ON SAINT JULIUS
MARTYR AT DOROSTORUM IN MOESIA.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On his notice from the Latin Martyrologies, and on the Acts of the Passion.
PrefaceJulius, Martyr at Dorostorum in Moesia (St.)
G. H.
Among the illustrious Martyrs who
at Dorostorum in lower Moesia,
modern Bulgaria, suffered
for the name of Christ, Memory in Florus, were
Passicrates, Valentio,
and others, whose contest we celebrated on May XXV. These
was next followed by St. Julius,
of whom Florus in the Supplement
of Bede in the time of Charles the Great wrote thus: "VI Kalends
of June, Passion of St. Julius, who under President Maximus completed his martyrdom
by the cutting off of his head." Somewhat
more is offered by Usuard in these words: "VI Kalends of June,
In Moesia, in the city Usuard; of Dorostorum, the birthday of B. Julius,
who in the time of persecution, when he was a veteran and
of completed military service, having been seized by the Officials, was offered
to the Judge: in whose presence when he execrated the idols,
and most constantly confessed the name of Christ,
he was punished with capital sentence." Of which things related by Ado, Ado,
these are added: "And when he was being led to the place
of carrying out the execution, a certain soldier Esychius, since he
himself was being detained having been seized for the faith of Christ, asked him
saying: 'Be mindful of me: for I also follow
after you. Give greatest greetings to Passicrates and
Valentio, the servants of God, who have already preceded us by good
confession to the Lord.' But Julius
kissing Esychius said: 'Brother, hasten to come:
for those whom you saluted have heard your commands.' Thus
receiving a kerchief, binding his eyes, he received the palm of martyrdom
by the cutting sword." and others, Thus Ado, which things almost the same are read
in Notker, and in the author who under the name of Bede
published a Martyrology. The later Martyrologists generally followed,
with Peter de Natalibus, book 5 of the Catalogue, chapter 56. Of
the same is treated on June XIV, in the MS. Martyrology of Brussels
of the church of St. Gudula. And all give credence to the MS. Acts of the martyrdom, Acts of the martyrdom. which we received at Augsburg from a MS.
codex submitted by Marcus Velserus. Esychius or Hesychius,
who is referred to in these Acts and the related Martyrologies, suffered
martyrdom on June XV, when of him separately must
be treated. Otherwise the Acts seem to be drawn from elsewhere, perhaps
from the Acts of St. Passicrates, which are hidden. The time of the martyrdom
is not expressed by the ancients. Galesinius ascribes Julius
to the persecution of the Emperor Alexander, and was followed
by Baronius in the Martyrology and in the Annals at the year 228
number 2.
[2] Cultus of St. Julius at Fiesole. Likewise on this day at Fiesole in Etruria St. Julius
Martyr is venerated, whose body rests in the Abbey of Fiesole,
and is believed to have suffered as a youth, but when is unknown.
His cultus seems to have been assumed on this day on account of St. Julius
of Dorostorum, although he is to be said to be entirely another: and Ferrarius
treats of him in both Catalogues.
ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
From the MS. codex of Marcus Velserus.
Julius, Martyr at Dorostorum in Moesia (St.)
BHL Number: 4556
FROM THE MS.
Behold the most holy Julius, held worthy
of the grace of God; A Soldier, secretly Christian, behold like a truly spiritual
youth of the army of Christ: behold the most beloved Martyr,
for the kingdom of the Lord,
having suffered things similar to those concerning B.
Passicrates. He was indeed according to the warfare of this world
a fellow soldier with the aforementioned men, then
by zeal of religion he became an imitator of those who
before him had suffered martyrdom, made indeed heirs
of God, but coheirs of Christ. For when those things
which were according to the impious increased; when the precepts
against all ran their course, ordering to sacrifice
to demons; the Saint was not willing to do similar things to the lost,
but secretly within himself preserved the faith of God. And
a certain one of the seed of the envious diabolical hater of the good, accused, he professes the faith,
denounces the man to the President, accuses indeed his faith,
and did not avoid bringing him into the open. So passing
into the midst he accused: "Most humane President, this Julius
is a Christian, and is unwilling to obey the royal
precepts." President Maximus said: "What do you say?
Julius, are these things true?" Julius said: "Yes, a Christian
I am." Maximus said: "What then? Have you been ignorant of the precepts
of the Kings, which order to immolate to the gods?" Julius said:
"I was not ignorant indeed: but I am a Christian: and
this I cannot do, and to deny God." Maximus
said: "What is hard about offering incense and going away?" Julius
said: "I cannot transgress, and appear faithless
to my God. For in the vain warfare, when I seemed
to err for fully twenty-seven years, I was not offered to judgment
either as a wicked man or as a quarrelsome one:
six times I went out to war, I stood behind no one,
nor did I fight worse than anyone: the Prince did not see me
ever erring: and refuses to dissimulate: and how do you now think him,
who in worse things was found faithful, in better things
to be unfaithful?" Maximus said: "Julius, immolate to the gods.
To me be imputed this sin: immolating with violence,
you have no sin: afterwards you will go to your
house receiving the bonus money of ten years, and
no one shall be troublesome to you." Julius said: "Neither this money
of Satan, nor your insidious doctrine deprives me
of the light: for I cannot deny the eternal God.
Therefore give sentence against me, as against
and sacrifice, I will cut off your head." Julius
said: "You have thought well. But I beseech you, pious
President, by the safety of your Kings, complete your thought,
and give sentence concerning me, that my vows
may be fulfilled." President Maximus said: "If you do not wish
to repent, you will be delivered to your desire." Julius said: "Thanks
I give to my God." Maximus said: "Julius, unwilling
to obey the precepts of the Kings, will give the capital sentence."
But when he had been led to the customary place,
all kissed him. But the blessed one was saying:
"Each one knows his own peril, with what mouth he kisses
me." But a certain Esychius, a Christian,
since he was a soldier and was himself being kept under guard, saluted by St. Hesychius: said to the Martyr:
"I beseech you, Julius, with joy complete the promise,
and receive the crown: for I follow
after you: and give greatest greetings to Passicrates and Valentio."
Julius kissing Esychius, said: "Brother,
hasten. For your commands they have already heard: as
I see you, so now those standing around me." And taking
a kerchief he bound his eyes, and stretched out his neck: completes martyrdom. but the soldier
drawing his sword imposed an end to his martyrdom.