ON SS. ZENOBIUS AND ZENOBIA OF ETHIOPIA, ONCE VENERATED THERE,
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Zenobius, once venerated in Ethiopia. (S.)
Zenobia, once venerated in Ethiopia. (S.)
BY R. D. B.
St. Zenobius and St. Zenobia, Among the Acts of martyrs written in the Ethiopic tongue we find a Passion of St. Zenobius and of his mother St. Zenobia, slain at Aegae. It exists in two codices of the British Museum, of which one is marked number 687–688, the other number 689 [Wright, Catalogue of the Ethiopic manuscripts, codices 253 and 258, pages 160 and 169.]. In the former the birthday of the holy martyrs is referred to the 7th day, in the latter to the 9th day of the month of Dios; but in the Ethiopic Synaxary to the 7th day of the month of Hedar, or the 3rd of November. This by no means prevents us from suspecting that that holy pair are the same as St. Zenobius the bishop and his sister St. Zenobia. Wherefore we think those Ethiopic Acts, which at our request the most learned William Wright rendered into English, should be subjoined to the Greek Passion. And this is their summary: in the reign of Claudius Augustus, Zenobius and his mother Zenobia were seized at Aegae: whom the governor Lucian, with every ready bitterness, at length punished with death, himself soon to follow the side of Christ. These things we shall first weigh as if those martyrs were in no way the same as St. Zenobius the bishop and his sister: afterwards we shall disclose why we think that there is only one pair of saints.
[2] who are said to have been slain In what age and in what place those saints of Aegae met death cannot be conjectured from anywhere else than from the beginning of the Passion and its close. In the reign of Augustus, the writer begins thus, in the very age of his brother, Claudius Caesar, when Lucian governed the region of the people of Aegae, at that time persecution was raging against the Christians. And with these words the Acts conclude: The contest of Zenobius and Zenobia took place … in the city of the people of Aegae, Lucian governing the people, in the reign of Claudius Augustus. Which Claudius is here indicated, whether I or the elder, or II or the younger, I would not easily determine. The martyrdom is indeed referred to the time when the emperor and the Caesar were called by the same name of Claudius. But no light comes from this; for both Claudius I in the year 50 adopted Nero Claudius, and Claudius II had a brother Claudius Quintillus. If therefore the holy martyrs fell under the former, the Acts indicate that this happened between the years 50 (when Nero, taken by Claudius into his name, could be called Claudius Caesar), and the year 54 (when the same was made emperor); for they are said to have died at the time when Claudius Augustus was reigning and when Nero Claudius was called Caesar.
[3] under Nero This being posited, it will have to be said that the writer erred, who calls Claudius Caesar the brother of Claudius Augustus, whereas he was only his adopted son and stepson. Moreover, not in the reign of Claudius I (or between the years 41 and 54), but of Nero, did persecution first rage. Claudius indeed expelled the Christians from Rome, but certainly did not order them to be slaughtered generally. On the other hand, his successor visited the Christians at Rome with punishments and deaths, and commanded them to be tortured with like persecution through all the provinces [Compare Paulus Orosius, Histories, book VII, chapter 7, column 1078, Migne edition; compare Ruinart, Acta martyrum sincera, General Preface, number 26.]. If anyone therefore supposes that SS. Zenobius and Zenobia were slain under the emperor Nero, he will find in the Acts some things that seem consistent with the history of that age. Indeed in Mesopotamia Acta Sanctorum, volume XII of October, p. 439 and following., from where the holy martyrs are said to have sprung, and in Cilicia Compare above, p. 253., where they perished, not
a few Christians were found about the year 60. Baiae, in which city they stayed, was at that time no ignoble town: of which mention is made in the Itinerary of Antoninus Augustus In Schelstrate, Antiquitas Ecclesiae, volume II, page 583.. We read that a certain Lucian was sent about the year 60 to the parts of the East, into Betagauren (in Judea), as a persecutor of Christians [Acta Sanctorum, volume II of January, page 613 and following; Mémoires ecclés., volume I, page 545.] in the Acts of St. Ananias (whose authority, however, Tillemont thinks doubtful); but at that time the same man was perhaps harassing the faithful in Cilicia and Palestine.
[4] or under Claudius II, Nevertheless it is credible that not that age was indicated in the Ethiopic Acts, but the age of Claudius II; who held the empire of the Romans from the year 268 to 270 and in whose place was substituted his brother, Claudius Quintillus. For thus the martyrdom of St. Zenobius is rightly and deservedly tied to the age of Claudius Augustus and his brother. In whose reigns, although the Christians were not harassed everywhere, some in various places nevertheless met death on account of religion. Wherefore the latter opinion is not inept, the less so because it agrees better with the history of St. Zenobius the bishop, from whom that Zenobius venerated by the Ethiopians does not seem to be distinguished.
[5] they seem to be the same as the siblings of the same name. First of all, in no sacred calendars (as far as I know) are those two Zenobiuses of Aegae commemorated together. Those who praise St. Zenobius and his mother St. Zenobia are silent about the Zenobius and Zenobia who are siblings; those who cite these omit the former. Wherefore, of those SS. Zenobius and Zenobia who are celebrated in the Ethiopic Calendar at the 7th day of the month of Hedar, or the 3rd of November, Job Ludolf says Ad historiam aethiopicam commentarius, page 397. that they are both siblings and suffered under Diocletian, and were venerated by the Greeks on the 30th day of October, so that no one can deny that Ludolf recognized only one pair of martyrs. Rightly indeed, since the Acts have a great likeness among themselves. The number of the martyrs, their names, the place in which they contended for Christ, are wholly the same. They differ in the name of the governor, the circumstances of the punishment, the miracles, the burial: but in such a way however that these agree to some extent. So it would not be rashly conjectured that the Greek Acts lit the way for the Ethiopic. Indeed these themselves also seem to have been originally written in the Greek tongue, both for other reasons and because several Greek words are found in them in Ethiopic characters.
[6] Their Acts are not much to be approved. But if the writer of this Passion consulted the Greek Acts, he surely reported them with a dull memory and sprinkled them with fables. For several things urge that no authority is to be granted to his little narrative. There you will see gathered nearly all the wonders, of which God has performed now one, now another, on behalf of diverse martyrs; all of these together, if the writer is to be believed, befell SS. Zenobius and Zenobia, and that in a wholly unheard-of way. Moreover this narrative, which stands alone and of which I have nowhere found any traces, not only has no shining mark of truth, but also, as appears to the reader, has had false or wholly incredible things mixed into it. When it was composed there is nothing from which we can perceive. I do not know whether its author had some knowledge either of the Life of St. Ephrem [Assemani, Bibliotheca Orientalis, volume I, page 38; Works of St. Ephrem, Syriac and Latin, volume III, page XXXIX, Rome edition, 1743.], or of his Testament [Acta Sanctorum, volume I of February, pages 65 and 77; Works of St. Ephrem, Greek and Latin, volume II, pages 241 and 403.]; where mention is made of a certain Zenobius, a disciple of the holy doctor, deacon of the church of Edessa in Mesopotamia; who also composed books [Assemani, Bibliotheca Orientalis, volume I, page 168, volume III, part I, page 43.].
CONTEST AND MARTYRDOM OF THE HOLY AND BLESSED ZENOBIUS AND OF HIS MOTHER ZENOBIA
from the English translation of William Wright.
Zenobius, once venerated in Ethiopia. (S.)
Zenobia, once venerated in Ethiopia. (S.)
FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
SOLE CHAPTER.
St. Zenobius and his mother afflicted with torture and death. Miracles.
St. Zenobius and his mother St. Zenobia, In the reign of Augustus, and in the very age of his brother, Claudius Caesar, when Lucian governed the region of the people of Aegae (Egewon ) a; at that time persecution was raging against the Christians. And a certain man, whose name was Constantine (Kwastantinos), a notary b, said to the governor: "Lord, a certain man from the region of Bays (Ba-y-s or Ba-ye-s) c, who is advanced in age, together with his mother, are staying here; whose religion differs from ours. From where they spring we do not know; but we only suspect them to be Christians, since indeed they lead pagans (arami) to believe d, and take them in among the Christians, and rouse them by night before the birds begin to sing. Many come to them every day and become Christians. Send now strong men to seize them and set them bound before your tribunal." The judge said: "Summon Atarigus " e. The soldiers said: "Behold he is here." The judge said: "Send strong men; who are to take those whom that man Constantine shall point out, and bind them, and bring them to me; and if they happen to resist, or his mother protest, bind her too and bring her."
[2] questioned by the judge, On the following day, namely the thirtieth of the month of Hyperberetaeus (hiperebereteu), the judge took his seat in the town of the people of Aegae in the house of Nibarax *, an unclean and evil-working spirit, who dwelt in this place, and performed prodigies, and killed the just of God. And after he had taken his seat, the judge said: "Let the people of depraved religion be brought, those wicked Christians." And the lictors said: "Behold, Lord, they stand before your tribunal." The judge said to Zenobius: "What is your religion? What is your family? Where are you from, you who do these things, who lead men astray and make them Christians?" Zenobius answered: "If you desire to know my religion, I am a Christian. The name by which I am everywhere called is Zenobius. I am an orator (mabahel?) f, and an advocate from the tract of Edessa (Edes) in Mesopotamia; and I was an orator to the judge. But when persecution arose, we departed. I have friends among the Romans g, who know me. I had formed the plan of going to them; but afterwards the Holy Spirit filled me, and many people were gathered that they might attain eternal salvation. All of whom, having become Christians, have put on the emblem of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the middle of the night I would say to them: "Go" and they would go; and again I would say to them: "Come, all you who believe in Christ; for his sake let us contend and die, that we may merit the crown which is in the kingdom of heaven." And they all used to come together for this arduous contest. If you desire to have knowledge of my family and my father, my father is called Menophilus, my mother Zenobia, and my brother Neon. He, made a lector [h], sings the praises of Christ and stays with me. Now, do whatever your mind prompts; for you carry on the inquiry at the instigation of demons."
[3] they are clothed by God The judge said to him: "I revere you, because you are heavy with age, as also your mother, because she is advanced in years and a widow." Zenobius and his mother Zenobia, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered: "We feel anguish for you, because you will perish for ever." The judge, moved with anger, said: "Take off her garment, and hang her up by the hair; strip Zenobius also and hang him up naked; for from now on I will not revere them, because they have not obeyed me." Then he ordered both to be beaten with clubs. And while the attendants were beating them, they uttered no word. But Zenobius and Zenobia prayed to God, saying: "O Lord, God of heaven, who can clothe your servants with all glory, surround me too with a garment." And at once Zenobia was covered with a woollen garment, lined beneath with linen; and her head was adorned as the head of a queen; and Zenobius was covered with a white garment and with an ample veil, as it were. The judge, on the contrary, took on the appearance of a wretched slave, carrying a chair and following Zenobius. Seeing these things, the people cried out: "Holy, holy, holy, O God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who have carried the light before us too and make your name known."
[4] and they expose the demon. Then, when the judge had returned to the tribunal, where he took his seat, inflamed with anger he said: "What shall I do with these Christians? For their God is great." Zenobius and Zenobia answered: "Why have you allowed yourself to be so deceived by your gods as to refuse to acknowledge the Lord, who is able to destroy for ever all who despise him?" The judge in anger said: "Fasten them to two crosses, so separated that they may for some time be able to see and address each other." So they were put on the cross in such a way that they could look at each other. Then a cloud coming from heaven covered the martyrs, and fed them with manna. On the following day the judge came, and found them sitting, and delivering the word of the Lord; whom many heard, and believed, and attained eternal salvation. But those who did not believe perished for ever. Then the judge said: "What shall I do with them? Behold, they perform great miracles." Zenobius and Zenobia answered: "See and consider how the demons lead you astray." The judge: "I would have you show me in what way they lead me astray." Zenobius and Zenobia said: "Lord mighty and strong, who have shared your divinity with the human race, who changed water into wine, and bring man to the true faith; O Lord God, thrust out the unclean and evil-working spirit, and show the sons of men that you are God, and that there is no other God but you." After Zenobius and Zenobia had prayed to the Lord, that unclean spirit took the likeness of a man with a double face, and from whose mouth fire came forth. Thereupon the unclean spirit departed, leaving the judge. He cried out: "I believe that the demons have led me into error." The whole multitude cried out with one voice: "We believe that the God of the Christians is great, and that all who believe in him will attain eternal salvation."
[5] From all punishments The judge was angry and said: "Summon Prochorus i." The lictors answered: "Behold he stands at your tribunal." Then the judge: "Bring and put in the fire two bronze seats, and two iron masses, and while you strike Zenobius and Zenobia, say to them: Sacrifice to the gods; and pour boiling pitch and oil on them." Zenobius and Zenobia, calling aloud on God mighty and strong, who alone is judge, and who created all things by one word, said: "Now save us, O you who are holy, protect us, and through your Holy Spirit turn away all pain from us." After this prayer of Zenobius and Zenobia, the bronze seats became seats of dry wood, and royal, as it were. These saints of God, on the head the sign of the cross
making, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, rose and sat down again, and taught the people the word of God, as St. Paul did. And the people said: "Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ, and now with fear and trembling let us praise God our Lord *, who has freed Zenobius and Zenobia from so great a punishment."
[6] they escape unharmed, after performing many miracles. But the judge, stirred with anger, said: "What shall I do with them? Behold they have conquered me." He added: "Call Epiphanius and the executioners k." The lictors answered: "Behold they are present, they stand before your tribunal." The judge: "Dig a cistern twenty cubits deep and ten wide, and fill it with fetid mud, which you shall collect. When this has been done, inform me." The lictors said: "Lord, the cistern is ready." The judge answered: "Seize Zenobius and his mother and throw them into the cistern: I would like to see by what art their God is going to rescue them from my hand." Zenobius and Zenobia said: "The Lord, who is with us, will free us from your wickedness, wicked tyrant." As Zenobius and Zenobia prayed, the filth became odourless and vanished; and the cistern itself became for the holy martyrs like a house. And Zenobia was seen sitting on a chair, discoursing on the word of the Lord, and Zenobius standing, calling to the people and saying: "Come, all you who with me believe in the Lord; let us contend and die, that, believing in the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, we may merit the crown which is in heaven." All who saw and heard the wonders performed by God on behalf of his saints ran up, and believed in the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and attained salvation. On seeing these things the judge at once came back and, employing new evil devices, said: "Seek out Orbicius (Arbikis), the stoker of the furnace." The lictors said: "Behold, he stands at your tribunal." The judge said: "Is the furnace lit?" Orbicius: "It is lit, Lord; the flame rises above the furnace to twelve cubits *." The judge: "Seize therefore, he said, Zenobius and his mother, and throw them into the fire." But they said: "We take refuge in you, Lord, asking that days and years be changed; may you show the sons of men your wonders, and transform this furnace and its fire, and the judge." Then, as Zenobius and Zenobia prayed to God, the burning furnace was changed into a little bath: the judge, [as] bath-keeper, was carrying a water-jar l full of water. And Zenobius and Zenobia began to celebrate the Lord and give him thanks, with these words: "Blessed be the Lord, who works wonders in his saints!" The judge went back to his bench, where, meeting the two-faced man, that impure and malignant spirit, he said to him: "By your fault we are ruined and lost," and he struck him a blow with the fist and spat on him.
[7] The judge, who punished them with death, Then taking his seat again, the judge said: "Summon these supporters of a depraved religion, and order them to stand by." They answered: "Behold, Lord, they stand at your tribunal." Then the whole people cried out: "Great is the power of the Lord." But the judge: "Come forward, and sacrifice to the great god Bacchus and Dionysus m." Zenobius answered: "I hold your gods of the least account; would that they might be overwhelmed!" And when Zenobius and Zenobia prayed, both gods were overwhelmed; and the very place on which they had stood became deserted and grassy. Then Zenobius and Zenobia cried out and said to the judge: "Where now are your gods? Behold, you have denied the Lord, who alone is God: and those, behold, have perished. What do you think now? In what God do you put your faith?" And the multitude shouted: "Now we believe that the God of the Christians is the true God." The judge, angry and taking these things hard: "Seize Zenobius and Zenobia, and kill them; but cast their bodies far from here, and keep them for me for tomorrow: then burn them with fire, and scatter them, like the companions of those people." So they seized them and killed them. And while they were being cut down, thunders were sent forth with a great crash: it lightened and a great rainstorm arose. Thereupon five hundred men and women perished of terror. As night approached, some of the brothers, coming when darkness had fallen, carried off the bodies of Zenobius and Zenobia; where they had been hung up they dug two pits, so that in the place of burial the holy martyrs could see each other.
[8] he becomes a Christian with his soldiers. On the following day the judge said on the tribunal: "Bring the bodies of those people, to be burned with fire." The lictors answered the judge: "Lord, when the day was now declining, the sky resounded with enormous noise, lightnings flashed out, and it rained much. Indeed in the middle of the night we saw lightnings, as it were, and we heard a crash in our house." On hearing these things, and seeing the miracles, the judge feared, and said: "I desire to become a Christian." And he himself and all his soldiers believed in Christ. There were some of the brothers who wished to take possession of all the saints; but they could not carry out their plan, on account of the great number of those on whom judgement had been pronounced in the house of Libarix (Libarikos); and they were buried outside the city. The contest of Zenobius and Zenobia took place on the seventh day of the month of Dios (Diyos), in the city of the people of Aegae (Agewos ), Lucian governing the people, in the reign of Claudius Augustus, but our Lord Jesus Christ reigning over us, to whom be glory.
ANNOTATIONS.
h. Lector, ἀναγνώστης.
* Egeyon B
* Atargori B
* Niborakes B.
* Let us praise the Lord, the Son of God B
* twenty-two B
* ninth B
* Egewon B
It is a pleasure to annex to the Acts themselves a brief praise of SS. Zenobius and Zenobia, drawn from the Ethiopic Synaxary. This, translated into the English language, was most kindly sent to us by the distinguished William Wright. Although its author walked in the same steps as the writer of the Passion, he nevertheless added of his own that both martyrs sprang from the Thebaid. But whatever that may be, we publish the little work from three oriental manuscript codices of the British Museum in London: namely from the codex marked 667 (folio 64a), collated with codices 656 (folio 77a) and 660 (folio 59b); we mark the first with the letter A, the second B, the third C.
PRAISE OF SS. ZENOBIUS AND ZENOBIA
excerpted from the Ethiopic Synaxary.
Zenobius, once venerated in Ethiopia. (S.)
Zenobia, once venerated in Ethiopia. (S.)
SS. Zenobius and Zenobia, On this day too there were martyred the holy Zenobius and his mother Zenobia. These saints were from the Thebaid, and advanced in age; and they were accused before the king of being Christians . When the king had summoned them, he said to them: "What is your religion, and what is your country?" They answered: "We believe in Christ and our city is Thebes." The king said to them: "Sacrifice to the gods." But the saints: "We perform sacred rites to our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, but not to demons." The judge was angry, and ordered them to be stripped of their garments and hung up by the hair, and beaten with clubs. But the saints prayed to God, and at once their bonds were loosed. Then the people saw the judge carrying his seat and following the saints. On seeing this the people cried out: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, our God Jesus Christ." The judge was astounded and said: "Great is the God of the Christians."
[2] many miracles being performed, But afterwards the judge was angry, and ordered Zenobius and Zenobia to be fastened to two crosses, so that they could see each other. Then clouds coming from heaven covered them and gave them manna. On the following day the judge found them expounding the word of God. Seeing them, the people cried out with one voice: "We believe that the God of the Christians is great." Again the judge ordered two seats to be made, into which two irons were to be fixed, and to be thrown into a burning furnace. But the Lord protected them: for the judge found them sitting on the seats and teaching the people. When he saw this, full of anger he had a pit dug ten cubits deep and ten wide. Into this, fire being kindled, the saints were thrown. But as they prayed to God, the fire died, and the pit itself became for them like an adorned house. Then the judge, summoning the manager of the baths, instructed him to stir up a fire, into which he should throw them. But when the saints called upon God, the bath became like water, and the judge was seen as manager of the baths *, carrying jars full of water. On beholding this miracle, the people praised the Lord saying: "The Lord protects his saints."
[3] they met death. At length the judge, not knowing what to do with them, ordered them to be put to death, and their bodies to be kept for the following day, so as to be consumed by fire and scattered to the winds. And when they were being cut down, thunders were sent forth with a great crash, it lightened and a rainstorm arose. In this disturbance fifty-four people perished. By night those who believed in Christ carried off the bodies of the saints and buried them. On the following day, to the judge seeking the bodies, all the wonders that had happened were related. And the judge believed and became a Christian.
Glory to Zenobia and to her first-born Zenobius, who suffered pain and endured trial. When the judge of the city wished to torture them with fire, he was seen in the midst of many soldiers, as if made manager of the baths and carrying a water-jar full of water.
I greet many martyrs with Zenobius and Zenobia, who confounded Satan with shame. When they completed their martyrdom, when they were claimed into freedom, when thunders were sent forth and it lightened, the judge and his soldiers believed in Christ.
Annotata* and before — Christians, omitted in A
* B and C have only J. C. our God
* he instructed — manager, omitted in B and C