Martyrs of Palestine (shorter recension) 0.1–7.8
Greek text: Dindorf (Teubner 1871) (Greek text: Wilhelm Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera (Teubner), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0). Compare: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1 (1890).
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0.1Dindorf 4:383
Ἔτος τοῦτο ἦν ἐννεακαιδέκατον τῆς Διοκλητιανοῦ βασιλείας, Ξανθικὸς μὴν, ὃς λέγοιτʼ ἂν Ἀπρίλλιος κατὰ ῾Ρωμαίους, ἐν ᾧ τῆς τοῦ σωτηρίου πάθους ἑορτῆς ἐπιλαμβανούσης ἡγεῖτο μὲν Φλαβιανὸς τοῦ τῶν Παλαιστίνων ἔθνους, ἥπλωτο δʼ ἀθρόως πανταχοῦ γράμματα, τὰς μὲν ἐκκλησίας εἰς ἔδαφος φέρειν, τὰς δὲ γραφὰς ἀφανεῖς πυρὶ γενέσθαι προστάττοντα, καὶ τοὺς μὲν τιμῆς ἐπειλημμένους ἀτίμους, τοὺς δὲ ἐν οἰκετίαις, εἰ ἐπιμένοιεν τῇ τοῦ Χριστιανισμοῦ προθέσει, ἐλευθερίας στερίσκεσθαι προαγορεύοντα.
Etos touto ēn enneakaidekaton tēs Dioklētianou basileias, Xanthikos mēn, hos legoitʼ an Aprillios kata ῾Rōmaious, en hǭ tēs tou sōtēriou pathous heortēs epilambanousēs hēgeito men Phlabianos tou tōn Palaistinōn ethnous, hēplōto dʼ athroōs pantachou grammata, tas men ekklēsias eis edaphos pherein, tas de graphas aphaneis pyri genesthai prostattonta, kai tous men timēs epeilēmmenous atimous, tous de en oiketiais, ei epimenoien tę̄ tou Christianismou prothesei, eleutherias steriskesthai proagoreuonta.
It was the nineteenth year of Diocletian's reign, in the month Xanthicus, which would be called April among the Romans, in which, as the feast of the Saviour's passion was approaching, while Flavian was governing the province of Palestine, letters were suddenly published everywhere ordering that the churches be razed to the ground and the Scriptures destroyed by fire, and proclaiming that those who held honours should be degraded, and that those in households, if they persisted in the profession of Christianity, should be deprived of liberty.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius dates the first edict of the Great Persecution (303) and states its provisions.
- The nineteenth year of Diocletian is 303. 'Those in households' (ἐν οἰκετίαις) probably means members of the imperial or private households; the sense is uncertain.
Topics: Persecution, Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 0.1 (Dindorf 4:383; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/0-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/0-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
0.2Dindorf 4:383
καὶ ἡ μὲν τῆς πρώτης καθʼ ἡμῶν γραφῆς τοιαύτη τις ἦν δύναμις. μετʼ οὐ πολὺ δὲ ἑτέρων ἐπιφοιτησάντων γραμμάτων προσετάττετο τοὺς τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν προέδρους πάντας πανταχῆ πρῶτον μὲν δεσμοῖς παραδίδοσθαι, εἴθʼ ὕστερον πάσῃ μηχανῇ θύειν ἐξαναγκάζεσθαι.
kai hē men tēs prōtēs kathʼ hēmōn graphēs toiautē tis ēn dynamis. metʼ ou poly de heterōn epiphoitēsantōn grammatōn prosetatteto tous tōn ekklēsiōn proedrous pantas pantachē prōton men desmois paradidosthai, eithʼ hysteron pasę̄ mēchanę̄ thyein exanankazesthai.
Such was the force of the first edict against us. Not long after, other letters arrived, and it was ordered that all the presidents of the churches everywhere should first be put in chains, and afterwards be compelled by every means to sacrifice.
Notes and citation
Summary: A second edict ordered the arrest of all church leaders and their forced sacrifice.
- 'Presidents of the churches' (προέδρους) means the bishops and other clergy.
Topics: Persecution, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 0.2 (Dindorf 4:383; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/0-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/0-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 1
1.1Dindorf 4:383–384
Πρῶτος τοιγαροῦν τῶν ἐπὶ Παλαιστίνης μαρτύρων Προκόπιος, πρὶν ἢ φυλακῆς πεῖραν λαβεῖν, εὐθὺς ἀπὸ πρώτης εἰσόδου τοῖς ἡγεμονικοῖς παραστὰς δικαστηρίοις, θύειν τε τοῖς λεγομένοις προσταχθεὶς θεοῖς, ἔνα μόνον ἔφησεν εἰδέναι, ᾧ καθῆκεν ὡς αὐτὸς βούλεται θύειν· ὡς δὲ κἂν τοῖς βασιλεῦσι τέσσαρσι σπένδειν ἐκελεύετο, ῥῆμά τι φθεγξάμενος τῶν οὐ προσηνῶν αὐτοῖς αὐτίκα τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται, τὸ ποιητικὸν εἰπὼν ἐκεῖνο “οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη, εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω, εἶς βασιλεύς.”
Prōtos toigaroun tōn epi Palaistinēs martyrōn Prokopios, prin ē phylakēs peiran labein, euthys apo prōtēs eisodou tois hēgemonikois parastas dikastēriois, thyein te tois legomenois prostachtheis theois, ena monon ephēsen eidenai, hǭ kathēken hōs autos bouletai thyein; hōs de kan tois basileusi tessarsi spendein ekeleueto, rhēma ti phthenxamenos tōn ou prosēnōn autois autika tēn kephalēn apotemnetai, to poiētikon eipōn ekeino “ouk agathon polykoiraniē, heis koiranos estō, eis basileus.”
The first, then, of the martyrs in Palestine was Procopius. Before he had any experience of prison, as soon as he was first brought before the governor's court and ordered to sacrifice to the so-called gods, he said he knew only one, to whom it was fitting to sacrifice as he himself wishes. When he was ordered to pour a libation at least to the four emperors, he uttered a saying not pleasing to them and was at once beheaded, having quoted that line of the poet: "The rule of many is not good; let there be one ruler, one king."
Notes and citation
Summary: Procopius, the first Palestinian martyr, refused to sacrifice to the gods or the four emperors and was beheaded.
- The line is Homer, Iliad 2.204–205, which Procopius turns against the four co-emperors.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip in breathing; line-end hyphenation rejoined): παρα- στὰς → παραστὰς; άποτέμνεται → ἀποτέμνεται.
Extrabiblical texts: Homer, Il. 2.204-205 (Homer, Iliad; quotation)
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 1.1 (Dindorf 4:383–384; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
1.2Dindorf 4:384
Δεσίου μηνὸς ἑβδόμῃ, πρὸ ἑπτὰ εἰδῶν Ἰουνίων λέγοιτʼ ἂν παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις, ἡμέρᾳ τετράδι σαββάτου τοῦτο πρῶτον ἐπὶ Καισαρείας τῆς Παλαιστίνης ἀπετελέσθη σημεῖον.
Desiou mēnos hebdomę̄, pro hepta eidōn Iouniōn legoitʼ an para Rhōmaiois, hēmerą tetradi sabbatou touto prōton epi Kaisareias tēs Palaistinēs apetelesthē sēmeion.
This first sign was accomplished at Caesarea in Palestine on the seventh of the month Daesius, which among the Romans would be called the seventh day before the Ides of June, on the fourth day of the week.
Notes and citation
Summary: The date of Procopius's martyrdom: 7 June, a Wednesday.
- 7 June 303.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 1.2 (Dindorf 4:384; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
1.3Dindorf 4:384
μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως πλεῖστοι ὅσοι τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἐκκλησιῶν ἄρχοντες, δειναῖς αἰκίαις προθύμως διαθλήσαντες, μεγάλων ἀγώνων ἱστορίαν τοῖς ἐνορῶσιν ἐνεδείξαντο, ἄλλοι δὲ ὑπὸ δειλίας τὴν ψυχὴν προναρκήσαντες προχείρως οὕτως ἀπὸ πρώτης ἐξησθένησαν προσβολῆς, τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ἕκαστος εἴδη διάφορα βασάνων διήλλαττον, τοτὲ μὲν μάστιξιν ἀνηρίθμοις, τοτὲ δὲ στρεβλώσεσι καὶ καταξάνσεσι τῶν πλευρῶν δεσμοῖς τε ἀνυπομονήτοις, ὑφʼ ὧν τισὶ καὶ παρεθῆναι συνέβη τὰς χεῖρας.
meta de touto epi tēs autēs poleōs pleistoi hosoi tōn epichōriōn ekklēsiōn archontes, deinais aikiais prothymōs diathlēsantes, megalōn agōnōn historian tois enorōsin enedeixanto, alloi de hypo deilias tēn psychēn pronarkēsantes procheirōs houtōs apo prōtēs exēsthenēsan prosbolēs, tōn de loipōn hekastos eidē diaphora basanōn diēllatton, tote men mastixin anērithmois, tote de streblōsesi kai kataxansesi tōn pleurōn desmois te anypomonētois, hyphʼ hōn tisi kai parethēnai synebē tas cheiras.
After this, in the same city, very many rulers of the churches of the region, contending eagerly under terrible tortures, displayed to those who looked on a record of great contests. Others, their souls numbed beforehand by cowardice, readily gave way at the first assault. Of the rest, each went through different kinds of tortures: now countless scourgings, now the rack and the scraping of the sides, and unbearable bonds, by which some even had their hands disabled.
Notes and citation
Summary: Many clergy at Caesarea endured tortures; some gave way at once; others suffered scourging, racking, and crippling bonds.
- 'Rulers of the churches' (ἐκκλησιῶν ἄρχοντες) means the clergy, in line with the second edict.
Topics: Persecution, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 1.3 (Dindorf 4:384; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
1.4Dindorf 4:384–385
ὅμως δʼ οὖν ἔφερον τὸ ἀποβὰν ἀκολούθως ταῖς ἀπορρήτοις κρίσεσι τοῦ θεοῦ τέλος. ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἑτέρων κατεχόντων αὐτοῦ τὼ χεῖρε καὶ τῷ βωμῷ προσαγόντων, τήν τε μιαρὰν καὶ ἐναγῆ θυσίαν κατὰ τῆς δεξιᾶς ἐπιρριπτούντων, ὡς ἂν τεθυκὼς ἀπηλλάττετο, ὁ δὲ μηδʼ ὅλως ἐφαψάμενος, εἰρηκότων δʼ ἑτέρων ὅτι τεθύκοι, σιωπήσας ἀπῄει, ἄλλος ἡμιθανὴς αἰρόμενος ὡσὰν ἤδη νεκρὸς ἐρρίπτετο καὶ ἀνίετό γε τῶν δεσμῶν, ἐν τεθυκόσιν αὐτοῖς λελογισμένος, ὁ δὲ βοῶν καὶ μαρτυρόμενος, ὅτι μὴ πείθοιτο, κατὰ στόματος παιόμενος, πολυχειρίᾳ τε τῶν ἐπὶ τούτῳ τεταγμένων κατασιγαζόμενος, μετὰ βίας ἐξωθεῖτο, καὶ εἰ μὴ τεθυκὼς ἦν.
homōs dʼ oun epheron to apoban akolouthōs tais aporrētois krisesi tou theou telos. ho men gar heterōn katechontōn autou tō cheire kai tǭ bōmǭ prosagontōn, tēn te miaran kai enagē thysian kata tēs dexias epirriptountōn, hōs an tethykōs apēllatteto, ho de mēdʼ holōs ephapsamenos, eirēkotōn dʼ heterōn hoti tethykoi, siōpēsas apę̄ei, allos hēmithanēs airomenos hōsan ēdē nekros erripteto kai anieto ge tōn desmōn, en tethykosin autois lelogismenos, ho de boōn kai martyromenos, hoti mē peithoito, kata stomatos paiomenos, polycheirią te tōn epi toutǭ tetagmenōn katasigazomenos, meta bias exōtheito, kai ei mē tethykōs ēn.
Nevertheless they bore the outcome that befell them in keeping with the hidden judgments of God. For one, while others held his hands and brought him to the altar and thrust the foul and polluted sacrifice into his right hand, was dismissed as though he had sacrificed. Another, who had not touched it at all, when others said that he had sacrificed, went away in silence. Another, carried off half-dead, was thrown out as though already dead and released from his bonds, counted among those who had sacrificed. Another, shouting and protesting that he would not obey, was struck on the mouth, silenced by the many hands of those appointed for this, and thrust out by force, even though he had not sacrificed.
Notes and citation
Summary: Officials forced or feigned sacrifices so as to dismiss prisoners as though they had complied.
Topics: Persecution, The lapsed
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 1.4 (Dindorf 4:384–385; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
1.5Dindorf 4:385
οὕτως ἐκ παντὸς τὸ δοκεῖν ἠνυκέναι αὐτοῖς περὶ πολλοῦ ὑπῆρχεν. ἐκ δὴ οὖν τῶν τοσούτων μόνοι τοῦ τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων κατηξιώθησαν στεφάνου Ἀλφειὸς καὶ Ζακχαῖος, οἱ μετὰ μάστιγας καὶ ξεσμοὺς, δεσμά τε χαλεπὰ καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀλγηδόνας, ἑτέρας τε διαφόρους ἐξετάσεις, νυχθήμερον ὑπὸ τέσσαρα τοῦ κολαστηρίου ξύλου κεντήματα τοὺς πόδας παραταθέντες, Δίου μηνὸς ἑπτακαιδεκάτῃ αὕτη παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις ἡ πρὸ δεκαπέντε Καλανδῶν Δεκεμβρίων) μόνον ἕνα θεὸν καὶ Χριστὸν βασιλέα Ἰησοῦν ὁμολογήσαντες, ὥς τι βλάσφημον φθεγξάμενοι, ὁμοίως τῷ προτέρῳ μάρτυρι τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀπετμήθησαν.
houtōs ek pantos to dokein ēnykenai autois peri pollou hypērchen. ek dē oun tōn tosoutōn monoi tou tōn hagiōn martyrōn katēxiōthēsan stephanou Alpheios kai Zakchaios, hoi meta mastigas kai xesmous, desma te chalepa kai tas epi toutois algēdonas, heteras te diaphorous exetaseis, nychthēmeron hypo tessara tou kolastēriou xylou kentēmata tous podas paratathentes, Diou mēnos heptakaidekatę̄ hautē para Rhōmaiois hē pro dekapente Kalandōn Dekembriōn) monon hena theon kai Christon basilea Iēsoun homologēsantes, hōs ti blasphēmon phthenxamenoi, homoiōs tǭ proterǭ martyri tas kephalas apetmēthēsan.
So important was it to them by all means to seem to have succeeded. Out of so many, then, only Alpheus and Zacchaeus were counted worthy of the crown of the holy martyrs. After scourgings and scrapings, harsh bonds and the pains that followed them, and various other examinations, they were stretched by their feet over four holes of the stocks for a night and a day, and on the seventeenth of the month Dius (which among the Romans is the fifteenth day before the Kalends of December), because they confessed only one God and Christ Jesus as king, as though they had uttered something blasphemous, they were beheaded like the earlier martyr.
Notes and citation
Summary: Of the many tortured, only Alpheus and Zacchaeus were martyred, beheaded on 17 November for confessing one God and Christ as king.
- The digital text lacks the opening parenthesis before the Roman date. The text reads ἴνα, here taken as a slip for ἕνα ('one').
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip (ἴνα for ἕνα)): μόνον ἴνα → μόνον ἕνα.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution, Christology
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 1.5 (Dindorf 4:385; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/1-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 2
2.1Dindorf 4:385
Μνήμης δʼ ἄξια τυγχάνει καὶ τὰ περὶ Ῥωμανὸν ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ἡμέρας ἀποτελεσθέντα. Παλαιστῖνός γὰρ οὗτος ὢν, διάκονός τε καὶ ἐπορκιστὴς τῆς ἐν Καισαρείᾳ παροικίας, ὁμοῦ τῇ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν καθαιρέσει γενόμενος ἐκεῖσε, πλείους ἄνδρας ἅμα γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις σωρηδὸν τοῖς εἰδώλοις προσιόντας τε καὶ θύοντας ἐνιδὼν. ἀνύποιστον ἡγησάμενος τὴν θέαν, ζήλῳ θεοσεβείας πρόσεισι, κἀκείνοις μεγάλῃ φωνῇ κεκραγὼς ἐπιπλήττει.
Mnēmēs dʼ axia tynchanei kai ta peri Rhōmanon en Antiocheią epi tēs autēs hēmeras apotelesthenta. Palaistinos gar houtos ōn, diakonos te kai eporkistēs tēs en Kaisareią paroikias, homou tę̄ tōn ekklēsiōn kathairesei genomenos ekeise, pleious andras hama gynaixi kai teknois sōrēdon tois eidōlois prosiontas te kai thyontas enidōn. anypoiston hēgēsamenos tēn thean, zēlǭ theosebeias proseisi, kakeinois megalę̄ phōnę̄ kekragōs epiplēttei.
Worthy of remembrance too are the things done to Romanus at Antioch on the same day. He was a Palestinian, a deacon and exorcist of the community at Caesarea. Having come there at the very time of the destruction of the churches, and seeing many men together with women and children going up in crowds to the idols and sacrificing, he thought the sight unbearable, and in zeal for godliness went up and rebuked them with a loud cry.
Notes and citation
Summary: Romanus, a deacon and exorcist of Caesarea, rebuked the crowds sacrificing at Antioch.
Topics: Persecution, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 2.1 (Dindorf 4:385; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
2.2Dindorf 4:385–386
αὐτὸς δὲ τῆς τόλμης ἕνεκεν συλληφθεὶς, γενναιότατος εἰ καί τις ἄλλος ἀποδέδεικται μάρτυς τῆς ἀληθείας. ἀποφηναμένου γὰρ κατʼ αὐτοῦ τὸν διὰ πυρὸς θάνατον τοῦ δικαστοῦ, φαιδρῷ προσώπῳ καὶ διαθέσει εὖ μάλα προθυμοτάτῃ τὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀσπαστῶς καταδεξάμενος ἀπάγεται· εἶτα τῷ ἰκρίῳ προσδεῖται, τῆς τε ὕλης συμπεφορημένης ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ὑφάπτειν τὴν πυρὰν τὴν βασιλέως ἐπιπαρόντος ἐπίκρισιν ἐκδεχομένων, ποῦ μοι τὸ πῦρ” ἐβόα
autos de tēs tolmēs heneken syllēphtheis, gennaiotatos ei kai tis allos apodedeiktai martys tēs alētheias. apophēnamenou gar katʼ autou ton dia pyros thanaton tou dikastou, phaidrǭ prosōpǭ kai diathesei eu mala prothymotatę̄ tēn apophasin aspastōs katadexamenos apagetai; eita tǭ ikriǭ prosdeitai, tēs te hylēs sympephorēmenēs epʼ autǭ, kai tōn mellontōn hyphaptein tēn pyran tēn basileōs epiparontos epikrisin ekdechomenōn, pou moi to pyr” eboa
He himself was arrested for his boldness and proved, if anyone ever did, a most noble martyr for the truth. For when the judge pronounced sentence of death by fire against him, he welcomed the sentence with a radiant face and a most eager disposition and was led away. Then he was bound to the stake, and when the wood had been heaped around him and those who were to light the pyre were waiting for the decision of the emperor, who was present, he cried out, "Where is the fire for me?"
Notes and citation
Summary: Sentenced to burning, Romanus joyfully went to the stake and called for the fire.
- The emperor present at Antioch was Diocletian (or Galerius); the text does not say which.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 2.2 (Dindorf 4:385–386; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
2.3Dindorf 4:386
καὶ ταῦτα λέγων ἀνάκλητος πρός βασιλέα γίνεται, καινοτέρᾳ ὑποβληθησόμενος κολάσει τῆς γλώττης, ἧς ἀποκοπὴν ἀνδρειότατα ὑπομείνας ἔργοις ἅπασιν ὑπέδειξεν ὅτι δὴ θεία δύναμις τοῖς ὁτιποτοῦν χαλεπὸν ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ὑπομένουσιν ἐπελαφρίζουσα τοὺς πόνους καὶ τὴν προθυμίαν ἐπιρρωννῦσα παρίσταται. μαθὼν γοῦν τὴν καινουργίαν τῆς κολάσεως καὶ μὴ καταπλαγεὶς ὁ γεννάδας, ἀσμένως προύβαλετο τὴν γλῶτταν, προθυμότατα εὐτρεπῆ παρέχων αὐτὴν τοῖς ἀποτέμνουσι.
kai tauta legōn anaklētos pros basilea ginetai, kainoterą hypoblēthēsomenos kolasei tēs glōttēs, hēs apokopēn andreiotata hypomeinas ergois hapasin hypedeixen hoti dē theia dynamis tois hotipotoun chalepon hyper eusebeias hypomenousin epelaphrizousa tous ponous kai tēn prothymian epirrōnnysa paristatai. mathōn goun tēn kainourgian tēs kolaseōs kai mē kataplageis ho gennadas, asmenōs proubaleto tēn glōttan, prothymotata eutrepē parechōn autēn tois apotemnousi.
While saying this he was recalled to the emperor, to be subjected to a stranger punishment of the tongue. He endured its cutting out most bravely, and showed by his deeds to all that a divine power is present with those who endure any hardship whatever for godliness, lightening their pains and strengthening their eagerness. When he learned of the novel punishment, the noble man was not dismayed, but gladly put out his tongue, most eagerly offering it ready to those who were cutting it off.
Notes and citation
Summary: Instead of burning, Romanus had his tongue cut out, which he offered willingly.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR dropped letter; OCR garbled word; OCR slips: breathing and split word; split word rejoined): ὸτιποτοῦν χαλε πὸν → ὁτιποτοῦν χαλεπὸν; ἐπελαφρίζουσ τοὺς → ἐπελαφρίζουσα τοὺς; παρʼ σταται → παρίσταται; προύβα λετο → προύβαλετο.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 2.3 (Dindorf 4:386; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
2.4Dindorf 4:386
μεθʼ ἣν τιμωρίαν εἰς δεσμὰ βληθεὶς, πλεῖστόν τε αὐτόθι πονηθεὶς χρόνον, τέλος τῆς ἀρχικῆς εἰκοσαετηρίδος ἐπιστάσης, κατὰ νομιζομένην δωρεὰν τῶν ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς πανταχῆ πάντων ἐλευθερίας ἀνακηρυχθείσης, μόνος ὑπὸ πέντε κεντήματα ἄμφω τὼ πόδε διαταθεὶς, ἐν αὐτῷ κείμενος τῷ ξύλῳ βρόχῳ περιβληθεὶς, ὡς καὶ ἐπεπόθει, μαρτυρίῳ κατεκοσμήθη.
methʼ hēn timōrian eis desma blētheis, pleiston te autothi ponētheis chronon, telos tēs archikēs eikosaetēridos epistasēs, kata nomizomenēn dōrean tōn en tois desmois pantachē pantōn eleutherias anakērychtheisēs, monos hypo pente kentēmata amphō tō pode diatatheis, en autǭ keimenos tǭ xylǭ brochǭ periblētheis, hōs kai epepothei, martyriǭ katekosmēthē.
After this punishment he was thrown into prison and suffered there a very long time. At last, when the twentieth anniversary of the emperor's reign arrived and, by what was considered an act of grace, freedom was proclaimed everywhere for all who were in bonds, he alone, stretched with both feet over five holes in the very stocks in which he lay, was strangled with a noose, and so, as he had longed, he was adorned with martyrdom.
Notes and citation
Summary: Kept in prison, Romanus was strangled in the stocks at Diocletian's twentieth anniversary amnesty.
- The vicennalia of Diocletian, November 303.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 2.4 (Dindorf 4:386; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
2.5Dindorf 4:386
ἀλλʼ οὗτός γε, εἰ καὶ ὑπερόριος, ὅμως Παλαιστῖνός ὢν, ἐν Παλαιστινοῖς ἄξιος ἂν εἴη μάρτυσιν ἀριθμεῖσθαι. ταῦτα μὲν ἔτει πρώτῳ τοῦτον ἀπετελέσθη τὸν τρόπον, κατὰ μόνων τῶν τῆς ἐκκλησίας προέδρων ἐπηρτημένου τοῦ διωγμοῦ.
allʼ houtos ge, ei kai hyperorios, homōs Palaistinos ōn, en Palaistinois axios an eiē martysin arithmeisthai. tauta men etei prōtǭ touton apetelesthē ton tropon, kata monōn tōn tēs ekklēsias proedrōn epērtēmenou tou diōgmou.
Although he died abroad, yet since he was a Palestinian he deserves to be counted among the Palestinian martyrs. These things were done in this way in the first year, when the persecution was directed only against the presidents of the church.
Notes and citation
Summary: Romanus belongs among the Palestinian martyrs; in the first year only church leaders were targeted.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 2.5 (Dindorf 4:386; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/2-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 3
3.1Dindorf 4:386–387
Δευτέρου δʼ ἔτους διαλαβόντος, καὶ δὴ σφοδρότερον ἐπιταθέντος τοῦ καθʼ ἡμῶν πολέμου, τῆς ἐπαρχίας ἡγουμένου τηνικάδε Οὐρβανοῦ, γραμμάτων τούτῳ πρῶτον βασιλικῶν πεφοιτηκότων, ἐν οἷς καθολικῷ προστάγματι πάντας πανδημεὶ τοὺς κατὰ πόλιν θύειν τε καὶ σπένδειν τοῖς εἰδώλοις ἐκελεύετο, Τιμόθεος ἐν Γάζῃ πόλει τῆς Παλαιστίνης μυρίας ἀνατλὰς βασάνους, ἐπὶ πάσαις λεπτῷ καὶ μαλθακῷ πυρὶ παραδοθεὶς, δοκιμὴν γνησιωτάτην τῆς περὶ τὸ θεῖον γνησιωτάτης εὐσεβείας διὰ τῆς πρὸς πάντα ὑπομονῆς παρασχὼν, τὸν τῶν ἱερονικῶν τῆς θεοσεβείας ἀθλητῶν στέφανον ἀπηνέγκατο. τούτῳ δʼ ἅμα γενναιοτάτην ἔνστασιν ἐπιδειξάμενοι Ἀγάπιος καὶ ἡ καθʼ ἡμᾶς Θέκλα θηρίοις εἰς βορὰν κατεδικάσθησαν.
Deuterou dʼ etous dialabontos, kai dē sphodroteron epitathentos tou kathʼ hēmōn polemou, tēs eparchias hēgoumenou tēnikade Ourbanou, grammatōn toutǭ prōton basilikōn pephoitēkotōn, en hois katholikǭ prostagmati pantas pandēmei tous kata polin thyein te kai spendein tois eidōlois ekeleueto, Timotheos en Gazę̄ polei tēs Palaistinēs myrias anatlas basanous, epi pasais leptǭ kai malthakǭ pyri paradotheis, dokimēn gnēsiōtatēn tēs peri to theion gnēsiōtatēs eusebeias dia tēs pros panta hypomonēs paraschōn, ton tōn hieronikōn tēs theosebeias athlētōn stephanon apēnenkato. toutǭ dʼ hama gennaiotatēn enstasin epideixamenoi Agapios kai hē kathʼ hēmas Thekla thēriois eis boran katedikasthēsan.
In the course of the second year, when the war against us was intensified more violently, and Urbanus was then governing the province, imperial letters first reached him in which, by a general order, all the people in every city were commanded to sacrifice and pour libations to the idols. Timothy, in Gaza, a city of Palestine, after enduring countless tortures, was finally given over to a slow and gentle fire; by his endurance in everything he gave the most genuine proof of a most genuine godliness toward God, and carried off the crown of the victorious athletes of godliness. At the same time Agapius and our own Thecla, showing a most noble firmness, were condemned to be food for wild beasts.
Notes and citation
Summary: In the second year a general order to sacrifice was issued; Timothy was burned at Gaza, and Agapius and Thecla were condemned to the beasts.
- 'Our own Thecla' distinguishes her from the Thecla of the Acts of Paul.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.1 (Dindorf 4:386–387; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
3.2Dindorf 4:387
τὰ ἐπὶ τούτοις τίς ἰδὼν οὐκ ἐθαύμασεν, ἡ· καὶ ἀκοῇ μαθὼν οὐκ ἐξεπλάγη; πάνδημον γάρ τοι τῶν ἐθνῶν ἑορτὴν καὶ συνήθεις θέας ἀγόντων, μετὰ τῶν ἄλλως αὐτοῖς σπουδαζομένων καὶ τοὺς ἀρτίως θηρίοις κατακριθέντας πολὺς ἦν ὁ λόγος ἐπιδείξεσθαι τὸν ἀγῶνα.
ta epi toutois tis idōn ouk ethaumasen, hē; kai akoę̄ mathōn ouk exeplagē? pandēmon gar toi tōn ethnōn heortēn kai synētheis theas agontōn, meta tōn allōs autois spoudazomenōn kai tous artiōs thēriois katakrithentas polys ēn ho logos epideixesthai ton agōna.
Who that saw what followed did not marvel, or that learned it by hearing was not astonished? For when the pagans were holding a public festival and the customary shows, there was much talk that, along with the other entertainments they were eager for, those lately condemned to the beasts would also be displayed in the contest.
Notes and citation
Summary: At a public festival the condemned Christians were expected to be exhibited to the beasts.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.2 (Dindorf 4:387; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
3.3Dindorf 4:387
αὐξούσης δῆτα καὶ πλεοναζούσης παρὰ πᾶσι τῆς φήμης νεανίαι τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἕξ, ὧν ὁ μὲν Ποντικὸς τὸ γένος ἦν, ὄνομα Τιμόλαος, ὁ δʼ ἐκ Τριπόλεως τῆς Φοινίκης, Διονύσιος ἐκαλεῖτο, ἕτερος δʼ αὐτῶν τῆς ἐν Διοσπόλει παροικίας ὑποδιάκονος, Ῥωμύλος ἦν καὶ τούτῳ προσηγορία, δύο τε ἐπὶ τούτοις Αἰγύπτιοι, Πάησις καὶ Ἀλέξανδρος, καὶ ἄλλος τούτῳ συνώνυμος Ἀλέξανδρος τῶν ἀπὸ Γάζης, ἐπὶ τὸ κυνηγέσιον ἀνιέναι μέλλοντι τῷ Οὐρβανῷ, ἐνδήσαντες πρότερον τὰς αὐτῶν χεῖρας, ὡς ἂν τὴν ἄγαν σημήνειαν περὶ τὸ μαρτύριον προθυμίαν, δρομαῖοι προσίασι, Χριστιανοὺς σφᾶς ὁμολογοῦντες, διά τε τῆς πρὸς πάντα τὰ δεινὰ παρατάξεως, ὅτι μηδὲ τὰς τῶν θηρίων ἐπιβολὰς οἱ τὴν εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων θεὸν εὐσέβειαν αὐχοῦντες κατεπτήχασιν, ἐπιδεικνύμενοι.
auxousēs dēta kai pleonazousēs para pasi tēs phēmēs neaniai ton arithmon hex, hōn ho men Pontikos to genos ēn, onoma Timolaos, ho dʼ ek Tripoleōs tēs Phoinikēs, Dionysios ekaleito, heteros dʼ autōn tēs en Diospolei paroikias hypodiakonos, Rhōmylos ēn kai toutǭ prosēgoria, dyo te epi toutois Aigyptioi, Paēsis kai Alexandros, kai allos toutǭ synōnymos Alexandros tōn apo Gazēs, epi to kynēgesion anienai mellonti tǭ Ourbanǭ, endēsantes proteron tas autōn cheiras, hōs an tēn agan sēmēneian peri to martyrion prothymian, dromaioi prosiasi, Christianous sphas homologountes, dia te tēs pros panta ta deina parataxeōs, hoti mēde tas tōn thēriōn epibolas hoi tēn eis ton tōn holōn theon eusebeian auchountes kateptēchasin, epideiknymenoi.
As the report grew and spread among all, six young men (one of them of Pontic race, named Timolaus; another from Tripolis in Phoenicia, called Dionysius; another, a subdeacon of the community at Diospolis, whose name was Romulus; besides these two Egyptians, Paesis and Alexander; and another of the same name, Alexander, from Gaza) first bound their own hands, to show their great eagerness for martyrdom, and ran up to Urbanus as he was about to go up to the wild-beast hunt, confessing themselves Christians and showing by their readiness for every terror that those who glory in godliness toward the God of the universe do not cower even before the attacks of wild beasts.
Notes and citation
Summary: Six young men bound their own hands and presented themselves to Urbanus as Christians.
- The text reads ἴξ ('six' is ἕξ) and οἶ (for οἱ); both corrected.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip in accent; OCR slip in the numeral 'six'): ἴξ → ἕξ; οἶ τὴν → οἱ τὴν.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.3 (Dindorf 4:387; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
3.4Dindorf 4:387–388
αὐτίκα μὲν εἰς οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν κατάπληξιν αὐτόν τε τὸν ἄρχοντα καὶ τοὺς ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν καταστήσαντες δεσμωτηρίῳ καθείργνυνται, μετʼ οὐ πολλὰς δὲ ἡμέρας δυοῖν αὐτοῖς ἄλλων καταλεγέντων, τοῦ μὲν καὶ πρὸ αὐτῶν δειναῖς καὶ ποικίλαις ἤδη πρότερον καθʼ ἑτέρας ὁμολογίας ἐναθλήσαντος βασάνοις, Ἀγάπιος καὶ αὐτῷ ὄνομα ἠν, τοῦ δὲ τὰς τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῖς χρείας διακονουμένου, ὄνομα δὲ καὶ τούτῳ Διονύσιος, οἱ πάντες ὀκτὼ γενόμενοι τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὖθις ἐπʼ αὐτῆς Καισαρείας ἀποτέμνονται, Δύστρου μηνὸς ἡμέρᾳ τετράδι καὶ εἰκάδι, ἡ πρὸ ἐννέα Καλανδῶν Ἀπριλλίων καὶ αὐτὴ οὔσα ἐτύγχανεν.
autika men eis ou tēn tychousan kataplēxin auton te ton archonta kai tous amphʼ auton katastēsantes desmōtēriǭ katheirgnyntai, metʼ ou pollas de hēmeras dyoin autois allōn katalegentōn, tou men kai pro autōn deinais kai poikilais ēdē proteron kathʼ heteras homologias enathlēsantos basanois, Agapios kai autǭ onoma ēn, tou de tas tou sōmatos autois chreias diakonoumenou, onoma de kai toutǭ Dionysios, hoi pantes oktō genomenoi ton arithmon en hēmerą mią tas kephalas authis epʼ autēs Kaisareias apotemnontai, Dystrou mēnos hēmerą tetradi kai eikadi, hē pro ennea Kalandōn Aprilliōn kai autē ousa etynchanen.
At once, having thrown the governor himself and those about him into no ordinary amazement, they were shut up in prison. Not many days later two others were added to them: one, who before them had already contended in terrible and varied tortures in earlier confessions, was also named Agapius; the other, who served them in their bodily needs, was also named Dionysius. All eight together were beheaded on one day, again at Caesarea itself, on the twenty-fourth day of the month Dystrus, which is the ninth day before the Kalends of April.
Notes and citation
Summary: With two companions, Agapius and Dionysius, the eight were beheaded at Caesarea on 24 March.
- 24 March 305.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.4 (Dindorf 4:387–388; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
3.5Dindorf 4:388
ἐν τούτῳ μεταβολή τις τῶν κρατούντων, αὐτοῦ δὴ τοῦ πάντων ἀνωτάτω καὶ τοῦ μετʼ αὐτὸν δευτέρου, ἐπὶ τὸ ἰδιωτικὸν σχῆμα γίνεται, νοσεῖν τε αὐτοῖς ἄρχεται τὰ κοινά.
en toutǭ metabolē tis tōn kratountōn, autou dē tou pantōn anōtatō kai tou metʼ auton deuterou, epi to idiōtikon schēma ginetai, nosein te autois archetai ta koina.
Meanwhile a change took place among the rulers: the highest of all and the one second after him withdrew to private life, and public affairs began to go badly for them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Diocletian and Maximian abdicated, and the empire began to suffer.
- The abdication of Diocletian and Maximian, 1 May 305.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.5 (Dindorf 4:388; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
3.6Dindorf 4:388
μικρὸν δʼ ὕστερον διαστάσης εἰς ἑαυτὴν τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς πόλεμος ἄσπονδος εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐπεγείρεται, οὐ πρότερόν τε τὰ τῆς διαστάσεως καὶ τῶν ἐπὶ ταύτῃ θορύβων κατάστασιν εἴληφεν ἢ τὴν καθʼ ἡμᾶς εἰρήνην καθʼ ὅλης πρυτανευθῆναι τῆς ὑπὸ τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἀρχὴν οἰκουμένης.
mikron dʼ hysteron diastasēs eis heautēn tēs Rhōmaiōn archēs polemos aspondos eis autous epegeiretai, ou proteron te ta tēs diastaseōs kai tōn epi tautę̄ thorybōn katastasin eilēphen ē tēn kathʼ hēmas eirēnēn kathʼ holēs prytaneuthēnai tēs hypo tēn Rhōmaiōn archēn oikoumenēs.
A little later, when the Roman Empire was divided against itself, an implacable war was stirred up among them; and the division and the disturbances that followed it did not settle down until peace toward us had been secured throughout the whole world under Roman rule.
Notes and citation
Summary: Civil war followed and lasted until peace for the Christians was established.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.6 (Dindorf 4:388; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
3.7Dindorf 4:388
ἅμα τε γὰρ αὕτη τοῖς πᾶσι δίκην φωτὸς ὡσὰν ἐκ ζοφερᾶς καὶ σκοτεινοτάτης νυκτὸς ἀνατέταλκε, καὶ αὖ πάλιν τὰ κοινὰ τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμονίας αὖθις εὐσταθῆ καὶ φίλια καὶ εἰρηναῖα ἦν, τὴν ἐκ προγόνων εἰς ἀλλήλους εὔνοιαν ἀπολαμβάνοντα. ἀλλὰ τούτων μὲν κατὰ τὸν προσήκοντα καιρὸν ἐντελέστερον ἀποδώσομεν τὸν λόγον. νυνὶ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν τῶν ἐξῆς ἀπίωμεν ἀκολουθίαν.
hama te gar hautē tois pasi dikēn phōtos hōsan ek zopheras kai skoteinotatēs nyktos anatetalke, kai au palin ta koina tēs Rhōmaiōn hēgemonias authis eustathē kai philia kai eirēnaia ēn, tēn ek progonōn eis allēlous eunoian apolambanonta. alla toutōn men kata ton prosēkonta kairon entelesteron apodōsomen ton logon. nyni de epi tēn tōn exēs apiōmen akolouthian.
For as soon as this peace dawned on all like light, as it were out of a gloomy and darkest night, the public affairs of the Roman government were again stable, friendly and peaceful, recovering the goodwill toward one another inherited from their forefathers. But of these things we will give a fuller account at the proper time; now let us go on to the order of what followed.
Notes and citation
Summary: Peace for the church restored stability to the empire; Eusebius defers the account.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 3.7 (Dindorf 4:388; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/3-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 4
4.1Dindorf 4:388
Μαξιμῖνος Καῖσαρ αὐτόθεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν παρελθὼν ὥσπερ τῆς ἐμφύτου θεοεχθρίας αὐτοῦ καὶ δυσσεβείας τὰ σύμβολα τοῖς πᾶσιν ἐνδεικνύμενος, γεννικώτερον ἢ οἱ πρόσθεν τῷ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐπαπεδύετο διωγμῷ.
Maximinos Kaisar autothen epi tēn archēn parelthōn hōsper tēs emphytou theoechthrias autou kai dyssebeias ta symbola tois pasin endeiknymenos, gennikōteron ē hoi prosthen tǭ kathʼ hēmōn epapedyeto diōgmǭ.
Maximin Caesar, coming to power at once, as though displaying to all the tokens of his innate hostility to God and impiety, girded himself for the persecution against us more vigorously than those before him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin Daia became Caesar and intensified the persecution.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.1 (Dindorf 4:388; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.2Dindorf 4:388–389
πᾶσι δῆτα συγχύσεως οὐ μικράς ἐπῃωρημένης, καὶ ἄλλων ἄλλοσε διασπειρομένων, διαδρᾶναί τε τὸ δεινὸν ἐπιμελὲς ποιουμένων, χαλεπῆς τε τὸ πᾶν ἐπεχούσης κινήσεως, τίς ἂν ἐξαρκέσειεν ἡμίν λόγος εἰς τὴν ἐπαξίαν διήγησιν τοῦ θείου ἔρωτος καὶ παρρησίας τῆς εἰς θεὸν ὁμολογίας τοῦ μακαρίου καὶ ὡς ἀληθῶς ἀμνοῦ ἀκάκου, μάρτυρος Ἀπφιανοῦ φημὶ, τοῦ πρὸ πυλῶν ἐπὶ θεωρίαν ἅπασι τοῖς κατὰ Καισάρειαν θαυμαστὸν παράδειγμα τῆς εἰς τὸν μόνον θεὸν εὐσεβείας προβεβλημένου;
pasi dēta synchyseōs ou mikras epę̄ōrēmenēs, kai allōn allose diaspeiromenōn, diadranai te to deinon epimeles poioumenōn, chalepēs te to pan epechousēs kinēseōs, tis an exarkeseien hēmin logos eis tēn epaxian diēgēsin tou theiou erōtos kai parrēsias tēs eis theon homologias tou makariou kai hōs alēthōs amnou akakou, martyros Apphianou phēmi, tou pro pylōn epi theōrian hapasi tois kata Kaisareian thaumaston paradeigma tēs eis ton monon theon eusebeias probeblēmenou?
When no small confusion hung over all, and people were scattered in different directions, trying to escape the danger, and grievous agitation held everything, what words could suffice us for a worthy account of the divine love and of the boldness in confessing God of the blessed and truly innocent lamb, the martyr Apphianus, I mean, who was set forth before the gates as a spectacle for all the people of Caesarea, a wonderful example of godliness toward the only God?
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius introduces the martyr Apphianus, an example to all Caesarea.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.2 (Dindorf 4:388–389; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.3Dindorf 4:389
εἰκοστὸν ἔτος οὐδέπω τοῦτο τῆς τοῦ σώματος ἡλικίας ἦν αὐτῷ. πρῶτον μὲν οὖν τῆς Ἑλλήνων παιδείας ἕνεκα κοσμικῆς ἐτύγχανε γὰρ καὶ τῶν κατὰ κόσμον εὖ μάλα πλούτῳ περιρρεομένων) τὸν πλείονα κατὰ τὴν Βηρυτὸν διατρίψας χρόνον, παράδοξον καὶ εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἐν τοιαύτῃ πόλει τῶν νεωτερικῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν ὑπεράνω γενόμενος, καὶ μήθʼ ὑπὸ ἀκμῆς τοῦ σώματος μήθʼ ὑπὸ τῆς τῶν νέων ἑταιρίας διαφθαρεὶς τὸν τρόπον σωφροσύνην ἠσπάζετο, κοσμίως καὶ σεμνῶς καὶ εὐσεβῶς κατὰ τὸν αἱροῦντα Χριστιανισμῷ λόγον διεξάγων καὶ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ παιδαγωγῶν βίον.
eikoston etos oudepō touto tēs tou sōmatos hēlikias ēn autǭ. prōton men oun tēs Hellēnōn paideias heneka kosmikēs etynchane gar kai tōn kata kosmon eu mala ploutǭ perirreomenōn) ton pleiona kata tēn Bēryton diatripsas chronon, paradoxon kai eipein, hōs en toiautę̄ polei tōn neōterikōn epithymiōn hyperanō genomenos, kai mēthʼ hypo akmēs tou sōmatos mēthʼ hypo tēs tōn neōn hetairias diaphthareis ton tropon sōphrosynēn ēspazeto, kosmiōs kai semnōs kai eusebōs kata ton hairounta Christianismǭ logon diexagōn kai ton heautou paidagōgōn bion.
He was not yet twenty years of age. At first, for the sake of secular Greek education (for he was among those in the world who abounded greatly in wealth), he spent most of his time at Berytus; and, marvellous to say, in such a city he rose above youthful desires, and, corrupted in character neither by the vigour of his body nor by the company of young men, he embraced self-control, living decently, soberly and piously according to the Christian teaching he had chosen, and governing his own life.
Notes and citation
Summary: Apphianus, not yet twenty and wealthy, studied at Berytus yet lived chastely and piously.
- The text repeats 'twentieth' (εἰκοστὸν κόστον); the repeated syllables are removed. The digital text lacks the opening parenthesis before 'for he was'.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (dittography in the digital text): εἰκοστὸν κόστον → εἰκοστὸν.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.3 (Dindorf 4:389; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.4Dindorf 4:389
εἰ δὲ χρὴ μνήμην ποιησαμένους καὶ τῆς πατρίδος αὐτοῦ κοσμῆσαι καὶ ταύτην διὰ τοῦ προαχθέντος ἐξ αὐτῆς γενναίου τῆς θεοσεβείας ἀθλητοῦ, εὐλόγως αὖ καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσομεν.
ei de chrē mnēmēn poiēsamenous kai tēs patridos autou kosmēsai kai tautēn dia tou proachthentos ex autēs gennaiou tēs theosebeias athlētou, eulogōs au kai touto poiēsomen.
If, in remembering him, we ought to honour his homeland too because of the noble athlete of godliness who came from it, we shall do this also with good reason.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius proposes to honour Apphianus's homeland as well.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.4 (Dindorf 4:389; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.5Dindorf 4:389–390
εἴ τις ἄρα Παγὰς ἐπίσταται τῆς Λυκίας οὐκ ἄσημον πόλιν, ἐντεῦθεν ὁρμώμενος ὁ νεανίας, μετὰ τὴν ἐπάνοδον τῆς κατὰ τὴν Βηρυτὸν παιδείας, τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῷ τὰ πρωτεῖα τῆς πατρίδος ἀποφερομένου, μὴ οἷός τε φέρειν τὴν ἅμα τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τοῖς τῷ γένει προσήκουσι συνουσίαν, ὅτι μηδὲ ζῆν αὐτοῖς ἐδόκει κατὰ τοὺς τῆς θεοσεβείας θεσμοὺς, πνεύματι δʼ ὥσπερ θείῳ κατεσχημένος, καὶ κατά τινα φυσικὴν, μᾶλλον δʼ ἔνθεον καὶ ἀληθῆ φιλοσοφίαν μεῖζον φρονήσας τῆς νενομισμένης τοῦ βίου δόξης, τῆς τε τῶν σωμάτων τῶν καταπτύσας ἡδυπαθείας, κρύβδην τοὺς οἰκείους ἀποδρὰς, καὶ μηδὲ τῶν ἐφημέρων δαπανῶν ἐπιστραφεὶς ἐλπίδι καὶ πίστει τῇ εἰς θεὸν, ἤγετο πρὸς τοῦ θείου πνεύματος χειραγωγούμενος ἐπὶ τὴν Καισαρέων πόλιν, ἔνθα ἡτοίμαστο αὐτῷ ὁ τοῦ μαρτυρίου τῆς θεοσεβείας στέφανος.
ei tis ara Pagas epistatai tēs Lykias ouk asēmon polin, enteuthen hormōmenos ho neanias, meta tēn epanodon tēs kata tēn Bēryton paideias, tou patros autǭ ta prōteia tēs patridos apopheromenou, mē hoios te pherein tēn hama tǭ patri kai tois tǭ genei prosēkousi synousian, hoti mēde zēn autois edokei kata tous tēs theosebeias thesmous, pneumati dʼ hōsper theiǭ kateschēmenos, kai kata tina physikēn, mallon dʼ entheon kai alēthē philosophian meizon phronēsas tēs nenomismenēs tou biou doxēs, tēs te tōn sōmatōn tōn kataptysas hēdypatheias, krybdēn tous oikeious apodras, kai mēde tōn ephēmerōn dapanōn epistrapheis elpidi kai pistei tę̄ eis theon, ēgeto pros tou theiou pneumatos cheiragōgoumenos epi tēn Kaisareōn polin, entha hētoimasto autǭ ho tou martyriou tēs theosebeias stephanos.
If anyone knows Pagae, a not undistinguished city of Lycia, the young man came from there. After his return from his education at Berytus, while his father held the first place in their homeland, he could not bear living with his father and his relatives, since they did not think fit to live according to the laws of godliness. Possessed as it were by a divine spirit, and by a natural, or rather an inspired and true, philosophy, thinking more highly than the conventional glory of life and despising the pleasures of the body, he secretly ran away from his household; and, without thought even for his daily expenses, in hope and faith in God, he was led by the hand of the divine Spirit to the city of Caesarea, where the crown of martyrdom for godliness had been prepared for him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Apphianus left his non-Christian family at Pagae in Lycia and, trusting God, went to Caesarea.
- The text has an extra τῶν before καταπτύσας, translated by sense.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slips in breathing and accent): οἱκεἰους → οἰκείους.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.5 (Dindorf 4:389–390; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.6Dindorf 4:390
γενόμενος δὲ ἡμῖν αὐτοῖς ἅμα, καὶ ὡς ἔνι μάλιστα τοῖς θείοις λόγοις ἐπʼ ὀλίγον συλλεξάμενος, ἀσκήσεσί τε προσηκούσαις ἐκθυμότατα παρασκευασάμενος, τέλος οἶον ἐπιδέδεικται, τίς μὲν πάλιν ἰδὼν οὐ κατεπλάγη;
genomenos de hēmin autois hama, kai hōs eni malista tois theiois logois epʼ oligon syllexamenos, askēsesi te prosēkousais ekthymotata paraskeuasamenos, telos oion epidedeiktai, tis men palin idōn ou kateplagē?
Having come to live with us, he gathered as much as possible from the divine words in a short time, and prepared himself most earnestly with fitting disciplines; and then the end he displayed, who again that saw it was not amazed?
Notes and citation
Summary: At Caesarea he lived with Eusebius's circle, studying Scripture and practising discipline.
- 'With us' refers to Eusebius's household at Caesarea (see 4.8), presumably the circle of Pamphilus.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.6 (Dindorf 4:390; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.7Dindorf 4:390
τίς δʼ αὖθις ἀκοῇ παραλαβὼν οὐκ ἂν ἐνδίκως θαυμάσειε τὸ θάρσος, τὴν παρρησίαν, τὴν ἔνστασιν, καὶ πρό γε τούτων τὴν τόλμαν καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ ἐγχείρημα, ζήλου θεοσεβείας καὶ πνεύματος ὡς ἀληθῶς ὑπὲρ ἄνθρωπον παρέχοντα τεκμήρια;
tis dʼ authis akoę̄ paralabōn ouk an endikōs thaumaseie to tharsos, tēn parrēsian, tēn enstasin, kai pro ge toutōn tēn tolman kai auto to encheirēma, zēlou theosebeias kai pneumatos hōs alēthōs hyper anthrōpon parechonta tekmēria?
And who, hearing of it in turn, would not rightly marvel at his courage, his boldness, his firmness, and above all at his daring and the act itself, which gave proofs of a zeal for godliness and of a spirit truly beyond human?
Notes and citation
Summary: His deed showed superhuman courage and zeal.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip (ξ for ζ)): ξήλου → ζήλου.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.7 (Dindorf 4:390; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.8Dindorf 4:390–391
δευτέρας γάρ τοι καθʼ ἡμῶν γενομένης ἐπαναστάσεως ὑπὸ Μαξιμίνου, τρίτῳ τοῦ καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἔτει διωγμοῦ, γραμμάτων τε τοῦ τυράννου τοῦτο πρῶτον διαπεφοιτηκότων, ὡς ἂν πανδημεὶ πάντες ἁπαξαπλῶς μετʼ ἐπιμελείας καὶ σπουδῆς τῶν κατὰ πόλεις ἀρχόντων θύοιεν, κηρύκων τε καθʼ ὅλης τῆς Καισαρέων πόλεως ἄνδρας ἅμα γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις ἐπὶ τοὺς τῶν εἰδώλων οἴκους ἐξ ἡγεμονικοῦ κελεύσματος ἀναβοωμένων, καὶ πρὸς τούτοις ὀνομαστὶ χιλιάρχων ἀπὸ γραφῆς ἕκαστον ἀνακαλουμένων, ἀφάτῳ τε κλύδωνι κακῶν τῶν πανταχόσε συγκεχυμένων, ἀφόβως ὁ δεδηλωμένος, μηδενὸς ἐπὶ τῷ πραχθησομένῳ συνειδότος αὐτῷ, ἡμᾶς τε, οἱ κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῷ συνῆμεν, καὶ ἔτι πᾶν τὸ περὶ τὸν ἡγεμόνα στρατιωτικὸν στῖφος ὑποκλέψας, σπένδοντι τῷ Οὐρβανῷ πρόσεισι, καὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς ἀκαταπλήκτως αὐτὸν λαβόμενος κατέπαυσε μὲν παραχρῆμα τοῦ θύειν, εὖ μάλα δὲ συμβουλευτικῶς μετά τινος θείου παραστήματος παρῄνει παύσασθαι τῆς πλάνης· μὴ γὰρ ἔχειν καταλιπόντας τὸν ἕνα καὶ μόνον ἀληθῆ θεὸν εἰδώλοις καὶ δαίμοσι θύειν.
deuteras gar toi kathʼ hēmōn genomenēs epanastaseōs hypo Maximinou, tritǭ tou kathʼ hēmas etei diōgmou, grammatōn te tou tyrannou touto prōton diapephoitēkotōn, hōs an pandēmei pantes hapaxaplōs metʼ epimeleias kai spoudēs tōn kata poleis archontōn thyoien, kērykōn te kathʼ holēs tēs Kaisareōn poleōs andras hama gynaixi kai teknois epi tous tōn eidōlōn oikous ex hēgemonikou keleusmatos anaboōmenōn, kai pros toutois onomasti chiliarchōn apo graphēs hekaston anakaloumenōn, aphatǭ te klydōni kakōn tōn pantachose synkechymenōn, aphobōs ho dedēlōmenos, mēdenos epi tǭ prachthēsomenǭ syneidotos autǭ, hēmas te, hoi katʼ oikon autǭ synēmen, kai eti pan to peri ton hēgemona stratiōtikon stiphos hypoklepsas, spendonti tǭ Ourbanǭ proseisi, kai tēs dexias akataplēktōs auton labomenos katepause men parachrēma tou thyein, eu mala de symbouleutikōs meta tinos theiou parastēmatos parę̄nei pausasthai tēs planēs; mē gar echein katalipontas ton hena kai monon alēthē theon eidōlois kai daimosi thyein.
For when a second attack was made against us by Maximin, in the third year of the persecution against us, and letters of the tyrant were first circulated that all the people without exception should sacrifice with the care and diligence of the city magistrates, and heralds throughout the whole city of Caesarea were summoning men with women and children to the temples of the idols by the governor's order, and in addition the tribunes were calling each one by name from a list, and an unspeakable flood of evils was poured out everywhere, the man of whom we speak, fearlessly, with no one knowing what he was about to do, slipping away from us who lived with him in the house and from the whole military band around the governor, went up to Urbanus as he was pouring a libation, and, fearlessly taking hold of his right hand, at once stopped him from sacrificing, and with a divine composure urged him very persuasively to cease from his error; for it was not right to abandon the one and only true God and to sacrifice to idols and demons.
Notes and citation
Summary: During Maximin's general order to sacrifice, Apphianus seized the governor's hand at a libation and urged him to abandon idols.
- A stray closing bracket after παρῄνει in the digital text is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray bracket in the digital text): παρῄνει] → παρῄνει.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution, Idolatry
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.8 (Dindorf 4:390–391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.9Dindorf 4:391
τοῦτο δʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐνεχειρεῖτο τῷ μειρακίῳ, τῆς ἐπὶ τοῦτʼ αὐτὸν προαγούσης ἐνθέου δυνάμεως μονονουχὶ διὰ τοῦ γενομένου βοώσης ὡς ἄρα τοσοῦτον ἀποδέοιεν Χριστιανοὶ, οἵ γε ὄντως τοιοῦτοι, ἧς ἅπαξ ἠξιώθησαν εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων θεὸν εὐσεβείας μεταβάλλεσθαι ὡς μὴ μόνον ὑπεράνω καθίστασθαι τῶν ἀπειλῶν καὶ τῶν ἐπὶ ταύταις κολαστηρίων, παρρησιάζεσθαι δʼ εἰσέτι μᾶλλον, εὐγενεῖ τε καὶ ἀτρόμῳ γλώττῃ ἐλευθεροστομεῖν, καὶ, εἰ οἷόν τε, καὶ τοὺς διώκοντας αὐτοὺς μεταθεμένους τῆς ἀγνωσίας τὸν μόνον ὄντα θεὸν ἐπιγνῶναι παρακαλεῖν.
touto dʼ, hōs eoiken, enecheireito tǭ meirakiǭ, tēs epi toutʼ auton proagousēs entheou dynameōs mononouchi dia tou genomenou boōsēs hōs ara tosouton apodeoien Christianoi, hoi ge ontōs toioutoi, hēs hapax ēxiōthēsan eis ton tōn holōn theon eusebeias metaballesthai hōs mē monon hyperanō kathistasthai tōn apeilōn kai tōn epi tautais kolastēriōn, parrēsiazesthai dʼ eiseti mallon, eugenei te kai atromǭ glōttę̄ eleutherostomein, kai, ei hoion te, kai tous diōkontas autous metathemenous tēs agnōsias ton monon onta theon epignōnai parakalein.
This, it seems, was undertaken by the youth because the divine power that led him on to it all but cried out through the deed that Christians, those who are truly such, are so far from abandoning the godliness toward the God of the universe of which they have once been counted worthy, that they not only rise above threats and the punishments that follow them, but speak still more boldly, speak freely with noble and fearless tongue, and, if possible, urge even their persecutors to turn from their ignorance and acknowledge the only true God.
Notes and citation
Summary: His act showed that true Christians not only withstand threats but boldly call their persecutors to the true God.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.9 (Dindorf 4:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-9
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.10Dindorf 4:391
ἐπὶ τούτοις ὁ περὶ οὗ ὁ λόγος, παραχρῆμα μὲν, ὅσα εἰκὸς αὐτὸν, ὡσὰν ἐπὶ τοιούτῳ τολμήματι θηρῶν δίκην ἀγρίων πρὸς τῶν ἀμφὶ τὸν ἡγεμόνα διασπαραχθεὶς, καὶ μυρίας καθʼ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος πληγὰς ἀνδρειότατα ὑπομείνας, τέως μὲν αὐτίκα δεσμωτηρίῳ παραδίδοται.
epi toutois ho peri hou ho logos, parachrēma men, hosa eikos auton, hōsan epi toioutǭ tolmēmati thērōn dikēn agriōn pros tōn amphi ton hēgemona diasparachtheis, kai myrias kathʼ holou tou sōmatos plēgas andreiotata hypomeinas, teōs men autika desmōtēriǭ paradidotai.
Upon this the one of whom we speak was at once, as was to be expected for so daring a deed, torn like wild beasts by those around the governor, and after enduring most bravely countless blows over his whole body, he was immediately handed over to prison for the time.
Notes and citation
Summary: Apphianus was beaten by the governor's men and imprisoned.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.10 (Dindorf 4:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-10
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.11Dindorf 4:391
ἔνθα νυχθήμερον ἄμφω τὼ πόδε ἐπὶ τοῦ βασανιστικοῦ διαταθεὶς ξύλου τῇ ἐπιούσῃ προσάγεται τῷ δικαστῇ· εἶτα θύειν ἐκβιαζομένου πᾶσαν ἐνδείκνυται πρὸς πόνους καὶ φρικτὰς ἀλγηδόνας καρτερίαν, τὰς πλευρὰς οὐχ ἅπαξ οὐδὲ δεύτερον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλεονάκις ἄχρις ὀστέων καὶ αὐτῶν σπλάγχνων καταξανθεὶς, πληγάς τε κατὰ προσώπου καὶ αὐχένος τοσαύτας δεξάμενος, ὡς μηδʼ ὑπὸ τῶν εὖ καὶ ἀκριβῶς αὐτὸν πάλαι εἰδότων, διοιδήσαντα τὸ πρόσωπον, ἔτι γινώσκεσθαι.
entha nychthēmeron amphō tō pode epi tou basanistikou diatatheis xylou tę̄ epiousę̄ prosagetai tǭ dikastę̄; eita thyein ekbiazomenou pasan endeiknytai pros ponous kai phriktas algēdonas karterian, tas pleuras ouch hapax oude deuteron, alla kai pleonakis achris osteōn kai autōn splanchnōn kataxantheis, plēgas te kata prosōpou kai auchenos tosautas dexamenos, hōs mēdʼ hypo tōn eu kai akribōs auton palai eidotōn, dioidēsanta to prosōpon, eti ginōskesthai.
There, after being stretched by both feet in the torturing stocks for a night and a day, he was brought before the judge the next day. Then, when the judge tried to force him to sacrifice, he showed every endurance in pains and terrible agonies, his sides being scraped not once or twice but many times, to the bones and the very inward parts, and receiving so many blows on the face and neck that, because his face was swollen, he could no longer be recognized even by those who had known him well for a long time.
Notes and citation
Summary: Tortured to force him to sacrifice, he was scraped to the bone and beaten beyond recognition.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.11 (Dindorf 4:391; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-11
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.12Dindorf 4:391–392
ἀλλὰ γὰρ μηδὲ πρὸς τὰ τοσαῦτα ἐνδιδόντος, λίνοις ἐλαίῳ δεδευμένοις τὼ πόδε αὐτοῦ καλύψαντες πῦρ ὑφῆπτον ἐκ προστάξεως οἱ βασανισταὶ, ἐφʼ οἷς ὁποίας ἤνεγκεν ὁ μακάριος ἀλγηδόνας πάντα λόγον ὑπεραίρειν μοι δοκῶ. καθίκετο γοῦν αὐτοῦ διατῆξαν τὰς σάρκας καὶ τῶν ὀστέων τὸ πῦρ, ὡς κηροῦ δίκην λείβεσθαι καὶ ἀποστάζειν ἐκτηκομένην τὴν ἰκμάδα τοῦ σώματος.
alla gar mēde pros ta tosauta endidontos, linois elaiǭ dedeumenois tō pode autou kalypsantes pyr hyphēpton ek prostaxeōs hoi basanistai, ephʼ hois hopoias ēnenken ho makarios algēdonas panta logon hyperairein moi dokō. kathiketo goun autou diatēxan tas sarkas kai tōn osteōn to pyr, hōs kērou dikēn leibesthai kai apostazein ektēkomenēn tēn ikmada tou sōmatos.
But since he did not give way even under so much, the torturers by order wrapped his feet in linen soaked in oil and set fire to them. What pains the blessed man bore under this, I think, exceeds all description. The fire reached through, melting his flesh and his bones, so that the moisture of his body melted and dripped like wax.
Notes and citation
Summary: His feet were wrapped in oiled linen and burned.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR garbled word; line-end hyphenation rejoined): κα- θίκετο → καθίκετο; ὅστʼ ἔων → ὀστέων.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.12 (Dindorf 4:391–392; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-12
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.13Dindorf 4:392
ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐδὲ πρὸς ταῦτα ἐνδοὺς, ἡττημένων ἤδη καὶ μόνον οὐκ ἀπειρηκότων πρὸς τὴν ὑπὲρ ἄνθρωπον καρτερίαν αὐτοῦ τῶν ἀντιπάλων, δεσμοῖς εἴρυνυται, τριταῖός τε αὖ προσαχθεὶς τῷ δικαστῇ καὶ τὴν αὐτὴν ὁμολογήσας πρόθεσιν, καίτοιγε λοιπὸν ἡμιθνὴς ὑπάρχων, ὑποβρύχιος θαλάττῃ παραδίδοται.
alla gar oude pros tauta endous, hēttēmenōn ēdē kai monon ouk apeirēkotōn pros tēn hyper anthrōpon karterian autou tōn antipalōn, desmois eirynytai, tritaios te au prosachtheis tǭ dikastę̄ kai tēn autēn homologēsas prothesin, kaitoige loipon hēmithnēs hyparchōn, hypobrychios thalattę̄ paradidotai.
But since he did not give way even to this, and his adversaries were now defeated and all but exhausted before his superhuman endurance, he was shut up in bonds; and when he was brought before the judge again on the third day and confessed the same resolve, although he was by now half-dead, he was cast into the depths of the sea.
Notes and citation
Summary: Still unyielding, he was thrown into the sea on the third day.
- The text reads εἴρυνυται, a slip for εἵργνυται ('he was shut up'); translated by sense.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.13 (Dindorf 4:392; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-13
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.14Dindorf 4:392
τὰ δʼ ἐπὶ τούτοις παραχρῆμα γενόμενα ῥηθέντα μὲν οὐκ ἀπεικὸς παρὰ τοῖς μὴ ὄψει παρειληφόσιν ἀπιστηθήσεσθαι, ἡμὰς δʼ οὖν καίπερ τοῦτʼ ἀκριβῶς εἰδότας οὐχ αἱρεῖ λόγος μὴ οὐχὶ ἐκ παντὸς παραδοῦναι τῷ λόγῳ τὴν ἱστορίαν, τῷ καὶ μάρτυρας εἶναι τοῦ γεγενημένου ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν ἅπαντας τοὺς τὴν Καισάρειαν οἰκοῦντας. οὐδεμία γοῦν ἡλικία τῆς παραδόξου ταύτης ἀπελείφθη θέας.
ta dʼ epi toutois parachrēma genomena rhēthenta men ouk apeikos para tois mē opsei pareilēphosin apistēthēsesthai, hēmas dʼ oun kaiper toutʼ akribōs eidotas ouch hairei logos mē ouchi ek pantos paradounai tǭ logǭ tēn historian, tǭ kai martyras einai tou gegenēmenou haplōs eipein hapantas tous tēn Kaisareian oikountas. oudemia goun hēlikia tēs paradoxou tautēs apeleiphthē theas.
What happened immediately after this, when told, will probably not be believed by those who did not see it. Yet although we know this well, reason does not allow us not to hand on the account in full, since, simply put, all the inhabitants of Caesarea are witnesses of what happened; indeed no age was absent from this marvellous sight.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius insists on telling the following wonder, witnessed by all Caesarea.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.14 (Dindorf 4:392; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-14
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
4.15Dindorf 4:392
αὐτίκα γοῦν ὡς ἐδόκει μάλιστα κατὰ μέσου πελάγους ἐν ἀπείροις βυθοῖς τὸν ἱερὸν ὄντως ἐκεῖνον καὶ τρισμακάριον ἐμβαλεῖν, κλόνος ἀθρόως οὐχ ὁ τυχὼν καὶ βρασμὸς αὐτήν τε τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὸ περιέχον ἅπαν διαχεῖ, ὡς καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἅπασαν πρὸς τοῦ γενομένου σεισθῆναι. ἅμα δὲ τῷ παραδόξῳ τούτῳ καὶ ἀθρόῳ σεισμῷ τοῦ θείου μάρτυρος τὸν νεκρὸν ἡ θάλαττα, ὥσπερ μὴ οἵα τε οὖσα φέρειν αὐτὸν, πρὸ τῶν τῆς πόλεως ἐκβράσσει πυλῶν. καὶ τοιαῦτα μὲν ἦν τὰ κατὰ τὸν θεσπέσιον Ἀπφιανὸν, Ξανθικοῦ μηνὸς δευτέρᾳ, ἥτις ἂν εἴη πρὸ τεσσάρων Νώνων Ἀπριλλίων, ἡμέρᾳ παρασκευῆς τελειωθέντα.
autika goun hōs edokei malista kata mesou pelagous en apeirois bythois ton hieron ontōs ekeinon kai trismakarion embalein, klonos athroōs ouch ho tychōn kai brasmos autēn te tēn thalassan kai to periechon hapan diachei, hōs kai tēn gēn kai tēn polin hapasan pros tou genomenou seisthēnai. hama de tǭ paradoxǭ toutǭ kai athroǭ seismǭ tou theiou martyros ton nekron hē thalatta, hōsper mē hoia te ousa pherein auton, pro tōn tēs poleōs ekbrassei pylōn. kai toiauta men ēn ta kata ton thespesion Apphianon, Xanthikou mēnos deuterą, hētis an eiē pro tessarōn Nōnōn Aprilliōn, hēmerą paraskeuēs teleiōthenta.
For as soon as they seemed to have cast that truly holy and thrice-blessed man into the boundless depths in the middle of the sea, a sudden and extraordinary commotion and surging convulsed the sea itself and all the surroundings, so that the land and the whole city were shaken by what happened. And together with this marvellous and sudden earthquake, the sea, as though unable to bear him, cast up the body of the divine martyr before the gates of the city. Such were the events concerning the godly Apphianus, accomplished on the second of the month Xanthicus, which would be the fourth day before the Nones of April, on the day of preparation.
Notes and citation
Summary: An earthquake shook Caesarea and the sea cast Apphianus's body before the city gates, on Friday 2 April.
- 'Day of preparation' is Friday. 2 April 306.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 4.15 (Dindorf 4:392; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/4-15
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 5
5.1Dindorf 4:392–393
Ὑπὸ δὴ τὸν αὐτὸν καιρὸν αὐταῖς τε ἡμέραις, ἐπὶ τῆς Τυρίων πόλεως νεανίας Οὐλπιανὸς ὄνομα, μετὰ δεινὰς καὶ αὐτὸς αἰκίας, μάστιγάς τε χαλεπωτάτας, ἅμα κυνὶ καὶ ἀσπίδι, τῷ ἰοβόλῳ ἑρπετῷ, ὠμοβοίνῃ περιβληθεὶς δορᾷ, θαλάττῃ παραδίδοται. διό μοι δοκεῖ ἐν τοῖς Ἀπφιανοῦ μαρτυρίοις ἂν ἡμῖν μνημονεύεσθαι καὶ οὗτος.
Hypo dē ton auton kairon autais te hēmerais, epi tēs Tyriōn poleōs neanias Oulpianos onoma, meta deinas kai autos aikias, mastigas te chalepōtatas, hama kyni kai aspidi, tǭ iobolǭ herpetǭ, ōmoboinę̄ periblētheis dorą, thalattę̄ paradidotai. dio moi dokei en tois Apphianou martyriois an hēmin mnēmoneuesthai kai houtos.
About the same time and in those very days, in the city of Tyre, a young man named Ulpian, after terrible tortures of his own and most severe scourgings, was wrapped in a raw ox-hide together with a dog and an asp, the venomous serpent, and cast into the sea. For this reason I think he too should be remembered by us in connection with the martyrdom of Apphianus.
Notes and citation
Summary: Ulpian of Tyre was sewn in an ox-hide with a dog and an asp and drowned.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (split word with stray mark rejoined): ὠμοβοί· νῃ → ὠμοβοίνῃ.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 5.1 (Dindorf 4:392–393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/5-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/5-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
5.2Dindorf 4:393
ἀδελφὰ δὲ τῷ Ἀπφιανῷ σμικρὸν τῷ χρόνῳ ὕστερον ὁ μὴ μόνον αὐτοῦ κατὰ θεὸν, καὶ σώματι δὲ ὁμοπάτριος ἀδελφὸς Αἰδέσιος, μετὰ μυρίας ὅσας ὁμολογίας καὶ πολυχρονίους δεσμῶν κακώσεις ἡγεμονικάς τε ἀποφάσεις, ἐν αἷς τοῖς κατὰ Παλαιστίνην δέδοται μετάλλοις, καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις φιλόσοφον ἐν τρίβωνος σχήματι ἀγωγὴν, καὶ γὰρ οὖν αὐτὸς πλέον τῆς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ παιδείας κεκτημένος καὶ ἀπὸ μαθημάτων φιλοσόφων ὡρμᾶτο),
adelpha de tǭ Apphianǭ smikron tǭ chronǭ hysteron ho mē monon autou kata theon, kai sōmati de homopatrios adelphos Aidesios, meta myrias hosas homologias kai polychronious desmōn kakōseis hēgemonikas te apophaseis, en hais tois kata Palaistinēn dedotai metallois, kai meta tēn en pasi toutois philosophon en tribōnos schēmati agōgēn, kai gar oun autos pleon tēs tou adelphou paideias kektēmenos kai apo mathēmatōn philosophōn hōrmato),
A little later Aedesius, brother of Apphianus not only according to God but also in the body, born of the same father, suffered things akin to Apphianus. After countless confessions and long ill-treatment in bonds, and sentences of the governor by which he was handed over to the mines of Palestine, and after conducting himself throughout all these in the philosophic manner, in the garb of the philosopher's cloak (for he had acquired more education than his brother and had set out from philosophical studies),
Notes and citation
Summary: Aedesius, Apphianus's brother, a learned philosopher, endured many confessions and was sent to the mines.
- The sentence continues in 5.3. The digital text lacks the opening parenthesis before 'for he had'. The text reads δέσοται, a slip for δέδοται ('was handed over').
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip (σ for δ)): δέσοται → δέδοται.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 5.2 (Dindorf 4:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/5-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/5-2
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5.3Dindorf 4:393
τελευτῶν δῆτα ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀλεξανδρέων πόλεως τὸν αὐτόθι συνιδὼν δικαστὴν Χριστιανοῖς δικάζοντα, πέρα τε τῶν προσηκόντων ἐμπαροινοῦντα, καὶ τοτὲ μὲν σεμνοῖς ἀνδράσι ποικίλως ἐνυβρίζοντα, τοτὲ δὲ γυναῖκας σωφροσύνης τῆς ἀνωτάτω καὶ αὐτοπαρθένους ἀσκητρίας εἰς αἰσχρὰς ὕβρεις πορνοτρόφοις παραδιδόντα, ταὐτὸν ἐγχειρήσας τῷ ἀδελφῷ, ὅτι δὴ ἀφόρητα εἶναι αὐτῷ τὰ γινόμενα ἐδόκει, παραστήματι θαρσαλέῳ πρόσεισι, λόγοις τε καὶ ἔργοις τὸν δικαστὴν αἰσχύνῃ καὶ ἀτιμίᾳ περιβαλὼν, κἀπὶ τούτοις καρτερῶς εὖ μάλα βασάνων πολυτρόπους ὑπομείνας αἰκίας, τὴν ἀδελφικὴν ἀπηνέγκατο θαλάττῃ παραδοθεὶς τελευτήν. ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν κατὰ τοῦτον, ὡς δʼ οὖν ἔφην, σμικρὸν τοῦ χρόνου ὕστερον τοῦτον ἐγενήθη τὸν τρόπον.
teleutōn dēta epi tēs Alexandreōn poleōs ton autothi synidōn dikastēn Christianois dikazonta, pera te tōn prosēkontōn emparoinounta, kai tote men semnois andrasi poikilōs enybrizonta, tote de gynaikas sōphrosynēs tēs anōtatō kai autoparthenous askētrias eis aischras hybreis pornotrophois paradidonta, tauton encheirēsas tǭ adelphǭ, hoti dē aphorēta einai autǭ ta ginomena edokei, parastēmati tharsaleǭ proseisi, logois te kai ergois ton dikastēn aischynę̄ kai atimią peribalōn, kapi toutois karterōs eu mala basanōn polytropous hypomeinas aikias, tēn adelphikēn apēnenkato thalattę̄ paradotheis teleutēn. alla ta men kata touton, hōs dʼ oun ephēn, smikron tou chronou hysteron touton egenēthē ton tropon.
at last, in the city of Alexandria, seeing the judge there trying Christians and behaving outrageously beyond all bounds, now insulting venerable men in various ways, now handing over women of the highest chastity and even consecrated virgins to brothel-keepers for shameful outrage, he made the same attempt as his brother. Since what was being done seemed unbearable to him, he went up with bold composure, covered the judge with shame and disgrace by words and deeds, and after enduring very steadfastly the many kinds of tortures that followed, he met the same end as his brother, being cast into the sea. But the things concerning him, as I said, happened in this way a little later.
Notes and citation
Summary: At Alexandria Aedesius publicly shamed a judge who handed Christian virgins to brothels, and was tortured and drowned.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 5.3 (Dindorf 4:393; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/5-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/5-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 6
6.1Dindorf 4:393–394
Τετάρτῳ γε μὴν τοῦ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἔτει διωγμοῦ, πρὸ δώδεκα Καλανδῶν Δεκεμβρίων, ἣ γένοιτʼ ἂν μηνὸς Δίου εἰκάδι, προσαββάτου ἡμέρᾳ, κατὰ τὴν αὐτὴν Καισάρειαν, γραφῆς ὡς ἀληθῶς ἄξιον, αὐτοῦ δὴ τοῦ τυράννου Μαξιμίνου παρόντος καὶ θέας τοῖς πλήθεσι φιλοτιμουμένου κατὰ τὴν λεγομένην αὐτοῦ γενέθλιον ἡμέραν, ἀπετελέσθη τοιοῦτον.
Tetartǭ ge mēn tou kathʼ hēmōn etei diōgmou, pro dōdeka Kalandōn Dekembriōn, hē genoitʼ an mēnos Diou eikadi, prosabbatou hēmerą, kata tēn autēn Kaisareian, graphēs hōs alēthōs axion, autou dē tou tyrannou Maximinou parontos kai theas tois plēthesi philotimoumenou kata tēn legomenēn autou genethlion hēmeran, apetelesthē toiouton.
In the fourth year of the persecution against us, on the twelfth day before the Kalends of December, which would be the twentieth of the month Dius, on the day before the Sabbath, in the same Caesarea, a thing truly worth recording was done, while the tyrant Maximin himself was present and providing shows for the crowds on what was called his birthday.
Notes and citation
Summary: On 20 November in the fourth year, during Maximin's birthday games at Caesarea, a notable martyrdom took place.
- 20 November 306, a Friday.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.1 (Dindorf 4:393–394; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
6.2Dindorf 4:394
ἔθους τὸ πρὶν ὄντος ἐπὶ βασιλέων, εἰ καὶ ἄλλοτε, τὰς φιλοτίμους θέας πλείους τοῖς θεαταῖς ἐμπαρέχειν, θυμηδίας καινῶν καὶ ξένων τά τε συνήθη παραλλαττόντων τῶν θεαμάτων, ζῴων ἔσθʼ ὅπη τῶν ἐξ Ἰνδίας ἢ Αἰθιοπίας ἢ καὶ ἄλλοθεν εἰσκομιζομένων, ἢ καὶ ἀνδρῶν ἐντέχνοις τισὶ σωμασκίαις παραδόξους ψυχαγωγίας τοῖς ὁρῶσιν ἐνδεικνυμένων, πάντως που καὶ τότε, οἷα βασιλέως τὰς θέας παρέχοντος, πλέον τι καὶ παράδοξον χρῆν ὑπάρξαι ταῖς φιλοτιμίαις.
ethous to prin ontos epi basileōn, ei kai allote, tas philotimous theas pleious tois theatais emparechein, thymēdias kainōn kai xenōn ta te synēthē parallattontōn tōn theamatōn, zǭōn esthʼ hopē tōn ex Indias ē Aithiopias ē kai allothen eiskomizomenōn, ē kai andrōn entechnois tisi sōmaskiais paradoxous psychagōgias tois horōsin endeiknymenōn, pantōs pou kai tote, hoia basileōs tas theas parechontos, pleon ti kai paradoxon chrēn hyparxai tais philotimiais.
It had been the custom formerly in the presence of emperors, more than at other times, to offer the spectators more lavish shows, with novel and foreign spectacles replacing the usual ones for their delight, animals being brought in from India or Ethiopia or elsewhere, or men displaying marvellous entertainments to the onlookers by skilled bodily feats; and certainly then too, since an emperor was giving the shows, there had to be something greater and more marvellous in the display.
Notes and citation
Summary: Imperial shows were expected to include extraordinary spectacles.
Topics: Games, shows, and the theatre
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.2 (Dindorf 4:394; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
6.3Dindorf 4:394
τί τοίνυν τοῦτο ἦν; μάρτυς τοῦ καθʼ ἡμᾶς δόγματος παρήγετο εἰς μέσον, τῆς μόνης καὶ ἀληθοῦς εὐσεβείας ὑπεραγωνιζόμενος. Ἀγάπιος οὗτος ἦν, ὁ δεύτερος ἅμα τῇ Θέκλᾳ θηρσὶν ἐπὶ βορᾷ δεδόσθαι μικρῷ πρότερον δεδηλωμένος, ὃς δὴ καὶ ἄλλοτε δεσμωτηρίου τρίτον καὶ πολλάκις ἅμα κακούργοις ἐμπομπεύσας τῷ σταδίῳ, ἀεί γε μὴν κατὰ χρόνους τοῦ δικαστοῦ μετὰ τὰς ἀπειλὰς, ἤτοι κατʼ οἶκτον ἢ κατʼ ἐλπίδα τοῦ μεταθήσεσθαι τῆς προθέσεως, εἰς ἑτέρους αὐτὸν ἀγῶνας ὑπερτιθεμένου, τότε δὴ βασιλέως ἐπιπαρόντος ἤγετο, ὥσπερ ἐπίτηδες εἰς ἐκεῖνο τοῦ καιροῦ πεφυλαγμένος, ὥστʼ ἂν κἀκεῖνο τὸ σωτήριον ῥῆμα, ὃ τοῖς μαθηταῖς θείᾳ γνώσει προηγόρευεν, ὡς ἄρα καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλέων ἀχθήσονται ἕνεκεν τῆς εἰς αὐτὸν μαρτυρίας, καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ πληρωθείη.
ti toinyn touto ēn? martys tou kathʼ hēmas dogmatos parēgeto eis meson, tēs monēs kai alēthous eusebeias hyperagōnizomenos. Agapios houtos ēn, ho deuteros hama tę̄ Theklą thērsin epi borą dedosthai mikrǭ proteron dedēlōmenos, hos dē kai allote desmōtēriou triton kai pollakis hama kakourgois empompeusas tǭ stadiǭ, aei ge mēn kata chronous tou dikastou meta tas apeilas, ētoi katʼ oikton ē katʼ elpida tou metathēsesthai tēs protheseōs, eis heterous auton agōnas hypertithemenou, tote dē basileōs epiparontos ēgeto, hōsper epitēdes eis ekeino tou kairou pephylagmenos, hōstʼ an kakeino to sōtērion rhēma, ho tois mathētais theią gnōsei proēgoreuen, hōs ara kai epi basileōn achthēsontai heneken tēs eis auton martyrias, kai epʼ autou plērōtheiē.
What, then, was this? A martyr of our teaching was brought into the midst, contending for the only true godliness. This was Agapius, who was mentioned a little earlier as the second, with Thecla, to be given as food to the beasts. He had been led out from prison in procession through the stadium with criminals three times and more, but each time the judge, after his threats, whether from pity or in hope that he would change his resolve, put him off for other contests. Now, with the emperor present, he was brought out, as though deliberately kept for that moment, so that the saving word which the Saviour in divine foreknowledge had told his disciples, that they would be brought even before kings for the sake of their witness to him, might be fulfilled in him too.
Matt 10:18 (allusion, high confidence) · Mark 13:9 (allusion, medium confidence) · Luke 21:12 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Agapius, often spared before, was brought before the emperor himself, fulfilling Christ's word that his disciples would stand before kings.
- The saying is Matt 10:18 (compare Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12).
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.3 (Dindorf 4:394; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
6.4Dindorf 4:394–395
φέρεται δὴ εἴς μέσον τὸ στάδιον σὺν καί τινι κακούργῳ. φόνῳ δὲ τοῦ δεσπότου τοῦτον ἐνέχεσθαι ἔλεγον.
pheretai dē eis meson to stadion syn kai tini kakourgǭ. phonǭ de tou despotou touton enechesthai elegon.
So he was brought into the middle of the stadium together with a certain criminal, who, they said, was guilty of murdering his master.
Notes and citation
Summary: Agapius was brought out with a slave who had murdered his master.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.4 (Dindorf 4:394–395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
6.5Dindorf 4:395
εἶθʼ ὁ μὲν τοῦ δεσπότου φονεὺς τοῖς θηρσὶ παραβληθεὶς ἐλέου καὶ φιλανθρωπίας ἠξίωτο, μονονουχὶ κατʼ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ σωτῆρος Βαραββᾶν. βοαῖς δʼ ἐπὶ τούτῳ καὶ εὐφημίαις τὸ πᾶν ἐξηχεῖτο θέατρον, ὡσὰν τοῦ μιαιφόνου φιλανθρώπως πρὸς τοῦ βασιλέως σεσωσμένου, τιμῆς τε καὶ ἐλευθερίας ἠξιωμένου.
eithʼ ho men tou despotou phoneus tois thērsi parablētheis eleou kai philanthrōpias ēxiōto, mononouchi katʼ auton ekeinon ton epi tou sōtēros Barabban. boais dʼ epi toutǭ kai euphēmiais to pan exēcheito theatron, hōsan tou miaiphonou philanthrōpōs pros tou basileōs sesōsmenou, timēs te kai eleutherias ēxiōmenou.
Then the murderer of his master, though thrown to the beasts, was granted mercy and kindness, almost like that Barabbas in the Saviour's time. At this the whole theatre resounded with shouts and acclamations, as though the bloodstained man had been kindly saved by the emperor and granted honour and freedom.
Matt 27:15–26 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The murderer was pardoned, like Barabbas, to the crowd's applause.
- Barabbas: Matt 27:15–26 and parallels.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.5 (Dindorf 4:395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
6.6Dindorf 4:395
ὁ δὲ τῆς θεοσεβείας ἀθλητὴς ἀνακαλεῖται μὲν πρότερον ὑπὸ τοῦ τυράννου, εἶτα ἄρνησιν τῆς προθέσεως αἰτηθεὶς ἐπʼ ἐλευθερίας ἐπαγγελίᾳ, μεγάλῃ φωνῇ διαμαρτύρεται, μὴ φαύλης μὲν ἕνεκεν αἰτίας, εὐσεβείας δὲ τοῦ τῶν ὅλων δημιουργοῦ προθύμως καὶ μεθʼ ἡδονῆς, ὅσα δʼ ἂν ἐπάγοιτο αὐτῷ, γενναίως ὑποστήσεσθαι.
ho de tēs theosebeias athlētēs anakaleitai men proteron hypo tou tyrannou, eita arnēsin tēs protheseōs aitētheis epʼ eleutherias epangelią, megalę̄ phōnę̄ diamartyretai, mē phaulēs men heneken aitias, eusebeias de tou tōn holōn dēmiourgou prothymōs kai methʼ hēdonēs, hosa dʼ an epagoito autǭ, gennaiōs hypostēsesthai.
But the athlete of godliness was first called up by the tyrant, then asked to deny his resolve on the promise of freedom. He declared with a loud voice that it was not for any base cause, but for godliness toward the Creator of the universe, that he would nobly bear, eagerly and with pleasure, whatever might be inflicted on him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Offered freedom if he denied his faith, Agapius declared that he suffered for God and would bear anything gladly.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.6 (Dindorf 4:395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
6.7Dindorf 4:395
καὶ τοῦτʼ εἰπὼν ἅμα λόγῳ τοὔργον ἐπάγει, δρομαῖος ἄντικρυς ἀπολυθείσῃ κατʼ αὐτοῦ ἄρκτῳ ὑπαντιάσας, ταύτῃ τε ἑαυτὸν ἀσμενέστατα ἐπιδεδωκὼς εἰς βορὰν, μεθʼ ἣν ἔμπνους εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον αἴρεται. μίαν τε ἐνταῦθα ἐπιβιώσας ἡμέραν τῇ ἑξῆς λίθων αὐτοῦ προσαρτηθέντων τοῖς ποσὶ μέσῳ πελάγει καταποντοῦται. τοιοῦτο καὶ τὸ τοῦ Ἀγαπίου μαρτύριον.
kai toutʼ eipōn hama logǭ tourgon epagei, dromaios antikrys apolytheisę̄ katʼ autou arktǭ hypantiasas, tautę̄ te heauton asmenestata epidedōkōs eis boran, methʼ hēn empnous eis to desmōtērion airetai. mian te entautha epibiōsas hēmeran tę̄ hexēs lithōn autou prosartēthentōn tois posi mesǭ pelagei katapontoutai. toiouto kai to tou Agapiou martyrion.
And having said this, he matched the deed to the word: he ran straight to meet a bear let loose against him and most gladly gave himself to it to be devoured. After this he was carried, still breathing, to the prison. He survived there one day, and on the next, stones were fastened to his feet and he was sunk in the middle of the sea. Such was the martyrdom of Agapius.
Notes and citation
Summary: Agapius ran to the bear, survived its mauling a day, and was drowned.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (split word rejoined; stray stop in the digital text): ταύτῃ. τε → ταύτῃ τε; ἡμέ ραν → ἡμέραν.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 6.7 (Dindorf 4:395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/6-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
Chapter 7
7.1Dindorf 4:395
Ἤδη δὲ καὶ εἰς πέμπτον ἔτος τοῦ διωγμοῦ παραταθέντος, μηνὸς δευτέρᾳ Ξανθικοῦ, ἥτις ἐστὶ πρὸ τεσσάρων Νώνων Ἀπριλλίων, ἐν αὐτῇ κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἀναστάσεως, αὖθις ἐπὶ τῆς Καισαρείας Θεοδοσία τῶν ἀπὸ Τύρου παρθένος, πιστὸν καὶ σεμνότατον κόριον, οὐδʼ ὅλως ἐτῶν ὀκτωκαίδεκα, δεσμίοις τισὶ καὶ αὐτοῖς τὴν Χριστοῦ βασιλείαν ὁμολογοῦσι, πρό τε τοῦ δικαστηρίου καθεζομένοις, πρόσεισιν ὁμοῦ φιλοφρονουμένη, καὶ οἷα εἰκὸς ὑπὲρ τοῦ μνημονεύειν αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν κύριον γενομένους παρακαλοῦσα.
Ēdē de kai eis pempton etos tou diōgmou paratathentos, mēnos deuterą Xanthikou, hētis esti pro tessarōn Nōnōn Aprilliōn, en autę̄ kyriakę̄ hēmerą tēs tou sōtēros hēmōn anastaseōs, authis epi tēs Kaisareias Theodosia tōn apo Tyrou parthenos, piston kai semnotaton korion, oudʼ holōs etōn oktōkaideka, desmiois tisi kai autois tēn Christou basileian homologousi, pro te tou dikastēriou kathezomenois, proseisin homou philophronoumenē, kai hoia eikos hyper tou mnēmoneuein autēs pros ton kyrion genomenous parakalousa.
When the persecution had now extended into its fifth year, on the second of the month Xanthicus, which is the fourth day before the Nones of April, on the very Lord's day of our Saviour's resurrection, again at Caesarea, Theodosia, a virgin from Tyre, a faithful and most modest girl, not yet fully eighteen years old, went up to some prisoners who were themselves confessing the kingdom of Christ and were sitting before the court, both to greet them kindly and, as was natural, to ask them to remember her when they came before the Lord.
Notes and citation
Summary: On Easter Sunday Theodosia, a young virgin of Tyre, greeted Christian prisoners and asked their prayers.
- 2 April 307, Easter Sunday.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.1 (Dindorf 4:395; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.2Dindorf 4:395–396
τοῦτο δὲ πράξασαν ὥσπερ ἀνόσιόν τι καὶ ἀσεβὲς εἰργασμένην ἀφαρπάσαντες στρατιῶται ἄγουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν ἡγεμόνα. αὐτίκα δʼ οὗτος ἅτε τις ἐμμανὴς καὶ τὸν θυμὸν θηριωδέστατος δειναῖς καὶ φρικτοτάταις βασάνοις κατὰ πλευρῶν καὶ μαζῶν μέχρι καὶ αὐτῶν ὀστέων αἰκισάμενος. ἔμπνουν ἔτʼ αὐτὴν, ὅμως δʼ οὖν πρὸς ἅπαντα γεγηθότι καὶ φαιδρῷ ἱσταμένην προσώπῳ, τοῖς θαλαττίοις κύμασιν ἐμβληθῆναι προστάττει. εἶτʼ ἐξ αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς μεταβὰς προστάττει. τοῖς κατὰ Φαίνω τῆς Παλαιστίνης χαλκοῦ μετάλλοις τοὺς πάντας παραδίδωσιν.
touto de praxasan hōsper anosion ti kai asebes eirgasmenēn apharpasantes stratiōtai agousin epi ton hēgemona. autika dʼ houtos hate tis emmanēs kai ton thymon thēriōdestatos deinais kai phriktotatais basanois kata pleurōn kai mazōn mechri kai autōn osteōn aikisamenos. empnoun etʼ autēn, homōs dʼ oun pros hapanta gegēthoti kai phaidrǭ histamenēn prosōpǭ, tois thalattiois kymasin emblēthēnai prostattei. eitʼ ex autēs epi tous loipous metabas prostattei. tois kata Phainō tēs Palaistinēs chalkou metallois tous pantas paradidōsin.
When she had done this, soldiers seized her as though she had committed something unholy and impious, and brought her to the governor. He at once, like a madman and most savage in temper, tormented her with terrible and most horrible tortures on her sides and breasts, even to the very bones; and while she was still breathing, yet standing through it all with a joyful and radiant face, he ordered her to be thrown into the waves of the sea. Then, passing from her to the rest, he handed them all over to the copper mines at Phaeno in Palestine.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theodosia was tortured and drowned; the prisoners were sent to the copper mines of Phaeno.
- The digital text repeats 'he orders' (προστάττει) before the clause about the mines; translated once.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (line-end hyphenation rejoined): πράξα- σαν → πράξασαν.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.2 (Dindorf 4:395–396; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.3Dindorf 4:396
ἐπὶ τούτοις, Δίου μηνὸς πέμπτῃ, κατὰ δὲ Ῥωμαίους Νώναις ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως τοὺς ἀμφὶ Σιλβανὸν, ἔτι δὴ τότε ὄντα πρεσβύτερον ὁμολογήσαντα, ὃν οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν ὕστερον ἐπισκοπῇ τιμηθῆναί τε καὶ μαρτυρίῳ συνέβη τελειωθῆναι, γενναιοτάτην ἔνστασιν τὴν ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ἐπιδειξαμένους τοῖς εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ χαλκοῦ μέταλλον πόνοις ὁ αὐτὸς ἐγκρίνει, καυτῆρσι πρότερον τῶν ποδῶν τὰς ἀγκύλας αὐτοῖς ἀχρειωθῆναι προστάξας.
epi toutois, Diou mēnos pemptę̄, kata de Rhōmaious Nōnais epi tēs autēs poleōs tous amphi Silbanon, eti dē tote onta presbyteron homologēsanta, hon ouk eis makron hysteron episkopę̄ timēthēnai te kai martyriǭ synebē teleiōthēnai, gennaiotatēn enstasin tēn hyper eusebeias epideixamenous tois eis to auto chalkou metallon ponois ho autos enkrinei, kautērsi proteron tōn podōn tas ankylas autois achreiōthēnai prostaxas.
After this, on the fifth of the month Dius, which according to the Romans is the Nones [of November], in the same city, the same man sentenced to the labours of the same copper mine Silvanus and those with him, who had shown a most noble firmness for godliness. Silvanus was then still a presbyter who had confessed; not long after it was his lot to be honoured with the episcopate and perfected by martyrdom. The governor first ordered the sinews of their feet to be disabled with branding irons.
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus, then a presbyter, later bishop and martyr, and his companions were lamed and sent to the copper mines.
- 5 November 307.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.3 (Dindorf 4:396; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.4Dindorf 4:396–397
ἅμα δὲ τῇ κατὰ τούτων ἀποφάσει ἄνδρα μυρίαις ἄλλαις ὁμολογίαις διαπρέψαντα, Δομνῖνος ἦν οὗτος, ὁ διὰ περιττὴν ἐλευθερίαν τοῖς κατὰ Παλαιστίνην ἅπασι γνωριμώτατος, τῇ διὰ πυρὸς ἐκδίδωσι κολάσει· μεθʼ ὃν ὁ αὐτὸς δικαστὴς, δεινὸς ἐπινοητής τις ὢν κακίας, καὶ τῶν κατὰ τῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ διδασκαλίας ἐπιχειρημάτων καινουργὸς, τὰς μηδʼ ἀκουσθείσας πώποτε κατὰ τῶν θεοσεβῶν ἐπενόει τιμωρίας, καὶ τρεῖς μὲν εἰς τὸ μονομαχεῖν ἐπὶ πυγμῇ καταδικάζει, Αὐξέντιον δὲ, σεμνὸν καὶ ἱερὸν πρεσβύτην, θηρίοις βορὰν παραδίδωσιν, ἄλλους δʼ αὖ πάλιν τελείων ἀνδρῶν φέροντας ἡλικίαν εἰς εὐνούχους ἐκτεμὼν τοῖς αὐτοῖς κατακρίνει μετάλλοις, ἑτέρους δʼ αὖ πάλιν μετὰ χαλεπὰς βασάνους δεσμωτηρίῳ καθείργνυσιν, ἐν οἷς καὶ ὁ πάντων ἐμοὶ γοῦν ποθεινότατος ἑταίρων Πάμφιλος ἦν, τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς μαρτύρων ἀνὴρ πάσης ἕνεκεν ἀρετῆς ἐπιδοξότατος.
hama de tę̄ kata toutōn apophasei andra myriais allais homologiais diaprepsanta, Domninos ēn houtos, ho dia perittēn eleutherian tois kata Palaistinēn hapasi gnōrimōtatos, tę̄ dia pyros ekdidōsi kolasei; methʼ hon ho autos dikastēs, deinos epinoētēs tis ōn kakias, kai tōn kata tēs tou Christou didaskalias epicheirēmatōn kainourgos, tas mēdʼ akoustheisas pōpote kata tōn theosebōn epenoei timōrias, kai treis men eis to monomachein epi pygmę̄ katadikazei, Auxention de, semnon kai hieron presbytēn, thēriois boran paradidōsin, allous dʼ au palin teleiōn andrōn pherontas hēlikian eis eunouchous ektemōn tois autois katakrinei metallois, heterous dʼ au palin meta chalepas basanous desmōtēriǭ katheirgnysin, en hois kai ho pantōn emoi goun potheinotatos hetairōn Pamphilos ēn, tōn kathʼ hēmas martyrōn anēr pasēs heneken aretēs epidoxotatos.
Together with the sentence against them, he gave over to the punishment by fire a man distinguished in countless other confessions, Domninus, who was best known to all in Palestine for his exceptional freedom of speech. After him the same judge, a terrible contriver of wickedness and an innovator in schemes against the teaching of Christ, devised punishments against the godly never heard of before: three he condemned to fight as boxers in single combat; Auxentius, a venerable and holy old man, he gave as food to the beasts; others again, men of full age, he made eunuchs and condemned to the same mines; still others, after severe tortures, he shut up in prison. Among these was Pamphilus, of all my companions to me at least the dearest, the most illustrious for every virtue of the martyrs of our time.
Notes and citation
Summary: The governor burned Domninus, condemned others to boxing, the beasts, castration and the mines, and imprisoned Pamphilus, Eusebius's dearest friend.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip in breathing): δʼ αὗ πάλιν → δʼ αὖ πάλιν.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.4 (Dindorf 4:396–397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.5Dindorf 4:397
τούτου τὴν ἐν ῥητορικοῖς λόγοις φιλοσόφοις τε μαθήμασιν ἀπόπειραν πρότερον ὁ Οὐρβανὸς λαβὼν, εἶθʼ ὕστερον θύειν καταναγκάσας, ὡς ἀνανεύοντα καὶ μηδʼ ὅλως ἐν λόγῳ τὰς ἀπειλὰς ἐώρα τιθέμενον, τὸ πανύστατον ἀγριάνας, σφοδροτέραις αὐτὸν αἰκίζεσθαι προστάττει βασάνοις.
toutou tēn en rhētorikois logois philosophois te mathēmasin apopeiran proteron ho Ourbanos labōn, eithʼ hysteron thyein katanankasas, hōs ananeuonta kai mēdʼ holōs en logǭ tas apeilas eōra tithemenon, to panystaton agrianas, sphodroterais auton aikizesthai prostattei basanois.
Urbanus first made trial of his learning in rhetoric and philosophical studies; then afterwards he tried to compel him to sacrifice; and when he saw him refusing and taking no account at all of his threats, he finally grew savage and ordered him to be tormented with more severe tortures.
Notes and citation
Summary: Urbanus tested Pamphilus's learning, then tried to force him to sacrifice, and finally had him tortured.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.5 (Dindorf 4:397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.6Dindorf 4:397
καὶ δὴ ταῖς κατὰ τῶν πλευρῶν αὐτοῦ διʼ ἐπιμόνων καὶ φιλονείκων ξυστήρων ὁ θηριωδέστατος μονονουχὶ ἐμφορηθεὶς, αἰσχύνην γε μὴν ἐπὶ πᾶσι καταχεάμενος, τοῖς ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ καὶ αὐτὸν ὁμολογηταῖς καταλέγει.
kai dē tais kata tōn pleurōn autou diʼ epimonōn kai philoneikōn xystērōn ho thēriōdestatos mononouchi emphorētheis, aischynēn ge mēn epi pasi katacheamenos, tois en tǭ desmōtēriǭ kai auton homologētais katalegei.
And the most savage man, having all but glutted himself with the persistent and relentless scrapings of his sides, and yet covering himself with shame in all of it, enrolled him too among the confessors in the prison.
Notes and citation
Summary: After scraping his sides, Urbanus put Pamphilus in prison with the confessors.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.6 (Dindorf 4:397; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.7Dindorf 4:397–398
ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ κατὰ τῶν ἁγίων ὠμότητι ὁποίας ἀμοιβῆς παρὰ τῇ θείᾳ δίκῃ τεύξεται, τοσαῦτα κατὰ τῶν Χριστοῦ μαρτύρων ἐμπαροινήσας, διαγνῶναι ῥᾴδιον ἐκ τῶν τῇδε προοιμίων, διʼ ὧν εὐθὺς καὶ οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν τοῖς κατὰ τοῦ Παμφίλου τετολμημένοις αὐτὸν ἔτι τῆς ἡγεμονίας ἐχόμενον ἡ θεία μετῆλθεν δίκη, ἀθρόως οὕτως τὸν χθὲς ἄνω που ἐφʼ ὑψηλοῦ βήματος δικάζοντα, καὶ πρὸς τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ δορυφορούμενον στίφους. ὅλου τε τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ ἔθνους ἐπάρχοντα, ὁμοδίαιτόν τε οἷα φίλτατον καὶ ὁμοτράπεζον αὐτῷ τῷ τυράννῳ καθεστῶτα, διὰ μιᾶς γυμνώσασα νυκτὸς, καὶ τῶν τοσούτων ἀξιωμάτων ἔρημον καταστήσασα, ἀτιμίαν τε καὶ αἰσχύνην ἐπὶ τῶν πρότερον ὡσὰν ἄρχοντα αὐτὸν τεθηπότων καταχέασα, δειλόν τε καὶ ἄνανδρον, γυναικώδεις τε προϊέμενον φωνὰς καὶ ἱκεσίας ὅλω τῷ ἔθνει, οὗ δὴ καὶ ἦρχεν, αὐτόν τε τὸν Μαξιμῖνον, ἐφʼ ᾧ τὸ πρὶν γαυριῶν ἐφρυάττετο, ὡσὰν διαφερόντως αὐτὸν τῶν δρωμένων αὐτῷ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἕνεκα στέργοντι, δικαστὴν ἀπηνῆ καὶ ὠμότατον ἐπʼ αὐτῆς τῆς Καισαρείας καταστήσασα, ὡς καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ κατʼ αὐτοῦ ψῆφον ἐξενεγκεῖν, μετὰ πολλὴν τὴν ἐφʼ οἷς ἐξηλέγχετο ἀτοπήμασιν αἰσχύνην.
epi de tę̄ kata tōn hagiōn ōmotēti hopoias amoibēs para tę̄ theią dikę̄ teuxetai, tosauta kata tōn Christou martyrōn emparoinēsas, diagnōnai rhądion ek tōn tę̄de prooimiōn, diʼ hōn euthys kai ouk eis makron tois kata tou Pamphilou tetolmēmenois auton eti tēs hēgemonias echomenon hē theia metēlthen dikē, athroōs houtōs ton chthes anō pou ephʼ hypsēlou bēmatos dikazonta, kai pros tou stratiōtikou doryphoroumenon stiphous. holou te tou stratiōtikou ethnous eparchonta, homodiaiton te hoia philtaton kai homotrapezon autǭ tǭ tyrannǭ kathestōta, dia mias gymnōsasa nyktos, kai tōn tosoutōn axiōmatōn erēmon katastēsasa, atimian te kai aischynēn epi tōn proteron hōsan archonta auton tethēpotōn katacheasa, deilon te kai anandron, gynaikōdeis te proïemenon phōnas kai hikesias holō tǭ ethnei, hou dē kai ērchen, auton te ton Maximinon, ephʼ hǭ to prin gauriōn ephryatteto, hōsan diapherontōs auton tōn drōmenōn autǭ kathʼ hēmōn heneka stergonti, dikastēn apēnē kai ōmotaton epʼ autēs tēs Kaisareias katastēsasa, hōs kai tēn epi thanatǭ katʼ autou psēphon exenenkein, meta pollēn tēn ephʼ hois exēlencheto atopēmasin aischynēn.
What reward he will receive from divine justice for his cruelty against the saints, after behaving so outrageously toward the martyrs of Christ, is easy to judge from the preludes here. Soon, not long after his crimes against Pamphilus, while he was still holding the governorship, divine justice overtook him. The man who only yesterday was judging on a high tribunal, guarded by a band of soldiers, governing the whole province, the intimate and table-companion of the tyrant himself as a dearest friend, it stripped in a single night and left bereft of all those honours; it poured dishonour and shame on him before those who had formerly been awed by him as a ruler; it showed him cowardly and unmanly, uttering womanish cries and supplications to the whole people over whom he had ruled; and it made Maximin himself, in whom he had formerly gloried and prided himself, as though Maximin loved him especially for what he did against us, a harsh and most cruel judge against him in Caesarea itself, so that he passed the sentence of death against him after much shame for the crimes of which he was convicted.
Notes and citation
Summary: Divine justice soon overtook Urbanus: stripped of office in one night, he was condemned to death by Maximin himself.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (split word with stray mark rejoined): προι· έμενον → προϊέμενον.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.7 (Dindorf 4:397–398; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).
7.8Dindorf 4:398
ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ὁδοῦ πάρεργον ἡμῖν εἰρήσθω· γένοιτο δʼ ἂν προσήκων καιρὸς, ἐν ᾧ τῶν δυσσεβῶν, οἳ μάλιστα καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐστρατεύσαντο, αὐτοῦ τε τοῦ Μαξιμίνου καὶ τῶν ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν τὰ τέλη καὶ τῶν βίων τὰς καταστροφὰς ὁ λόγος ἡμῖν ἐπὶ σχολῆς περιλήψεται.
alla touto men hodou parergon hēmin eirēsthō; genoito dʼ an prosēkōn kairos, en hǭ tōn dyssebōn, hoi malista kathʼ hēmōn estrateusanto, autou te tou Maximinou kai tōn amphʼ auton ta telē kai tōn biōn tas katastrophas ho logos hēmin epi scholēs perilēpsetai.
But let this be said by us in passing. There will be a fitting time when our account will take in at leisure the ends of the impious who most warred against us, of Maximin himself and those about him, and the overthrow of their lives.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius defers an account of the persecutors' ends.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Mart. Pal. 7.8 (Dindorf 4:398; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/eusebius-martyribus-palaestinae/7-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude from Dindorf's Greek (1871); compared afterwards with the public-domain English of NPNF² 1 (McGiffert, 1890).