτριψεν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Σεραπίων, ὅτι ἔπεσεν τὸ εἴδωλον, καὶ συνετρίβῃ, καὶ τὰ ἱστάμενα σὺν αὐτῷ εἴδωλα, ἐκραύγα μεγάλῃ λέγων· Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ ἀπλάνητος, ὄν περιεργάσασθαι οὐκ ἔστιν. Νῦν ἔγνων, Δέσποτα, ὅτι τοὺς εἴς σε πεπιστευκότας οὐκ ἐγκαταλιμπάνεις. Καὶ ἰδόντες οἱ δορυφόροι τὸ θαῦμα τὸ γεγονὸς ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν, καὶ ῥίψαντες τὰς ἄσπίδας αὐτῶν, ἀπῆλθον ὅπου ἦν ὁ ὄχλος Μελετίου, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστόν. Οἱ δὲ μιαροὶ ἱερεῖς τοῦ Ἀσκληπιοῦ, δραμόντες σπουδαίως ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ Μαξίμῳ, ὅτι καὶ τὸν Ἀσκληπιὸν ἔβαλεν κάτω, καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους θεοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἔῤῥιψεν.

[22] Day having risen, the nefarious priests of Jupiter call together the craftsmen of their gods, take the images, devise various things, Other Counts and Tribunes brought forward, and at length, accompanied by the whole multitude, carry the broken head of Jupiter to Maximus the Commander. When he had learned what had been done, Maximus grieved not moderately for his gods, and having soon mounted the tribunal, To the sacrificers, said he, By whose help did the wicked men cast our god Jupiter to the ground? This he asked of the priests, because he had persuaded himself that a great multitude of soldiers had lent their hands to the holy Martyrs for perpetrating the deed. Having also sent men to set before the tribunal Festus and Faustus, and Marcellinus, as accomplices of the deed perpetrated against Jupiter, and Theodorus, and Meletion, and Sergius, and Marcellus, and Felix, and Photinus, and Theodoriscus, also Mercurius and Didymus the Counts, the Tribunes also and the Principes, he thus questioned them present: We took care that great Jupiter be made with such cost and pains, and you did not fear to break him in pieces? To which they answered: We indeed were not present at the deed, but he whom thou so despisest, equipped with a certain divine power, the Prefect of our forces Meletius, they indeed deny that they did it, and those captives whom thou holdest with him, dashed thy god to the ground and broke him: how wisely then should we offer sacrifices to a brazen image?

[23] Then Maximus; Nevertheless do you also sacrifice to the gods. To whom the generous Soldiers; To whom, they said, madman, and bereft of mind, dost thou bid us sacrifice? To a brazen statue, and one even shorn of its own head? yet they refuse to sacrifice: or to him who by introducing the worship of idols signally showed his own wickedness, the evil demon? Maximus said: I will that you sacrifice to Apollo. And the Saints; Rightly, they say, didst thou name Apollo, who will destroy thee and all his worshippers, without doubt and without any remedy, unto eternity. At least, said Maximus, do not afflict with contumelies the Emperor, who renders worship to those gods. I deal more gently with you, that I may change the constancy of your patience. The Saints answer: Why dost thou exhibit trouble to thyself? Dost thou not understand, that it is hard for thee to kick against the goad? they are commanded therefore to be beaten with leaden weights: for most truly the God of the Christians is great. These things said, Maximus kindled thus addresses Serapion: To thee indeed I have spared hitherto, but thou hast cast thyself into the crowd of those sorcerers. Wherefore henceforth neither will I spare thee. And saying these things, he soon ordered the cheeks of the most valiant men to be beaten with leaden weights. The ministers therefore of Satan, having seized the leaded weights, struck the cheeks of the Martyrs so long, until their blood flowed abundantly to the ground.

[24] While these things are being done, the most blessed Serapion, having no sense of the punishment, but rather more and more strengthened divinely, with hands lifted up to heaven, among whom Serapion also asks strength from God, thus said: Blessed art Thou, Lord God omnipotent, eternal King, who hast created all things with one word. Supply me now, I pray, with strength, that for the glory of Thy name I may endure these tortures with a brave and generous mind. Make me worthy that I may have some place in the number of Thy servants. Again I pray, deny me not strength to suffer the most grievous things, even as Thou didst not deny it to Thy most valiant athletes, Meletius, John, and Stephen. So, I beseech, let it be, O Lord, who through Thy servant and priest the Bishop didst confer upon me the most beautiful character of Thy faith: for Thou art He who makest the bonds of death useless, when Thou wilt, and keepest those who hope in Thee immune from the rage and ruin of the all-devastating serpent. Suffer not the supplications of Thy servant to be in vain, but make me worthy, that without stumbling I may finish the course of this my contest; and confirm my mind, that I may strive for Thee with that fortitude of Thy venerable athletes. Forsake me not at last, who have my trust reposed in Thee alone, since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen. and he scorns the tyrant. Maximus then said thus, Behold, Serapion, with what trifling thou hast now used, which I nevertheless have kindly tolerated hitherto? But now lay aside all that folly, and henceforth sacrifice to the gods. To whom Serapion: Most filthy of men and unclean dog, enemy of the true God and friend of Satan, dost thou not yet understand that I have Christ as my champion against thy father the devil? and behold, thou commandest that I offer sacrifices to idols and impure spirits.

[25] Then Maximus the Commander, Let Meletius be present, said he: whom soon present he thus exhorted: Behold, Meletius, Then Meletius brought forward I dismiss thee free, and hold thee in a son's place. Bring it to pass therefore that these thy fellow-soldiers duly sacrifice to our Gods: receive also thy former dignity of Prefect of the soldiery, to which moreover I prepare to add many gifts. But Meletius; Thy gifts, he answered, thou mayest for me carry to thy father Satan, whose not unlike son thou showest thyself to be. For the rest, Christ alone is sought by me, who will confer upon me in the heavens a better honor, and the gift of blessed immortality: nor, I trust, wilt thou by thy cruelty or by blandishments compel any of us to attempt anything impious. Then indeed Maximus, stirred with great fury, ordered a most lofty pyre to be made, whose flame should burst forth on high beyond what could be told, and the holy Martyrs to be cast into it. And here Serapion of his own accord to Meletius; Come, said he, servant of God and our teacher in matters of faith, fall down suppliantly to God most high for us, he with Serapion is ordered to be cast into the furnace, and lead thy fellow-soldiers in praying, that, animated by thy example, we may with intrepid mind undergo this punishment. Then their eyes cast up to heaven, all with one mouth conceived these prayers: O Thou who didst once preserve those three Babylonian Princes unharmed in the furnace of fire, now also turn Thy pure, holy, and benignly mild eyes to Thy servants, and grant that those who hope in Thee alone be safe; bestow also strength and vigor whereby we may gloriously conquer the Tyrant who opposes us.

[26] After they had ceased from prayer, having given and received hands one with another, which having entered they entered into the midst of the furnace of fire: which, ever intent upon prayer, they found to be as a most pleasant paradise abounding with sweet dew. But the impious Tyrant, turning his attention and eyes, beheld the servants of the supreme God, unharmed in the midst of the furnace, assiduously blessing God: by whose command then a great force of waters was poured on all sides upon the fires, that by the smoke at once arising the glorious Martyrs might be suffocated. But not even that counsel of the Tyrant brought any harm to the Martyrs. At that time indeed the divine power and might affected the impious Maximus with great shame: and having come forth without harm, who ordered the holy soldiers of Christ to be led back again to the public prison. They came forth from the burning pyre, as from a place most full of all delights. And when Maximus had beheld them to be distinguished with a certain new beauty, marveling vehemently, he commanded his attendants to lead the most valiant athlete of Christ Meletius and Serapion to the shrine of Æsculapius, and

to compel them even unwilling to sacrifice, exhorting them moreover thus: Go, and to great God Æsculapius, who openly showed his healing art toward feeble men, sacrifice.

[27] The attendants, obeying the command, having straightway seized both, led them from the prison to the temple of Æsculapius, a great multitude of men accompanying them. But Christ's soldier Meletius breathed something terrible with his eyes, and they are led to the temple of Æsculapius. not ignorant that the statue of Æsculapius likewise would fall by a divine nod. Somewhat sad on the other part, Serapion thus addressed Meletius: Meletius, servant of the most high God, what now, I pray, shall we have to do? To whom Meletius; Intrepidly, said he, let us go thither, and what shall be pleasing to the King of the heavens, this let us bravely execute. For it does not escape me, that as soon as we shall have set foot in the temple, the image of Æsculapius will soon fall. Then plainly persuaded, Serapion with great courage proceeded to the temple: for he had learned that the endeavor of Belial tended to this, that he might pervert their minds. But when they had come to the appointed place, each lifted up his eyes to heaven; and the sign of Christ impressed upon their foreheads, fearing nothing they entered the temple of Æsculapius. Then the image of Æsculapius being beheld, Meletius silently conceived this prayer: O God invisible and most certain knower of all secrets, who knowest all things before they come to pass, look, I beseech Thee, upon us Thy humble and abject servants. Let only Thy nod come; and this statue of Æsculapius will straightway fall to the ground by the work of Thy Angels, and be broken into fragments.

[28] These things said, the shrine of the idol suddenly trembled: by which sign Meletius animated, and filled with the Holy Spirit, with his own right hand seizes the hand of the image, they overthrow his statues and those of the others. casts it to the ground, and breaks the whole. Then having likewise laid hold of the images which were erected in the same shrine, he broke them all in pieces in the same manner. Moved by the spectacle, Serapion, when he beheld the statues both of Æsculapius and of the other gods standing by him overthrown and broken, cried out with a loud voice, Blessed be our God, who by no means deceives his worshippers, and whom it is not fitting to scrutinize too curiously. Now, Lord, I have known, that those having their trust in Thee, Thou never forsakest. Moreover, the miracle so illustrious being seen, the attendants believed in Christ: and casting away the spears which they were wont to bear, they joined themselves to the rest of the crowd that took Meletius's part: very many others also from the promiscuous crowd embraced the faith of the Christians. But the impure priests of Æsculapius hastened with great diligence to report to Maximus, in what manner Meletius had cast to the ground Æsculapius, and the other gods with Æsculapius.

CHAPTER V.

The martyrdom of the infants Christian and Cyriacus, and of their Master Mauricius.

Ἀπελθὼν οὖν ὁ Μάξιμος, εἶδεν τοὺς δύο ἑστῶτας μόνους, τὸν δὲ Ἀσκληπιὸν κείμενον κάτω χαμαὶ συντετριμμένον, καὶ τὰ σὺν αὐτῷ εἴδωλα συντεθραυσμένα ὁμοίως. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος θυμωθεὶς ἐκέλευσεν ἀχθῆναι τὸν θώρακα τὸν πολεμικὸν Μελελίου, καὶ τὴν περικεφαλαίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πυρωθῆναι αὐτὰ, καὶ πυρωθέντα ἐγένοντο ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς ὡς ἀστραπή. Καὶ ἐκέλευσεν ἐνδυθῆναι τὸν θώρακα τὸν Μελέτιον, καὶ τὴν περικεφαλαίαν αὐτῷ τεθεῖναι εἰς τὴν κεφαλήν. Ὀ δὲ Μελέτιος οὐκ ᾔσθετο τοῦ πυρὸς, ἐγένετο γὰρ ὁ σίδηρος τῶν ὅπλων ὥσει κρύος περὶ αὐτὁν. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Καλῶς ἐποίησας, κύων ἀνόητε, ὅτι ἠμφίασάς με ὅπλα πολεμικὰ, ἵνα ἡττήσω καὶ πολεμήσω καὶ νικήσω τὸν πατέρα σου τὸν σατανᾶν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Σαραπίων τὴν ὑπομονὴν τοῦ γενναιοῦ ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου, τοῦ στρατιώτου τοῦ ἐπουρανίου βασιλέως Θεοῦ, ἀνατείνας τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, εἶπεν οὅτως πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, ὅπερ εὔχεσθαι ἔμαθεν παρὰ τοῦ Ἐπισκόπου, ὅτι ἔλαβεν τὸ λουτρὸν τῆς ἀθανασίας. Πατὲρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθῆτο τὸ ὄνομά σου, δέσποτα παντοκράτορ ὕψιστε. Ἐλθέτω εἰς ἡμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία σου, ἡ ἀχώρητος ἐν τῇ γῇ. Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὥστε καθελθεῖν τὴν βοήθειάν σου ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἁμαρτωλούς. Ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἡ παράταξίς σου εἰς βοήθειαν ἡμῖν γένηται. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον· τοῦτ᾽ ἐστιν, ἐκάλεσας ἡμᾶς μετὰ τῶν εἰς ἀγῶνα προσκυνούντων σε ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν· καὶ νῦν δὸς ἡμῖν ἄρτους ἐλέους, ὥσπερ ἔδωκας τοῖς εὐαρεστήσασι τῷ ὀνόματί σου τῷ ἁγίῳ. Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν· καὶ μὴ μνημονεύσῃς ἡμῶν Κύριε, τὰς ἀσεβείας, τίς γὰρ ὑποστήσεται; Μηδὲ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμὸν, βαστάσαι γὰρ οὐ δυνάμεθα. Ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἠμᾶς τοῦ πονηροῦ, διὰ τοῦ μονογενοῦς υἱοῦ σου, ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ὀλιγωρίᾳ πολλῇ συνεχόμενος καὶ μηδὲν αὐτοῖς δυνάμενος ποιῆσαι, ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς ἀχθῆναι ἐπὶ τὴν δημοσίαν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Μελέτιε, Ἰωάννη, καὶ Στέφανε, καὶ σὺ Σαραπίων, οὐ πειθαρχεῖτε τοῖς θεοῖς; Οἱ δὲ λέγουσι τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Κύων ἄπιστε, ἀκμὴν ἐπιμένεις τῇ ἀναισθησίᾳ σου; οὐχ ὁρᾷς τὸν ποιήσαντα τὰ σύμπαντα; Μάξιμος Δοὺξ λέγει· Οὐκ οὖν ἀναίσθητός εἰμι; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Σαραπίων· Αἴσθησιν εἰ εἶχες ἂν, ἐπελάθου τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ σατανᾶ καὶ τῶν εἰδώλων τῶν χειροποιήτων, καὶ ἐπίστευσας τῷ ἐπουρανίῳ Θεῷ. Μάξιμος λέγει τοῖς δορυφόροις αὐτοῦ· Τύψατε αὐτοῦ τὰς σιαγόνας, ἵνα μὴ τοιαῦτα φθέγγηται. Μελέτιος ἀποκριθεὶς λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἀναίσθητε καὶ τυφλὲ τῇ καρδία, ποίησον ἁρπαγῆναι καὶ ἐνεχθῆναι παιδία ἄφθορα, καὶ εἴπωσι, τίς μείζων Θεὸς, ὃν ἡμεῖς σέβομεν, ἢ τὰ εἴδωλα ἄψυχα· καὶ τὰ παιδία, ὃν ἐὰν εἴπωσιν, αὐτῷ πιστεύσωμεν. Ἐκέλευσεν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος ἁρπαγῆναι παιδία δύο ἐκ τοῦ σχολίου· καὶ ἐνεχθέντα τὰ δύο παιδία, ἀδέλφια, ὀρφανὰ, τὸ ἓν ἐτῶν δύο καὶ τὸ ἕτερον τριῶν, Λέγει ὁ Μάξιμος τοῖς παιδίοις· Τίνα ἐστὶ τὰ ὀνόματα ὑμῶν, ἢ ποίας τύχης τυγχάνετε; Ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αὐτῷ τὰ παιδία, καὶ εἶπον ἐμπνευσθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος· Τῇ μὲν τύχῃ δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ έσμεν, ἐλεύθεροι δὲ ἐγενήθημεν καὶ ἔντιμοι διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν. Λέγει ὁ τριετὴς, Εἰ θελεὶς μαθεῖν τὰ ὀνόματα ἡμῶν, ἅπερ ἔθηκαν οἱ γονεῖς ἡμῶν, Ἐγὼ καλοῦμαι Χριστιανὸς, καὶ οὕτως Κυριακός. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Μάξιμος. Χριστιανὲ καὶ Κυριακὲ, εἰπατέ μοι, τίς ἐστιν ὁ μείζων Θεὸς, Ζεὺς καὶ Ἀπόλλων καὶ Ἀσκλήπιὸς καὶ Ἡρακλεῖς, ἢ ὁ ἀόρατος. Τάδε ἄφρονα παιδία, ἀναβλέψοντα εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ στενάξοντα, ἴδον χεῖρα κατερχομένην ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτὰ, καὶ λαβόντα Πνεῦμα ἅγιον· καὶ σφραγίσαμενα τῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σφραγίδι εἶπον τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἀνοσιώτατε καὶ ἀπάνθρωπε, οὐ βλέπεις οὐ δὲ νοεῖς τὸν δημιουργὸν καὶ κτίστην τῶν ἁπάντων, ὃς οὐρανοὺς ἐποίησεν, ἥλιον καὶ σελήνην, νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν, ἄστρα καὶ φῶς, τὸν καθήμενον ἐπὶ τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐπὶ θρώνῳ ἀσαλεύτῳ δόξης, τὸν καθήμενον ὑπὸ τῶν Χερουβὶμ, καὶ ὑμνούμενον ὑπὸ τῶν Σεραφίμ· οὗ τὸ ὄνομα ἀνείκαστόν ἐστι καὶ ἀκατάληπτον, ὃν τρέμουσι χίλιαι χιλιάδες Ἀρχαγγέλων, καὶ μύριαι μυριάδες Ἄγγελων λειτουργῶν καὶ ἐξουσιῶν, ὃν τρέμει Χερουβὶμ καὶ Σεραφὶμ, ὕμνον τρισάγιον ἐν φωνῇ ἀκαταπαύστῳ ἀναπέμποντα, Ἅγιος, Ἅγιος, Ἅγιος, τῷ συντρίψαντι πύλας χαλκᾶς καὶ μοχλοὺς σιδηροὺς, καὶ ἀναστήσαντι ψυχὰς ἐξ ᾄδου, ὃν πᾶσα κτίσις ὑμνεῖ καὶ δοξάζει, τὸν ἀόρατον καὶ ἄχραντον καὶ ἀχειροποίητον καὶ ἐφορῶντα πάσας τὰς πράξεις τῶν ἀνθρώπων, τὸν κρίνοντα πάσας τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν μὴ πιστευόντων εἰς αὐτὸν, καὶ γινώσκοντα καρδίας τῶν ἀνθρώπων, τὸν ποιήσαντα ἀρχὰς καὶ ἐξουσίας, τὸν ἀκατάλειπτον καὶ ὑψηλόθρονον, τὸν ἀθάνατον, τὸν βραχίονα τὸν ὑψηλὸν, ὃν τρέμει πᾶσα κτίσις, δι᾽ οὖ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐ δὲ ἓν, τὸν συσσείοντα τὰ πάντα καὶ βάλλοντα ὑετοὺς, καὶ αὔξοντα τοὺς καρποὺς, καὶ διδόντα πᾶσι τροφήν. Μάξιμος λέγει· Οἴμοι! ὑπὸ παιδίων νικῶμαι. Καὶ λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ὑμεῖς αὐτοῖς ὑποβάλλετε ταῦτα λέγειν. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Μελέτιος· Ἄφρων καὶ ἀκάρδιε, ὁρᾷς ὅτι ὑπὸ τῶν παιδίων νενίκησαι, καὶ ἀκμὴν οὐχ᾽ αἰσθάνῃ; Μάξιμος λέγει· Ὡς παιδίων ὄντων ἀνέχομαι αὐτῶν. Τὰ δὲ ἄφθαρτα παιδία ἀπεκρίτησαν καὶ εἶπον τῷ Μαξίμῳ μίᾳ φωνῇ· Ἔξαρχε τῶν κακῶν, ἀκμὴν οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἀνόητε τὸν κτίσαντα ὄρη καὶ τοὺς βουνοὺς καὶ ὕμας, τὸν κτίσαντα ἀνθρώπους κατ᾽ εἰκόνα καὶ ὁμοίωσιν ἰδίαν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ, τὸν ποιήσαντα θηρία ἐν ταῖς ὕλαις, καὶ τὰς τροφὰς καὶ τὰς διατριβὰς αὐτῶν, τὸν ποιήσαντα τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ κινούμενα ἐν αὐτῇ· αὐτός ἐστι ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐκ τῶν εἰδώλων χαλκῶν καὶ τῶν λιθίνων, οὓς ἄνθρωποι ἐποίησαν, οὒς καὶ σὺ προσκυνεῖς ἐν ἐκπλήξει γενόμενος. Ἀκούων δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος τῶν λόγων τῶν παιδίων λέγει αὐτοῖς. Γονεῖς ἔχετε; Εἶπον δὲ αὐτῷ· Ὄρφανά ἐσμεν ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ, καὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ τῷ ματαίῳ, πατέρα δὲ ἔχομεν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς Θεὸν, τὸν διατρέφοντα ἡμᾶς καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν κτίσιν αὐτοῦ. Μάξιμος λέγει αὐτοῖς· Οὐκοῦν οὐ δὲ ὑμεῖς θύετε τοῖς θεοῖς. Τὰ δὲ παιδία λέγουσι τῷ Μαξίμῳ, Μίαρε τῇ αἰσθήσει, πάλιν ἔχομέν σοι εἰπεῖν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν τοῦ ὑψίστου. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος μανίᾳ κινηθεὶς κατὰ τῶν νηπίων, ἐκέλευσεν ἐλθεῖν τὸν διδάσκαλον αὐτῶν Μαυρίκιον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Σὺ εἶ ὁ διδάσκων αὐτὰ τοιαῦτα ἀποφθέγγεσθαι κατὰ τῶν θεῶν; Ὁ διδάσκαλος λέγει τοῖς παιδίοις· Τί ἑνυβρίσατε τὸν Δοῦκα; Τὰ δὲ νήπια εἶπον πρὸς τὸν διδάσκαλον, Σὺ διδάσκεις ἡμᾶς σοφίαν καὶ ἐπιστήμην, μὴ θέλεις ἵνα ἐάσωμεν τὸν μέγαν καὶ ἀπλάνητον Θεὸν ἡμῶν ὡς λέγεις, καὶ εἴπομεν Θεὸν εἶναι τὸ χαλκούργημα, καὶ τοὺς λίθους, οὓς ὀνομάζει θεούς. Ὁ δὲ διδάσκαλος ταῦτα ἀκούσας, καὶ ποιήσας τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, καὶ ἐπᾴρας λίθον, ἠκόντησεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ὅψιν τοῦ Μαξίμου καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Σὺ οὖν ἐκπλανῆσαι θέλεις τὰ παιδία ἐκ τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν; μὴ ἔστο σοι καλῶς, μὴ δὲ πᾶσι τοῖς σεβομένοις τὰ εἴδωλα, μήτε τῷ πατρὶ ὑμῶν τῷ σατανᾷ. Τότε θυμωθεὶς θυμῷ μεγάλῳ ὁ Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν ῥαβδισθῆναι τὸν διδάσκαλον σὺν τοῖς παιδίοις. Ῥαβδιζομένων δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ αἰσθανομένων, ἐπέμενον οἱ τύπτοντες. Τότε λέγουσι τὰ νήπια σὺν τῷ διδασκάλῳ αὐτῶν τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελετίῳ καὶ Ἰωάννη καὶ Στεφάνῳ καὶ Σαραπίονι· Δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν τοῦ ὑψίστου, εὐχὴν ποιήσατε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα μὴ σκανδαλισθῶμεν ὑπὸ τοῦ ὄφεως, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐν ἀκακίᾳ ἀποδῶμεν τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν τῷ Θεῷ. Οἱ δὲ ἅγιοι τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ὑψίστου Θεοῦ, Μελέτιος καὶ οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν, κλίναντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν εὔξαντο ὑπὲρ τῶν τριῶν. Ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ μιερεῖς τοῦ Διὸς, ὅτι οὐδὲν δύναται ποιῆσαι αὐτοῖς ὁ

Μάξιμος, καὶ ὅτι αἱ μάστιγες οὐχ᾽ ἥπτονται αὐτῶν, ἔκραξαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγοντες πρὸς τὸν Μάξιμον· Ἄρον αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ μέσου, μήπως καὶ ἄλλοι βλέποντες, τὸ αὐτὸ ποιήσωσιν. Ἐκέλευσεν οὖν ὁ ἀνοσιώτατος Μάξιμος τραχηλοκοπηθῆναι τὸν διδάσκαλον σὺν τοῖς παιδίοις. Ἀκούσαντα δὲ τὰ παιδία τὴν ἀπόφασιν, καὶ χαρᾶς εὐαγγελισθέντα, συνέταξαντο τῷ Μελετίῳ καὶ Ἰωάννῃ καὶ Στεφάνῳ καὶ Σαραπίονι. Ἀπίεσαν οὖν ἀγαλλιῶντα σὺν τῷ διδασκάλῳ ὡς πρόβατα ἐπὶ σφαγήν. Λαβόντες οὖν αὐτοὺς οἱ σπεκουλάτορες, ἀπήνεγκαν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Μηνὸς, καὶ λέγουσι τὰ παιδία τοῖς δημίοις. Ἐάσατε ἡμᾶς μικρόν. Ἀναβλέψαντα δὲ σὺν τῷ διδασκάλῳ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, εὔξαντο πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν οὕτως εἰπόντες. Εὐλογοῦμέν σε, Δέσποτα παντοκράτορ ἐπουράνιε, ὅτι οὐ παρέδωκας ἡμᾶς τῷ λύκῳ τῷ ἅρπαγι· καὶ νῦν, Δέσποτα Κύριε, δέξαι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν ἐν ἀνέσει, ὅτι εὐλογητὸν τὸ ὀνομά σου, τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Ὑιοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἁμήν. Ἐκτενάντων δὲ αὐτῶν τοὺς αὐχένας, φωνὴ ἦλθεν ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· Εἰσέλθετε ἀγαπητοί μου εἰς τὴν τρυφὴν τοῦ παραδείσου. Λέγουσι δὲ τοῖς σπεκουλάτορσι· Ποιήσατε ὃ ἐκελεύσθητε. Ἐθελειώθησαν δὲ ἐν εἰρίνῃ, μηνὶ Σεπτεμβρίῳ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ, τὰ ἅγια νήπια Χριστιανὸς καὶ Κυριακὸς σὺν τῷ διδασκάλῳ αὐτῶν, μετὰ χαρᾶς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Ὑιοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ᾧ ἢ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Ἄνδρες δὲ Χριστιανοὶ φοβούμενοι τὸν Θεὸν, ἀπῆλθον νυκτὸς εἰς τὸν τόπον, καὶ ἔλαβον τὰ λείψανα τῶν καλλινίκων Μαρτύρων, τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ τῶν δύο παιδίων σὺν τῷ διδασκάλῳ αὐτῶν, καὶ κατέθεντο αὐτοὺς ὅπου ἔκειτο ὁ μακάριος Ζώἳλος, καὶ δοξάσαντες τὸν Θεὸν ἀνεχώρησαν μετὰ χαρᾶς.

[29] The Tyrant himself, having gone forward to the shrine, beheld the twin athletes of Christ, without any attendant, and the statues of Æsculapius and the other gods cast to the ground and basely broken in pieces. Meletius, clothed in a fired breastplate and helmet, Wherefore boiling with great fury, he orders the military breastplate and helmet of Meletius to be made white-hot forthwith. When the executioners had executed this as far as could be done, he soon commands Meletius to be clothed with the glowing breastplate and the helmet to be set upon his head. But Meletius perceived nothing of pain or harm from the glowing iron. For the iron arms, white-hot with much fire, is in no way harmed, affected the limbs of Meletius as it were with a moderate cold, who then thus addressed Maximus: This indeed was rightly done by thee, rabid dog, that thou hast willed me to be clothed with my arms, that I may fight more bravely against thy father the devil, and at length even more easily conquer him.

[30] Serapion also, when he had observed the generous courage of the illustrious champion of Christ Meletius in the torments, Serapion meanwhile praying for him: with hands stretched on high, pronounced to God that prayer which he had first learned from the Bishop, when lately he received the laver of immortality: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Lord God omnipotent and most high. Thy kingdom come, which in this earth is comprehended within no bounds. Thy will be done, that Thy help may descend upon us sinners, as in heaven and in earth. What has been ordained by Thee, let it turn to our aid and consolation. Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. That is, since Thou hast deigned to call us into the number of those who are both our Brethren, and by enduring many things bravely, truly and as is fitting adore Thee; bestow upon us the bread of Thy mercy, even as Thou hast bestowed it upon those who have merited to please Thy holy name. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors, and remember not, Lord, our impiety. For who shall endure it? And lead us not into temptation; for we are not able to bear it. But deliver us from evil, through Thine only-begotten Son, who is blessed unto the ages. Amen.

[31] Meletius again solicited to worship the idols, Maximus meanwhile, destitute of all counsel, and able to effect nothing further against the most holy men, orders them to be led again into prison; and thus addresses them: Meletius, John, Stephen, and thou Serapion, do you not yet suffer yourselves to be persuaded that you sacrifice to the Gods? To whom the Martyrs; O dog, they said, unfaithful, still dost thou persist in that hardness of thy heart; nor dost thou think upon Him through whom all things were created? Maximus the Commander answered: Dost thou say that I am deprived of the common sense of men? To which Serapion, if any sound sense were in thee, thou wouldst now send back word to thy father Satan and to all the idols, and firmly believe in the true God existing above all the heavens. Then turning to his attendants, Maximus: Strike this man's cheeks, said he, with your fists, that he dare not henceforth speak such things. But here Meletius to Maximus; O hard and blind of heart, he bids the infants be questioned about them. come, bid innocent little children be seized, and brought into the midst; let these indeed answer, which God is to be held the greater, He whom we venerate, or the idols without life and motion. Whichever they shall pronounce the greater, we without any doubt will believe such a one to be.

[32] He orders therefore twin boys to be snatched from the school, and brought forth into public. These were brothers, Of these being questioned, one two years old, the other three years old, and bereft of both parents, of whom one was passing the second year of his age, the other the third. Straightway to them Maximus; What are your names, boys? what your fortune? The Brothers answered, most certainly inspired by the Holy Spirit; By a happy lot indeed we are servants of Christ, although we were born free and not ignoble, which is the goodness of our God. And the three-year-old child continuing; if thou so greatly desirest to know the names which our parents imposed on us, I indeed am called Christian, but he is called Cyriacus. Then Maximus; Tell us, said he, Christian and Cyriacus, which is to be held the greater God, Jupiter, and Apollo, and Æsculapius, and Hercules, or the God who is nowhere seen.

[33] But the little ones, still without reason, lifting their eyes to heaven with a groan, beheld a hand divinely descending upon themselves, which both bestowed on them the Holy Spirit, and fortified them with the venerable sign of Christ to answer bravely. Hence turning to the Tyrant; they proclaim one God. Most impious one, they said, and not to be numbered among men, dost thou not see, dost thou not understand the maker of the world and of all things, God? Who made the heavens, and the sun and the moon, night and day, the stars and the light? Who sits upon a throne of His glory, eternally to endure, above the orbs of the heavens? Who sits upon the Cherubim? whom the Seraphim praise? whose name can be compared to no other and comprehended by no mortal? whom a thousand thousands of Archangels, and ten thousand times ten thousand of ministering Angels and Powers look up to with fear? Whom the Cherubim and Seraphim dread, who chant to Him without any rest that thrice-holy hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy? Who broke the brazen gates and the iron bars, who brings back souls from below? Whom every creature follows with hymns and honor, invisible to no mortal, and ignorant of all corruption, nor fashioned by human art? Who most inwardly discerns all the works of men? Who shall one day come the judge of those who shall have refused to believe in Him? Who penetrates even the inmost thoughts of men? Who made the Principalities and Powers? The incomprehensible, the most high, the immortal, the lofty arm? By whose fear and reverence all creatures are held? Through whom all things were made, and without whom was made nothing? Who by His nod moves all things? Who at fixed times sends down His rains from heaven? Who gives increase to the fruits of the earth, and food to all living things?

[34] Maximus exclaiming hereupon; Woe is me, said he, whom even tender boys assail and overcome! Then to Meletius he said: You suggest such things to those tender ones, that they may say them. To whom Meletius; Madman, said he, and without heart, dost thou now see that thou art conquered even by a tender age? dost thou not yet put off that hardness of thy heart? And the Tyrant; They are boys, said he, and as boys I patiently tolerate them. and they acknowledge Him alone as their father, Then the Brothers, worthy of immortal praise; Dost thou not yet even now, they answer, see? Dost thou not yet, madman, understand Him who founded the mountains and hills and forests? Who with His own hands formed man to His image and likeness? Who made the sea and all things that move in the sea? He is our God, who wrought the universe. What answer dost thou give us? Which of the brazen and stone Gods, which the hands of men made, and which thou with so great stupor adorest, has any sense or mind? When Maximus heard these speeches of the boys, he thus questioned them; Are your parents living? Parents, the boys reply, in this earth and in this deceitful world we have not; but yet in a father's place to us is the God who dwells in the heavens, who feeds and rears us and all His creation. Then, asked Maximus, do not you also sacrifice to the Gods? To whom the boys; Again, they say, perverse-hearted Tyrant, must it be necessary for us to relate to thee the power of our God?

[35] Then Maximus, kindled with a certain fury against the boys, having called to him their teacher Mauricius, thus questions him; then their master being summoned Art thou he who taught those little ones to utter such unspeakable things against the gods? Turning to his disciples the master; Why, said he, have you spoken contumely against the Commander? The little ones answered; Thou hast taught us wisdom and knowledge. Dost thou then wish that we dismiss our great and never-deceiving God, as thou thyself art wont to call Him, and say that there is true divinity in brazen images and stones, as that Commander unwisely persuades himself; when he too insulted the tyrant, when he attributes to them the name of gods? The answer received, the teacher, the sign of Christ impressed upon his forehead, confidently casts a stone snatched from the ground into the face of Maximus, and asks; Dost thou then strive to call away these innocent little boys from the true worship of our God, and from true glory? Nor may it ever be well with thee, nor with any who transfers to images the worship due to the one God. Most evilly also be it with thy father Satan.

[36] Then carried away indeed with vehement wrath, Maximus commanded both the teacher and his disciples to be sharply beaten with rods. And when they were beaten, he is at the same time beaten with rods and gave no sense of pain, the executioners, wearied with excessive labor, ceased to scourge them. The disciples meanwhile, together with their teacher, address Meletius, John, Stephen, and Serapion with these words; Servants of the most high God, prayers, we pray, conceive for our sake to God, that by that most ferocious serpent the scandal

we may suffer none, but rather may happily render our innocent soul to God, from whom we received it. Then Meletius and those who were present with him, with faces cast down to the ground, commended to the great and most high God the constancy of the three Martyrs in prayer. After these things the nefarious sacrificers of Jupiter, and he is condemned to death. when they saw that all the things the Tyrant contrived against the Martyrs were in vain, and that the cruelty of the scourging afflicted them with no pain, demanded with loud voices from Maximus that they be put to death; Take away, they said, the impious ones from among us, lest others, moved by their example, dare the same. The most impious Maximus therefore ordered the master and his disciples to be beheaded.

[37] Having received the sentence of death, the little boys rejoiced greatly, and joined themselves to Meletius, John, Stephen, All steadfastly undergo death; and Serapion. A little after, the disciples, together with their teacher, full of great gladness, like innocent little sheep, hastened to the slaughter; and being led by the executioners to the mountain which is called Men, they prayed this only, that it might be granted them for a while to direct their eyes to heaven together with their master. Which obtained, they prayed to God in this manner; We bless Thee, Lord omnipotent, and set above all the heavens, who hast not delivered us to the ravening wolf. But now also admit our souls into that happy liberty; since blessed is the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit unto the ages. Amen. And when they then stretched out their necks to receive the blow, a voice glided down from heaven to their ears, saying, Come, dearest ones, to the delights of My Paradise. When the voice ceased to be heard, they said to the executioners; What you were bidden, this now perform. In peace therefore they ended their life, in the month of September, having died on the fourteenth day of the same month, 24 of September with great gladness of their own, the most holy little boys Christian and Cyriacus, and the teacher of both, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory unto the ages. Amen. But certain Christian men, and full of the fear of God, went by night to the place of punishment, their bodies are buried beside St. Zoilus. and laid the venerable relics of the Martyrs who had attained a most beautiful victory, that is, of the two boys and their teacher, in the same place in which the blessed Zoilus also rests. When they had completed this and given due praises to God, suffused with great gladness, each one returned to his own home.

CHAPTER VI.

The death of Serapion, the conversion and martyrdom of Callinicus the Archmagus.

Τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον ἀπῆλθον οἱ μιερεῖς τῶν ἑλλήνων θεάσασθαι τὰ σώματα τῶν νηπίων, καὶ εὗρον οὐδέν· Ἴδον δὲ τὸν διάβολον, καθήμενον ἐν σχήματι παιδίου, καὶ θρηνοῦντα σφόδρα, διότι οὐκ ἐδυνήθη ἡττῆσαι τὰ παιδία. Οἱ δὲ μιερεῖς ἐνόμιζον, ὅτι αἱ ψυχαὶ τῶν νηπίων εἰσὶ θρηνοῦσαι· λέγουσιν οὖν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Ἀπελθόντες ἀποκτείνωμεν τὸν Σαραπίονα, ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ἐποίησεν τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν κλαπῆναι, μήπως καὶ ἄλλους ποιήσῃ ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ τῶν θυσιῶν· βλέποντες γὰρ ἐκεῖνον μὴ ποιοῦντα τὰς θυσίας, εἰς αὐτὸν τρέπονται πάντες, καὶ ἀπελθόντες πρὸς τὸν Μάξιμον, κατέκραξαν αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· Δοὺξ Μάξιμε, ἀκμὴν Σαραπίων οὐχ ἀπέθανεν; ἆρον τὸν μισοῦντα τοὺς θεοὺς ἐκ μέσου, μὴ καὶ ἄλλους διαστρέψῃ. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ὀργισθεὶς ἐκ τῆς γενομένης κραυγῆς τῶν μιερέων, ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Σεραπίονα λογχιασθῆναι. Ὁ δὲ μακάριος Σαραπίων προσεσχηκὼς τῇ ἀποφάσει, λέγει· Μελέτιε, Ἰωάννη καὶ Στέφανε, εὔξασθε περὶ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, τὸν βοηθοῦντα ἡμῖν, ἵνα συντόμως δέξηται τὸ πνεῦμά μου, ὅπως μὴ χαυχήσηται ὁ τύραννος, ὅτι ἴσχυσεν πρός με. Εὐχομήνων δὲ αὐτῶν συνηύχετο καὶ αὐτός· ὡς γὰρ ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος, οὕτως ηὔχοντο πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· Κύριε Βασιλεῦ τῆς εὐεργεσίας καὶ πάσης εἰρήνης, ὁ Λόγος ὁ πρὸ ἑωσφόρου ὢν πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα, δι᾽ οὗ τὰ πάντα ἔκτισεν ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ νῦν Δέσποτα μἡ συγχωρήσῃς τὸν δοῦλόν σου Σαραπίονα ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ τοῦ σταδίου τούτου ἄστεπτον, ἀλλὰ ταχέως μετάδος αὐτῷ τῆς χάριτός σου· σὺ γὰρ δεδοξασμένος εἶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Τελεσάντων Δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν εὐχὴν, προσήλθεν αὐτῷ ὁ Κομφέκτωρ, κελεύσαντος τοῦ Μαξίμου ἀρθῆναι αὐτὸν, καὶ πρηνὶ ἅψηται αὐτοῦ ὁ Κομφέκτωρ, καθῆλθεν νεφέλη φωτεινὴ, καὶ ἐδέξατο αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχήν. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος τοῦτο, ἐθυμώθη λέγων, ὅτι οὕτε πῦρ οὔτε ξίφη ἐδυνήθησαν ἀναλῶσαι αὐτόν. Καὶ ἐκέλευσεν συρῆναι αὐτὸν, καὶ ῥιφῆναι ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, ὅπως οἱ κύνες αὐτὸν ἀναλώσωσιν. Τούτου δὲ γενομένου, κατελθόντες ἄνδρες Χριστιανοὶ, φοβούμενοι τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἁρπάσαντες τὸ λείψανον αὐτοῦ, κείμενον ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, ἀπείνεγκαν αὐτὸ ἐν Κανδακοροῖς, ὅπου ἦν ὁ ὄχλος ἐν τῷ ὄρει ἠσιχάζων. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος, ἁπορούμενος, πάλιν ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Μελέτιον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Στέφανον ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ φυλάττεσθαι, ἄχρι σκέψηται πῶς ἀναλῶσι αὐτούς. Τῇ δὲ ἑξῆς προκαθίσας ὁ Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν Καλλίνικον κληθῆναί τινα φαρμακὸν, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τί ποιήσαντες ἀναλώσωμεν αὐτοὺς, διότι οὐ δυνάμεθα αὐτοὺς ἄγξαι. Καλλίνικος εἶπεν· Ποίησον ἐνεγκεῖν ἱερόθυτα, κᾳγὼ βάλλω ἐν αὐτοῖς φάρμακα μεγάλα, ἵνα παραχρῆμα ἀναλώσωμεν αὐτοὺς καὶ νικήσωμεν αὐτούς. Καὶ εἰ μὲν πεισθήσονται τοῦ θῦσαι ἐπὶ τέως ἱερόθυτα ἔφαγον, καὶ ἄκοντες ἐδούλευσαν τοῖς προστάγμασιν· εἰ δὲ ἀποθάνωσιν, καὶ οὕτως νικήσωμεν αὐτούς. Μάξιμος δὲ ταῦτα ἀκούσας, χαρᾶς ἐνεπλήσθη Μεγάλης, καὶ καλεῖ τοὺς ἀθλητὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Τί ἔστι Μελέτιε καὶ Ἰωάννη καὶ Στέφανε; καλῶς ὑμᾶς ἔλαβον αἱ βάσανοι; Μελέτιος λέγει· Ἑνὸς μὲν τὴν ψυχὴν ἔσωσας, ἡμᾶς δὲ οὐκ ἐγγίσεις. Τότε ἐκέλευσεν τῷ ἀρχιμάγῳ λέγων· Ποίησον καθ᾽ ὡς ἐλάλησας. Ἐνεχθέντος δὲ τοῦ μιαροθύτου, λαβὼν ὁ ἀρχίμαγος τὰ φάρμακα, ἐνέλαβεν τῷ μιαροθύτῳ, καὶ λαβὼν ἐπότισεν αὐτοὺς βίᾳ, καὶ πιόντες οἱ Ἅγιον οὐκ ᾔσθοντο τῶν φαρμάκων· εἶπον δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὸν Μάξιμον, χάριτάς σοι ἔχομεν, κύων ἀνόσιε, ὅτι διψῶσιν ἡμῖν ἔδωκας πιεῖν· ἐγένετο γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὡς ὕδωρ ὁ ἔπιον. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος, ὅτι οὐδενὸς ᾔσθοντο οἱ Ἅγιοι, λέγει πρὸς τὸν ἀρχίμαγον Καλλίνικον· Οὐδέν σου ἤνυσαν τὰ φάρμακα; Καλλίνικος εἶπεν· Μὰ τοὺς ἅπαντας θεοὺς, ἐγὼ τούτων ἐντεχνότερος οὔκ εἰμι. Επεὶ κέλευσόν τινα τῶν σῶν πινεῖν ἐξ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰ ζήσεται, ὑπεύθυνός εἰμι τῆς τούτων τιμωρίας. Εἷς δὲ τῶν μιαρῶν ἱερῶν κατελθὼν λέγει· Παίζει σε οὗτος, φειδόμενος αὐτῶν· ἐπεὶ κέλευσόν με, καὶ πίνω ἐξ αὐτῶν. Ἐπέτρεψεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Μάξιμος δοῦναι αὐτῷ. Ὁ δὲ λαβὼν, ὡς μόνον ὀσφρήσατο τὸ φάρμακον, εὐθέως ἐξέψυξεν. Ἐν πολλῇ δὲ μανία γενόμενος, ἐκέλευσεν τήγανον ἐνεχθῆναι, καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐμβληθῆναι πίσσαν καὶ κηρὸν καὶ στέαρ, καὶ ὑποκαίεσθαι. Ὑποκαιομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ, πάλιν προσέταξεν βληθῆναι θείαφον· καὶ ὁ βρασμὸς αὐτοῦ ἐξίη ὡς μὴ δὲ τὴν ὀσμὴν αὐτοῦ ὑποφέρειν τὸν ὄχλον· καὶ ἐκέλευσεν τοὺς Ἁγίους ἐμβληθῆναι ἐν αὐτῷ. Οἱ δὲ ἀθλοφόροι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ποιήσαντες τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, προθύμως ἐπέβησαν τῷ βρασμῷ τοῦ τηγάνου, καὶ ἀνεπαύοντο ὡς ἐπὶ δρόσου τοῦ παραδείσου, εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν καὶ λέγοντες οὕτως· Εὐλογητὸς εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ ὢν καὶ προὼν, ὁ τοὺς τρεῖς παῖδας ῥυσάμενος ἐκ τῆς καμίνου, καὶ νῦν δὸς ἡμῖν ἀνάπαυσιν ταύτην· Ἦσαν γὰρ ἀναπεπαυμένοι ἐπὶ τοῦ τηγάνου ὡς ἐπὶ δρόσου. Καὶ πάλιν ἔλεγεν· Εὐλογοῦμέν σε φωταγαγὲ Βασιλεῦ ἐπουράνιε, μὴ ἐάσας ἡμᾶς ἡττηθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ μιαρωτάτου τούτου, ἀλλὰ συντήρησον ἡμᾶς ἀσπίλους ἐν τῇ δόξῇ σου, ὅτι εὐλογημένον ἐστὶ τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἁμήν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ μιαρώτατος Μάξιμος ὅτι οὐ δὲ ὅλως ἥψατο αὐτῶν ἡ βάσανος, ἐκέλευσεν φρύγανα καὶ θείαφον ἐμβάλλεσθαι, καὶ ἐπάνω ῥαντίσαι ἔλαιον τοῦ τηγάνου· καὶ οὐ δὲ οὕτως ἥψατο τὸ πῦρ τῶν Ἁγίων, ἀλλ᾽ ἐξῆλθον ἀβλαβεῖς ἐκ τοῦ τηγάνου. Ὁ δὲ ἀρχίμαγος Καλλίνικος, λαβὼν τοὺς χαρτὰς αὐτοῦ, ἐν οἷς εἶχεν πάσας τὰς μαγίας, ἔῤῥιψεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πυρὶ, ἵνα καῶσι, λέγων οὕτως· Πιστεύω τῳ Θεῷ Μελετίου καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου· βαλόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ τοὺς χάρτας ἐν τῷ πυρὶ, εὐθέως ἐδράξαντο καὶ ἐκάησαν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Καλλίνικος ὅτι ἐκάησαν αὐτοῦ οἱ χάρται, ἐθαύμασεν· ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Καλλίνικος εἶπεν τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ὦ τρισάθλιε, καὶ ἀνοσιώτατε, καὶ ἀπάνθρωπε, τί οὕτως ἀνομεῖς εἰς τὸν κτίσοντα ἡμᾶς Θεόν. Μάξιμος δὲ θυμωθεὶς εἶπεν· Λάβετε αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ δεσμοτήριον, καὶ ἀσφαλίσασθε καλῶς, βαλόντες εἰς τοὺς τραχήλους αὐτῶν σίδηρα παμμεγέθη καὶ εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς πόδας βάλετε ξύλα, καὶ σφραγισάμενοι τῷ δακτύλῳ μου, φέρετέ μοι αὐτὸ ὥδε, ἕως οὗ σκέψομαι πῶς ἀναλώσω αὐτούς. Τὸν δὲ Καλλίνικον λαβὼν, λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Μάξιμος· Καλλίνικε, οὐχὶ οἱ θεοὶ φιλοῦσί σε, καὶ λέγουσί σοι πῶς ζῇ ὁ κόσμος; Μὴ οὖν καταφρονήσεις αὐτῶν, ἐπεὶ οὕτως ἔχουσί σε ἀπολέσαι, ὡς Σαραπίονα τὸν ἀπειθήσαντα αὐτοῖς. Καλλίνικος λέγει· Ἐμοὶ μὲν ὁ Θεὸς Μελετίου καὶ Σαραπίονος οὐκ ἀπόλλει, ἀλλὰ σώζει ὡς Σαραπίονα· οὐαῖ δέ σοι, παράνομε, ὅτι οὐκ οἶδας ἅ πράττεις. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν. Οὐκοῦν Σαραπίων ἐσώθη; Καλλίνικος λέγει· Ἐκεῖνος μὲν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς στέφανον ἔλαβεν ἀμαράντινον, σὺ δὲ μιαρώτατε οὐ σωθήσῃ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Καλλίνικε, μὴ πλανῶ· οἱ γὰρ θεοί εἰσιν βοηθοῦντες Μελετίῳ καὶ τοῖς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ. Καλλίνικος εἶπεν. Μιαρώτατε καὶ ἄφρων, πῶς αὐτοὶ βοηθοῦσιν τοῖς καταστρέψαντας αὐτούς; εἰ γὰρ τὰ φάρμακα, ἄπερ ἐποίησα, οὐδέν ἴσχυσαν εἰς αὐτούς; εἰ γὰρ τὰ φάρμακα, ἅπερ ἐποίησα, οὐδὲν ἴσχυσαν εἰς αὐτοὺς οὔτε ἠδικήθησαν· ὁ δὲ σὸς ἱερεὺς, ἵνα μόνον ὀσφρανθῇ τὸ φάρμακον, εὐθέως ἀπέψυξεν, δηλὸν ὅτι οἱ εἰς Χριστὸν πιστεύσαντες ἐσώθησαν. Πῶς οὖν μὴ πιστεύσω μεγάλῳ καὶ ἐπουρανίῳ Θεῷ καὶ βασιλεῖ τῶν αἰώνων Χριστῷ, τῷ μέλλοντι κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς; Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Μὴ καὶ σὺ χρυσίον ἔλαβες, ὡς καὶ Σαραπίων, καὶ ποιεῖ τὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν λόγον; Καλλίνικος εἶπεν· Χρυσίον παρ᾽ αὐτῶν οὐκ εἴληφα, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ζωὴν καὶ πίστιν ἐν Χριστῷ· κᾀγὼ δὲ θέλω λαβεῖ ἐκεῖνο τὸ χρυσίον, ὅπερ καὶ ἔλαβεν ὦ Σαραπίων, τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα. Θυμῷ δὲ πλειστῷ κινηθεὶς ὁ Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν δοθῆναι αύτὸν ἐν τῷ τηγάνῳ. Ὁ δὲ Καλλίνικος ἀκούσας ἀνεβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· Ὁ Θεὸς Μελετίου καὶ Στεφάνου καὶ Ἰωάννου, μὴ ἐάσῃς με, τόν ποτε ἀρχίμαγον, νῦν εἴς σε ἐλπίξοντα, ἡττηθῆναι· ἀλλὰ βοήθησόν μοι. Ναὶ, Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, ὁ δεξάμενος τὴν ψυχὴν Σαραπίονος ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, ῥῦσαί με τῆς πλάνης τῶν εἰδώλων, καὶ φύλαξόν με τῇ σῇ δυνάμει, ἵνα μὴ σκανδαλίσῃ με ὁ σατανᾶς ὃν ἐσεβόμην, ὃς σκοτίζει τὴν

ψυχὴν τοῦ Μαξίμου· ἀλλὰ διατήρησόν με μετὰ τῶν εἴς σε ἐλπιζόντων, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ Καλλίνικος, ἐποίησεν τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, καὶ ἐπέβη ἐπὶ τῷ τηγάνῳ προθύμως, εὐχόμενος οὕτως· Ὁ Θεὸς Μελετίου καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου, ὁ δείξας Σαραπίονι ὄντι ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ τὴν σὴν δόξαν, δεῖξαι καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ τῷ ποτε ἀρχιμάγῳ, νῦν δὲ ἐπί σε ἠλπικότι τὴν σήν δόξαν, ὅπως καταπατήσω τὸ πῦρ τοῦ σατανᾶ, μήποτε εἴπῃ ὁ Μάξιμος, ὅτι οὐδέν ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Χριστιανῶν. Ταῦτα αὐτοῦ εἰπόντος, εὐθέως τὸ πῦρ ἐσκορπίσθη, καὶ τὸ τήγανον ἐγένετο ψυχρόν· ὁ δὲ Καλλίνικος εὑρέθη ὅλος ἄσπιλος, δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν. Θυμωθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν ἐλθεῖν τὸν Μελέτιον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Μελέτιε, ἐμάγευσας τὸν ἀρχίμαγον ἡμῶν; ἢ τί αὐτῷ δέδωκας, ὅτι ἠρνήσατο τοὺς θεούς; Ὁ δὲ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ εὐχαριστήσας τῷ Θεῷ, εἶπεν τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἐκεῖνος οὐκ ἐμαγεύθη (μὴ δώῃ ὁ Χριστὸς ἡμῶν) ἀλλ᾽ ἐγνώρησεν τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, τὸν ἀπλάνητον, ὅστις δώσει αὐτῷ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Ὁ δὲ Καλλίνικος λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ, Μελέτιε δοῦλε τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου, εὔχου ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἄστεπτος ἐξέλθω ἐκ τοῦ σταδίου τούτου. Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Ἰδοὺ ὁ Θεός μου στέφανόν σοι ἡτοίμασεν, ὃν ἐγὼ ὁρῶ, καὶ πᾶσι δὲ τοῖς ἐλπίζουσιν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἀγαθός ἐστιν μισθαποδότης. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος, μανίᾳ φερόμενος κατὰ τοῦ Καλλινίκου, ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν τραχηλοκοπηθῆναι, τὸν δὲ Μελέτιον βληθῆναι εἰς τὸ δεσμοτήριον. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Καλλίνικος τὴν ἀπόφασιν αὐτοῦ, λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ἔγγισόν μοι δοῦλε τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου. Καὶ περιπτυζάμενος ὁ Καλλίνικος τὸν Μελέτιον, λέγει αὐτῷ· Δός μοι, τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα. Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος εἶπεν τῷ Καλλινικῷ· Ὁ Χριστὸς ἡμῶν δώσει σοι, ὁ καταδείξας τὴν σφραγίδα. Καὶ πάλιν λέγει τῷ Καλλινίκῳ Μελέτιος· Ἀνάβλεψον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ ὄψει τὰ προκείμενά σοι ἀγαθά. Καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ὁ Καλλίνικος. εἶδεν τὸν στέφανον ἡτοιμασμένον αὐτῷ· καὶ περιχαρής γενομένος ἔκλινεν τὸν αὐχένα αὐτοῦ, καὶ έδέξατο τὴν πλήγην τοῦ ξίφους ἐκ τοῦ σπεκουλάτορος, καὶ ἀπέδωκεν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ μετὰ χαρᾶς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ Πατρὸς τοῦ Ὑιοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνευματος. Ἰδόντες δέ τινες Χριστιανοὶ τὴν τελείωσιν τοῦ μακαρίου Καλλινίκου, ἐπάραντες τὸ λείψανον αὐτοῦ, ἀπήνεγκαν, ὅπου ἦν τοῦ μακαρίου Σαραπίονος, καὶ κατέθεντο αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ.

[38] On the next day the impious priests of the Gentiles betook themselves to the same place, Maximus, instigated by the sacrificers, that they might behold the bodies of the boy Martyrs, and they found none of them: but in their stead there appeared to them the devil, under the form of a boy sitting there, and vehemently deploring his own lot, because he had been overcome by so tender an age. Yet the impious ones thought that these groans and lamentations proceeded from the souls of the boys slain in that place: Let us go, therefore, they said to one another, and let us likewise procure that Serapion be killed, who without doubt brought it about that the bodies of these boys were carried off by theft, and that henceforth no one may dare to withdraw from the worship and sacrifices of our gods. For when they saw that Serapion did not at all offer sacrifices to the gods, the minds of all were stirred against him. Wherefore all coming together to Maximus, they accosted him with these words; Maximus Commander, has not Serapion yet paid the penalty of his crime by death? Take away from among us the impious hater of our gods, lest by his pernicious example he pervert the minds of more.

[39] The Tyrant, kindled by the clamors of the nefarious ones, ordered Serapion to be pierced with a lance. Then the most blessed Martyr, he orders Serapion to be pierced through, intent upon the death shortly to be undergone, thus addresses his fellow-soldiers; Meletius, John, and Stephen, come as suppliants to God for me, who has supplied us with strength thus far, that He may quickly receive the last breath of my life, lest the Tyrant be able to boast that he has prevailed against me. Then to their prayers he joined his own prayers and vows; for thus as it were with one mouth they all besought God: Lord King, and fountain of all beneficence, and origin of peace, O Word, who before the Day-star wast with the Father, through whom God made all things; Thee now, Lord, we beseech, that Thou suffer not Thy servant Serapion to depart from that arena inglorious, but bestow on him Thy divine grace as soon as possible; who breathes out his soul in prayer: for to Thee is praise and glory unto the ages. Amen. After they had put an end to the prayer, the executioner approached Serapion, about to lead him away by the command of Maximus; but lo, before the executioner laid hold of the Martyr, a bright cloud descending from heaven received the soul of Serapion into blessed immortality. The unusual matter being reported to Maximus, the Tyrant grew vehemently hot, complaining with indignation that he had been able to destroy Serapion neither by fire nor by sword; whose body then he commanded to be dragged and cast outside the city, and he is buried by the Christians. that it might be torn and devoured by the dogs. The Tyrant's command was soon fulfilled; but certain Christian men and fearing God came secretly, and bearing away the body of the holy Martyr cast to the dogs, into the place called of the Candacorei, where no small multitude of men followed a quiet life.

[40] Maximus meanwhile, destitute of all counsel to be taken, ordered Meletius, Callinicus the archmagus John, and Stephen to be held in chains, until he had devised some way of basely destroying them. But on the following day, sitting upon the tribunal, he calls to him Callinicus the sorcerer: to whom present; In what way, said he, at length shall we be able to destroy those men, since we cannot compel them? Have the victims brought, answered Callinicus, and I will so press them with sorceries, that they themselves will incur certain ruin, and we shall be superior to them. And if indeed they be induced to sacrifice to the gods, they will soon also eat the flesh consecrated to the gods, and even unwilling will obey the edicts; but if they be slain by the force of incantations, yet even so we shall have overcome them. When Maximus heard these things, he exulted with no moderate gladness. Then leading the generous athletes of Christ forth into the midst, he thus addresses them; What is this, Meletius, John, and Stephen, that the torments have so beautifully turned out for you? To whom Meletius; Of one indeed, he compels Meletius, John, and Stephen to drink poison: he said, thou hast saved the soul; but it will not be granted thee to approach us. Then to the Archmagus the Tyrant; Do, said he, what thou hast promised. The wicked libations therefore being brought, and incantations made over them, he by force applied compelled the holy Martyrs to drink: who without any harm to themselves drank the wines infected with magic charms; nay, they all alike thus addressed Maximus: We give thee thanks, impious dog, who, when we were pressed with great thirst, hast not denied us drink. For that which had been offered them to drink had put on the nature of most pleasant water.

[41] The Tyrant, perceiving that no harm had been brought to the holy Martyrs; In vain, said he to the Archmagus Callinicus, were thy sorceries. Then Callinicus; By all the gods, said he, these having suffered nothing thereby, I am not more skilled or about to perish than they. But come, bid some one of thine drink the potion which I offered them: and if indeed he survive, hold me liable to the same punishments. There came from the crowd of impious priests one, and said to Maximus; This Callinicus mocks thee, and favors the Christians: hand me the potion quickly, when he had killed another even by its smell, which I will drain without any delay. The Tyrant then commanded what was asked to be done. Scarcely had the priest even perceived the cup received by its smell, when forthwith he breathed out his soul.

[42] Which seen, Maximus carried away into fury, ordered a frying-pan to be made ready, and pitch and wax and grease to be mixed in it, and fire to be set beneath; which when it had been actively done, he commanded sulphur to be poured over. So foul moreover a stench burst forth from the frying-pan that the multitude of those standing by could not endure it. The Tyrant straightway bids the generous champions of Christ be cast into the frying-pan. These, intrepidly fortifying themselves with the sign of the same Christ, alacriously undergo the prepared punishment; and in it, no otherwise than as if in some most pleasant paradise, suffused with most grateful dew, they rested without harm, and from the boiling frying-pan blessing God in nearly this manner: Blessed art Thou our God, who art and ever wast, who didst free the three boys from the Babylonian furnace unharmed, who at length hast granted us to be safe and quiet in this punishment. We bless Thee, most beautiful illuminator of our minds, and ruler existing above the heavens; who hast not suffered Thy servants to be overcome by that most impure man, having entered without harm, but hast reserved them pure and immaculate for Thy glory, since blessed is Thy name unto the ages. Amen. The Tyrant meanwhile, perceiving that nothing was effected against the Martyrs, commands brushwood and sulphur to be added, and oil to be poured over from above. But not even so did the glorious Soldiers suffer anything more grievous, but plainly unharmed and whole came forth from the frying-pan.

[43] But indeed the Archmagus Callinicus, moved by the unusualness of the matter, cast all his books, written with magic charms, into the flames, that they might be consumed; he too confesses Christ, and openly professing what he had resolved; I believe, said he, in the God of Meletius, John, and Stephen. And when he had thrown his papers into the fire, without delay they were consumed by the violence of the fire: at which itself Callinicus greatly marveled; who turning to Maximus; O, said he, most wretched and most impious of men, and to be exterminated from the number of men, why dost thou so nefariously and sacrilegiously exercise rage against God our creator? The Tyrant vehemently enraged; Into prison, said he, hurry them away, and bound with huge chains at the neck, and impeded with their hands and feet set in timbers, diligently keep them: and after you have secured all things with my seal, report it to me, until I myself more carefully consider with what evils I may destroy them.

[44] Then turning his speech to Callinicus, Do not, said he, our gods, Callinicus, love thee very much, and benignly disclose by what reason this world consists and is quickened? Despise them not therefore, thou proclaimest Serapion blessed, from whom otherwise the same punishment threatens thee, which took away from the living Serapion, the despiser of them. Me indeed, answered Callinicus, the God of Meletius and Serapion has resolved not to destroy, but to save, even as He made Serapion safe and blessed. But woe to thee, sacrilegious one, who by no means perceivest how impiously thou actest! Then, asks the Tyrant, dost thou call Serapion blessed? To whom Callinicus; He truly has now attained an unfading crown in the heavens; but thou, most impure of men, never hope for salvation or blessedness ever to be obtained. And Maximus the Commander; See, said he, Callinicus, that thou be not deceived; for by the help of our gods Meletius and his companions have been preserved thus far. Then Callinicus;

Nefarious one, bereft of mind, how can it come to pass, that the gods are propitious to men, who did not fear to overthrow their statues and images? For if the sorceries which I brought forth could effect nothing against those men; but thy priest, having perceived only the smell of the magic potion, suddenly fell down dead; it is surely manifest, that those who believe in Christ have remained unharmed by His divine power. How mad therefore should I be, if I should deny faith and worship to the great God of the heavens, and to Christ the King of the ages, who shall one day come to judge the living and the dead? Maximus then; Has not also to thee, even as to Serapion, the force of gold been granted by them, that thou shouldst undertake to defend their cause? Callinicus said; No gold indeed have I received from the most holy men, but life and faith in Christ: yet I too am seized with the splendor and desire of that gold which Serapion has already attained, which is granted to be acquired in the sign of Christ alone.

[45] Then driven into greater fury, Maximus commands Callinicus to be cast forthwith into the burning frying-pan. Which voice of the Tyrant perceived, Callinicus addressed God with this prayer: God of Meletius, Stephen, and John, suffer not, I beseech, me, a little before the prince of the magi, but now hoping in Thee, to be overcome by the Tyrant, but be present to me with Thy help. the fiery frying-pan So be it, Lord my God, who didst receive the soul of Serapion into Thy paradise, snatch me from the blind error of idols, and by Thy great power keep me; that Satan, whom hitherto I religiously worshipped, and who plainly blinds the mind and soul of this Maximus, may not scandalize me: but with all who have their hope in Thee, cover and protect me likewise, I pray; since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen. Saying these things Callinicus, and fortifying himself with the sign of Christ, entered into the burning frying-pan, thus meanwhile praying: God of Meletius, God of John, and God of Stephen, who didst show Serapion, while he yet dwelt in Egypt, Thy great glory; show me also, a little while indeed before an archmagus, but now hoping in Thee, that same glory of Thine: that Maximus may never be able to boast, that the God of the Christians is nothing, can do nothing. Callinicus praying such things, he experiences unharmed: all the fire and heat was suddenly dissipated: and the frying-pan, a little before glowing, afforded the Martyr a refreshment not unwelcome. Maximus, indignant, ordered Meletius to be brought forth, to whom he said; By thy sorceries, Meletius, hast thou destroyed our archmagus? or what at length hast thou bestowed on him, for whose cause he has borne to execrate our gods? Then the servant of God Meletius, lifting his eyes to heaven, rendered thanks to God, and thus addressed the Tyrant: He was not here overcome or changed by any magical illusions (may Christ avert that from us) but he recognized our true God, who will give him eternal life, as was fitting.

[46] But Callinicus, turning to Meletius; Meletius, said he, servant of the supreme God, pray as a suppliant to God, that I may not depart from this stadium inglorious. To whom Meletius; and the crown seen prepared for him Behold, said he, our God has even now prepared a most beautiful crown for thee, which I indeed behold; for He is the rewarder of all who hope in Him. But the Tyrant, since for anger against Callinicus he was scarcely himself, orders him to be beheaded, and Meletius to be led back to prison. When Callinicus understood the sentence of death passed upon him; Come, I pray, nearer, said he to Meletius. Whom embracing closely; the sign, he added, of Christ now form over me. he undergoes the sword with courage. To whom Meletius; Christ, said he, grant thee that sign which He has shown to us. And again, Lift up now thine eyes to heaven, and thou shalt behold the goods prepared for thee. His eyes therefore lifted on high, Callinicus saw the crown laid up as a reward for him. Wherefore suffused with joy, without delay he offered his neck to the sword, awaiting the last blow from the executioner: by whom struck, he placidly delivered his soul to God, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And when some of the Christians had been present at the final punishment of Callinicus, they buried the body of the Martyr, taken up, beside the venerable relics of B. Serapion.

CHAPTER VII.

The Meletian forces, increased by the conversion of many, are slaughtered together with women and little children.

Τῶν δὲ Ἁγίων ἐν φυλακῇ μενόντων, ἐκέλευσεν ὁ Μάξιμος ἐπὶ ἡμέρας ἑπτὰ μήτε ἄρτον μήτε ὕδωρ δοθῆναι αὐτοῖς, σκεπτόμενος πῶς ἀναλώσει αὐτούς. Αὐτοὶ δὲ, ὄντες ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ, τὴν μὲν ἡμέραν ἔψαλλον καὶ ὕμνουν τὸν Θεὸν, ἐν δὲ τῇ νυκτὶ Ἄγγελοι Κυρίου διηκόνουν καὶ διέτρεφον αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἦσαν τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὡς ἀστραπὴ ἐκλάμποντα. Ὁ δὲ ἀνοσιώτατος Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν φοῦρνον γενέσθαι ἐν τῷ χωρίῳ Κανδακορέων, καὶ ἐκκαῆναι αὐτὸν τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας, ἵνα θεάσωνται αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοι αὐτοῦ, βουλόμενος εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμβαλεῖν τοὺς δούλους τοῦ Θεοῦ. Τῇ δὲ ἑβδόμῃ ἡμέρᾳ μετὰ τὸ ἐγκλεισθῆναι τοὺς Ἁγίους, ὄρθρου ἀναστάντες οἱ δεσμοφύλακες, ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ Μαξίμῳ λέγοντες· Τινὲς, τῶν θυρῶν ἐσφραγισμένων, φέρουσιν αὐτοῖς βρῶσιν καὶ πότον, τί δέ ἐστιν ὃ ἐσθίουσιν, οὐκ οἴδαμεν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ἀπελθὼν εὗρεν τὴν φυλακὴν ἐσφαγισμένην, καὶ τὰς κλεῖς σώας· εἶδεν δὲ ὄχλον πολὺν Ἀγγέλων ψαλλόντων, ἀνὰ μέσου δὲ αὐτῶν ἕνα ἔστῶτα οὕτινος τὸ πρόσωπον ἐμβλέψαι οὐκ ἐδύνατο, τὸ δὲ περιβόλαιον αὐτοῦ ἦν ὡς ἀστραπή· ἱσταμένου αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγοντος αὐτοῖς, Θαρσεῖτε, θεράποντές μου, ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν. Διὰ δὲ τῆς πλαγίας εἰσελθόντες οἱ ὑπηρέται, νομίσαντές τινα συλλαβέσθαι, εὗρον ἔσω οὐδένα, εἰ μὴ μόνον τοὺς δούλους τοῦ Θεοῦ χωρὶς δεσμῶν. Θυμωθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν ἀπεχθῆναι αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ χωρίῳ τῷ ἐπιλεγομένῳ Κανδακορεὺς, ὅπου ἦ ὁ φοῦρνος ἡτοιμασμένος καὶ πεπυρωμένος σφόδρα, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἰδοὺ ἡτοίμασα ὑμῖν ξηροπύριον· δηλώσατε οὖν τοῖς σὺν ὑμῖν στρατιώταις, ὥστε μετὰ τῶν γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων κατελθεῖν αὐτοὺς άπὸ σημείου ἑνὸς τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, καὶ θῦσαι αὐτῷ· ἐπεὶ, ὑμᾶς ὧδε ἐμβαλῶ ἐν τῷ φούρνῳ, ἐκείνους δὲ κατὰ τὴν κέλευσιν Βασιλέως Ἀντωνίνου κατακόψω· καὶ γὰρ ἔπεμψέ μοι βοήθειαν λέγων, ὥστε τοὺς μὴ βουλομένους θῦσαι τοῖς θεοῖς κατακόπτεσθαι αὐτούς. Οἱ δὲ Ἅγιοι εἶπον. Μή σοι καλῶς, κύων μιαροφάγε, ἵνα τοῦτο ποιήσωμεν ἡμεῖς καὶ ὁ ὄχλος ἡμῶν. Εἰς ἕνα Θεὸν ἐπιστεύσαμεν· καὶ πιστεύομεν ὅστις διαφυλάττει ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν μιαρωτάτων σου χειρῶν· ὃν γὰρ λέγεις Ἀπόλλωνα, αὐτὸς ἀπολέσει σε μετὰ τοῦ Βασιλέως σου Ἀντωνίνου, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπὶ τὰ εἴδωλα. Θυμωθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν τὴν Βοήθειαν αὐτοῦ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ὕλην, καλέσας τὸ ἐξέρκετον Μελετίου. Ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς βοηθείας Μαξίμου, εὗρον ὁμοθυμαδὸν τὸν ὄχλον Μελετίου εὐχὰς ποιοῦντας ἐν τῶ ὄρει, ἀνὰ μέσον δὲ αὐτῶν ἦν χόρος Ἀγγέλων, ὃν ἴδον πρότερον ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ ἐστῶτα, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτοῦ ὡς ἀστραπὴν φωτός· οἱ δὲ Ἅγιοι κατεῖχον ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν ἀνὰ τρεῖς στεφάνους. Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται οἱ ἀποσταλέντες ὑπὸ Μαξίμου, οὐκ ἐδυνήθησαν ὅλως κατανοῆσαι αὐτούς· ἦσαν γὰρ ἀμαυρωθέντες αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀπτασίας, πολλοὶ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐτυφλώτησαν, καὶ ἔμειναν ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ τόπῳ· οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι οἱ βλέποντες ἀπῆλθον ταχέως, καὶ ἐμήνυσαν τῷ Μαξίμῳ, λέγοντες· Ὅτι εἴδομεν τὸν Θεὸν τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ὄχλου ἑστῶτα, καὶ πλῆθος Ἀγγέλων ἀσπροφόρων περὶ αὐτὸν, κατεχόντων ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν ἀνὰ τρεῖς στεφάνους, τάχα αὐτοὺς ἔχουσι δοῦναι αὐτοῖς· ἡμεῖς μέντοι αὐτόπται ποιηθέντες ἤλθομεν ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι· οἱ δὲ πλεῖστοι ἑταῖροι ἡμῶν ἐτυφλώθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ὀπτασίας, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν μεταβῆναι ἐκεῖθεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμειναν ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου. Ὁ δὲ Μάξμος λαβὼν τὸν Μελέτιον λέγει αὐτῷ· Σὺ μόνος ἐλθὲ εἰς τὸ ἐξέρκετόν σου, ἴνα ἴδω αὐτοὺς τὸ τί θέλουσιν· τὸν δὲ Ἰωάννην καὶ Στέφανον ἐκέλευσεν ἐν δωματίῳ τινὶ φυλάττεσθαι. Ἀπελθὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ μετὰ Μαξίμου τοῦ Δουκὸς, ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ τυφλωθέντες στρατιῶται, καὶ καθίσας σὺν αὐτοῖς, ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες (ἦν γὰρ ὁ Μελέτιος ὡς ἐτῶν εἴκοσι πέντε, νεὸς μὲν τῇ ἡλικίᾳ, γηράλαιος δὲ τῷ φρονήματι, ὅθεν καὶ συμπαθείᾳ φέρομενος, ἔλεγε πρὸς τοὺς τυφλωθέντας στρατιώτας ταῦτα) τί ἐπταίσατε τῳ Χριστῷ μου, ὅτι οὕτως ἐπάθετε; μὴ ἐνυβρίσατε αὐτόν; Οὁ δὲ εἶπον· Σὺ γὰρ τις εἶ ὁ ἐξερευνῶν ἡμᾶς; Μελέτιος εἶπεν. Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς Μελέτιος καὶ δοῦλος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Οἱ τυφλωθέντες στρατιῶται λέγουσι Μελετίῳ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· Σὺ εἶ Μελέτιος ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ὑψιλοῦ Θεοῦ, δι᾽ ὃν ἡμεῖς ἀπεστάλημεν; Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου. Οἱ δὲ εἶπον· Νῦν ἔγνωμεν ὅτι μέγας ἐστὶν ὁ Θεός σου· εὖξαι οὖν αὐτῷ, ἵνα καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀναβλέψωμεν καὶ πιστεύσωμεν τῷ ὑψίστῳ Θεῷ καὶ σωθῶμεν. Ὁ δὲ δοῦλος τοῦ Χρισοῦ Μελέτιος, κλίνας τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ, προσηύξατο φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγων· Τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀλήθηνον, ὁ ποιήσας φῶς καὶ τὸ σκότος, διαχωρίσας καὶ ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτα, ὁ τοὺς φωστῆρας φαιδρύνας, ὁ τὸν δράκοντα τὸν ἀποστάτην συντρίψας ἐν τοῖς ὕδασι Χριστὲ, ὁ τὴν ἐρυθρᾶν θάλασσαν διαχωρήσας καὶ τὸν λαόν σου διασώσας, ὁ τοὺς δαιμονιῶντας καθαρίσας καὶ τοὺς χωλοὺς ἀνορθώσας, ὁ τὸν ἐκ γεννητῆς τυφλὸν φωταγωγήσας καὶ ἑτερους πολλοὺς, δός Κύριε τὸ σὸν φῶς εις τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς τούτους, τοὺς εἴς σε πιστεύσαντας, μὴ εἴπῃ ὁ ἀφρὼν καὶ πεπορώμενος τῇ καρδίᾳ Μάξιμος, ὅτι οὐδέν ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν. Ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Μάξιμος, ὁ μὲν φόβος αὐτὸν ἐλάμβανεν, τῷ δὲ θυμῷ ἐνέβαλλεν ὁ διάβολος. Ἄφνω δὲ ἀστραπὴ ἐγένετο, καὶ φῶς μέγα ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, ὥστε πάντας πεσεῖν εἰς τὸ ἔδαφος· καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέβλεψαν οἱ τυφλωθέντες στρατιῶται, καὶ ὑψωσόντες τάς χεῖρας αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, εἶπον φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· Ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός, ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· ὁ δοὺς τῷ σῷ θεράποντι Μελετίῳ τὴν σὴν χάριν, δός καὶ ἡμῖν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ μερίδα, καὶ ποίησον ἡμᾶς ἀξίους γενέσθαι, ἵνα δοξάσωμέν σου τὸ ὄνομα διὰ παντός. Καὶ Ἐπάραντες τὰ ἅρματα αὐτῶν ἔῤῥιψαν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μαξίμου τοῦ Δουκός. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος εἶπεν· Τί τοῦτο ἐποιήσατε; Οἱ δὲ ἀναβλέψαντες στρατιῶται εἶπον· Ἔστω εἰς τὴν ἀπόλειαν ὁ Βασιλεὺς ὁ πρόσκαιρος, μετά σου καὶ τῶν θεῶν σου· ἡμεῖς γὰρ τὸν ἐπούρανιον Θεὸν Ἐγνωρίσαμεν, τὸν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς καὶ πάσης κτίσεως δεσπόζοντα, τὸν ποιήναντα βασιλεῖς καὶ ἄρχοντας.

Μάξιμος λέγει· Γνωρίζῳ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν τῷ Βασιλεῖ, καὶ ἀποζώσει ὑμᾶς. Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται λύσαντες τὰς ζώνας αὐτῶν, ἔῤῥιψαν καὶ αὐτὰς εἰς τὴν ὄψιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπῆλθον ὃπου ἦν ὁ ὄχλος Μελετίου. Ὀ δὲ ἄνομος Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ παιδία ἀχθῆναι τῶν στρατιωτῶν Μελετίου, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Θύσατε τοῖς θεοῖς. Φήστα δὲ καὶ Φαύστα, καὶ Μαρκελλίνα, καὶ Δεσσία, καὶ Σωσάννα, καὶ Μαρκηανὴ, καὶ Παλλαδία λέγουσι τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἤκουσας παρὰ τῶν ἡμῶν ἀδελφῶν πολλάκις, ὅτι ἑνὶ Θεῷ τῷ ἐπουρανίῳ λατρεύομεν, ἄλλῳ δὲ λατρεῦσαι οὐ δυνάμεθα. Ὃ οὖν βούλει ποιῆσαι, ποίησον. Μάξιμος Δοὺξ εἶπεν· Οὔτε οἱ νεανίσκοι ἡμῶν θύουσι τοῖς θεοῖς; Αἱ δὲ δούλαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἶπον· Τυφλὲ τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ πεπορωμένε τῇ ψυχῇ, οὔτε οἱ νεανίσκοι ἡμῶν οὔτε ἡμεῖς θύομεν ὡς λέγεις, πάντες γὰρ ὁμοθυμαδὸν τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν οὐρανῶν Ἰησοὺν Χριστὸν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐποθήσαμεν, καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύομεν, τῷ διδόντι ἡμῖν ἰσχὺν καὶ δύναμιν κατὰ τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ σατανᾶ. Ἐννόησον δὲ ἀσεβέστατε τὰς βασάνους, ἃς προσήγαγες τοῖς πρώτοις ἡμῶν Μελετίῳ καὶ τοῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐδὲν ἴσχυσας πρὸς αὐτούς· καὶ ἡμᾶς θέλεις ἐκπλανῆσαι; μή σοι καλῶς δράκων ἰοβόλε, ὡς ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ διάβολος· ὑφ᾽ ἡμῶν γὰρ τῶν νεανίδων ἔχεις ἡττηθῆναι καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν παίδων ἡμῶν· τὸν γὰρ Θεὸν ἡμῶν ἔχομεν πάντοτε ἀλείφοντα ἡμᾶς κατά σου, τύραννε. Τότε Μάξιμος θυμοθεὶς εἶπεν τοῖς ὑπεραστεῖς τοῦ διαβόλου· Ξύλα ἄγρια κόψαντες, τύπτεσθαι αὐτῶν τὰς κεφαλὰς κελεύω, ἕως οὗ διαφωνήσωσιν. Ἐκείνων δὲ κοπτόντων τὰ ξύλα, αἱ ἀθλοφόροι τοῦ Χριστοῦ νεάνιδες ἦραν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ εἶπον· Κύριε Ἰησοῦ, ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν αἰωνίων, ὁ πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον κτιστῆναι ὢν πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα, καὶ διαμένων εἰς τοὺς σύμπαντας αἰῶνας, ἔπιδε ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς, ὅτι σὸν ποίημά ἐσμεν, καὶ μὴ ἐάσῃς ἡμᾶς ἡττηθῆναι μητέρας μετὰ παίδων· ἀλλὰ δὸς ἡμῖν τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦτον τῇ σῇ δυνάμει ἐκτελέσαι, καὶ μὴ ἀστέπτους ἡμᾶς ἐάσῃς τοῦ σταδίου τούτου ἐξελθεῖν, μήτε αἱρετικὸν ἣ ἕλληνα μένειν ἐν τῷ ἄγρῳ τούτῳ συγχωρήσῃς, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Φωνὴ δὲ ἦλθεν αὐταῖς ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· Θαρσεῖτε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε. Προσελθόντες δὲ οἱ δήμιοι μετὰ τῶν ξύλων, ἀπέκτειναν αὐτὰς μετὰ τῶν παίδων αὐτῶν. Εὐθέως δὲ πεσόντες οἱ δήμιοι διεφώνησαν· καί τινες τῶν Χριστιανῶν, λάβοντες τῶν ἀθλοφώρων γυναικῶν μετὰ τῶν παίδων αὐτῶν, κατέθεντο αὐτὰ ἐν τόπῳ σεμνῷ, εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ Θεῷ διὰ παντός. Τὸ δὲ ἐξέρκετον Μελετίου ἐκεῖ ἐπετέλουν τὰς εὐχὰς ἐν τῷ ὄρει, μετὰ τῶν πιστευσάντων τελευτέων στρατιωτῶν. Ὁ δὲ ἀνομώτατος Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν τῷ ἑαυτοῦ στρατηλάτῃ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ὕλην Κανδακορέων, ἐν τῷ ὄρει ὅπου ἦν τὸ ἐξέρκετον Μελετίου· καὶ ἐκέλευσεν τοὺς μὲν τραχηλοκοπηθῆναι, τοὺς δὲ λακτίζεσθαι, τοὺς δὲ ὑπολοίπους σκελοκοπηθῆναι. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ στρατιῶται τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐδοξασαν τὸν Θεὸν, λέγοντες· Εὐλογοῦμέν σε, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀγαθὲ εὐεργέτα πάντων ἡμῶν, ὅτι κατηξίωσας ἡμᾶς μετὰ τῶν σῶν θεραπόντων καὶ ἀθλοφόρων εὑρεθῆναι· καὶ νῦν ἀξιοῦμέν σε, Δέσποτα, μὴ ἐάσῃς ἡμᾶς ἀστέπτους εἶναι, ἀλλὰ δέξαι ἡμῶν τὰς ψυχὰς ἐν ἀνέσει, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνως. Ἀμήν. Καὶ εὐξάμενοι ἔδωκαν ἑαυτοὺς ὡς πρόβατα εἰς σφαγὴν, καὶ ἀπήντησαν τὴν βοήθειαν Μαξίμου· χαίροντες δὲ οἱ ἀθλοφόροι ἔκλιναν τοὺς αὐχένας, καὶ ἐθελειώθησαν ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος· Τὰ δὲ σώματα αὐτῶν ἀφανῆ ἐγένοντο εὐθέως. Μάξιμος δὲ ἐλθὼν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τοῦ ὄρους ἤθελεν τὰ σώματα κατακαῦσαι τῶν γενναιοτάτων στρατιωτῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εὗρεν δὲ οὐδέν.

[47] Meletius and his two companions, condemned to seven days' starvation, The holy Martyrs meanwhile still detained in prison, the Tyrant forbade that bread or even water be provided them for seven whole days: at which time they spent the daytime hours in singing psalms and hymns to God, and passed the nighttime hours joyfully by the ministry of Angels and the prodigious refreshment of the body, the faces of all flashing forth a most bright light in the manner of lightning. After these things the most impious Maximus ordered a furnace to be built in the region of the Candacorei, and that it be kindled continuously for three days and as many nights, that the dire contrivance might escape the sight of no one: into which furnace he destined to cast the most holy Martyrs. On the seventh day therefore on which they were held in custody, at early morning the keepers of the prison reported to Maximus that food and drink had been supplied to the captives by certain unknown men, but of what kind that food was, Maximus, understanding them refreshed divinely, could not be discovered by them. The report received, Maximus, having advanced to the prison, found the custody rightly secured with his seal, and the bolts undamaged. Then a great multitude of psalm-singing Angels was presented to his eyes; among whom one in the midst had stood, upon whose face the Tyrant could not direct his eyes, whose chlamys also seemed to emit a splendor like lightning. He therefore, as I said, standing in the midst of all, thus exhorted the Saints: Be brave in spirit, my most faithful servants, for I will ever be present to you with my present aid. And when, that they might lay hold of him, some of the attendants had rushed in through the side door of the prison, they found absolutely no one, except the illustrious servants of God, loosed from their chains.

[48] he threatens them with the kindled furnace, Raging therefore and indignant, Maximus willed them to be led to the place named Candoreus, where the furnace had already been made ready for torturing them, wholly glowing from the fire. And, Behold, said he then to the Martyrs, this furnace is prepared for you. Wherefore proclaim this to all the men of your soldiery, and also to the women and children, that to one mile from this city, all betake themselves into the temple of Apollo for the sake of sacrificing. If you refuse this, you indeed this furnace, but all the others a most savage slaughter awaits, that I may execute the will of the Emperor Antoninus: who has supplied me with the power and aid, that as many as shall refuse to sacrifice to our gods, be destroyed unto extermination. unless they induce their soldiers to sacrifice; The Martyrs answered; Does this seem to thee, impure dog, beautiful and praiseworthy, that we and all our own commit the crime which thou urgest? In one God we have believed, and we will go on to believe further, who has kept us whole from thy impious machinations hitherto. For he whom thou so greatly proclaimest, Apollo, will without doubt destroy both thee and thy Emperor Antoninus, and those who repose some hope in idols.

[49] Maximus indeed grew hot. Then he sends into the wood the soldiers whom he had received as aid, those sent to bring them being, that they might drag to him the forces which took Meletius's part. The attendants of Maximus therefore drawing near found all the Meletian soldiers, in the mountain itself, intent upon pouring forth prayers to God. But in the midst of the Christian army they beheld present that same number and order of Angels which they had before observed in the prison; in the midst also of the Angels there was to be seen a light as it were of lightning. The holy Soldiers also carried in their hands three crowns each. But the attendants who had been destined by Maximus could not at all discern those whom they had come to seize: partly blinded, for by the wonderful splendor of the spectacle the keenness of their eyes had been rendered duller, since also more of them were plainly deprived of the use of sight, and were compelled to remain in that very place in which they had stood. But those from whom the use of their eyes had not been taken, hastening at a run to Maximus; The God, partly reporting what they saw: they said, of the Christians we saw standing in the midst of them, and at the same time a great multitude of Angels, shining with a starry light, and holding forth in their hands three crowns each, with which the Christians seemed even now about to be crowned. We therefore have come to bring thee this report; but those who are the rest of our number, taken in their eyes by the excessive light of the spectacle, were compelled to remain in the same place.

[50] Meletius, having set out to them with Maximus, Here Maximus, having called Meletius; Go, said he, without escort to thy army, that I myself may understand from them what they want: but John and Stephen he ordered to be guarded in a certain house. The servant of God Meletius therefore and the Tyrant himself went forward to the place, in which the soldiers deprived of their eyes had stood: sitting down with whom, Meletius bitterly grieved their lot, then addressing them in this manner; Brothers and most beloved fathers (for Meletius was about twenty-five years old, in age indeed a young man, but in mind and prudence an old man; whence it came to pass that he used these words to the blind soldiers) what, I pray, have you sinned against my Christ, that He has permitted you to fall into these evils? Have you provoked Him with contumelies? They answered; Who art thou, who askest these things of us? Meletius I am, the Martyr replies, a sinner indeed, but yet also a servant of Christ. Then with a loud voice the soldiers again asked; Art thou Meletius, he restores sight to the blinded: the servant of the great and lofty God? To whom the Martyr; I, said he, am the servant of the most high God. But they; Now indeed, they exclaim, we have known that the God who is worshipped by thee is great and most worthy of worship. Render Him therefore propitious to us by thy prayers, that with sight recovered we may believe in thy God, and obtain the salvation desired. Then the servant of Christ Meletius, his knees set upon the ground, prayed with a loud voice, saying; O true Light, Christ, who didst make the light and the darkness, and didst will night to be divided from day, who didst give to the stars themselves their brightness, who didst crush the prevaricating dragon in the waters, who didst prodigiously divide the Red Sea, that Thy people might come forth safe; who didst free those possessed by the evil demon, and didst raise the lame; who at length didst grant the use of eyes to one blind from birth and to many others besides; bestow, Lord, Thy light upon these my brothers, who have their hope in Thee, that the senseless and hard-hearted Maximus may not impiously boast that the God of the Christians is to be made nothing of.

[51] When Maximus heard these things, he was struck with no small fear, and then incited by the devil to anger. Suddenly therefore a great light in the manner of lightning filled the place, so that all cast themselves prone upon the ground. And without delay, the soldiers who had been struck with prodigious blindness received their sight by the miracle. Wherefore all, with hands stretched out to heaven, who, having confessed Christ said with a loud voice; Truly Thou art God in the heavens, who heapest Thy servant Meletius with great grace; of which, we pray, deny us not some part; and grant this, that we be not found unworthy to strive for the glory of Thy name. Which things said, at the Tyrant's

feet they likewise cast away the insignia of their soldiery. And Maximus; What, said he, is this matter, that you do, soldiers? To whom then they; Evilly, they answer, may thy temporary Emperor perish, and thou likewise, and thy gods. For we have acknowledged God established above all the heavens, their belt cast away, they join the Meletians. who is the Lord of heaven and earth and of all creatures, by whose nod and will Kings and Princes hold dominion. To which the Tyrant; Before the Emperor, said he, I will institute an action against you, who will ignominiously strip you all of the military belt. Then the generous soldiers, their belts of their own accord and freely cast away at the feet of Maximus, joined themselves to the Meletian troops.

[52] But the impious Tyrant ordered to be brought to him the wives and children of all the soldiers who had hitherto obeyed the command of Meletius, on whom he enjoined that they should venerate the gods by sacrifice. Maximus vainly solicits their women and little children, But Festa and Fausta and Marcellina, and also Dessia, Susanna, Marciana, and Palladia answered Maximus; Not once hast thou learned from our brothers, that we religiously render the worship due to the one God above the heavens, nor is it lawful for us to follow any other gods with veneration. What therefore thou meditatest in thy mind, if thou so wilt, execute. Maximus the Commander to the women; Do not these striplings also, said he, sacrifice to our gods? To whom the handmaids of the supreme God; Blind in mind and perverse, neither our sons, nor we, sacrifice to thy gods, as thou sayest; for all of us with one accord have in love and longing Christ Jesus, the true Son of God and most beautiful emperor of heaven, and to Him alone we sacrifice, who supplies us with strength and vigor against all the machinations of thy father Satan. Devise, most impious of men, punishments and tortures like those with which thou hast in vain afflicted Meletius and the others chief among our number, whether thou also wilt deceive us by thy false persuasions? evil be it to thee, venomous dragon, even as also to thy father the devil. For by us, though younger and more tender, and by our children, art thou to be conquered, since our God will not fail us, who will equip with arms those gone forth into the arena against thee, O Tyrant.

[53] Kindled with anger, Maximus, Hew, said he to the ministers of Satan, rough timbers, and so long batter the heads of these women, until they no longer dissent from the sentence of our mind. and he commands all to be slaughtered with cudgels; While therefore those men hew the timbers, the generous Amazons of Christ lifted up their hands to heaven praying in this manner, Lord Jesus Christ, King of the ages, who before this world was established wast with the Father, and remainest unto all the ages; look, we pray, upon us Thy humble handmaids, nor permit that mothers devoted to Thee with their children be conquered by the Tyrant: but rather bring this to pass, that, supported by Thy divine power, we finish this contest without disgrace, nor depart inglorious from the stadium. Suffer not any of the heretics or gentiles to persist in this field, since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen. The prayer ended, they perceived a voice from heaven saying; Be confident, nor fear anything. And when then the executioners, armed with cudgels, had drawn near, they cruelly slaughtered the excellent matrons with their offspring; but they themselves also, suddenly prostrated to the ground, prodigiously expired. Then some of the Christians composed the bodies of the brave women and boys, not without a rendered thanksgiving to God, in a place chiefly honorable.

[54] The Meletian soldiers meanwhile, in the oft-mentioned mountain, together with their fellow-soldiers recently initiated in the Christian faith, persevered intent upon prayers; but the men to be slaughtered by the attendants sent in. when the most impious Tyrant sends into the wood of the Candacorei, which was situated in the very mountain which the Meletian army occupied, the leader of his forces, with the added command that they should diminish some by the head, others by the feet, and others at last by the legs. Having received the report of which thing, the illustrious champions of Christ rendered the due glory to God with this prayer; We bless Thee, Christ, our God, and best benefactor, since this has pleased Thee, that we be numbered among Thy excellent servants and most valiant champions. This therefore we now pray Thee, Lord, suffer us not to be inglorious, but rather deign to receive our souls into placid peace, since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen. the bodies of all suddenly disappear from sight. When they had prayed these things, they delivered themselves, like innocent little sheep, to the slaughter, and of their own accord went forth to meet the forces sent by Maximus; and a little after, submitting their necks to the sword, they made an end of living, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. But as soon as the Martyrs breathed out their souls, their bodies also ceased to be seen. And when the Tyrant himself had come to the place, about to give the bodies of the holy Soldiers to the fire to be burned, he could find none of them.

CHAPTER VIII.

After new punishments John and Stephen are beheaded. Meletius breaks the statue of Apollo in pieces.

ΚΑταισχυνθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν φοῦρνον, καὶ προσεσχηκὼς τῷ φούρνῳ εἶδεν τὸ ἐξωθεν αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ χαλκὸν ἐξαστράπτον ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρός. Ἐκέλευσεν δὲ ἐμβληθῆναι τοὺς. ἀθλοφόρους καὶ καλλίνικους Μάρτυρας, Μελέτιον, Ἰωάννην, καὶ Στέφανον. Βληθέντες δὲ οἱ Ἅγιοι ἐν τῷ φούρνῳ, καὶ ποιήσαντες τὴν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ σφραγίδα προθύμως εἰσῆλθον. Ὁ οὖν φοῦρνος ἔξωθεν μὲν ἦν ἀστράπτων ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς, ἔσωθεν δὲ ἐγένετο ὡς δρόσος· Μιχαὴλ γὰρ, ὁ τῆς διαθήκης Κυρίου Ἄγγελος, ἦν συνελθὼν αὐτοῖς. Οἱ δὲ ὑπηρέται τοῦ Μαξίμου σκεπάσαντες καὶ χρίσαντες τὴν θύραν τοῦ φούρνου, οἱ μὲν ἀνεχώρησαν, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ τὰ ἔξωθεν ἐφύλαττον. Οἱ δὲ Ἅγιοι καθήμενοι ἔσωθεν ἔψαλλον, εὐχόμενοι καὶ εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ λέγοντες· Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ καταξιώσας ἡμᾶς τυχεῖν τῆς μερίδος τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως σου καὶ Ἐπισκόπου Φωκᾶ, τοῦ βληθέντος ἐν τῷ λουτρῷ καὶ διασωθέντος ὑπό σου. Ὁ τοὺς τρεῖς παῖδας ἐν τῇ καμίνῳ δροσίσας, μὴ ὑπερίδῃς ἡμᾶς, ἀλλὰ τῇ δεξιᾷ σου φύλαξον ἡμᾶς, ἵνα νικήσωμεν τὸν ἀντικείμενον, ὅπως πιστεύσῃ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς, ὅτι Θεὸς εἶ ζῶν εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας. Μετὰ δὲ μίαν ἡμέραν ἀπελθὼν ὁ ἀνοσιώτατος Μάξιμος τοῦ ἰδεῖν τὸν φοῦρνον, εἶπεν τοῖς ὑπερέταις τοῦ διαβόλου· Ἀνοίξαντες βλέπετε τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν τὸ τί ἐγένοντο. Οἱ δὲ ἀνοίξαντες εὗρον τοὺς Ἁγίους ὡς ἀπὸ λυτροῦ διαπυριῶντας καὶ ἱδρῶντας. Λέγουσιν οὖν οἱ ὑπηρέται τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἠνοίξαμεν τὸ στόμα τοῦ φούρνου, δέσποτα, καθὼς ἐκέλευσας ἡμῖν· τρεῖς δὲ ἐβάλομεν καὶ τέσσαρες εὑρέθησαν. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτοὺς ὁ Μάξιμος, Μανίᾳ πολλῇ φερόμενος, ἤνεγκεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ κελεύει μόλυβδον λυθῆναι, καὶ μετὰ σιδηρολάβου τὰ στόματα αὐτῶν ἀνοιχθῆναι, καὶ οὕτως ἐκχέειν τὸν μόλιβδον εἰς τὰ στόματα αὐτῶν. Οἱ δὲ ἀθλοφόροι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καταφρονήσαντες καὶ ταύτης τῆς βασάνου, ἐμειδίων τῷ προσώπῳ· καὶ ὑψώσαντες τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, εἶπον· Φωστὴρ ἐπουράνιε, λαμπτὴρ αἰώνιε, δέσποτα Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστὲ, παντεπόπτα, βραχίων ὑψηλὲ, φωταγωγὲ τῶν ἐν σκότει διαπορευομένων, ὁ ῥυσάμενος τὸν Δανιὴλ ἐκ στόματος λεόντων καὶ διαθρέψας αὐτὸν διὰ παιδός σου Ἀμβακοὺμ, καὶ διασώσας αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου τῶν λεόντων, καὶ δοὺς αὐτῷ τὴν σοφίαν, ὁ κελεύων τοῖς ὄρεσι καπνίζειν καὶ καπνίζονται, ὁ ῥυσάμενος τὸν λαόν σου ἐκ δουλείας Αἰγυπτίων καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραὼ, ῥῦσαι καὶ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνόμου τούτου καὶ ματαίου ἀνδρὸς, καὶ διαφύλαξον ἡμᾶς ἀσπίλους ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Καὶ εὐξαμένων αὐτῶν, πάλιν ἠνέχθη ὁ μόλιβδος, καὶ δήσαντες αὐτοὺς ὁπισθοφανῶς ἐρώτησαν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τὰ στόματα αὐτῶν μετὰ ζυλολάβων, ἐνέχεαν τὸν μόλιβδον εἰς τὰ στόμτα τῶν Ἁγίων. Καὶ παραχρῆμα οἱ ἐκχέαντες ὑπηρέται τὸν μόλιβδον διεῤῥάγησαν, καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀνεχώρησαν, νομίσαντες εἶναι τοὺς Ἁγίους τεθνεῶτας. Τῶν δὲ ἁγίων Μαρτύρων μὴ αἰσθανομενων τὸν μολίβδον, καὶ τῶν δεσμῶν διαῤῥαγέντων, ἀναστάντες εὐλόγησαν τὸν Θεον, καὶ εἶπον· Εὐχαριστοῦμέν σε, Δέσποτα, Πάτερ ἐπούρανιε, καὶ εὐλογοῦμέν σε ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δόξης καὶ τῆς βοηθείας ἡμῶν· ἴδε, Κύριε, καὶ ἐπάκουσον τῆς δεήσεως τῶν ἐπικαλουμένων τὸ ὄνομά σου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ἥλιος τῆς δικαιοσυνης, σὺ εἶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ἐλέει καὶ οἰκτιρμοῖς, ὀ τῶν ἀδιηγήτων μυστηρίων χορηγὸς, ὁ θελήματι τοῦ Πατρὸς διασκεδάσας τὸ σκότος, ὁ νεύματι ἀγαθῷ συστησάμενος τὰ πάντα. Ἔπιδε, Κύριε, καὶ ἐπάκουσον τῆς φωνῆς ἡμῶν καὶ δοξαζόντων τὸ ὄνομά σου, καὶ ποίησον ἡμᾶς ἀξίους τῆς ἐπουρανίου βασιλείας γενέσθαι, καὶ ἀμέμπτως ἐκτελέσαι τὸν ἁγῶνα τοῦτοις, καὶ μὴ ἐάσῃς ἡμᾶς ἑκστέπτους ἐξελθεῖν τοῦ σταδίου τούτου, ἀλλὰ δέξαι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν ἐν ἀνέσει, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Καὶ εὐξαμένων αὐτῶν πάλιν ἠνέχθη ὁ μόλιβδος, καὶ δήσαντες αὐτοὺς ὀπισθοφανῶς ἐγονάτισαν αὐτοὺς, Ὄχλος δὲ πολὺς ἀκούσας ταῦτα τὰ θαυμάσια, ἐπιστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστόν. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος, ὅτι οὐδὲν δύναται ποιῆσαι αὐτοὺς, ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ Στέφανον τραχηλοκοπηθῆναι, συνακολουθεῖν δὲ καὶ τὸν Μελέτιον, Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ἐπηρώτα αὐτὸν, λέγων· Ὠς ἀκούω, Μελέτιε, τάχα τῷ ἐσταυρωμένῳ λατρεύεις ἀκμήν. Μελέτιος εἶπεν· Ἄρτι οἶδας ἀνόητε, ὅτι λατρεύω τῷ ἐκ Μαρίας τῆς ἁγίας παρθένου τεχθέντι, τῷ σταυρωθέντι ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου καὶ Ἡρώδου τοῦ Βασιλέως, τῷ ταφέντι καὶ τριημέρῳ ἀναστάντι, τῷ λύσαντι τὰς ὠδῖνας τοῦ θανάτου καὶ φωτίζαντι τα ἐσκοτισμένα, τῷ συνταράσσοντι τὸ κύτος τῆς θαλάσσης, τῷ πανταχοῦ επισταμένω τὰς τέχνας τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου· εἰς αὐτὸν πιστεύω τὸν καθήμενον ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης τοῦ Πατρὸς, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ βασιλεύων τῶν αἰώνων, σοὶ δὲ, Μάξιμε, ἐτοιμάζει τὰς κολάσεις αἰωνίους. Οἱ δὲ δήμιοι, κατὰ τὸ κέλευσμα τοῦ Μαξίμου, παραλαβόντες τοὺς δύο, Ἰωάννην καὶ Στέφανον, ἀπίησαν αὐτοὺς τελειῶσαι. Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης καὶ Στέφανος εἶπον Μελετίῳ· Ἀγαθὲ διδάσκαλε καὶ στρατηγὲ τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν, καὶ ὑπουργὲ καὶ θεράπων τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν τάχει ἡμᾶς φθάσον· καθὼς γάρ ἐσμεν ὧδε κοινωνοὶ, οὕτως καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ αἰῶνι εὐρεθῶμεν περιπτυξάμενοι ἀλλήλους. Ἀπέδωκαν τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπην, καὶ προθύμως ἀπίεσαν τελειωθῆναι, καὶ ἀναβλέψαντες εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπον· Εὐλογοῦμέν σε, Κύριε, ὁ δοὺς ἡμῖν τὴν τρίπλοκον χάριν, καὶ ἐλεήσας τοὺς σοὺς δούλους, καὶ σώσας ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ κακοτέχνου διαβόλου· αὐτὸς, Δέσποτα Κύριε, ἀπόδος τῷ ἀνοήτῳ Μαξίμῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. Τελεσάντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν εὐχὴν, φωνὴ ἦλθεν αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· Καλῶς ἠθλήσατε ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, δοῦλοί μου πιστοὶ, Ἰωάννη καὶ Στέφανε, ἀπολάβετε τὸν στέφανον ὑμῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ· Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀνεώχθησαν ἡμῖν αἱ πύλαι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ὁ χόρος τῶν Ἀγγέλων ἀγάλλεται ἐφ᾽ ὑμῖν· δεῦτε οὖν ἐν εἰρήνῃ εἰς τὴν

ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν. Γενομένης δὲ τῆς φωνῆς ταύτης εὔξαντο πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· Δεόμεθά σου, Κύριε τῆς ἁγαθότητος, ἐν παραθήκῃ ἔχε τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν καὶ θεράποντά σου Μελέτιον, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἶ εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ δήμιοι ἐτελείωσαν αὐτούς· τελειωθέντων δὲ τῶν ἀθλητῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου παρέλαβον ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, τὰ δὲ λείψανα τῶν ἁγίων ἀθλητῶν ἀφανῆ ἐγένοντο. Ὁ δὲ ἀνομώτατος Μάξιμος πάλιν ἐκέλευσεν τὸν στρατιώτην καὶ ἀγωνιστὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιον ἀπάγεσθαι εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, καὶ ἀναγκάζειν αὐτὸν βίᾳ θύειν Ἀπόλλωνι. Ἀπενεχθέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ἱερῶ, πᾶν τὸ ἱερὸν ἐσείσθη· οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς, προσεσχηκότες τὰ γενόμενα, ἔπεσον ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ κράξαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπον· Τί ἐνέγκατε αὐτὸν, ἵνα καὶ τοὺς ὥδε θεοὺς καταστρέψῃ. Οἱ οὖν ὑπηρέται ἠνέγκασον αὐτὸν θύειν τῷ εἰδώλῳ· ἀναβλέψας δὲ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ ποιήσας τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, ἤρξατο εὔξεσθαι καὶ λέγειν· Δέσποτα ἐπούρανιε, βραχίων ὕψηλε, σωτηρία τῶν ἀπολλημένων, ὁ τὸν Βὴλ καταστρέψας καὶ τὸν δράκοντα διαῤῥήξας, καὶ νῦν Δέσποτα Ἰησοῦ ἐπάκουσόν μου, καὶ πέμψον τὴν σὴν βοήθειαν· καὶ ὡς κατέστρεψας τὸ χαλκούργημα τοῦ εἰδώλου, οὕτως καὶ τοῦτο τὸ εἴδωλον τὸ λίθινον κατάστρεψον δι᾽ ἐμοῦ τοῦ δούλου σου, ἵνα μὴ ἔχει ὁ τύραννος τόπον σκανδαλίζειν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Καὶ ἦλθεν φωνὴ λέγουσα· Μελέτιε θεράπων μου, ἄνελθε καὶ ὤλεσον τὸ εἴδωλον, καὶ συντριβήσεται. Εὐθέως ὁ νεανίας τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιος, ἐκτινάξας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν κατεχόντων αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀνελθῶν, καὶ ὠθήσας τὸ εἴδωλον, κατέστρεψεν αὐτό. Πεσὸν δὲ τὸ ἄγαλμα τοῦ λίθου ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ ψάμμος· Ἐπιλαβόμενος δὲ τὰ συνεστηκότα εἴδωλα, ὅλα σύνετριψεν. Λαβόντες οὖν αὐτὸν οἱ μιαρώτατοι ἱερεῖς καὶ ὑπηρέται τοῦ διαβόλου, τύπτοντες λιθοῖς τὰς σιαγόνας αὐτοῦ, ἀπήνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν Δοῦκα Μάξιμον, ἐπάνω τοῦ ἀγροῦ Κανδακορέων εἰς τὴν ὕλην, ὅπου ἦν Δοὺξ ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι. Καθίσας δὲ ὁ Μελέτιος εἰς μέσον τῆς ὁδοῦ, ἐστέναξεν πικρῶς, καὶ δακρύσας εἶπον· Εὐχαριστῶ σοι, Δέσποτα Κύριε, παντοκράτορ ὕψιστε, βραχίων ἀόρατε, ὑψηλόθρονε, ἀσάλευτε, ὁ συνκαθεζόμενος ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Πατρὸς, ὅτι ἔδωκάς μοι ἰσχὺν καὶ δύναμιν ὅλον τοῦτον τὸν καιρὸν τοῦ ἐκτρίψαι τὰ εἴδωλα τὰ χαλκὰ καὶ τὰ λίθινα· νῦν δέξαι λοιπὸν ἦν ἔδωκάς μοι παραθήκην, διότι μόνος διάγω. Καὶ εὐθέως χαρᾶς ἐνεπλήσθη ὁ Μελέτιος, καὶ ἔκπληκτοι ἐγένοντο οἱ ἀπάγοντες αὐτόν· καὶ φοβοφερομένοι, εἴασον αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔφυγον. Καθῆλθε γὰρ νεφέλη ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν, καὶ οἱ Ἄγγελοι σὺν αὐτῷ ὕμνουν καὶ ἐδόξαζον τὸν Θεόν. Οἱ δὲ δήμιοι καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς ἀπῆλθον πρὸς τὸν Μάξιμον, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ πάντα τὰ γεγονότα περὶ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἐλθοῦσαν ἐπὶ τὸν Μελέτιον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ. Ἐθαύμασεν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος ἀκούσας ταῦτα, καὶ ὁ ὄχλος σὺν αὐτῷ· πολλοὶ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν λαθραίως ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστόν. Ὁ δὲ ἁγίος Μελέτιος, δεξάμενος τὴν χάριν τοῦ σωτῆρος, ἀπίει φαιδρῷ τᾠ προσώπῳ πρὸς τὸν Μάξιμον.

[55] In this manner affected with confusion, Maximus turned his steps back to the furnace which he had ordered to be prepared: Meletius and his companions cast into the furnace, which considering more closely, he beheld all its exterior shining, in the likeness of glowing bronze, by the violence of the fire. Into it therefore he commanded to be cast the generous Martyrs, distinguished by victory won more than once, Meletius, John, and Stephen. When this was done, and the most holy Soldiers had fortified themselves with the sign of Christ, they truly underwent the punishment generously. Although therefore all the exterior of the furnace shone with much fire, yet its interior aspect represented a certain paradise, soothing the senses with most grateful dew: for Michael, the Angel of the Lord's testament, walked about with the Martyrs in the midst of the furnace. The ministers of the Tyrant meanwhile, the mouth of the glowing furnace diligently barred and secured, some sought again their own homes; others, about to observe the furnace and the outcome of the whole matter, remained there. Then, in the punishment in which the Saints were, by psalms and favorable apprecations they rendered God propitious to themselves, praying thus; Lord our God, who hast held us worthy to have some part with Thy Archpriest and Bishop Phocas, who, cast for Thy cause into a bath, also obtained through Thee his salvation; and who didst prodigiously afford refreshment to the three boys placed in the Babylonian furnace, despise us also by no means, we pray, but by Thy mighty right hand preserve us, that we may come forth superior to our adversary, and that all the people may know that Thou art the God living unto the ages.

[56] One day having elapsed, the Tyrant returned to consider the furnace and the outcome of the matter. He says therefore to his attendants, the ministers of Satan; Unclose the mouth of this furnace, and see what has become of those men's bones. and on the following day brought forth unharmed, When they had done this, they found the holy Martyrs, no otherwise than as if they had recently come forth from a bath, with countenance gently ruddy, and suffused with a harmless sweat. Turning therefore to Maximus; We have opened, they say, as thou hadst ordered, that furnace; and behold, although we cast only three men into it, yet four were found by us. Having beheld them, Maximus, and seized with great fury, ordered them to be brought forth, and molten lead to be poured into the mouths of the Martyrs opened with pincers. But the unconquered soldiers of Christ, the punishment that was being prepared despised, with smiling countenance lifted their hands to heaven with this prayer; Supreme illuminator of human minds and eternal splendor, Lord Jesus Christ, who beholdest all things, the lofty arm and light of those who walk in darkness; who didst snatch Daniel from the jaws of the lions, and didst refresh him with food by Thy boy Habakkuk, and at last, brought forth from the den of lions, didst fill him with Thy wisdom; at whose nod and will the mountains smoke; who didst snatch the nation chosen by Thee from the power and servitude of the Egyptians, and from the hands of Pharaoh the King himself; snatch us also from the hands of this impious and profane tyrant, and keep us unharmed for Thy glory; since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen.

[57] While they were still praying, the molten lead was brought. Placing the most valiant men supine therefore and binding them, they began first to vex them with questions, then to pour the lead into their mouths violently opened and held apart: but behold, the executioners who were occupied in pouring the lead were burst asunder into parts and fragments, wherefore the rest, supposing that the Saints had laid down their life in this torment, betook themselves to their own places. But when the Martyrs had felt no annoyance from the poured-in lead, and the cords and chains had been broken of their own accord, raised upon their feet, they blessed God in nearly these words: We render Thee thanksgivings, Lord and heavenly Father, and we bless Thee the God of our glory and of our help. Look, Lord, and receive with a benign ear the supplications of those who invoke Thee, since Thou art the sun of all justice and equity. Thou art rich in mercy and compassions, Thou the author and prince of unspeakable mysteries, who according to the will of Thy Father dispellest all the darkness of the ignorant, and by Thy most holy will sustainest all things: look upon us, Lord our God, and clemently hear the voice of those who celebrate Thee with due praises. with no harm to themselves. Grant that we be not found unworthy of the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom, grant that from this contest we depart without any stain of glory, and at last, we pray, admit our souls into peace, since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen. While the holy Martyrs thus pray, the molten lead being brought again, they were ordered again with face supine to deliver themselves freely: but the matters so wonderful being received by report, no small multitude of men believed in Christ.

[58] When therefore Maximus had seen all his counsels and tortures to be in vain, he ordered the head to be taken from John and Stephen with the sword, John and Stephen condemned to death but willed Meletius to follow and be present: whom then he thus addressed; As I understand, Meletius, thou still sacrificest to a crucified God. To whom Meletius; Now, said he, hast thou heard, madman, that I follow with religious worship Him who for our cause deigned to be born of the virgin Mary, who under Pontius Pilate and Herod the King was fixed to the cross, who then buried rose from the dead on the third day, who took away the terrors and pains of death, and illumined all dark things with His splendor; who troubles the deep of the sea, who has well perceived all the frauds and machinations of thy father the devil. In Him I believe, who sits at the right hand of the greatness of His Father: since He it is who rules the ages, and for thee, Maximus, prepares eternal punishments.

[59] But the executioners, as the Tyrant had commanded, dragged Stephen and John, led away, to the last punishment. Who turning to Meletius; Meletius, they bid farewell to Meletius; they said, our best teacher, and also leader, and minister of our salvation, and servant of Christ, follow us going before quickly: that, as in this life all things were common to us, so also in that happier one we may bind one another in turn with a friendly embrace. Which said, and the one having prayed peace of Christ for the other, they proceeded to receive death bravely. Yet before, their eyes cast up to heaven; We bless Thee, they said, Lord, who hast bestowed upon us a threefold grace, and having had mercy on Thy servants hast rendered us unharmed from the worst frauds of the devil. Do Thou Thyself, Lord, repay the senseless Maximus according to his works. As they were putting an end to the prayer, a voice was heard from heaven saying; Beautifully have you striven for the glory of My name, my most faithful servants, John and Stephen: now therefore in the peace which you have merited receive the crown. For behold, the gates of the heavens are now open to you, and the multitude of Angels exults for your cause. In peace therefore with joy receive the possession of the kingdom destined for you long ago. That voice had ceased to be heard, when the Saints prayed again thus; We pray Thee, Lord of all goodness, that Thou hold our brother Meletius in the place of a faithful deposit; since Thou art blessed unto the ages. the bodies of the slain disappear from sight. Amen. After which words the executioners drawing near struck off the sacred heads of the most valiant soldiers. The illustrious souls of the dying champions of Christ, John and Stephen, the Angels received indeed into heaven, but the bodies of those same illustrious heroes were taken away from the eyes of mortals.

[60] These things performed, the most wicked Maximus ordered the intrepid soldier and wrestler of Christ Meletius to be led again to the shrine of Apollo, Meletius dragged into the temple of Apollo, that he might, even compelled, immolate to the idol. As soon as the most holy soldier had entered, the whole soon began to tremble. But the impious sacrificers of Apollo, recalling to memory

the things that had already happened before, prostrated themselves prone upon the ground, and cried out with loud voices; Why have you brought this fellow hither, that he may overthrow the images of our gods again? But when the ministers, obeying the tyrant's command, tried to induce Meletius to sacrifice to the idol; he, looking up to heaven, and fortifying himself with the sign of Christ, began to pray in this manner and to say; Lord supercelestial and lofty arm, most certain salvation of those who perish, who didst once overthrow the idol of Bel, and didst kill the dragon; now also, Lord, hear my voice, I pray, and send down Thy help to me: that as Thou didst before cast down the brazen image of another idol, so also overthrow this stone idol to the ground through me Thy servant, lest the Tyrant have occasion to scandalize the souls of little men.

Meletius had finished the prayer, he breaks his statue in pieces when he heard such a voice borne to him; Meletius, my most faithful servant, ascend, and bring ruin upon the idol, which forthwith will be broken into fragments. Soon therefore the champion of Christ Meletius, snatching himself with youthful alacrity from the hands of those who held him, and ascending to the idol, and impelling it with his shoulders, dashed it to the ground: and the stone image cast down was immediately dissolved into dust. Then proceeding to the signs of the gods that remained, the athlete of Christ broke them all in pieces. Him seized, the priests of Apollo and the other ministers of Satan, beaten sharply at the cheeks with stones, drag to Maximus the Commander, who then had his dwelling in the field and wood of the Candacorei.

[61] But when Meletius had sat down a while in the middle of the way, he groaned grievously indeed, and weeping; Thanks, said he, I render Thee great ones, Lord omnipotent and most high, thence dragged to Maximus, arm visible to none, whose throne, free of all instability, is set at the right hand of God and Thy Father, because at every time Thou hast supplied me with strength and vigor for breaking in pieces the brazen and stone statues of the false gods. But what now remains, since I alone of all am left, I pray that Thou receive again the deposit which Thou hast entrusted to me. With so great gladness after this prayer did Meletius exult, that those who led him were vehemently astonished, nay, seized with sudden terror, gave themselves to flight, by Angels he is animated to the contest. Meletius being left there. For a cloud had suddenly descended from heaven, and with the cloud a multitude of Angels, singing hymns and glory to God. The attendants meanwhile and priests, having departed to Maximus, reported whatever had been done to the image of Apollo, nor were they silent how great a glory from heaven had been bestowed on Meletius on the way. Struck by the novelty of the speeches, Maximus, both he himself and those who were in his company, were carried away into great admiration; of whom not a few embraced the faith of Christ, secretly from the Tyrant. Then holy Meletius, having received with thanksgiving the benefit divinely conferred on him, and breathing cheerfulness in his countenance, of his own accord offered himself again to Maximus.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER IX.

The constancy of S. Meletius, unconquered against blandishments and threats and fixed on the cross.

Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Μάξιμος φαιδρῷ τῷ προσώπῳ, προσερχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἐθαύμασεν τὸ γενναῖον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν πολλὴν ὑπομονὴν ἐν ταῖς τοσαύταις κακίσταις βασάνοις· Ἐνόμιζον δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἐλθὼν μετενόησεν καὶ ἦλθεν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀριστῆσαι διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀσιτίαν· ὁ γὰρ νεανίας προβαίνων ἀνδρειότερος ἐγίνετο, μηδὲν ἐσθίων μηδὲ πίνων, τρεφόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Ἐκέλευσεν οὖν ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος ἑτοιμασθῆναι ἐσθῆτας παντοίας, λευκήν τε καὶ ἄλλην ἔντιμον, καὶ ἀκουβητὸν ἑτοιμασθῆναι, καὶ ἐδέσματα παντοῖα μεμιαμμένα μετὰ τῶν ἱεροθύτων, ἵνα πίνων φάγῃ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν, καὶ μὴ αἴσθηται τί ἔφαγεν. Ἐλθόντος δὲ τοῦ ἁγίου Μελετίου, προσαπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μάξιμος, τὸ δολερὸν τοῦ διαβόλου προβαλλόμενος δέλεαρ, καὶ λέγων· Μελέτιε, ἰδοὺ ἡτοίμασά σοι ἐσθῆτα πολητελῆ, ἀπόθριξέ σου οὖν τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ καθεσθεὶς ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐμοῦ ἵππου, ἄπελθε εἰς τὸ δημόσιον λουτρὸν, καὶ λοῦσαι, καὶ ἐλθὲ καὶ ἀνάπεσον μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ ἀρίστῳ, καὶ ἐπιτελέσωμεν εὐφρασίαν μεγάλην σήμερον· ἔπαιζον γὰρ μετά σου, τούτους τοὺς ἑπτὰ καιροὺς δοκιμάζων σε, καὶ ἔπεχέ σου τὸ ἀξίωμα ὅπερ εἶχες· καὶ πλείονα καὶ μείζονα ἀξιώματα ἕξεις καὶ ἐξέρκετα· γνωρίζω γὰρ τῷ Βασιλεῖ καὶ δώσει σοι. Ὁ δὲ ἁγίος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος ἁπλώσας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κενὰ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, ἄνομε κύων καὶ μιαρώτατε, ἀκμὴν ἀπιστεῖς τοῦ ὑψιλοθρόνου Θεοῦ, τῷ βραχίονι τῷ ὑψηλῷ, τῷ ἀνεικάστῳ Ὑιῷ αὐτοῦ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐν δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι τῷ διατρέφοντί με καὶ ἐκδυναμοῦντί με· σοὶ γὰρ Μάξιμε ἡτοίμασται τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξότερον, καὶ ὁ σκώληξ ὁ ἀκοίμητος, τὸ πὺρ τὸ ἄσβεστον· ἡ κόλασις ἡ αἰώνιος σοὶ καὶ τῷ Βασιλεῖ σου ἡ μερὶς, ὡς τοῦ πικροῦ Ἰούδα μετὰ τῶν πιστευόντων τοῖς εἰδώλοις. Ὅστις γὰρ ἀρνεῖται τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν καὶ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, τὴν μερίδα καὶ τὸν ἀπαγχονισμὸν αὐτοῦ κληρονυμήσει. Τότε χολέσας ὁ Μάξιμος λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Οὕτως σε σταυρώσω, ὡς καὶ τὸν υἱὸν Μαρίας οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐσταύρωσεν, ὅνπερ καὶ σὺ σέβῃ· καὶ κελεύω τρεὶς ἥλους γενέσθαι. καὶ καθηλωθῆναι τὸν ἕνα ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ σου ὅπου ποιεῖς τὴν σφραγίδα, καὶ ἔνα ἐν τῷ στήθει, καὶ ἔνα τῇ κοιλίᾳ. Ὁ δὲ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιος λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Παρακαλῶ σε τοῦτο μὴ ποιήσῃς, ὄτι οὔκ εἰμι ἀξίος τοῦ πάθους τοῦ Κυρίου μου εἶναι ὅμοιος. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος, ἑμημανὴς γενόμενος, λέγει τῶ Μελετίῳ, Οὐ μόνον σταυρώσω σε, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἥμισύ σου πρήσω, καὶ ἔωσε ἐσταυρωμένον ἐν τῇ πεύκῃ, ἵνα καὶ τὰ ὄρνεα φάγωνταί σε, ἵνα μὴ καί σε σέβωνται οἱ Χριστιανοί. Ὁ δὲ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ εὐχόμενος, οὕτως εἶπεν· Δέσποτα παντοκράτορ, ὁ τῶν ὄντων ὑπερουρανίων πατὴρ καὶ Θεὸς, ὁ τῶν ἀερίων δρόμος, καὶ τῶν ἐπιγείων φύλαξ, πρόσδεξαι τὴν ψυχήν μου, καὶ πέμψον τὸν Ἄγγελόν σου, ἵνα δέξηται ταύτην, ὅτι εὐλογημένος εἶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Τελέσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ τήν εὐχὴν, ἦλθεν φωνῇ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ λέγουσα· Θάρσει, Ἐγώ εἰμι μετά σου. Ὁ δὲ ἀνομώτατος Μάξιμος ἀκούσας τῆς φωνῆς, οὐκ ᾐσχύνθη, ἀλλ᾽ έκέλευσεν τοὺς τρεῖς ἥλους προσηλωθῆναι αὐτῷ, τὸν ἕνα ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ. Καὶ ἠρξαντο κρούειν οἱ ὑπηρέται, καὶ εὐθέως ἐξηράνθησαν. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Καλῶς ἐποίησας, κύων ἀνόητε, ὅτι τρεῖς ἥλους εἶπας προσηλῶσαί με, εἰς ὄνομα τῆς τρισαγίας φωνῆς, Πατρὸς καὶ Υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ὡς ἐγώ πιστεύω, διὰ ταύτης γὰρ της πίστεως σωθήσομαι καὶ πάντες οἱ πιστεύοντες. Βλέπε δὲ, ἄνομε Μάξιμε, τὴν βοήθειάν σου καὶ τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου πῶς ἀπέψυχαν. Παραχρῆμα δὲ θυμωθεὶς ὁ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν κρεμασθῆναι ἐν τῇ πεύκῃ, μετὰ δὲ τὸ κρεμασθῆναι αὐτὸν, λέγει ὁ Μάξιμος πάλιν κατενεχθῆναι αὐτὸν καὶ ἐσχάραν γενέσθαι καὶ ὑποκαίεσθαι αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ πάσσεσθαι ἀφόνιτρον, καὶ στέαρ βληθῆναι ἐν αὐτῆ· καὶ κελεύει αὐτὸν εἰς αὐτὴν δεθῆναι, καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ πρότερον τέμνεσθαι μαχαίραις, καὶ οὕτως βληθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐσχάρᾳ, νομίσαντες ἐκ τῆς βασάνου ταύτης ἀναλίσκειν τὸν ἀθητὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιον· καὶ οὐδὲ οὕτως ἴσχυσαν. Καὶ γὰρ τῆς μὲν σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ ἡ ὀσμὴ ὡς μύρον εὐωδίας ἀνήρχετο ἐκ τῆς ἐσχάρας, τοῦ δὲ σώματος αὐτοῦ ἡ προσθήκη ἐγένετο. Ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ δήμιοι τὴν μεγάλην δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὅτι οὐδὲν ἠδίκησαν αὐτὸν, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ φαιδρότερον ἐγένετο, ἐθαύμασεν· καὶ ὡς ἐν ἐκστάσει γενόμενοι, πεσόντες παραχρῆμα ἀπέψυξαν. Ὁ δὲ διάβολος ἐκάθητο πενθῶν, διότι οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ἀποστῆναι τὸν Μελέτιον. Οἱ δὲ περιστάμενοι κρυφῇ Χριστιανοὶ, ἰδόντες τὴν πολλὲν ὑπομονὴν τοῦ Μελετίου, ἐδόξασαν τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν καὶ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος ὅτι γενναίως καταφρόνει τῶν βασάνων καὶ οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ, ἐκέλευσεν ἐκβλθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς ἐσχάρας, καὶ θεασάμενος αὐτὸν, εἶδεν ὅτι ἡ σὰρξ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐκάῃ, καὶ μάστιξ οὐχ ἥψατο αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐθαύμασεν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος καὶ οἱ μιερεῖς παρῄνουν τῷ Μελετίῳ λέγοντες, Ἰδοὺ πῶς οἱ θεοὶ ἐνεδυνάμωσάν σε, καὶ τὸ σῶμά σου μᾶλλον εὐθαλὲς ἐγένετο, διὰ τὰς ἡμῶν εἰς τοὺς θεοὺς εὐχὰς καὶ σπονδάς· νῦν οὖν πρόσελθε καὶ θῦσον τοῖς θεοῖς, ἵνα εὐΐλατοί σοι γένωνται. Ὁ δὲ ἅγιος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπεν· Εὐχαριστῶ σε, Δέσποτα Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς βασάνοις τὴν νίκην μοι παρέχεις καὶ τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις σε ἐν ἀληθείᾳ. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν, εἶδεν τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγμένον καὶ στέφανον αὐτῷ ἑτοιμαζόμενον παρὰ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ. Τινὲς δὲ τῶν ἑστώτων λαθρέως Χριστιανῶν ἴδον καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἠκολούθουν γὰρ τῇ ἀθλήτῃ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ τελειωθῆναι αὐτὸν, καὶ οὕτως ἁρπάσαι τὸ λείψανον αὐτοῦ. Ποιήσας δὲ ὁ Μελέτιος τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, εἶπεν τῷ Μαξίμῳ καὶ τοῖς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ μιερεῦσιν· Ἀκμὴν οὐ συνίετε ἀφρονέστατοι, ὡς εἰς τὴν ἀπόλειαν ἀπέλθητε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν μετὰ τῶν θεῶν ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ Βασιλέως ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ σατανᾶ. Οἱ δὲ μιερεῖς ἀκούσαντες ταῦτα, ἐπεζήτησαν ἐπελθεῖν αὐτῷ, καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέψυξαν. Ὁ δὲ διάβολος μεταμορφωθεὶς εἰς γυναῖκα, ἐκάθητο καὶ ἐπένθη, μὴ ἰσχύσας τι ποιῆσαι τῷ Μελετίῳ. Οἱ οὖν βλέποντες αὐτὸν, ἐνόμιζον, ὅτι γυνή τις ἐπένθη τὸν Μελέτιον. Προσελθὼν δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος εἶπεν τῷ Μελετίῳ· Εἰ μὴ θέλῃς θῦσαι, εἶπε, Μέγιστος ὁ ζεὺς, ἢ ὁ Ἀπώλλων, καὶ ἀπαλλάσσου τῶν κολάσεων, καὶ λάβε σου τὴν τιμὴν ἤνπερ ἔχεις τὴν τοῦ στρατηλάτου, καὶ δηλῶ τῷ Βασιλεῖ, καὶ πέμψει σοι χρήματα πολλὰ καὶ τιμὴν μειζοτέραν. Λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἀτυχέστατε, τὸν Θεόν μου οὐκ ἔχω ἐνκαταλεῖψαι· αὐτὸς γὰρ παρέχει μοι ἰσχὺν καὶ δύναμιν καὶ τιμήν· ὃν δὲ σὺ προσκυνεῖς, ὁ σατανᾶς ἐστι ὁ πατήρ σου, καὶ μεταβληθεὶς εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ θρηνῶν ὅτι ἡττήθη. Τίνι δὲ καὶ θύσω, ἀνόητε; τῷ χαλκουργήματι, ὃ κατέστρεψα, ἢ τοὺς λίθους τοὺς συντετριμμένους; Λέγει ὁ Μάξιμος τῷ Μελετίῳ·

[62] Maximus, having beheld Meletius, hastening of his own accord with smiling face to the punishments, could not sufficiently admire the generous nature of the soldier, and his fortitude and constancy in enduring the most cruel torments; yet he persuaded himself, Maximus, blandly receiving Meletius coming to him, since he came of his own accord, that, led by repentance for the past, and exhausted by long hunger, he wished to use the same meal with him. But Meletius, a youth still growing in age, although he took neither food nor drink, was nevertheless seen ever to come forth more robust, being nourished, namely, by the Holy Spirit with better foods. The wicked Maximus therefore ordered precious garments of every kind, distinguished by whiteness and ornament, to be prepared, a couch to be spread, and likewise foods of every kind to be brought in, and things offered to idols to be mixed with them, that Meletius unknowing and unwary might eat of these. Whom when the Tyrant beheld coming, running to meet him without delay, invites him to dinner: he undertook with such enticements of the devil to assault his mind; Behold, Meletius, how I have taken care that most precious garments be prepared for thee. Go therefore, and adorn thy hair as is fitting: then mount the horse which I myself am wont to use, and betake thyself to the bath for the sake of washing; that together with me, and a companion of the same table, thou mayest pass this day with great pleasantness; for whatever has been done by me these seven days was a game, that I might prove the fortitude and constancy of thy mind. Receive therefore the military dignity which thou hast hitherto possessed, to which then many other and greater ornaments, and command over more forces will be added: for I will write concerning thee and thy affairs to the Emperor with praise, nor is there doubt that he will forthwith confer them upon thee.

[63] Then Meletius, striking the Tyrant with open hands; Still, said he, impious and impure dog, dost thou go on to deny faith to the strong and lofty arm of the most high God; and to His Son, comparable to no other, spurning the blandishments who sits at His right hand; and also to the Holy Spirit, who indeed admirably has not only not suffered me, slain by hunger, to die, but moreover has added not a little to my strength and vigor. For thee surely, Maximus, are destined the exterior darkness, and the worm that never dies. Inextinguishable fire, and punishments to endure eternally await thee equally with thy Emperor, in the manner in which the bitter betrayer of his Lord Judas is now tortured with them, and all those who have ever rendered worship to idols. For whoever denies the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, he threatens to crucify him: shall be a partaker of the same lot and straitness with Judas. But I, said Maximus, indignant, will thus cause thee to be fixed to the cross, even as the Jews crucified the son of Mary whom thou worshippest: I will also have three nails made, with one of which I will transfix that forehead, which thou art so frequently wont to fortify with the sign of thy Christ, with the second thy breast, with the third thy belly. This one thing, answered the soldier of Christ, I pray that thou do not: for I am by no means worthy to be afflicted with the same punishment as my Lord. For which words the Tyrant driven into rage; Not only, said he, shalt thou be killed by the punishment of the cross, but I will consume the middle part of thee with fire; and at last I will order thy corpse to be kept fixed upon a pine, that when thou hast been eaten by the birds, the Christians may follow thee with no veneration.

[64] After these things the generous athlete of Christ composed himself to pray, and said; Omnipotent Lord of all things, him rejoicing and fixed with three nails who art the Father and God of all things heavenly, and dost establish to the airy motions and revolutions time and order; who at last clemently preservest the things placed on earth, that they perish not, receive at length my soul, I beseech, and disdain not to send down from heaven Thy Angel, who may present it to Thee; since Thou art blessed unto the ages. Amen. And when he ceased from praying, a voice rushed from heaven; Be bold, come, saying, For I am present to thee. Although Maximus himself also perceived that voice, yet for shame he did not desist from his undertakings, but ordered the three great nails prepared for this to be brought forth into the midst, and first indeed to be fixed into the forehead of Meletius: in honor of the Holy Trinity, which when his ministers strenuously attempted, they were punished by God with a sudden withering of their limbs. Then to the Tyrant Meletius; It is well, said he, that thou hast willed me to be fixed to the wood with three nails, rabid dog, that namely the glory of the three most holy names, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may shine forth more clearly: in whom I without doubt believe, by which faith I plainly judge that both myself, and all others sharers of the same faith, will obtain certain salvation. But see, impious Tyrant, in what manner the attendants of thee and of thy father the devil have unhappily lost their life.

[65] Then seized with fury, Maximus orders the Martyr to be hung upon the pine, and hung up to be taken down again, and a hearth to be made kindled with a bright fire, which he ordered to be fed with nitre and grease that it might burn more sharply, he orders him to be cut up and cast into the fire: and into it he ordered Meletius to be cast. Which before it was done, by the command of the same Tyrant he ordered the body of the holy Soldier to be cut into several parts, and so to be given to the flames to be devoured: for they thought that the athlete of Christ Meletius would be wholly consumed by this kind of punishment. But neither thus could the impious ones effect anything: for when from the limbs of the dissected body a certain most sweet fragrance, as from ointment, had been diffused, an increase rather than a detriment appeared to have been made to them amid the torments. but seeing him remain unharmed, the ministers dead, The executioners therefore, perceiving with their eyes the divine power, and that they had brought no harm to Meletius, but his body even shone with a certain new beauty; seized with great admiration and stupor, suddenly falling to the ground in that very place, expired. Then Satan himself also grieved very vehemently, when he saw all his attempts to destroy Meletius to be in vain. But whatever Christians were present, unknown to the Tyrant, having admired the illustrious endurance of Meletius in suffering, rendered, as was just, their glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

[66] Observing therefore that all his torments were generously despised by Meletius, but that nothing was effected by himself, again he tempts him by flattery. Maximus ordered the Martyr to be brought forth from the flames. Whom when he beheld to be plainly whole and unharmed, and afflicted with no injury through the torments, he was filled with great admiration. But he then, and the wicked sacrificers of the idols, tried to drag Meletius to the worship of the false gods in this manner; Behold with what fortitude of mind and body our gods have willed thee to be adorned, since by the force and efficacy of our prayers before the gods thy body has come forth from the torments more beautiful and more vigorous. Now therefore doubt no longer to sacrifice to the gods, that they may go on to show thee their benevolence. But here indeed the holy servant of God Meletius stretched out his hands to heaven and said: I render Thee the greatest thanks, Lord our God, because in all the torments which I have hitherto undergone, Thou hast willed both myself and all others who have invoked Thy holy name in truth, But he renders thanks to God, to be superior to their adversaries. Which said, the holy man had the heavens open, and merited to see the crown prepared for him by the Lord Jesus. Some also of those standing by, and they secretly Christians, then beheld the glory of the Lord. For these men observed all the footsteps of the holy man, that when he had departed from this mortal life, they might be able to carry off his sacred body by stealth.

[67] At this time therefore Meletius, the sign of the Christians impressed upon his forehead, thus addressed Maximus and the priests of the idols; Do you not yet understand, most senseless of men, in what manner you rush headlong into the perdition and damnation which has long ago been prepared for you, and the demon lamenting in a woman's likeness and for your idols, and for your Emperor and your father Satan? Turned into fury by this speech of Meletius, the impious priests asked leave that it be granted them to rush upon him, but all were extinguished by a sudden death. Then the evil demon, having feigned the dress of a woman, gave forth great lamentations, since he clearly perceived Meletius to be assailed by him in vain. But those who observed the devil prostrated with so great grief thought that Meletius was bewailed by some true woman. To whom then Maximus drawing near thus said; If thou wilt not sacrifice, say at least, great is the God Jupiter or Apollo; and be free from the torments, and receive thy former honor of Commander. I will also write to the Emperor concerning thee, who will bestow on thee no small force of money and even greater honors.

[68] To whom Meletius; O most unhappy of however many mortals there are, there is no reason for thee to hope that my God will ever be forsaken by me. For from Him all my vigor, all fortitude, all glory is sufficiently supplied. But whom thou judgest worthy of adoration is the devil, thy father, he makes vanish. who, having now taken the face of a woman, deplores his lot, because in so many contests he has had necessarily to succumb to one stronger. But come, to whom, I pray, dost thou at last bid me sacrifice? to the brazen image of a demon, which I myself so often overthrew? to those stone gods, whom I broke into fragments and dust so often? And Maximus; Lo, said he, that noble woman follows thy calamity with grief and tears, implores thy flourishing age, nor does pity of thyself seize thee? Then Meletius; Is this a noble woman? I will make you now perceive who and whence she is: and the sign of Christ being formed, rebuking the devil who had feigned a virgin, he made him vanish from the eyes of all. Then turning himself and his speech to Maximus; Behold, said he, how suddenly thy father Satan and thy gods have withdrawn themselves from our sight. But know, that not many days after the sword of the Lord will lead thee to destruction, and will most sharply pursue thy father Satan, and all the worshippers of idols.

CHAPTER X.

Meletius being crucified, the ministers of his punishment are converted: who being sent ahead by martyrdom, he himself also dies.

Ὁ Δὲ Μάξιμος πάλιν ὑποβληθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ σατανᾶ λέγει τῳ Μελετίῳ· Ὅλοις οὐ θέλεις θῦσαι, κᾂν μόνον τῷ θεῷ Ἀπόλλωνι. Λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος· Ἑως ποτὲ ἀσυνετεῖς, ἄνομε; ἐγὼ Χριστὸν ἔχων διὰ παντὸς φυλάττοντά με, οὐδέπω πεισθήσομαι τῷ δολίῳ σου στόματι, οὐδὲ μολυνῶ τὸ στόμα μου τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς μιαροῖς βδελύγμασιν, οὐδὲ συνέρχομαί

σοι εἰς τὴν ἀπόλειαν, πρόξενε τῆς ἀπολείας, καὶ ἀνομίας διδάσκαλε, πτώσεως διάκονε, καὶ ἔκδικε τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ σατανᾶ, στρατηγὲ τῆς πλάνης, σύμβουλε τῆς παραβάσεως· ὁ γὰρ τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν μὴ ὁμολογῶν, βασιλείας οὐρανῶν ἀλλότριός ἐστιν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος μηδὲ οὕτως αἰσχυνθεὶς, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀναιδὲς ἐνδεικνύμενος, παρῄνει αὐτῷ λέγων· Τοῦτο ποίησον, μόνον, φάγε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ· καὶ μετεστείλατο κρυφέως ἐνεχθῆναι μιαρόθυτα, ὡς ἂν μὴ εἰδότα μολυνῇ τὸν Ἅγιον τοῖς μιαροῖς ἐδέσμασιν. Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Οὐ πείθεις, μηδεμία ψυχὴ, υἱὲ διαβόλου; τί με κολακεύεις, πικρὲ θάνατε; τί με ἀγορεύεις, παγὶς τοῦ ῥιφέντος ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν; τί μοι ἐνεδρεύεις, κακὲ ἰξευτά; τί μοι προσσυρίζεις, δράκων ἀδύνατε, ἀσπὶς ἰοβόλε, λέων ἀνεύρετε, μετὰ τοῦ πατρός σου σατανᾶ, τοῦ ἔν σοι καὶ μετὰ σου ὄντος. Ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ διάβολος μεταμορφωθεῖς εἰς ἄγγελον πυρὸς, λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ἅ σοι λέγουσιν ποιεῖ. Οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς ἀκούσαντες ταῦτα ἐχάρησαν· Ἐφάνη γὰρ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν, ὡς Ζεὺς ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν. Ὀσφρανθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μελέτιος τὸν βρόμον τοῦ διαβόλου, εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Ὁ ῥίψας σε ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν Θεὸς πατάξει σε· καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο ὡς εἵλιξ πυρὸς, καὶ ὀλολύξας ἀφανὴς ἐγένετο. Τότε οὖν ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν ἄνδρες πολλοὶ, καὶ λέγουσι τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἀπώλεσας τὸν ὄχλον ἡμῶν. Καὶ θυμῷ κινηθεὶς ὁ Μάξιμος ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Μελέτιον κοσσοκοπεῖσθαι· καὶ ὅσοι ἐπεχείρουν αὐτῷ ἀπέψυχον. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ὦ ποῖόν σοι πῦρ καίεται, ἄθλιε, ἄσβεστον καὶ ψευσθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενον! ὦ ποῖα δεσμὰ! ὦ ποῖος σκώληξ ἀτελεύτητος, ὃν οὐκ ἐκφεύξῃ, ὃν ἐγὼ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν ὀρῶ καὶ φρίσσω! Τί ἀνομεῖς δύστινε εἰς τὸν ζῶντα Θεὸν, τῆς πτώσεώς σου ἐγγὺς ὢν; ἡτοίμασται γάρ σοι ποταμὸς πυρὸς, ὃν οὐ δύνασαι φυγεῖν. Τί οὖν μάτην ἑαυτὸν πλανᾷς τοῖς εἰδώλοις προσκυνῶν. Καὶ θυμωθεὶς ὁ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν πάλιν κρεμασθῆναι εἰς τὴν πεύκην· ἐκέλευσεν δὲ Καρτέριον τὸν χαλκέα μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐλθεῖν, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἐλάσατε ἥλους πηχέους, καὶ προσενέγκατε αὐτοὺς πεπυρωμένους, καὶ καθηλώσατε αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ ἄνομος Μάξιμος λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ἰδοὺ ὁ Χριστός σου εἶχεν δώδεκα μαθητὰς, καὶ ὁ χαλκεύς μου ἔχει δώδεκα μαθητὰς, οἵ τινες καθηλώσουσί σε καὶ νικήσουσι τὰς μαγείας σου. Ὁ δὲ Ἅγιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀποκριθεὶς λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Τί τοῦτο ἐλάλησας; Ἰδοὺ οὓς ἐμνημόνευσας μαθητὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου, κατὰ σεαυτοῦ ἐλάλησας· κατέρχεται ἡ χάρις τῶν δώδεκα Ἀποστόλων ἐπὶ Καρτέριον τὸν χαλκέα, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ, ἐνισχῦσαι αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου· πάρεστι γὰρ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς τὴν χάριν τῆς ἐπουρανίου ζωῆς. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ Ἁγίου, χολέσας ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν προσαγαγεῖν τοὺς ἥλους ἐπυρωμένους τοὺς χαλκεῖς, καὶ καθηλῶσαι αὐτόν. Οἱ δὲ χαλκεῖς προσήνεγκαν τοὺς ἥλους πεπυρωμένους κατὰ τῆς κοιλίας τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ κατὰ παντὸς μέλους αὐτοῦ. Κρούοντες δὲ μετὰ τῶν σιδηροσφύρων, οὐκ ἐδύναντο καθηλῶσαι αὐτούς· οἱ γὰρ ἧλοι συνετρίβοντο ὡς δὲ ἐκρούοντο, καὶ ἀπεπήδων κατὰ τῶν παρισταμένων ἑλλήνων, καὶ καταλαβούντων τῷ Μελετίῳ οἱ αὐτοὶ ἧλοι ἀπίεσαν, καὶ ἐνεφώλευον ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀποτυφλοῦντο. Οἱ οὖν χαλκεῖς προσεσχηκότες τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἀοράτου Θεοῦ καὶ ὑψίστου, καὶ τὴν ὑπομονὴν τοῦ νεανίου Μελετίου, καὶ ὅτι ἡ ἧλοι οὐχ ἥπτοντο αὐτοῦ παθόντος πολλὰ, ἔντρομοι γενόμενοι, ῥίψαντες πάντα τὰ σκεύη τὰ χαλκευτικὰ, καὶ τὰς μηχανὰς, καὶ τὰ σίδηρα αὐτῶν, καὶ πεσόντες ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ὕψιστον· ἦλθεν γὰρ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἡ χάρις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἀνατείναντες δὲ τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, ἦραν φωνὴν μεγάλην λέγοντες· Ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Χριστιανῶν· καὶ ἔδωκαν κενὰ τῷ Μαξίμῳ ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος θυμωθεὶς, ἐκέλευσεν ἀπενεχθῆναι αὐτοὺς πόῤῥωθεν τῆς ὕλης Κανδακορέων, κᾀκεῖ τραχηλοκοπηθῆναι. Ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ χαλκεῖς τὴν ἐξελθοῦσαν κατ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀπόφασιν, λέγουσιν τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ· Μελέτιε, θεράπον τοῦ ὑψίστου Θεοῦ, εὖξαι ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα καὶ ἡμεῖς εὑρεθῶμεν ἐν ἀνέσει, καὶ ἵνα δέξηται τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν ὁ Χριστὸς, ὡς καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου καὶ πάντων τῶν προτελειωθέντων, τῶν μαθητῶν σου καὶ ἀθλοφόρων. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιος, κρεμάμενος ἐν τῇ πεύκῃ· Ποιήσατε τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ ὑμῶν, καὶ ὅπου ὁ νοῦς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ καὶ ὁ θησαυρός. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς ἀναπαύσει, ἐν ἀνέσει προσλαβόμενος μετὰ τῶν Ἁγίων αὐτοῦ. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Οὐκ ἔλεγόν σοι, πανάθλιε, ὄτι οὓς ἐμνημόνευσας Ἀποστόλους, αὐτοί σοι ἔχουσι καταισχῦναι. Καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Καρτέριος ὁ χαλκεὺς μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ τελειωθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ ξίφους· ὡς δὲ πρόβατα ἐπὶ σφαγὴν τρέχοντες, καὶ ὑμνοῦντες, καὶ δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὸν, ἀπελθόντες ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου, καὶ ποιήσαντες τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὀν τὸν ὕψιστον, ἐξέτειναν τοὺς ἑαυτῶν αὐχένας, καὶ ἐδέξαντο τὸ ξίφος ἀγαλλιώμενοι. Ἐτελειώθησαν δὲ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ὥρᾳ ἐννάτῃ, ἡμέρα παρασκευῇ. Τινὲς δὲ Χριστιανοὶ κατέθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ τόπῳ ἐν εἰρήνῃ. Εἷς δὲ τῶν μιαρῶν ὁ συγκάθεδρος Μαξίμου, οὗ τὸ ὄνομα Μαδιοφάντης, λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Κέλευσόν μοι, κᾀγὼ αὐτὸν προσηλώσω, διότι τοὺς ἡμετέρους θεοὺς συνέτριψεν. Καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μάξιμος. Περιχαρὴς δὲ γενόμενος ὁ μιαρώτατος ἱερεὺς, νομίζων νικᾷν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ἀόρατον, λαβὼν τοὺς ἥλους πεπυρωμένους, καὶ προσελθὼν τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίῳ, νομίζων καθηλοῦν τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ, σκοτωθεὶς τὸν λογισμὸν, στρὲψας τὸν ἦλον ἐνέκρουσεν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέψυξεν. Τότε λέγει ὁ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἰδοὺ ὅλη σου ἡ βοήθεια ἀπεγένετο, καὶ κατελείφθης σὺ μονώτατος μετὰ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου· Βλέπω γὰρ τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ῥομφαίαν κατά σου μετ᾽ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας. Τί οὖν οὐ προσπίπτεις, ἄθλιε, τῷ δεσπότῃ τῶν αἰώνων τῷ κτίσαντι τὰ σύμπαντα; Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἤκει σου ἡ συντέλεια, καὶ ἡτοίμασταί σοι ὁ τάρταρος ὁ αἰώνιος. Λέγει δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίῳ· Οὐκ οὖν ἐν τῷ ταρτάρῳ ἔχω εἰσελθεῖν; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ· Προεῖπόν σοι ὅτι σὺ, καὶ οἳ σύν σοι ἀσεβεῖς, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου, ὅστις πρόδρομός σου γέγονεν, τῷ γὰρ ταρτάρῳ τετήρησαι. Νῦν οὖν ἔτι ἓν μέλος μου οὐκ ἐκόλασας, τὸ τῶν γονάτων· κόλασον καὶ αὐτό. Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι ὁ ἐμὸς Θεὸς οὐ δέχεταί μου τὴν ψυχὴν, ἕως ἂν καὶ τὴν βάσανον ταύτην ὑπενέγκω· σοῖ δὲ ἡτοίμασται ἡ αἰώνιος κόλασις, τὸ πῦρ τὸ ἄσβεστον, ὁ οὐκ ἐκφεύξη. Ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ μέλος τὸ τῶν γονάτων καθηλοῦσθαι. Προσελθὼν δὲ ἄλλος μιερεὺς, καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς ἥλους ἵνα κρούσῃ ἐν τοῖς γόνασι τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου, λέγει αὐτῷ οὕτως· Ὅτι ἐν ταῖς μαγίαις αὐτοῦ τὸν συνιερέα μου ἀπέκτεινεν, καὶ τοὺς θεοὺς ἡμῶν ἐξουδένωσεν καὶ συνέτριψεν, ἐγὼ ἄρτι προσελθὼν δείξω αὐτῷ, ὅτι αἱ μαγίαι αὐτοῦ οὐδὲν ὠφελήσουσιν αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἐπικαλεσάμενος ὁ μιερεὺς τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτοῦ, λέγει. Ἐλθὲ μέγιστε Ζεὺ, ἢ Ἑρμῆ θεὲ, καὶ Ἡρακλῆ δυνάστα, καὶ Ἀσκληπιὲ, θεράποντες· καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν, καὶ προσελθὼν τεθαῤῥηκῶς τῇ ὑποβλήσει τοῦ διαβόλου, λαβὼν τὸν ἧλον, ἵνα κρούσῃ ἐν τοῖς γόνασιν αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἰδίαν χεῖρα καθήλωσεν ἐν τᾑ πεύκῃ· καὶ ἐβόησεν ὁ μιαρὸς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγων· ὦ, Μάξιμε, ἀπόλεσας ἡμᾶς. Καθηλώσας γὰρ ὁ μιερεὺς τὴν ἰδίαν παλάμην, εὐθέως ἀπέψυξεν παρὰ τὸ δένδρον. Ἔτι δὲ κρεμαμένου τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίου ἐν τῷ δένδρῳ, ἦλθεν φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· Δεῦρο, ἀνάβαινε, ἀθλητά μου Μελέτιε, εἰς τὰ ταμεῖα τοῦ παραδείσου, καὶ εἰς τὸν χόρον τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν μου Ἀγγέλων, εἰς τὴν συνδρομὴν πάντων τῶν δικαίων μου. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἵστανται πάντες οἱ ἅγιοί μου, προσδοκῶντές σε, κρατοῦντες τὰ βραβεῖα· ὡς γὰρ ἐποίησάς μου τὸ θέλημα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, δώσω σοι ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς τὰ αἰτήματά σου· καὶ ὅστις ἂν μνησθῇ τῆς δυνάμεως Θεοῦ, τῆς δόξης καὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος Μελετίου, ῥυσθήσεται ἀπὸ πάσης τῆς ἀνάγκης καὶ κυνδίνων μεγάλων. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσασθαι τὸν Κύριον λαλοῦντα, κατῆλθον Ἄγγελοι ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν μετὰ νεφέλης καὶ ὕμνων μεγάλων, δοξάζοντες τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν, καὶ παρέλαβον τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀθλήτου καὶ θεράποντος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίου. Ἀνέφερον οὖν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν λευκὴν ἀστράπτουσαν· καὶ ἰδόντες οἱ Χριστιανοὶ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου ἐδόξασαν τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν, καὶ τὸν ἅγιον πνεῦμα. Ἐτελειώθη δὲ ὁ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ μάρτυς ἐκλεκτὸς, μενὶ μαΐου εἰκάδι τετάρτῃ, ἡμέρα σαββάτῳ.

[69] The Tyrant, as though blinded by Satan; If, said he, thou refusest to sacrifice to all, Nor willing to feign even a little, at least become a suppliant to Apollo. To whom Meletius; How long, impious one, wilt thou go on to be mad? I indeed, who long ago chose Christ my savior to be worshipped by me, will not suffer myself to be persuaded otherwise by thy crafty speeches, nor will I let my mouth or tongue, sacred to the one God, be contaminated by the impure names of thy gods, nor will I ever at last come over to thy party, fabricator of all perdition and master of impiety, worst minister of the ruin of men, champion of Satan thy father, leader of all fraud and deception, and impious counselor of prevarication; for whoever does not confess our Lord is to be held an alien from the kingdom of heaven. But not even by this answer led to any shame, the Tyrant, nor willing to share Meletius's table but rather even displaying his impudent forehead, thus went on to exhort Meletius; This therefore alone I ask of thee, that thou refuse not to eat the same foods with me; and meanwhile he secretly orders the dishes offered to idols to be brought in, that he might lead Meletius, even unknowing, into the snare by the impious feasts. But to the Tyrant Meletius; By no means dost thou persuade, man of nothing. Why dost thou bring forth these blandishments into the midst, son of the demon, and more bitter than death itself? Why by thy speech dost thou try to deceive me, who art the snare of the devil, cast down from heaven for his pride? Why, wicked fowler, dost thou contrive snares against me? Why dost thou hiss against me, dragon of no strength, asp spewing out poisons, lion difficult to discover,

σοι εἰς τὴν ἀπόλειαν, πρόξενε τῆς ἀπολείας, καὶ ἀνομίας διδάσκαλε, πτώσεως διάκονε, καὶ ἔκδικε τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ σατανᾶ, στρατηγὲ τῆς πλάνης, σύμβουλε τῆς παραβάσεως· ὁ γὰρ τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν μὴ ὁμολογῶν, βασιλείας οὐρανῶν ἀλλότριός ἐστιν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος μηδὲ οὕτως αἰσχυνθεὶς, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀναιδὲς ἐνδεικνύμενος, παρῄνει αὐτῷ λέγων· Τοῦτο ποίησον, μόνον, φάγε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ· καὶ μετεστείλατο κρυφέως ἐνεχθῆναι μιαρόθυτα, ὡς ἂν μὴ εἰδότα μολυνῇ τὸν Ἅγιον τοῖς μιαροῖς ἐδέσμασιν. Ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Οὐ πείθεις, μηδεμία ψυχὴ, υἱὲ διαβόλου; τί με κολακεύεις, πικρὲ θάνατε; τί με ἀγορεύεις, παγὶς τοῦ ῥιφέντος ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν; τί μοι ἐνεδρεύεις, κακὲ ἰξευτά; τί μοι προσσυρίζεις, δράκων ἀδύνατε, ἀσπὶς ἰοβόλε, λέων ἀνεύρετε, μετὰ τοῦ πατρός σου σατανᾶ, τοῦ ἔν σοι καὶ μετὰ σου ὄντος. Ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ διάβολος μεταμορφωθεῖς εἰς ἄγγελον πυρὸς, λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ἅ σοι λέγουσιν ποιεῖ. Οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς ἀκούσαντες ταῦτα ἐχάρησαν· Ἐφάνη γὰρ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν, ὡς Ζεὺς ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν. Ὀσφρανθεὶς δὲ ὁ Μελέτιος τὸν βρόμον τοῦ διαβόλου, εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Ὁ ῥίψας σε ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν Θεὸς πατάξει σε· καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο ὡς εἵλιξ πυρὸς, καὶ ὀλολύξας ἀφανὴς ἐγένετο. Τότε οὖν ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν ἄνδρες πολλοὶ, καὶ λέγουσι τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἀπώλεσας τὸν ὄχλον ἡμῶν. Καὶ θυμῷ κινηθεὶς ὁ Μάξιμος ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Μελέτιον κοσσοκοπεῖσθαι· καὶ ὅσοι ἐπεχείρουν αὐτῷ ἀπέψυχον. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ὦ ποῖόν σοι πῦρ καίεται, ἄθλιε, ἄσβεστον καὶ ψευσθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενον! ὦ ποῖα δεσμὰ! ὦ ποῖος σκώληξ ἀτελεύτητος, ὃν οὐκ ἐκφεύξῃ, ὃν ἐγὼ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν ὀρῶ καὶ φρίσσω! Τί ἀνομεῖς δύστινε εἰς τὸν ζῶντα Θεὸν, τῆς πτώσεώς σου ἐγγὺς ὢν; ἡτοίμασται γάρ σοι ποταμὸς πυρὸς, ὃν οὐ δύνασαι φυγεῖν. Τί οὖν μάτην ἑαυτὸν πλανᾷς τοῖς εἰδώλοις προσκυνῶν. Καὶ θυμωθεὶς ὁ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν πάλιν κρεμασθῆναι εἰς τὴν πεύκην· ἐκέλευσεν δὲ Καρτέριον τὸν χαλκέα μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐλθεῖν, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἐλάσατε ἥλους πηχέους, καὶ προσενέγκατε αὐτοὺς πεπυρωμένους, καὶ καθηλώσατε αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ ἄνομος Μάξιμος λέγει τῷ Μελετίῳ· Ἰδοὺ ὁ Χριστός σου εἶχεν δώδεκα μαθητὰς, καὶ ὁ χαλκεύς μου ἔχει δώδεκα μαθητὰς, οἵ τινες καθηλώσουσί σε καὶ νικήσουσι τὰς μαγείας σου. Ὁ δὲ Ἅγιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀποκριθεὶς λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Τί τοῦτο ἐλάλησας; Ἰδοὺ οὓς ἐμνημόνευσας μαθητὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου, κατὰ σεαυτοῦ ἐλάλησας· κατέρχεται ἡ χάρις τῶν δώδεκα Ἀποστόλων ἐπὶ Καρτέριον τὸν χαλκέα, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ, ἐνισχῦσαι αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου· πάρεστι γὰρ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς τὴν χάριν τῆς ἐπουρανίου ζωῆς. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ Ἁγίου, χολέσας ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος, ἐκέλευσεν προσαγαγεῖν τοὺς ἥλους ἐπυρωμένους τοὺς χαλκεῖς, καὶ καθηλῶσαι αὐτόν. Οἱ δὲ χαλκεῖς προσήνεγκαν τοὺς ἥλους πεπυρωμένους κατὰ τῆς κοιλίας τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ κατὰ παντὸς μέλους αὐτοῦ. Κρούοντες δὲ μετὰ τῶν σιδηροσφύρων, οὐκ ἐδύναντο καθηλῶσαι αὐτούς· οἱ γὰρ ἧλοι συνετρίβοντο ὡς δὲ ἐκρούοντο, καὶ ἀπεπήδων κατὰ τῶν παρισταμένων ἑλλήνων, καὶ καταλαβούντων τῷ Μελετίῳ οἱ αὐτοὶ ἧλοι ἀπίεσαν, καὶ ἐνεφώλευον ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀποτυφλοῦντο. Οἱ οὖν χαλκεῖς προσεσχηκότες τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἀοράτου Θεοῦ καὶ ὑψίστου, καὶ τὴν ὑπομονὴν τοῦ νεανίου Μελετίου, καὶ ὅτι ἡ ἧλοι οὐχ ἥπτοντο αὐτοῦ παθόντος πολλὰ, ἔντρομοι γενόμενοι, ῥίψαντες πάντα τὰ σκεύη τὰ χαλκευτικὰ, καὶ τὰς μηχανὰς, καὶ τὰ σίδηρα αὐτῶν, καὶ πεσόντες ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ὕψιστον· ἦλθεν γὰρ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἡ χάρις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἀνατείναντες δὲ τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, ἦραν φωνὴν μεγάλην λέγοντες· Ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Χριστιανῶν· καὶ ἔδωκαν κενὰ τῷ Μαξίμῳ ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος θυμωθεὶς, ἐκέλευσεν ἀπενεχθῆναι αὐτοὺς πόῤῥωθεν τῆς ὕλης Κανδακορέων, κᾀκεῖ τραχηλοκοπηθῆναι. Ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ χαλκεῖς τὴν ἐξελθοῦσαν κατ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀπόφασιν, λέγουσιν τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ· Μελέτιε, θεράπον τοῦ ὑψίστου Θεοῦ, εὖξαι ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα καὶ ἡμεῖς εὑρεθῶμεν ἐν ἀνέσει, καὶ ἵνα δέξηται τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν ὁ Χριστὸς, ὡς καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου καὶ πάντων τῶν προτελειωθέντων, τῶν μαθητῶν σου καὶ ἀθλοφόρων. Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιος, κρεμάμενος ἐν τῇ πεύκῃ· Ποιήσατε τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ ὑμῶν, καὶ ὅπου ὁ νοῦς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ καὶ ὁ θησαυρός. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς ἀναπαύσει, ἐν ἀνέσει προσλαβόμενος μετὰ τῶν Ἁγίων αὐτοῦ. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Οὐκ ἔλεγόν σοι, πανάθλιε, ὄτι οὓς ἐμνημόνευσας Ἀποστόλους, αὐτοί σοι ἔχουσι καταισχῦναι. Καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Καρτέριος ὁ χαλκεὺς μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ τελειωθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ ξίφους· ὡς δὲ πρόβατα ἐπὶ σφαγὴν τρέχοντες, καὶ ὑμνοῦντες, καὶ δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὸν, ἀπελθόντες ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου, καὶ ποιήσαντες τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα, δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὀν τὸν ὕψιστον, ἐξέτειναν τοὺς ἑαυτῶν αὐχένας, καὶ ἐδέξαντο τὸ ξίφος ἀγαλλιώμενοι. Ἐτελειώθησαν δὲ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ὥρᾳ ἐννάτῃ, ἡμέρα παρασκευῇ. Τινὲς δὲ Χριστιανοὶ κατέθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ τόπῳ ἐν εἰρήνῃ. Εἷς δὲ τῶν μιαρῶν ὁ συγκάθεδρος Μαξίμου, οὗ τὸ ὄνομα Μαδιοφάντης, λέγει τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Κέλευσόν μοι, κᾀγὼ αὐτὸν προσηλώσω, διότι τοὺς ἡμετέρους θεοὺς συνέτριψεν. Καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μάξιμος. Περιχαρὴς δὲ γενόμενος ὁ μιαρώτατος ἱερεὺς, νομίζων νικᾷν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ἀόρατον, λαβὼν τοὺς ἥλους πεπυρωμένους, καὶ προσελθὼν τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίῳ, νομίζων καθηλοῦν τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ, σκοτωθεὶς τὸν λογισμὸν, στρὲψας τὸν ἦλον ἐνέκρουσεν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέψυξεν. Τότε λέγει ὁ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιος τῷ Μαξίμῳ· Ἰδοὺ ὅλη σου ἡ βοήθεια ἀπεγένετο, καὶ κατελείφθης σὺ μονώτατος μετὰ πατρός σου τοῦ διαβόλου· Βλέπω γὰρ τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ῥομφαίαν κατά σου μετ᾽ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας. Τί οὖν οὐ προσπίπτεις, ἄθλιε, τῷ δεσπότῃ τῶν αἰώνων τῷ κτίσαντι τὰ σύμπαντα; Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἤκει σου ἡ συντέλεια, καὶ ἡτοίμασταί σοι ὁ τάρταρος ὁ αἰώνιος. Λέγει δὲ ὁ Μάξιμος τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίῳ· Οὐκ οὖν ἐν τῷ ταρτάρῳ ἔχω εἰσελθεῖν; Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ· Προεῖπόν σοι ὅτι σὺ, καὶ οἳ σύν σοι ἀσεβεῖς, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου, ὅστις πρόδρομός σου γέγονεν, τῷ γὰρ ταρτάρῳ τετήρησαι. Νῦν οὖν ἔτι ἓν μέλος μου οὐκ ἐκόλασας, τὸ τῶν γονάτων· κόλασον καὶ αὐτό. Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι ὁ ἐμὸς Θεὸς οὐ δέχεταί μου τὴν ψυχὴν, ἕως ἂν καὶ τὴν βάσανον ταύτην ὑπενέγκω· σοῖ δὲ ἡτοίμασται ἡ αἰώνιος κόλασις, τὸ πῦρ τὸ ἄσβεστον, ὁ οὐκ ἐκφεύξη. Ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Μάξιμος ἐκέλευσεν καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ μέλος τὸ τῶν γονάτων καθηλοῦσθαι. Προσελθὼν δὲ ἄλλος μιερεὺς, καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς ἥλους ἵνα κρούσῃ ἐν τοῖς γόνασι τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου, λέγει αὐτῷ οὕτως· Ὅτι ἐν ταῖς μαγίαις αὐτοῦ τὸν συνιερέα μου ἀπέκτεινεν, καὶ τοὺς θεοὺς ἡμῶν ἐξουδένωσεν καὶ συνέτριψεν, ἐγὼ ἄρτι προσελθὼν δείξω αὐτῷ, ὅτι αἱ μαγίαι αὐτοῦ οὐδὲν ὠφελήσουσιν αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἐπικαλεσάμενος ὁ μιερεὺς τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτοῦ, λέγει. Ἐλθὲ μέγιστε Ζεὺ, ἢ Ἑρμῆ θεὲ, καὶ Ἡρακλῆ δυνάστα, καὶ Ἀσκληπιὲ, θεράποντες· καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν, καὶ προσελθὼν τεθαῤῥηκῶς τῇ ὑποβλήσει τοῦ διαβόλου, λαβὼν τὸν ἧλον, ἵνα κρούσῃ ἐν τοῖς γόνασιν αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἰδίαν χεῖρα καθήλωσεν ἐν τᾑ πεύκῃ· καὶ ἐβόησεν ὁ μιαρὸς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγων· ὦ, Μάξιμε, ἀπόλεσας ἡμᾶς. Καθηλώσας γὰρ ὁ μιερεὺς τὴν ἰδίαν παλάμην, εὐθέως ἀπέψυξεν παρὰ τὸ δένδρον. Ἔτι δὲ κρεμαμένου τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίου ἐν τῷ δένδρῳ, ἦλθεν φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· Δεῦρο, ἀνάβαινε, ἀθλητά μου Μελέτιε, εἰς τὰ ταμεῖα τοῦ παραδείσου, καὶ εἰς τὸν χόρον τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν μου Ἀγγέλων, εἰς τὴν συνδρομὴν πάντων τῶν δικαίων μου. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἵστανται πάντες οἱ ἅγιοί μου, προσδοκῶντές σε, κρατοῦντες τὰ βραβεῖα· ὡς γὰρ ἐποίησάς μου τὸ θέλημα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, δώσω σοι ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς τὰ αἰτήματά σου· καὶ ὅστις ἂν μνησθῇ τῆς δυνάμεως Θεοῦ, τῆς δόξης καὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος Μελετίου, ῥυσθήσεται ἀπὸ πάσης τῆς ἀνάγκης καὶ κυνδίνων μεγάλων. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσασθαι τὸν Κύριον λαλοῦντα, κατῆλθον Ἄγγελοι ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν μετὰ νεφέλης καὶ ὕμνων μεγάλων, δοξάζοντες τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν, καὶ παρέλαβον τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀθλήτου καὶ θεράποντος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίου. Ἀνέφερον οὖν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν λευκὴν ἀστράπτουσαν· καὶ ἰδόντες οἱ Χριστιανοὶ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου ἐδόξασαν τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν, καὶ τὸν ἅγιον πνεῦμα. Ἐτελειώθη δὲ ὁ ἀθλητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ μάρτυς ἐκλεκτὸς, μενὶ μαΐου εἰκάδι τετάρτῃ, ἡμέρα σαββάτῳ.

[69] The Tyrant, as though blinded by Satan; If, said he, thou refusest to sacrifice to all, at least become a suppliant to Apollo. To whom Meletius; How long, impious one, wilt thou go on to be mad? I indeed, who long ago chose Christ my savior to be worshipped by me, will not suffer myself to be persuaded otherwise by thy crafty speeches, nor will I let my mouth or tongue, sacred to the one God, be contaminated by the impure names of thy gods, nor will I ever at last come over to thy party, fabricator of all perdition and master of impiety, worst minister of the ruin of men, champion of Satan thy father, leader of all fraud and deception, and impious counselor of prevarication; for whoever does not confess our Lord is to be held an alien from the kingdom of heaven. But not even by this answer led to any modesty was the Tyrant, but rather even displaying his impudent forehead, thus went on to exhort Meletius; This therefore alone I ask of thee, that thou refuse not to be fed with the same foods as I; and meanwhile he orders the dishes offered to idols to be brought in secretly, that he might lead Meletius, even unknowing, into the snare by the impious feasts. But to the Tyrant Meletius; By no means dost thou persuade, man of nothing. Why, I pray, dost thou bring forth these blandishments into the midst, son of the demon, and more bitter than death itself? Why by thy speech dost thou try to deceive me, who art the snare of the devil, cast down from heaven for his pride? Why, wicked fowler, dost thou contrive snares against me? Why dost thou hiss against me, dragon of no strength, asp spewing out poisons, lion difficult to discover,

together with thy father Satan, who, residing with thee and in thee, exerts all his strength? When the demon heard these things, and transforming himself into an angel of light, he said to Meletius; Whatever these men keep telling thee must be done, execute without delay. Which voice of the devil being perceived, the idol-priests exulted with joy: he repels the demon urging this, for, bearing the dress and appearance of Jupiter, Satan had shown himself to them. But Meletius, as soon as he heard the vain counsel of the evil demon, brought forth these things against him; The God who expelled thee from heaven, the same will strike thee. And behold, immediately a certain fiery whirlwind as it were appeared, nor without a great howling did the demon disappear. Then of the men present there not a few believed in Christ: and they said to Maximus, Thou hast destroyed this multitude. But the Tyrant, no otherwise than as if he had been driven into rage by Satan himself, ordered the athlete of Christ Meletius to be beaten with blows. But whoever dared to put forth their hands against him, by a sudden death made an end of living.

[70] And here to Maximus Meletius; O how great, he foretells the doom impending over Maximus, and how inextinguishable, and on account of its cruelty unendurable, a fire awaits thee! O how savage and immortal a worm, whose bitter bites thou shalt never escape, and which I now seem to myself to have before my eyes, and considering it I shudder! Why dost thou heap up crimes against God, impious one, when thou art not far from eternal perdition? Already for thee, if thou knowest it not, is prepared a certain fiery river, whose flames thou shalt never be able to avoid. Why therefore dost thou in vain deceive thyself, exhibiting worship and veneration to idols? Provoked to anger by this address of Meletius, the Tyrant orders the Martyr of Christ to be hung upon a pine; and Carterius the coppersmith to be summoned, together with twelve disciples of his art; to whom present he thus spoke: Come, bring cubit-long nails, glowing with much fire, and fasten that man to the wood without delay. and that his ministers would believe in Christ: Then to Meletius; Behold, said he, thy Christ is said to have had twelve disciples, namely as many as my coppersmith has brought hither with him, who soon will fasten thee to that wood, and at last will put an end to thy magic tricks. To whom Meletius; See, said he, Tyrant, how little wisely thou hast spoken; for those whom thou hast just now mentioned as disciples of Christ, thou hast mentioned to thy own disgrace: for thus I foretell thee, that by the merits of the twelve Apostles before God, both that coppersmith and his twelve disciples will be endowed from heaven with that grace by which, excellently strengthened, they will not a little increase the glory of God and Christ: grace, I say, and strength will be given them, equipped with which they may at last attain eternal life.

[71] Stirred to anger by this answer of Meletius, Maximus orders the glowing brazen nails to be brought forth at once, and the Martyr to be transfixed with them. The coppersmiths brought forth into the midst soon seize them with pincers, and with as much force of hammers as they could drive them into the belly and other limbs of Meletius: but all in vain. For the nails, as much as they were driven in, so much also were they blunted, and when they had touched the body of the Martyr they were repelled, and penetrated deep into the eyes of the bystanders and of the gentiles opposing Meletius, and blinded the wretches. as happened, when these saw they accomplished nothing: By the prodigy so unusual estimating the great power of the invisible and most high God, and the fortitude of the young Meletius in suffering, the coppersmiths, and attending how the burning nails could not penetrate a man who had suffered so many and so grievous things; the whole brazen apparatus cast away from them, and the smith's instruments bidden farewell, prostrated themselves on the ground, and rendered the due glory to God most high: for already the divine grace had come down upon them from heaven. Then all, their eyes lifted on high, cried out to God with a loud voice thus saying, for having professed the faith Most truly great art Thou, God of the Christians; but they began to strike the tyrant with blows. He, having conceived great anger, ordered them, led away far from the wood of the Candacorei, all to be beheaded. When they received the sentence of death to be undergone pronounced against them; Meletius, they said, servant of the most high God, prayers, we pray, and vows conceive for us, that we may merit to enjoy God; and that Christ may receive our souls in the manner in which He received the souls of John and Stephen, and of the rest of the disciples and athletes already slain.

[72] These Meletius addressed from the pine on which he hung; The sign, he said, of Christ impress upon your foreheads; for where your mind and thought is, and animated by Meletius, there also is your treasure; for Christ will admit you into His peace and rest, and will enroll you in the number of His Saints. Thence turning to the Tyrant; Did I not foretell, said he, that it would be so, most wretched of men, that those whom thou hadst named with profane mouth Apostles, would be named by thee to thy own reproach and shame? Carterius meanwhile the coppersmith, together with the twelve disciples of his art, they underwent Martyrdom. hastened intrepid to receive death by the sword, like sheep to the slaughter, celebrating the praise of the supreme and divine majesty. When they had come to the place of punishment, all impressed the sign of Christ upon their foreheads, and praises again rendered to God, offering their necks to the lictors, received the last blow with great gladness of their own, and underwent the punishment and death in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, at the ninth hour, on the day of the Parasceve: whom certain of the Christians buried in peace in that very place.

[73] Moreover one of the nefarious priests, who sat next to the Tyrant before the tribunal, and was called Madiophantes, said to Maximus; Only command, and I will transfix him, A sacrificer succeeding for them dies, because he has not feared to break our gods in pieces. Maximus assenting, the most impure priest exulting with joy, and judging that he would conquer the invisible God, and made nearer to Meletius, the glowing nails received, prepared to drive them into the belly of the athlete of Christ: when behold, as if removed in mind and turned into fury, he himself drove a huge nail into his own breast, and in a moment of time unhappily expired. Then the soldier of Christ Meletius said to the Tyrant; See how thy whole attendance has gradually been consumed, and thou alone with thy father the devil art left surviving. I see indeed, I see a sword, which not many days after will bring great ruin upon thee. Meletius insulting the tyrant, Why therefore, wretched and pitiable one, dost thou defer to show thyself a suppliant to the Lord of the ages, and creator of all things? For behold, thou art not far from destruction, and an eternal gehenna threatens thee. To be cast into Tartarus, said the Tyrant, dost thou then dare to affirm that I shall be? To whom the athlete of Christ; Already, said he, I have affirmed, not concerning thee alone, but also concerning all the nefarious men who are in thy company, and concerning thy father the devil himself, who has already preceded thee to these punishments. Thou art reserved for Tartarus, impious one. Now therefore, since I have hitherto suffered no torment about my knees, he urges that he order even the knees to be transfixed. come, turn thy fury upon this part of my body. For I have it clearly perceived, that I shall not deliver my soul to God before I have undergone this kind of punishment also. Know meanwhile that eternal punishment and inextinguishable fire is prepared, which if thou hopest to escape, thou art vehemently deceived.

[74] Meletius heard, the Tyrant ordered the joints of the knees to be transfixed forthwith with beam-nails. Then one of the sacrificers advancing into the midst seized the nails, himself about to transfix Meletius's knees; yet first turning to Maximus; Since this man, which a sacrificer attempting said he, has destroyed with his sorceries a sharer with me of the same priesthood given over to death, and impiously broken our gods held in contempt, I will make him without delay understand, that nothing of help is henceforth to be hoped by him from his magic arts. Then the help of his gods invoked, the sacrificer cried out; Be present, supreme Jupiter, and thou Mercury, and most valiant Hercules, and Æsculapius, aid. Which said, and as if by the devil overturned in mind, he confidently approached Meletius, that he might drive the nail into the Martyr's knees. While he attempts this thing, bores through his own hand. he himself fastened his own hand to the pine. Crying out therefore with a loud voice; Thou hast destroyed us, said he, O Maximus. For as soon as the impious priest of the idols had fastened his hand to the wood upon the unhappy tree, he breathed out his more unhappy soul.

[75] But while Meletius still hung, a voice was suddenly heard from heaven such as this: Come, and ascend to things on high, At length Meletius dies on the cross. Meletius, most valiant athlete; betake thyself into the inmost recesses of My paradise, join thyself a companion to the ranks of My chosen Angels, and to the multitude of the Saints: for behold, the whole company of the Just eagerly awaits thee, and holds forth the prize which thou hast merited. As indeed thou hast fulfilled all My will on earth, so also in the heavens whatever thou shalt desire, I will accomplish: but whoever shall preserve a grateful memory of that power which I have declared in thee, and of thy glory and name, Meletius, shall come forth safe and free from every calamity, and from perils however great. After the Lord ceased to speak these things from heaven, heavenly spirits straightway with a cloud were beheld to descend to earth, who, excellently singing praises to our Lord Jesus Christ, joyfully received the soul of the most generous Athlete and servant of Christ Meletius; which, refulgent like a white dove, they carried up above all the heavens. Therefore astonished by the novelty of the spectacle and exulting, the Christians celebrated the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit with due voices of praise and thanksgiving. But the illustrious Martyr and athlete of Christ died in the month of May, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, and that a Saturday.

CHAPTER XI.

The final catastrophe concerning the body of Meletius taken away by the Angels, Maximus struck divinely, and the persecution turned by the Christians against the Gentiles.

ἸΔὼν δὲ ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος, ὅτι ὅσοι προσῆλθον τῷ ἀθλητῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελετίῳ ὅλοι διεφώνησαν, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτὸν ἐδυνήθησαν ποιῆσαι· ἐκέλευσεν μετὰ τὸ τελειωθῆναι τὸν ἀθλητὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιον συναχθῆναι τοὺς περὶ αὐτὸν ἕλληνας, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Τί ποιήσωμεν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ; Οἱ δὲ ἕλληνες, ἰδόντες τὴν δόξαν τὴν γενομένην αὐτῷ, οὐδὲν ἐλάλησεν. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ὑποβληθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ἀπὸ τῆς ζώνης μέσον εἶπεν κοπῆναι τὸ λείψανον, καὶ πυρὰν μεγάλην γενέσθαι, καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ κατὰ τοὺς πόδας καῆναι, τὸ δὲ ἄλλο ἥμισυ ἐν τῷ δένδρῳ τῆς πεύκης κρεμασθῆναι, ἵνα τὰ ὀρνέα αὐτὸ φάγωνται. Ἄγγελος δὲ Κυρίου καταβὰς ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, κατήνεγκεν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς πεύκης. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἕλληνες φόβῳ συσχεθέντες, ἀνεχώρησεν ἐκεῖθεν μετ᾽ ἀνάγκης πολλῆς. Ἀπηνέχθη δὲ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἁγίου Μάρτυρος Μελετίου ἐν τῷ ὄρει, ὅπει ἐτελειώθη ὁ ὄχλος αὐτοῦ. Ἄγγελος δὲ Κυρίου νυκτὸς ἐφάνη τοῖς Χριστιανοῖς ἐν τῇ πόλει, ὡς ἄνθρωπος, λένων αὐτοῖς, ὁποῦ ἦν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἁγίου Μάρτυρος

Μελετίου. Λαβόντες οὖν οἱ Χριστιανοὶ γλωσσόκομον ἐλεφαντουργημένον, καὶ ἱματισμὸν πολυτελῇ ἐπιφέροντες σὺν θυμιάμασι καὶ μύροις, ἀπερχόμενοι θεωροῦσιν νεφέλην μικρὰν ἐν τῷ τόπῷ, ἐπισκιάζουσαν τῷ λειψάνῳ τοῦ μακαρίου ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου· καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ ἄνδρες πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Ὅπου ἡ νεφέλη ἐστὶν, ἐκεῖ ἀπέλθωμεν. Ἄγγελος γὰρ Κυρίου ἦν ὁ ὁδηγῶν αὐτούς. Ἀπελθόντες δὲ ἕως τοῦ τόπῳ βουλήσει Χριστοῦ ὑπεχώρησεν αἱ νεφέλαι, καὶ ἴδον τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὡς μαργαρίτης, ἤστραπτεν. Ἐγγίσαντες δὲ πλησίον τοῦ λειψάνου τοῦ ἁγίου Μάρτυρος, ἴδον τρεῖς λέοντας παρισταμένους αὐτῷ, ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ σφόδρα. Οἱ δὲ λέοντες ἔπεχώρησαν αὐτοῖς μικρὸν, τοῖς δὲ ὄνυξιν αὐτῶν ἔσκαπτον τὴν γῆν τοῦ χῶσαι τὸ λείψανον τοῦ ἁγίου Μάρτυρος. Ἐγγισάντων δὲ τῶν ἀνδπῶν τῷ λειψάνῳ ἐκύκλωσεν αὐτοὺς ἡ νεφέλη, ἵνα, ἔαν τις ἐλθῇ ἀλλότριος, μὴ θεάσηται τοὺς ἄνδρας ἢ τὸ ποῦ τίθεται τὸ λείψανον τοῦ ἁγίου Μελετίου. Εὑρόντες οὖν οἱ ἄνδρες γλωσσόκομον ἄλλο μικρὸν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, ἔδωκαν τὸ καυθὲν μέλος τῇ γῇ σὺν τῶ γλωσσοκόμῳ, σὺν μύροις καὶ θυμιάμασι, μετὰ χαρᾶς σφραγίσαντες αὐτὸ, καὶ εὐχαριστήσαντες τῷ Χριστῷ· τὸ δὲ ἄλλο ἥμισυ αὐτοῦ ἀμφιάσαντες ἱματισμῷ πολυτίμῳ, καὶ μύροις καὶ θυμιάμασι πληρώσαντες, ἔθεντο ἐν τῷ ἄλλῳ γλωσσοκόμω τῷ ἐλεφαντουργημένῳ· καὶ σπεύσαντες οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ ὀρύξαντες κατέθεντο ἐν τῷ ὄρει. Οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες οἱ Χριστιανοὶ, μετὰ πολλοῦ φόβου καὶ χαρᾶς εὐλογήσαντες τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν καὶ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, ἀνεχώρησεν μὲτ᾽ εἰρήνης. Καὶ μετὰ τρίτην ἡμέραν ἔπεμψεν ὀ ἄνομος Μάξιμος τοὺς μιερεῖς καὶ φανεροὺς ἕλληνας αὐτοῦ, ἰδεῖν ἐν τῷ δένδρῳ εἰ ἀνάλωσεν αὐτὸν τὰ ὀρνέα. Ἀπελθοῦντες οὖν οἱ μιερεῖς καὶ ἔλληνες ουδὲν εὗρον τῶν καυθέντων μελῶν, οὐδὲ τὸ ἐν τῷ δένδρῷ κρεμάμενον λείψανον τοῦ Ἁγίου, ἀλλὰ μόνον ξηρὸν τὸ αὐτὸ δένδρον ἑωράκασιν. Μανίᾳ δὲ πολλῇ φερόμενοι ἔκαυσαν αὐτὸ τὸ δένδρον τῆς πεύκης, ἵνα μὴ καὶ αὐτὸ ἐπάρωσιν οἱ Χριστιανοί. Καὶ ἀπελθόντες ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ Μαξίμῳ, ὅτι οὔτε τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, οὔτε τὸ ὀστέον εὕρομεν, οὐτε τῶν καυθέντων, οὐτε ὁ τόπος τῆς καύσεως αὐτοῦ ὁρᾶται, εἰ μὴ μόνον τῆς πεύκης τὸ δένδρον ξηρὸν εὑρόντες, κόψαντες ἐκαύσαμεν αὐτὸ, ἵνα μὴ οἱ Χριστιανοὶ χαίρωσιν ἐν τῷ ξύλω. Ὁ δὲ Μάξιμος ἀκούσας ταῦτα, καὶ ἐμμανὴς γενόμενος περιέσχισεν τὸν ἑαυτοῦ χιτῶνα, θρηνήσας διὰ τοὺς μιερεῖς καὶ ἕλληνας· ἵνα δὲ θεραπεύσῃ αὐτοὺς εἶπεν· Καλῶς ἐποιήσατε, φίλοι τῶν θεῶν, ὅτι καὶ τὸ ξύλον ἐκαύσατε. Καὶ πέμψας εἰς τὀν τόπον βοήθειαν, εἶπεν· Πᾶσαν τὴν ὕλην καύσατε, ἕως οὗ εὕρετε τὸ λείψανον αὐτοῦ· διατράπεις δὲ μεγάλως ὁ Μάξιμος ἡσύχασεν. Ἀπελθόντες δὲ ὤρυξαν πάσην τὴν ὕλην, καὶ εὗρον οὐδὲν, καὶ πάλιν ὑποστρέψαντες ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ Μαξίμῳ, ὅτι οὐδαμοῦ εὕρομεν τὸ λείψανον αὐτοῦ. Καὶ οὕτως ἀνέχωρησεν ἐκ τῆς ὕλης Κανδοκορέων, καὶ κατελθὼν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐκαυχᾶτο πρὸς τοὺς ἕλληνας, ὅτι ἀνεῖλεν τὸν Μάρτυρα τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιον, καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ. Καὶ πέμψας ἐπάνω τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὴν ὕλην τὴν λεγουμένην τῶν Κορομῶν, ἐκέλευσεν κατενεχθῆναι τὸν Ἐπίσκοπον Δικάσιον ἐκ τοῦ σπηλαίου, καὶ τὸ σπήλαιον αὐτοῦ στραφῆναι· ἦν γὰρ ἐν σπηλαίῳ οἰκῶν, διὰ τὸ ὀλίγους Χριστιανοὺς εἶναι τότε. Ἀχθέντος δὲ τοῦ Ἐπισκόπου ἵνα κριθῇ ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, λέγει ὁ Μάξιμος· Σὺ εἶ ὁ μὴ ἀποστέλλων πάντας, ἀλλὰ κωλύων θύειν τοῖς θεοῖς; Ὁ δὲ Ἐπίσκοπος Δικάσιος ἔμενεν σιωπῶν, καὶ ἀτενίζων εἰς τόν οὐρανόν· ᾔδει γὰρ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν μεγάλην τὴν μέλλουσαν γινεσθαι, ἥνπερ εἶδεν ὁ ἔκλεκτος τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Μάξιμος πρὸς ἑαυτόν· Οὗτος προσπεσεῖν θέλει τοῖς θεοῖς διὰ τοῦτο σιωπᾷ· οὐκ ᾔδει δὲ ὁ ἄνομος Μάξιμος, τὸ τί ἐκδεχεται ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος. Καὶ κελεύει ὁ ἄνομος τοῖς στρατιώταις αὐτοῦ λέγων· Ἀποδύσατε τὸν Ἐπίσκοπον Δικάσιον, καὶ στήσατε αὐτὸν ἀπὸ βρακίου, καὶ τύπτετε αὐτὸν, ἕως οὗ προσπέσῃ τοῖς θεοῖς, ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πραιτωρίου αὐτοῦ. Λέγει δὲ πάλιν ὁ Μάξιμος τοῖς στρατιώταις αὐτοῦ· Ἕως οὗ θρεψω τοὺς φίλους μου ἐν τῷ ἀρίστῳ, τύπτετε αὐτόν. Ἐλθόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ ἄριστον, καὶ ἀριστούντων τὰ μυαρόθυτα, μετὰ τῶν τυπτησάντων τὸν μακάριον Μάρτυρα καὶ ἀθλητὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μελέτιον, τάσσων ὁ Μάξιμος ὁμιλίας ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, καὶ σὺν τοῖς μιερεῦσιν αὐτοῦ καυχώμενος, οὅτως ἔλεγεν· Μὴ Θεὸν Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου καὶ Μελετίου ἐνικήσαμεν; μὴ ἐδυνήθη ἐξελέσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν μου, δείξω δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς αὐτὸν, τὴν τῶν θεῶν ἡμῶν δύναμιν ἀνίκητον οὖσαν. Γυμνωθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος Δικάσιος καὶ ἀνατείνας τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ στενάξας πικρῶς καὶ ἐκχέας δάκρυα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν οὅτως· Κύριε σὺ εἶ ὁ σώζων τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους σε, σὺ εἶ ὁ στέψας ψυχὰς Χριστιανῶν μυρίας χιλιάδας διακοσίας πεντήκοντα, σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ παιδίοις, καὶ σὺν τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς σου καὶ θεράπουσι Μελετίῳ καὶ Ἰωάννῃ καὶ Στεφάνῳ, μὴ ἐάσῃ με ἡ δόξα σου μιανθῆναι ὑπὸ χοίρων ἀσεβῶν. Καὶ εἰπόντος αὐτοῦ ταῦτα, καὶ ποιήσαντος τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ σφραγίδα περὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὅλου, ἦλθεν αὐτῷ φωνὴ ἐξ οὐρανῶν λέγουσα οὕτως· Θάρσει, Δικάσιε, ὥστε τοὺς στήκοντας ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ θαμβηθῆναι. Ἀριστούντων δὲ τῶν ἀνόμων ἱερέων σὺν τῷ μιαρωτάτῳ Μαξίμῳ, καὶ καυχωμένων, ἐξαίφνης σεισμοῦ μεγάλου γενομένου καθελθοῦσα ῥομφαία ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἣν προεῖπεν ὁ ἐκλεκτὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ Μελέτιος, ἐπάταξεν τὸν Μάξιμον, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τῷ ἀρίστῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔδειξεν πᾶσιν ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ὕψιστος καὶ ἀόρατος ὅτι πάρεξ αὐτοῦ ἄλλος Θεὸς οὔκ ἐστιν, οὔτε ἔσεται. Θορύβου δὲ πολλοῦ γενομένου, ἔπεσον πάντα τὰ εἴδωλα τὰ ὄντα ἐν τῷ πραιτωρίῳ Μαξίμου καὶ συνετρίβησαν. Εἰσελθόντος δὲ τοῦ δήμου τῶν Χριστιανῶν καὶ τῶν ἑλλήνων, καὶ ἰδόντων τοὺς ἀνόμους κειμένους, τόντε Μάξιμον καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ οὕτω πεπαταγμένος ὑπὸ τῆς ῥομφαίας τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα συντετριμμένα, ἐπάραντες ὁμαθυμαδὸν τὰς χεῖρας εἶς τὸν οὐρανὸν Χριστιανοὶ καὶ ἕλληνες, ἔκραξαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπον· Ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς Μελετίου, καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ Στεφάνου καὶ πάντων ἡμῶν, ὁ ὢν, καὶ προὼν, ὁ ἐν οὐρανοῖς κατοικῶν, καὶ δείξας τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰ θαυμάσιά σου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ σώζων εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ μετά σε ἄλλος οὐκ ἔστιν Θεός· σὺ γὰρ ἐποίησας σύμπαντα τῷ λόγῳ σου, καὶ οὐκ εἴασας ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι ὑπόδειγμα τοῦ διαβόλου· ἐπίστευσαν γὰρ καὶ οἱ ἕλληνες, καὶ ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ὕψιστον, αὐτῷ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. Καθελθοῦσα δὲ νεφέλη πυρος, ἔκαυσεν καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Ἀντονίνον ἐν τῇ Αἰγύπτῳ. Ἐλθὼν δὲ Ἄρχων τις αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρα, ὀνόματι Λέων, ὡς κύων μαινόμενος, ὡς λέων ἐπὶ θήραν βρύχων, ὡς ταῦρος μυκώμενος, ὡς ἀετὸς ἐπὶ ἄγραν, ὡς δράκων συρίζων, ζητῶν Μάξιμον τοῦ ἀναλῶσαι αὐτὸν κακίστως, ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὸ πραιτόριον Μαξίμου, καὶ εὗρεν τὸν Ἐπίσκοπον Δικάσιον ἱστάμενον γυμνὸν, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Τίς σὺ εἶ, ἄνθρωπε. Ὁ δὲ Ἐπίσκοπος Δικάσιος λέγει· Ἐγώ εἰμι ἁμαρτωλὸς, Ἐπἰσκοπος τῶν εἰς Πατέρα, καὶ Υἱὸν καὶ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα πιστευόντων καὶ ἐχόντων τὰς ἐλπίδας. Ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Λέων ὁ Ἄρχων, παραχρῆμα καταπηδήσας ἐκ τοῦ ἵππου αὐτοῦ καὶ δακρύσας, προσελθὼν περιεπλάκη τῷ Ἐπισκόπῳ, καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτὸν, καὶ περιβαλὼν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ τῷ Ἐπισκόπῳ, ἐμάνθανεν περί τὸν Μάξίμον καὶ τὰ σύμπαντα αὐτῷ. Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ἁρχων τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου, ὅτι οὕτως ἀνάλωσεν τὸν Μάξιμον, ἐχάρη σφόδρα. Καὶ παραλαβὼν Λέοντα τὸν Ἄρχοντα ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος Δικάσιος, ἀπήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, συνακολουθήσαντος παντὸς τοῦ δήμου Χριστιανῶν τε καὶ ἑλλήνων. Ἀνοίξας δὲ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος, ἐποίησεν γενέσθαι ἐν αὐτῇ σύναξιν ἕως ὥρας ἐννάτης· ἦν γὰρ ἡ ἐκκλησία ἠσφαλισμένη ἐπὶ χρόνον, διὰ τὸ ἰσχυρὸν τῶν ἐπικρατούντων τῶν ἐλλήνων. Μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀπόλυσιν τῆς ἐκκλησίας, παραλαβὼν ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος Λέοντα τὸν Ἄρχοντα ἀπήγαγεν αὐτὸν ὄπισθεν τῆς ἐκκλησίας, εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἀθλητοῦ Μελετίου καὶ Μάρτυρος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Καὶ ποιήσαντες εὐχὴν σὺν πάντι τῷ λαῷ κλαίοντες καὶ εὐχόμενοι ἐκτενῶς, καὶ εὐχαριστοῦντες ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν τῶν ἀθλοφόρων καὶ ἀγωνιστῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· μετὰ τὴν ἀπόλυσιν τὴν ἑσπερινὴν ἔμεινεν ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος καὶ ὁ Ἄρχων Λέων σὺν τρισὶ κληρικοῖς ἄσιτοι· καὶ λέγει τῷ Ἐπισκόπῳ ὁ Ἄρχων Λέων· Τί θέλει ποιῆσαι τὸ χαλκούργημα τοῦ Διός; Ὁ δὲ Ἐπίσκοπος λέγει αὐτῷ· Δός μοι ἐξουσίαν, κᾀγὼ οἶδα τί δεῖ ποιῆσαι αὐτῷ. Ἔδωκεν δὲ ὁ Ἄρχων ἐξουσίαν τῷ Ἐπισκόπῳ λέγων· Εἴ τι θέλεις, ποίησον τὸ χαλκούργημα. Λαβὼν δὲ ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος ἐξουσίαν, καὶ συνάξας πολλὴν βοήθειαν χαλκευτῶν τῶν χαλκευσάντων τὸν Δία, καὶ ποιήσας παρακομιδὴν ξύλων γενέσθαι, περιετείχισεν τὸ χαλκούργημα τοῦ Διός· καὶ ἀνάψας πυρὰν ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ χαλκουργήματος, ἐπύρωσεν καὶ διέλυσεν αὐτό· καὶ γομώσας ἁμάξας καὶ ζωὰ πολλὰ ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος ἀπήναγκεν τὸν χαλκὸν ἀπὸ σημείων εἴκοσι πέντε τῆς πόλεως, ὅπου ἦν δρυμὸς παμμεγέθης, καὶ ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ἐχώνευσεν, καὶ ἐποίησεν τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ σκεύη ῥυπαρὰ γυναικῶν, καὶ τὸ ὑπόλοιπον αὐτοῦ λέβητας λουτρῶν καὶ σκεύη μαγείρων. Τότε ἐδιώκοντο οἱ Ἑλλήνες ὑπὸ Λέοντος τοῦ Ἄρχοντος δικαιοτάτου ὄντως, καὶ ἐδοξάζεται ὁ Πατὴρ, καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς, καὶ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα· αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

[76] When by his very sight the Tyrant had perceived that no one had dared to approach the athlete of Christ Meletius, The body of the martyr taken away by the Angels, who had not at the same time paid the fatal penalty by his death; the multitude of the gentiles having been called together, after his departure from this life; what, said he, shall we at length do with the body of Meletius? But the gentiles, when they had perceived with their own eyes the wonderful glory of God and of S. Meletius, gave Maximus no answer. Then he himself, incited by the evil demon, ordered the corpse of Meletius to be cut into two parts, of which that which is lowest in the human body down to the feet should be cast into the fire and burned up, the other suspended on a tree, that it might be eaten by the birds, he ordered to be left. But an Angel of the Lord coming from heaven took away the body of the holy Martyr, taken down from the wood: wherefore seized with no moderate fear both Maximus, and those Gentiles who were with Maximus,

departed from the place of punishment to their own homes with great trembling. Moreover the sacred body of Meletius was carried to that mountain, in which the rest of his forces had bravely received death for Christ. An Angel of the Lord also, hidden under a human form, signified to the Christian inhabitants of that city in what place the body of S. Meletius had been laid.

[77] Therefore, carrying with them a coffer made of ivory, and a precious chlamys, and also incense and unguents, he is buried by the Christians, as soon as they came to the place shown them, they observed a certain little cloud, which embraced with its shadow the body of S. Meletius. Wherefore; Let us go on, they said, where that little cloud is seen by us beyond custom: for an Angel of the Lord indicated to them the way by which they should proceed. But after they had come further to almost the very place in which the little cloud had appeared, by the divine nod of Christ, whatever clouds had covered it disappeared, and the very body of the Martyr soon appeared, refulgent like a pearl. When they came nearer to it, three lions seemed to them to stand by it, whence also they were filled with great terror. But the lions, an exiguous space being left between, began to dig the earth with their claws, that the body of the Martyr might there be buried. And now the Christians were drawing nearer to the sacred corpse, when the said little cloud suddenly surrounded them, in two coffers: lest, if anyone perchance not a Christian should come thither, he should detect either those who were detained in burying Meletius, or the place in which he was being buried. And when then, surveying all things, they had found a certain small coffer, in it they laid that part of the body of Meletius, which by the command of the Tyrant had been burned up by the flames: and all these things prepared with unguents and incense, they committed to the earth there, with joy impressing the sacred sign of Christ upon the venerable relics, and rendering due thanksgivings to Christ. But the other part of the most holy body, wrapped in a most precious garment, and stuffed with unguents and incense, laid in the other ivory coffer, in the same mountain, with great haste they buried, dug down into the earth. When they had completed this, filled at once with fear and joy, they blessed the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and then each one returned to his own place in peace.

[78] On the third day after, the priests of the idols, and the chief of the gentiles, were sent by the Tyrant, that they might see Maximus, not finding him, whether the corpse of Meletius had now been consumed by the birds. But they, when they reached the place of punishment, found absolutely none of the burned limbs of the holy man, nor even that part of his body which had remained suspended on the tree, but only a pine, and that withered. Wherefore enraged beyond measure, they burned up the said tree with fire, lest the Christians should carry that away also for the sake of religion. Then returning to Maximus they reported, that neither the body, nor a bone of the body, nor any limb, even of those which had survived the fire, nor at last any vestige of the fire itself was found: that they had seen the pine alone, dry, its sap exhausted; even after the whole wood was searched, and lest the Christians should rejoice in it carried off by stealth, they had given it to the flames. Having heard the things that were said, Maximus raging with fury, both himself tore his garments and vehemently lamented, for the sake of the priests and gentiles: whom that he might soothe the more; A famous deed, said he, you have done, friends and excellent worshippers of our gods, that you have given the nefarious tree to the fire and consumed it. Soldiers also being sent, he willed the whole wood to be burned with flames, until the corpse of Meletius should be detected somewhere. The Tyrant therefore, affected with great shame, was at length compelled to restrain himself: but the attendants, having entered the wood, overturned the whole, not even the least part of the relics of Meletius being found. To report to Maximus that their endeavor was in vain, they returned. The matter understood, the Tyrant betook himself into the city, the wood of the Candacorei being left; and among the Gentiles he greatly boasted, that he had at last compelled the Martyr of Christ Meletius to die, with all those who professed the same faith with him.

[79] After these things he sends men into the wood of the Coromi overhanging the city, who should drag Dicasius the Bishop of the Christians from his cave, he orders Dicasius the Bishop to be seized. and overturn the cave itself: for because very few Christians were numbered at that time, the holy man had withdrawn himself into a desert grotto. The Bishop dragged to the tribunal, the Tyrant thus said; Art thou he through whom it stands that not all the Christians are drawn into the light, and who hinderest all from sacrificing to our gods? To which words of the Tyrant Dicasius the Bishop answering nothing at all, had only his eyes fixed upon heaven: for he was looking forward with the eyes of the mind to the divine vengeance shortly to be at hand, and foretold long before by the elect servant of God Meletius. But thus Maximus determined in his mind; This man without doubt will undertake the worship of our gods, and on that account silent he himself deliberates: for the Tyrant could not understand what the illustrious Bishop awaited from heaven. Then he commands his soldiers, that, the Bishop stripped of his garments down to his loins, they receive him with scourges so long, until he take it upon his mind to sacrifice to the gods set before his prætorium: and again; As long, said he, as I receive these my friends at the festive table, do you receive that man with blows.

[80] As he therefore departed to the feast, and the guests and the beaters of the athlete of Christ Meletius alike avidly fed on the things offered to idols, meanwhile boasting much at the banquet, talk was raised especially concerning Apollo, the Tyrant himself being the author, who, at last lifted up with vain pride, with his sacrificers insolently boasted these things; Have we not excellently conquered the God of John, Stephen, and Meletius? Truly He could in no way snatch them from my hands. Nay, even by tomorrow's light I have it in mind to show also to the rest who believe in Him, how insuperable is the power of our gods. Stripped of his garments meanwhile, Dicasius the Bishop began to stretch his hands to heaven, with a groan to burst into tears, and thus to pray to God; Lord, Thou art He who art wont to save those who invoke Thee, who hast bestowed a beautiful crown upon ten thousand two hundred and fifty souls, together with women and boys, and with Thy elect servants Meletius, John, and Stephen, suffer not, I pray, a stain to be brought upon Thy glory by those impious and impure swine. When he prayed with such words, and fortified all his body with the venerable sign of Christ, he perceived a voice from heaven saying these things to him; Be of good courage, Dicasius; so that the soldiers who were near him were seized with fear.

[81] But while the impious sacrificers and the impure Maximus feasted, he is divinely struck: and boasted many vain things, suddenly the ground was shaken with a great motion; and a sword was seen to descend from the heavens, which the elect of God Meletius had foretold long before would shortly be at hand. This struck Maximus and as many as were present with him at the feast, and the most high and invisible God of the Christians showed plainly to all, that besides Himself there is no other God, nor will there henceforth be. Then a great tumult having arisen, all the images of the idols which had been erected in the Tyrant's prætorium were cast to the ground, and broken in pieces. But the multitude, both of Christians and of Greeks, when it had come together into one; and had seen the impious worshippers of the gods, Maximus and his followers prostrated to the ground, and miserably struck by the divine sword, and the gods themselves also broken into fragments; the Christians and the Gentiles alike, their hands lifted on high, the Gentiles are converted at the spectacle of the slaughter: with one and the same voice raised to heaven this confession; Most truly, Thou art God, the God of Meletius, John, and Stephen, and also of us all: who art, and before all things wast: who occupiest Thy throne in the heavens, and showest to the sons of men Thy wonderful works when it shall seem good; since Thou art our God living unto the ages, nor is there any God besides Thee. For Thou by Thy word didst make all things to be, nor hast Thou suffered a spectacle pleasing to the devil to be exhibited concerning us. For the Gentiles themselves also consented to the faith of Christ, and glorified the most high God, to whom is honor unto the ages. Amen. A fire also bursting forth, the avenger, from a cloud, extinguished the Emperor Antoninus, then dwelling in Egypt.

[82] At that very time another Prince succeeded, whose name was Leo, Leo the Prince comes upon the scene: who, like a rabid dog, or a lion roaring against a wild beast, or a bellowing bull, or an eagle intent upon prey, or at last a dragon hissing in its manner, was searching out Maximus the commander, that he might most evilly destroy the man. As soon therefore as he burst into the prætorium of Maximus, he came upon Dicasius there, naked and prepared to receive scourges, and asked what man he was. To whom Dicasius the Bishop; I, he answered, a sinner, am the Bishop of those who profess to believe in God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and have their hope reposed in them. Which heard, the Prince Leo, leaping down forthwith from his horse, with tears rushed into the embrace and kisses of the holy Bishop, and himself cast his own chlamys upon him, he absolves Dicasius the Bishop, and learned point by point all the things that had happened to Maximus the Commander and his followers. From which, estimating, as was fitting, the divine power and providence, he rejoiced indeed not a little, that by a fate not unworthy of his merits the tyrant had fallen. Then the Bishop Dicasius, having taken with him the Prince Leo, and the whole multitude of Christians and Gentiles accompanying, entered into his church: and in it, now open to all, caused an assembly to be held until the ninth hour: for before, for a long time, on account of the excessive power of the Gentiles, the doors of the churches had been barred. Which when the Bishop had again caused to be open, he led the Prince Leo into the house of the very Martyr and Athlete of Christ Meletius, which was situated behind the church.

[83] Here they, instituting prayers with all the people, and weeping and earnestly beseeching, gave thanks to God over the souls of His illustrious Martyrs and Champions of Christ. The assembly being then dismissed toward evening, the Bishop, and the Prince Leo, and three Clerics in all, destitute of all food, remained there. At last turning to the Bishop, Leo; what, said he, dost thou desire we do with the brazen image of Jupiter? and entrusts the statue of Jupiter to his judgment. To whom the Bishop; Concede it, if it please thee, to my power, and soon I will determine what ought to be done with it. The statue of Jupiter therefore delivered to the Bishop; as it shall be pleasing, said Leo, use it. Refusing nothing, and interposing no delays, Dicasius summoned the coppersmiths, not a few, who should break the image of Jupiter in pieces; and a pile of wood being gathered, he surrounded the idol with it. Then kindling fire above the head, he dissolved the whole statue with flames. Then several carts being loaded with the bronze itself, and more yoke of oxen applied, he carried the metal away to twenty miles from the city, where there was a very great wood: and there he melted it down again, and from that which had been of the head he made vessels for the use of women's uncleanness, but from the rest cauldrons for the baths and other kitchen vessels. Then by Leo, the most excellent Prince, a persecution was begun against the Gentiles,

and due honor rendered to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory and dominion unto the ages of the ages. Amen.