Martyrs of Asia Minor

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS OF ASIA MINOR: MARK AND ALPHIUS AND ALEXANDER AND ZOSIMUS AND NICON AND NEON AND HELIODORUS AND COMPANIONS AND THE THIRTY SOLDIERS, MARTYRS,

IN VARIOUS PLACES OF ASIA MINOR

From the Roman Martyrology and the Fasti of the Greeks.

Under Diocletian.

Mark, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Alphius, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Alexander, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Zosimus, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Nicon, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Neon, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Heliodorus, M., in Asia Minor. (S.)

Companions, MM., in Asia Minor.

Thirty soldiers, MM., in Asia Minor.

BY J. S.

Baronius inserted the Martyrs named in the title into the Roman Martyrology at this day out of the Fasti of the Greeks, These Martyrs are announced in the Roman Martyrology, announcing them in these words: At Antioch of Pisidia, the holy martyrs Mark the shepherd of sheep, Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus his brothers, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus, and thirty Soldiers, who, believing in Christ at the miracles of blessed Mark, were crowned with martyrdom in different places and in various ways. The place of the martyrdom was not Antioch of Pisidia, as Baronius himself suggests when he says that they were crowned in different places; but by the order of the governor of Antioch of Pisidia, Mark was seized, and the thirty Soldiers who had been sent to arrest him. Moreover Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus are indeed said among the Greeks to have been brothers, yet not brothers of St. Mark, as is insinuated by the superfluous word his in the elogium given. The thirty Soldiers are not joined to the others in all the elogia of the Greeks; but in the Menaea there are added in their place many Boys and Girls, the Soldiers being commemorated separately. Galesini and Ferrari mention Alpheus, Alexander, Mark and their Companions at the preceding day.

[2] But since we find no Acts of these Martyrs, and the Menologies and Menaea of the Greeks, in which they are commemorated with elogia, they are celebrated with an elogium in the Basilian Menology, differ notably, I judge that all must be recited before I observe in what they agree among themselves, and which things out of them all seem the more probable. The Basilian Menology, as it is rendered into Latin in the latest edition, has it thus: In the reign of the emperor Diocletian, Mark the martyr was pasturing sheep on a certain mountain near Antioch of Pisidia: and he cultivated the virtues with such zeal that even the wild beasts were subject to his command. For when certain hunters were pursuing a she-bear, she fled to the holy Man and licked his feet. The hunters, beholding this, disclosed the whole matter to the governor of Antioch, who, sending thirty Soldiers, ordered the Saint to be arrested. But they, instructed by him on the journey, were converted to the faith of Christ. When the governor learned this, they were brought

to Nicaea, and he ordered them beheaded. But when he had dragged St. Mark through various cities, he sought out bronze-smiths to forge instruments for torture. When Alphaeus, Alexander and Zosimus undertook that work, and had again and again found that the iron could by no means be softened and worked by the fire, they believed in Christ, and were condemned to death together with St. Mark: and joined to them were Nicon, Neon and Heliodorus, who had received the faith of Christ, and they were put to the sword.*

[3] The Sirletian Menology brings forward these things: Likewise of the holy martyrs Mark the shepherd, by another, and one differing in several points Alexander, Alphaeus, Zosimus, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus, and the rest of the Boys and Virgins. These holy Martyrs lived under the emperor Diocletian in the city of Antioch of Pisidia, of the region of Phrygia of Galatia, under the governor Magnus, who, when he had ordered the hunters to track down wild beasts and to bring in the game, they, going up to the mountain, found St. Mark pasturing sheep, and the she-bear which they were pursuing falling down at his very feet and licking his footsteps. Now the holy Old Man had white hairs reaching all the way down to his feet. But being denounced by Magnus, the chief of the hunters, he was arrested by thirty Soldiers, who, being taught by him, believed in Christ. He himself, being brought before the governor and freely confessing the name of Christ, was delivered to chains. The rest were sent to the governor at Nicaea, by whom also they were beheaded. But Magnus, dragging St. Mark through the cities, sought out smiths to construct instruments of torment in the presence of that holy Man. There were found three brothers, Alphaeus, Alexander and Zosimus. When therefore these men, skilled in the smith's art, had undertaken the work, the iron itself ran down like water, and their hands grew numb. And when the craftsmen marvelled at this, and heard a voice exhorting them to contend for the faith of Christ along with blessed Mark, they did not neglect the matter, but professed with joyful voice that they were Christians.

[4] They were straightway subjected to torments, and boiling lead was poured into their mouths. in the Sirletian, the thirty Soldiers being commemorated separately; But the governor beheaded blessed Mark together with those three holy Boys, and sent his head into the temple of Diana: at once the idols themselves fell down and were broken. Seeing which miracle, three men, Nicon, Neon and Eliodorus, believed in Christ. And so they too were beheaded along with Boys, Old Men and Virgins. Now Alphaeus, Alexander and Zosimus endured their martyrdom in the town of Calytus on the XXVIII day of the month of September; but Mark at Claudiopolis on the XXI; Nicon and his Companions at Mormilium on the XIII day of July. Presently, as though about others, though they seem to be the same men, these words are subjoined in the said Menology: On the same day, the commemoration of the holy martyr Alexander and of the Thirty who suffered with him. These are likewise set apart in the Menaea, in which no mention is made of the conversion and martyrdom of the thirty Soldiers in the elogium of Mark and the others. But Alexander is called the chief or leader of those thirty, in two little verses there appended, which I transfer hither and render into Latin:

Ἔξαρχον Ἀλέξανδρον εἶχον τοῦ τέλους, Τμηθέντες ἄνδρες, ὧν ἀριθμὸς τρὶς δέκα.

The Men who were cut down (namely, beheaded), whose number was thirty, had Alexander as leader of their end (that is, of their death).

Whether the thirty Soldiers are here designated, whom St. Mark is said to have converted — as is the more probable — or others, thirty in number, in no way belonging to this troop, that Alexander, if the name be true, is other than the Alexander who is said to be the brother of Alphius and Zosimus.

[5] The elogium which the printed Menaea exhibit concerning the others, since it again differs from those already given, by yet another in the Menaea I transfer hither in Greek, and shall presently make it Latin. In the announcement which is prefixed, printed somewhat faultily, there are mentioned Mark the shepherd, and Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus, brothers; Nicon, Neon, and Heliodorus with unnamed Virgins and Little Ones. Mention is made of the same in the verses to be given below. But the elogium runs thus: Οὗτοι οἱ ἅγιοι ὑπῆρχον ἐπὶ Διοκλητιανοῦ βασιλέως, ἐν πόλει Πισιδίας Μάγνου ἡγεμονεύοντος. Ὁ δὲ μακάριος Μάρκος ἦν ποιμένων πρόβατα, λευκὸν ἔχων τὴν κόμην τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ βαθεῖαν μέχρι καὶ πτέρνης αὐτῆς. ἐπεὶ δὲ διεγνώσθη ὡς εἴη χριστιανὸς, παραχρῆμα κρεμασθεὶς ξέεται, καὶ παρεπέμφθη ἐν Κλαυδιουπόλει. Προσκληθέντων δὲ χαλκοτύπων κατασκευῆν * ἔνεκα τῶν τοῦ μάρτυρος δεσμῶν, προσήχθησαν τρεῖς ἀδελφοὶ, Αλφειὸς, Αλέξανδρος καὶ Ζώσιμος, τὴν Κατάλυτον οἰκοῦντες κώμην, βάναυσοι τὴν τέχνην, καὶ τῆς τοῦ σιδήρου ἐργασίας ἐπιστήμονες. Ἀρχαμένων δὲ τύπτειν, κατέῤῥει ὁ σίδηρος ὡς ὕδωρ, καὶ αἱ χείρες αὐτῶν ἐνάρκουν. Οἱ δὲ τὸ συμβὰν θαυμάσαντες, καὶ φωνῆς θείας ἐπακούσαντες, προτρεπούσης συναθλῆσαι αὐτοὺς τῷ Μάρκῳ, οὐκ ἠμέλησαν, ἀλλὰ χριστιανοὺς ἐαυτοὺς ὡμολόγησαν. Εὐθὺς δὲ στρέβλαις ὑπεβλήθησαν, καὶ μόλιβδον ζέοντα διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἐδέξαντο, καὶ ἐν πέτρᾳ προσηλώθησαν, καὶ τὸν βίον ἐξῆλθον· Ὁ δὲ Μάρκος ὑποδεθεὶς κρηπίδας, καὶ μαστιχθεὶς ἱκανῶς, καὶ ὀβελίσκοις καταπαρεὶς, καὶ τήν γλῶτταν τμηθεὶς, καὶ ἐν πέτρᾳ καθηλωθεὶς, τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀπετμήθη. Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Νίκων, καὶ Ἡλιόδωρος, καὶ Νέων, κρατηθέντες μετὰ νηπίων καὶ παρθένων πολλῶν, ἐν τῷ λεγομένῳ Μωρομιλίῳ ὑπὸ ξίφους ἀνηρέθησαν.

[6] and that more probable than the rest: These saints lived under the emperor Diocletian, while Magnus held the prefecture in a city of Pisidia. Now blessed Mark was pasturing sheep, having the hair of his head white and grown long down to his very heel. But when it became known that he was a Christian, he was at once hung up and scraped, and was sent to Claudiopolis. And when ironsmiths had been called to construct the Martyr's fetters, there were brought three brothers, Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus, dwelling in the village of Catalytus, smiths by trade, and understanding the working of iron. But when they had begun to strike, the iron flowed away like water, and their hands grew numb. These, marvelling at what was done, and having heard a divine voice which exhorted them to contend along with Mark, were not negligent, but themselves confessed that they were Christians. On the instant they were subjected to torments, and received boiling lead through the mouth, and, being moreover nailed fast upon a rock, they ended their life. But Mark, shod with buskins (without doubt piercing ones, or tormenting in some other way), and violently beaten with scourges, and mangled with awls, and mutilated by the cutting out of his tongue, and fastened upon a rock, was beheaded. In like manner also Nicon, Heliodorus and Neon, seized together with many Little Ones and Virgins, were slain by the sword in the place called Moromilium.

[7] the verses of the Menaea about the same. The verses prefixed to the elogium given run thus:

Εἰσδύντες εἰς γῆν μάρτυρες τρεῖς Κυρίου, Ἐκεῖθεν ἐκδύνουσιν εἰς θείαν δρόσον. Ποιμὴν ὁ Μάρκος, Μάρκος, ὁν κτείνει ξίφος, Ποιμὴν προβάτων, ὡς ὁ τῆς γραφῆς Ἀβελ. Ἡλιόδωρος, Νίκων ἀλλὰ καὶ Νέων, Χριστοῦ κατ᾽ ἐχθρῶν ἐκ ξίφους νίκη νέα. Τμηθέντων παίδων καὶ γυναικῶν μυρίων, Ὡ παῖ γυναικὸς καὶ Θεὲ, πλήθη δέχου.

Three Martyrs of the Lord, having entered into the earth, thence come forth into the divine dew. Mark the shepherd, Mark, whom the sword destroys, shepherd of sheep, like the Abel recorded in Scripture. Heliodorus, Nicon and Neon are, by the sword, a new victory against the enemies of Christ. Of the thousands of Boys and women cut down, O Son of a Woman and God, receive the multitudes.

In the verses given, the first three, who are not named, and are only said to have entered into the earth, are without doubt Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus. Mark is said to have been killed by the sword, and likewise by the sword Heliodorus, Nicon and Neon; and the same is intimated about the great multitude of Boys and of Women, who are called Virgins in the elogium.

[8] The studious reader will easily see that there is great difference in the accounts given. At least three of the Saints are said to have been from the village of Calytus. But we cannot pronounce with equal certainty which of them are the truer. To me the exposition of the Menaea seems the more probable, even if perhaps it has something of exaggeration. With it agrees also the Synaxarium of Sirmond, often mentioned in our Work, which our Papebroch did not transcribe here in its entirety, but only some things at the beginning and rather more at the end, the intervening parts being omitted, as he was wont to do with those things which were the same as in the printed Menaea. Now in the said Synaxarium the Martyrs are called Calytines, that is, of the village of Calytus, called Catalytus in the Menaea, which I find nowhere, nor is that to be wondered at in the case of an obscure village. It is nevertheless likely that Calytus or Catalytus was a village of Pisidia, since the Saints are said to have been arrested in the reign of Diocletian, and ἐν πόλει Ἀντιοχείᾳ τῆς Πισιδίας Μάγνου ἡγεμονεύοντος, in the city of Antioch of Pisidia, while Magnus held the prefecture. So the Synaxarium with the Menaea, except that in the latter the word Antioch is omitted. Perhaps they were all from that village. Which nevertheless is not certain. But that at least Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus the brothers were from it, everything intimates. For in the Synaxarium and in the Sirletian Menology the three brothers are said to have been killed at Calytus. In the Menaea they are said to have dwelt in the village of Catalytus, so that the Sirletian Menology is not to be believed, where at the beginning all the Martyrs are said to have been in the city of Antioch of Pisidia, and it is unskilfully added, of the region of Phrygia of Galatia. I suspect that this came about because the city over which Magnus presided was confused with the place in which the Martyrs were arrested.

[9] If the days assigned to the several Martyrs are rightly expressed in the Sirletian Menology and in the Synaxarium, [and they are said to have suffered there on this day, but Mark at Claudiopolis on 21 September,] they did not all suffer in the same year. First are mentioned the three brothers Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus, not because they were the chief, but because they seem to have been the first killed at Calytus, where they had been arrested. Τότε τέλος τῶν τριῶν ἀδελφῶν γέγονε ἐν Καλύτῳ μηνὶ Σεπτεμβρίῳ κῆ. And the death of the three Brothers befell at Calytus in the month of September on the XXVIII day. Before these, certainly, Mark the shepherd had been arrested, of whom there follows in the same place: τοῦ δὲ Μάρκου ἐν Κλαυδιουπόλει εἰκοστῇ πρώτῃ τοῦ αὐτοῦ. But Mark's, at Claudiopolis, on the XXI of the same, namely of the month of September. And so this Saint's contests seem to have been drawn out into the following year: for he was being sent through Calytus to Claudiopolis when those three Brothers were converted, so that, if these were killed at once, as the elogia intimate, Mark survived them by almost a whole year. The occasion of the conversion is more probably set out in the Menaea, namely that they were summoned to make the Saint's fetters, which might have seemed insufficiently secure, and that in the course of their work they were moved by some unwonted prodigy. But that they were called to construct instruments of torment in the Saint's presence is not likely, since the affair befell on the journey by which St. Mark was being sent to Claudiopolis.

[20] The place of the martyrdom of Nicon, Heliodorus, Neon, and of the Boys and Virgins the others at Philomilium in Phrygia: all honoured together: who are said to have suffered with them, is another. The Synaxarium has it thus: τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ἐν τῷ Φιλομιλίῳ, Ἰουλίου δεκατρεῖς. But of the rest (the death befell) at Philomilium, on the XIII day of the month of July. In the Menaea the place is called Moromilium, likely by an error of the press. Certainly Philomilium is a town of Phrygia, not very far distant from Pisidia,

and that this is what is here designated, Castellan probably believes, who inserted Nicon, Heliodorus and Neon into his universal Martyrology at the XIII of July, and announced them at Philomilium in Phrygia. On what occasion they were seized and crowned with martyrdom is not explained by the Greeks, so that it may be doubted whether they belong to St. Mark on any other ground than that they are honoured in the same church. For of all the Martyrs together it is subjoined in the Synaxarium: Τελεῖται δὲ ἡ αὐτῶν σύναξις ἐν τῷ σεπτῷ αὐτῶν μαρτυρίῳ, τῷ ὄντι πλησίον τοῦ ἁγίου μάρτυρος Κυπριανοῦ ἐν τοῖς Σολομῶνος. And their festival is celebrated in their venerable martyrium, which is near the shrine of the holy martyr Cyprian in the quarter of Solomon. This church of the Saints was either at Constantinople or in some suburb of it, although it is not mentioned by Du Cange in his Constantinopolis Christiana. Certainly in the said Du Cange, page 183, there is commemorated in the quarter of Solomon a church of SS. Cyprian and Justina; to which this church of our Saints is said to be neighbouring, as is gathered from the same quarter.

[11] the thirty Soldiers at Nicaea. Concerning the arena of St. Mark, which is called Claudiopolis, it may be further asked which one it is among the several cities of the same name: for Cellarius mentions a Claudiopolis in Bithynia, in Cappadocia, in Galatia and in Isauria, so that he seems to assert four cities of the same name in various provinces of Asia Minor. I conjecture, however, that the Claudiopolis of Bithynia is designated, which had earlier been called Bithynium, both because it seems more famous than the rest, and because the Soldiers converted, as is asserted, by Mark, are said to have been sent to Nicaea, which is another city of Bithynia, and there killed. But as regards these thirty Soldiers, who in the Basilian Menology are said to have been slain at Nicaea, and in both Menologies to have been instructed by Mark when they had been sent to arrest him, it must be confessed that all those things seem less certain, since in the Menaea no mention is made of them in the elogium of the others, nor in the Synaxarium. If nevertheless they were converted by St. Mark, as is probable, because they are at least commemorated separately in the Menaea on the same day, it appears more likely that their conversion befell either at Claudiopolis or on the road towards Claudiopolis, and that thence they were sent to Nicaea.

[12] Some things in the elogia given are uncertain or false. It now remains that we say briefly what things in the elogia given seem less probable, or suspect of falsehood. First, the occasion of St. Mark's arrest, from the hunt and from the she-bear licking his feet, ought at least to seem suspect, and altogether uncertain. For his arrest it could have been enough for the heathen that he had become known as a Christian. Secondly, the miracle by which Alphius, Alexander and Zosimus are said to have been converted must seem uncertain, since it is set out in different ways: for one asserted that the iron was not softened by the fire; others, that the iron flowed away like water. Thirdly, that seems altogether fabulous which at num. 4 is asserted in the Sirletian Menology alone, about St. Mark's head being sent to the temple of Diana and the idols falling down there, by which miracle Nicon, Neon and Heliodorus were converted. If anyone considers that for the arrest of each several prodigies are set out, he will not without reason suspect that they are fictions studiously sought out, by which men wished to make the Martyrs more illustrious. In the torments with which the Saints are said to have been afflicted I find nothing improbable. Yet the authority of the Menaea is not so great that we should believe everything certain. But the things asserted in the verses are generally more certain, and therefore it does not seem to be doubted that Mark, Alphius, Alexander, Zosimus, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus, and many Boys and Girls, and thirty other Men, more probably soldiers, died for the faith. It is not, however, equally certain whether they were all converted by St. Mark and suffered on his occasion.

* In Greek Αλφείος.

* read κατασκευῆς.