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EDITOR'S NOTE: St. Peter of Alexandria, noted for the gentleness with which he treated those who had lapsed during the persecutions, became himself in 311 the last great martyr of Egypt under paganism. There are many accounts of his life in Coptic, Greek, and Latin, differing in numerous particulars. The following early Latin life is typical. For a slightly different version, see The History of the Patriarchs of the Coptic Church of Alexandria, by Severus of Al-Ushmunain, an electronic edition of which is being published by the St. Pachomius Library. An interesting modern study of St. Peter, with a welcome and unusual degree of respect for the historical value of church tradition, is Tim Vivian's doctoral thesis St. Peter of Alexandria, Bishop and Martyr (Philadelphia: Fortress / Studies in Antiquity and Christianity, 1988). -- N. Redington
THE GENUINE ACTS OF PETER, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA AND MARTYR.
Were all the limbs of my body to be turned into tongues,
and all the joints of my limbs to utter articulate sounds, it
would noways be sufficient to express who, how great and
how good, was our most blessed Father Peter, Archbishop
of Alexandria. Especially incongruous do I consider it to
commit to paper what perils he underwent by tyrants, what
conflicts he endured with Gentiles and heretics, lest I should
seem to make these the subjects of my panegyric rather
than that passion to which he manfully submitted to make
safe the people of God. Nevertheless, because the office of
the narrator must fail in narrating his inmost conversation
and wonderful deeds, and language is noways sufficient for
the task, I have considered it convenient to describe only
those exploits of his by which he is known to have attained
to the pontificate, and after Arius had been cut off from
the unity of the Church, to have been crowned with the
martyr's laurel. Yet this do I consider to be a glorious end,
and a spectacle of a magnificent contest, sufficient for those
who do not doubt of a truthful narration, which is unstained
by falsehood. In commencing, therefore, our account of the
episcopate of this most holy man, let us call to our aid his
own language, in order that we may make it co-operate
with our own style.
Alexandria is a city of exceeding magnitude, which holds
the first place not only among the Egyptians, but the
Thebans also and the Libyans, who are at no great distance
from Egypt. A cycle of two hundred and eighty-five years
from the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
had rolled round, when the venerable Theonas, the bishop
of this city, by an ethereal flight, mounted upwards to the
celestial kingdoms. To him Peter, succeeding at the helm
of the Church, was by all the clergy and the whole Christian
community appointed bishop, the sixteenth in order from
Mark the Evangelist, who was also archbishop of the city.
He in truth, like the Morning Star rising among the stars, shining
forth with the radiance of his sacred virtues, most magnificently
governed the citadel of the faith. Inferior to none
who had gone before him in his knowledge of Holy Scripture,
he nobly applied himself to the advantage and instruction
of the Church; being of singular prudence, and in all
things perfect, a true priest and victim of God, he watchfully
laboured night and day in every sacerdotal care.
But because virtue is the mark of the zealot, "it is the
tops of the mountains that are struck by lightning," [Horace,
Odes, ii, 10 -11]; he hence endured multifarious conflicts with
rivals. Why need I say more? He lived in persecution almost the
whole of his life. Meanwhile he ordained fifty-five bishops.
Meletius lastly, in mind and name most black, was made
the schismatical bishop of the city of Lycopolis, doing many
things against the rule of the canons, and surpassing even
the bloody soldiery in cruelty who, at the time of the Lord's
Passion, feared to rend His coat; he was so hurried on by
giving the rein to his madness, that, rending asunder the
Catholic Church not only in the cities of Egypt, but even in
its villages, he ordained bishops of his own party, nor cared
he ought for Peter, nor for Christ, who was in the person of
Peter. To him Arius, who was yet a laic, and not marked
with the clerical tonsure, adhered, and was to him and his
family most dear; and not without reason: every animal, as
says the Scripture, loves its like. But upon this coming to
his knowledge, the man of God being affected with grief,
said that this persecution was worse than the former. And
although he was in hiding, yet, so far as his strength permitted,
directing everywhere his exhortations, and preaching
up the unity of the Church, he strengthened men to withstand
the ignorance and nefarious temerity of Meletius.
Whence it came to pass that not a few, being influenced
by his salutary admonitions, departed from the Meletian
impiety.
Nearly about the same time Arius, armed with a viper's
craft, as if deserting the party of Meletius, fled for refuge to
Peter, who at the request of the bishops raised him to the
honours of the diaconate, being ignorant of his exceeding
hypocrisy. For he was even as a snake suffused with deadly
poison. Yet neither can the imposition of hands upon this
false one be imputed as a crime to this holy man, as the
simulated magic arts of Simon is not ascribed to Philip.
Meanwhile, the detestable wickedness of the Meletians increased
beyond measure; and the blessed Peter, fearing lest
the plague of heresy should spread over the whole flock committed
to his care, and knowing that there is no fellowship
with light and darkness, and no concord betwixt Christ and
Belial, by letter separated the Meletians from the communion
of the Church. And because an evil disposition cannot long
be concealed, upon that instant the wicked Arius, when he
saw his aiders and abettors cast down from the dignity of
the Church, gave way to sadness and lamentation. This did
not escape the notice of this holy man. For when his
hypocrisy was laid bare, immediately using the evangelical
sword, "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast
it from thee," and cutting off Arius from the body of the
Church as a putrid limb, he expelled and banished him
from the communion of the faithful.
This done, the storm of persecution suddenly abating,
peace, although for a short time, smiled. Then this most
choice priest of the Lord shone manifestly before the people,
and the faithful began to run in crowds to keep the memory
of the martyrs, and to assemble in congregations to the praise
of Christ. Whom this priest of the divine law quickened
with his holy eloquence, and so roused and strengthened
that the multitude of believers increased continually in the
Church. But the old enemy of salvation of man did not
long remain quiet and look on these things with favouring
eyes. For on a sudden the storm-cloud of paganism gave
forth its hostile thunder, and like a winter shower struck
against the serenity of the Church, and chased it away in
flight. But that this may be understood more clearly, we
must necessarily turn back to the atrocities of Diocletian,
that impious one, and rebel against God, and also to Maximian
Galerius, who at that time, with his son Maximin, harassed
the regions of the East with his tyrannical sway.
For in the time of this man the fire of Christian persecution so
raged, that not only in one region of the universe, but even
throughout the whole world, both by land and by sea, the storm
of impiety gave forth its thunder. The imperial edicts and most
cruel decrees running hither and thither, the worshippers of
Christ were put to death now openly, and now by clandestine
snares; no day, no night, passed off free from the effusion of
Christian blood. Nor was the type of slaughter of one kind
alone; some were slain with diverse and most bitter tortures;
some again, that they might want the humanity of kinsmen, and
burial in their own country, were transported to other climes,
and by certain new machinations of punishment, and as yet to
the age unknown, were driven to the goal of martyrdom. Oh, the
horrible wickedness! So great was their impiety that they even
upturned from their foundations the sanctuaries of divine
worship, and burned the sacred books in the fire. Diocletian of
execrable memory having died, Constantinus Major was elected to
administer the kingdom, and in the western parts began to hold
the reins of government.
In these days, information was brought to Maximin about the
aforesaid archbishop, that he was a leader and holding chief
place among the Christians; and he, inflamed with his
accustomed iniquity, on the instant ordered Peter to be
apprehended and cast into prison. For which purpose he
despatched to Alexandria five tribunes, accompanied with their
bands of soldiers, who, coming thither as they had been
commanded, suddenly seized the priest of Christ and committed
him to the custody of a prison. Wonderful was the devotion of
the faithful! When it was known that this holy man was shut up
in the dungeons of the prison, an incredibly large number ran
together, principally a band of monks and of virgins, and with
no material arms, but with rivers of tears and the affection of
pious minds, surrounded the prison's circuit. And as good sons
towards a good father, nay, rather as the Christian members of
a most Christian head, adhered to him with all theirs bowels of
compassion, and were to him as walls, observing that no pagan
might get an opportunity of access to him. One indeed was the
vow of all, one their voice, and one their compassion and
resolve to die rather than to see any evil happen to this holy
man.
Now while the man of God was being kept for a few days in the
same stocks, with his body thrust back, the tribunes made a
suggestion to the king concerning him, but he, after his
ferocious manner, gave his sentence for capitally punishing the
most blessed patriarch. And when this got to the ears of the
Christians, they all with one mind began to guard the approaches
to the prison with groaning and lamentation, and persistently
prevented any Gentile from obtaining access to him. And when the
tribunes could by no means approach him to put him to death, they
held a council, and determined that the soldiers should with drawn
swords break in upon the crowd of people, and so draw him forth to
behead him; and if any opposed, he should be put to death.
Arius, in the meanwhile, having as yet been endowed only with the dignity
of a Levite, and fearing lest, after the death of so great a father, he
should noways be able to get reconciled to the Church, came to those who
held the chief place amongst the clergy, and, hypocrite that he was, by
his sorrowful entreaties and plausible discourse, endeavoured to persuade
the holy archbishop to extend to him his compassion, and to release him
from the ban of excommunication. But what is more deceptive than a
feigned heart? What more simple than a holy composure? There was no
delay; those who had been requested went in to the priest of Christ, and,
after the customary oration, prostrating themselves on the ground, and
with groans and tears kissing his hands, implored him, saying, "Thee,
indeed most blessed father, for the excellence of thy faith, the Lord
hath called to receive the martyr's crown, which we noways doubt does
quickly await thee. Therefore do we think it right that, with thy
accustomed piety, thou shouldest pardon Arius, and extend thy indulgence
to his lamentations."
Upon hearing this the man of God, moved with indignation, put them aside,
and, raising his hands to heaven, exclaimed: "Do ye dare to supplicate me
on behalf of Arius? Arius, both here and in the future world, will
always remain banished and separate from the glory of the Son of God,
Jesus Christ our Lord." He thus protesting, all who were present, being
struck with terror, like men dumb, kept silence. Moreover they suspected
that he, not without some divine notification, gave forth such a sentence
against Arius. But when the merciful father beheld them silent and sad
from compunction of heart, he would not persist in austerity, or leave
them, as if in contempt, without satisfaction; but taking Achillas and
Alexander, who amongst the priests appeared to be the eldest and the most
holy, having one of them at his right hand, and the other on his left, he
separated them a little from the rest, and at the end of his discourse
said to them:
"Do not, my bretheren, take me for a man inhuman and stern;
for indeed I too am living under the law of sin; but believe my words.
The hidden treachery of Arius surpasses all iniquity and impiety, and not
asserting this of mine own self, have I sanctioned his excommunication.
For in this night, whilst I was solemnly pouring forth my prayers to God,
there stood by me a boy of about twelve years, the brightness of whose
face I could not endure, for this whole cell in which we stand was
radient with a great light. He was clothed with a linen tunic divided
into two parts, from the neck to the feet, and holding in his two hands
the rents of his tunic, he applied them to his breast to hide his
nakedness. At this vision I was stupefied with astonishment. And when
boldness of speech was given to me, I exclaimed: Lord, who hath rent thy
tunic? Then said he, Arius hath rent it, and by all means beware of
receiving him into communion; behold, to-morrow they will come to entreat
you for him. See, therefore, that thou be not persuaded to acquiesce:
nay, rather lay thy commands upon Achillas and Alexander the priests, who
after thy translation will rule my Church, not by any means to receive
him. Thou shalt very quickly fulfil the lot of the martyr. Now there
was no other cause of this vision. So now I have satisfied you, and I
have declared unto you what I was ordered. But what you will do in
consequence of this, must be your own care. Thus much concerning Arius.
"Ye know too, beloved, and ye know well, what has been the manner of my
conversation amongst you, and what conflicts I have endured from the
idolatrous Gentiles, who, being ignorant of the Lord and Saviour, do
not cease in their madness to spread abroad the fame of a multitude of
gods who are no gods. Ye know likewise how, in avoiding the rage of
my persecutors, I wandered an exile from place to place. For long
time I lay in hiding in Mesopotamia, and also in Syria amongst the
Phoenicians; in either Palestine also I had for a long time to
wander; and from thence, if I may so say, in another element, that
is, in the islands I tarried no short time. Yet in the midst of all
these calamities I did not cease day and night writing to the Lord's
flock committed to my poor care, and confirming them in the unity of
Christ. For an anxious solicitude for them constantly kept urging my
heart, and suffered me not to rest; then only did I think it to be
more tolerable to me when I committed them to the Power above.
"Likewise also, on account of those fortunate prelates, Phileus, I mean
Hesychius and Theodorus, who of divine grace have received a worthy
vocation, what great tribulation agitated my mind. For these, as ye
know, for the faith of Christ were with the rest of the confessors
wasted with diverse torments. And because in such a conflict they
were not only of the clergy but of the laity also the standard-bearers
and preceptors, I on this account greatly feared lest they should be
found wanting under their long affliction, and lest their defection,
which is terrible to speak of, should be to many an occasion of
stumbling and of denying the faith, for there were more than six
hundred and sixty confined along with them within the precincts of a
dungeon. Hence, although oppressed with great labour and toil, I
ceased not to write to them with reference to all those predicted
passages [of Scripture], exhorting them to earn the martyr's palm with
the power of divine inspiration. But when I heard of their
magnificent perseverance, and the glorious end of the passion of them
all, falling on the ground I adored the majesty of Christ, who had
thought fit to count them amongst the throng of the martyrs.
"Why should I speak to you about Meletius of Lycopolis? What
persecutions, what treachery, he directed against me, I doubt not but
that ye well know. Oh, the horrible wickedness! he feared not to
rend asunder the holy Church, which the Son of God redeemed
with His precious blood, and to deliver which from the tyranny of
the devil He hesitated not to lay down his life. This Church, as I
have begun to say, the wicked Meletius rending asunder, ceased not
to imprison in dungeons, and to afflict holy bishops even, who
have a little before us by martyrdom penetrated to the heavens.
Beware therefore of his insidious devices. For I, as ye see, go
bound by divine charity, preferring above all things the will of
God. I know, indeed, that under their breath the tribunes whisper
of my death with eager haste; but I will not from this circumstance
open any communication with them, nor will I count my life more
precious than myself. Nay, rather, I am prepared to finish the
course which my Lord Jesus Christ hath deigned to promise to me,
and faithfully render up to Him the ministry which from Him I have
received. Pray for me, my brothers; you will not see me longer
living in this life with you. Wherefore I testify before God and
your brotherhood, that before all of you have I preserved a clean
conscience. For I have not shunned to declare unto you the
injunctions of the Lord, and I have refused not to make known to
you the things which will hereafter be necessary.
"Wherefore take heed unto yourselves, and the whole flock over
which the Holy Ghost has appointed you as overseers in
succession -- thee Achillas in the first place, and next to thee
Alexander. Behold with living voice I protest to you, that after my
death men will arise in the Church speaking perverse things, and
will again divide it, like Meletius, drawing away the people after
their madness. So I have told you before. But I pray you, mine
own bowels, be watchful; for ye must undergo many tribulations.
For we are no better than our fathers.
"Are ye ignorant what things my father endured from the Gentiles,
he who brought me up, the most holy bishop Theonas, whose
pontifical chair I have undertaken to fill? Would that I had his
manners also! Why too should I speak of the great Dionysius his
predecessor? Who wandering from place to place sustained many
calamities from the frantic Sabellius. Nor will I omit to mention
you, ye most holy fathers and high priests of the divine law,
Heraclius and Demetrius, for whom Origen, that framer of a
perverse dogma, laid many temptations, who cast upon the Church
a detestable schism, which to this day is throwing it into confusion.
But the grace of God which then protected them, will, I believe,
protect you also.
"But why do I delay you longer, my very dear brethren, with the
outpouring of my prolix discourse. It remains, that with the last
words of the Apostle who thus prayed I address you: And now I
commend you to God and the word of His grace, which is
powerful to direct both you and His flock." [Cf. Acts 20].
When he had finished, falling on his knees, he prayed with them.
And his speech ended, Achillas and Alexander kissing his hands
and feet and bursting into tears sobbed bitterly, specially grieving
at those words of his which they heard when he said that they
should henceforth see him in this life no more. Then this most
gentle teacher going to the rest of the clergy, who, as I have said,
had come into him to speak in behalf of Arius, spake to them his
last consoling words, and such as were necessary; then pouring
forth his prayers to God, and bidding them adieu, he dismissed
them all in peace.
These things having thus ended, it was everywhere published far and
wide that Arius had not been cut off from the catholic unity without
a divine interposition, but that contriver of deceit, and
disseminator of all wickedness, ceased not to keep hidden his viper's
poison in the labyrinth of his bosom, hoping that he should be
reconciled by Achillas and Alexander. This is that Arius the
heresiarch, the divider of the consubstantial and indivisible
Trinity. This is he who with rash and wicked mouth, was not afraid
to blaspheme the Lord and Saviour, beyond all other heretics; the
Lord, I say, and Saviour, who out of pity for our human wanderings,
and being sorely grieved that the world should perish in deadly
destruction and condemnation, deigned for us all to suffer in the
flesh. For it is not to be believed that the Godhead which is
impassible was subject to the passion. But because the theologians
and fathers have taken care in better style to remove from Catholics'
ears the blasphemies of this nature, and another task is ours, let
us return to our subject.
This most sagacious pontiff then, perceiving the cruel device of the
tribunes, who, in order to bring about his death, were willing to put
to the sword the whole Christian multitude that was present, was
unwilling that they should together with him taste the bitterness of
death, but as a faithful servant imitates his Lord and Saviour, whose
acts were even as his words, "The good Shepherd giveth His life for
the sheep," [John 10:11], prompted by his piety, called to him an
elder of those who there waited on his words, and said to him: "Go
to the tribunes who seek to kill me, and say to them, Cease ye from
all your anxiety, lo! I am ready and willing of mine own accord to
give myself to them. Bid them come this night to the rereward of
the house of this prison, and in the spot in which they shall hear a
signal given on the wall from within, there let them make an
excavation, and take me and do with me as they have commanded." The
elder, obeying the commands of this most holy man (for so great a
father could not be contradicted), departed to the tribunes, and made
the intimation to them as he had been commanded.
They, when with them had received it, were exceedingly rejoiced, and
taking with them some stonemasons, came about the dawn of the day
without their soldiers to the place that had been pointed out to
them. The man of God had passed the whole night as a vigil without
sleep in prayer and watchfulness. But when he heard their approach,
whilst all who were with him were rapt in slumber, with a slow and
gentle step he descended to the interior part of the prison, and
according to the agreement made, made a sound on the wall; and those
outside hearing this, forcing an aperture, received this athlete of
Christ armed on all sides with no brazen breastplate, but with the
virtue of the cross of the Lord and fully prepared to carry out the
Lord's words who said, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell." [Matt 10:28] Wonderful was the
occurrence! Such a heavy whirlwind of wind and rain prevailed during
that night, that no one of those who kept the door of the prison
could hear the sound of the excavation. This martyr most constant
too, kept urging on his murderers, saying, "Do what ye are about to
do, before those are aware who are guarding me."
But they took him up and brought him to the place called Bucolia,
where the holy St. Mark underwent martyrdom for Christ. Astonishing
is the virtue of the saints! As they called him along, and beheld
his great constancy and strength of mind when in peril of death, on
a sudden a fear and trembling came upon them to such a degree, that
none of them could look steadfastly into his face. Moreover, the
blessed martyr entreated them to allow him to go to the tomb of
St. Mark, for he desired to commend himself to his patronage. But
they from confusion, looking down on the ground, said, "Do as you
wish, but make haste." Therefore approaching the burial-place of the
evangelist, he embraced it, and speaking to him as if he were yet
alive in the flesh and able to hear him, he prayed after this manner:
"O father most honourable, thou evangelist of the only-begotten
Savior, thou witness of His passion, thee did Christ choose, who is
the Deliverer of us all, to be the first pontiff and pillar of this
see; to thee did He commit the task of proclaiming the faith
throughout the whole of Egypt and its boundaries. Thou, I say, hast
watchfully fulfilled that ministry of our human salvation which was
intrusted to thee; as the reward of this labour thou hast doubtless
obtained the martyr's palm. Hence, not without justice, are thou
counted worthy to be saluted evangelist and bishop. Thy successor
was Anianus, and the rest in descending series down to the most
blessed Theonas, who disciplined my infancy, and deigned to educate
my heart. To whom I, a sinner and unworthy, have been beyond my
deservings appointed as successor by an hereditary descent. And,
what is best of all, lo! the largeness of the divine bounty has
granted me to become a martyr of His precious cross and joyful
resurrection, giving to my devotion the sweet and pleasant odour of
His passion, that I should be made meet to pour out unto Him the
offering of my blood. And, because the time of making this offering
is now instant, pray for me that, the divine power assisting
me, I may be meet to reach the goal of His agony with a stout heart
and ready faith.
"I commend also to thy glorious patronage the flock of Christ's
worshippers which was committed to my pastoral care; to thee, I say,
I with prayers commend it, who are approved as the author and
guardian of all preceding and subsequent occupiers of this pontifical
chair, and who, holding its first honours, are the successor not of
man, but of the God-man, Christ Jesus."
Saying these words, he went back to a little distance from the sacred
tomb,
and raising his hands to heaven, prayed with a loud voice, saying:
"O thou Only-begotten, Jesus Christ, Word of the Eternal Father, hear me
invoking Thy clemency. Speak peace, I beseech Thee, to the tempest that
shakes Thy Church, and with the effusion of my blood, who am Thy servant,
make an end to the persecution of Thy people."
Then a certain virgin dedicated to God, who had her cell adjoining to
the tomb of the evangelist, as she was spending the night in prayer,
heard a voice from heaven, saying: "Peter was the first of the
apostles, Peter is the last of the martyred bishops of Alexandria."
Having ended his prayer, he kissed the tomb of the blessed
evangelist, and of the other pontiffs who were buried there, and went
forth to the tribunes. But they seeing his face as it had been the
face of an angel, being terror-stricken, feared to speak to him of
his instant agony. Nevertheless, because God does not desert those
who trust in Him, He willed not to leave His martyr without
consolation in the moment of so great a trial. For lo! an old man
and an aged virgin, coming from the smaller towns, were hastening to
the city, one of whom was carrying four skins for sale, and the other
two sheets of linen. The blessed prelate, when he perceived them,
recognised a divine dispensation with reference to himself. He
inquired of them on the instant, "Are ye Christians?" And they
replied, "Yes." Then said he, "Whither are ye going?" And they
replied, "To the market in the city to sell these things that we are
carrying." Then the most merciful father answered, "My faithful
children, God has marked you out, persevere with me." And they
immediately recognising him, said, "Sire, let it be as thou hast
commanded."
Then turning to the tribunes, he said, "Come, do what ye are about to
do, and fulfil the king's command; for the day is now on the point of
breaking." But they, suffering violence as it were on account of the
wicked decree of the prince, brought him to the spot opposite to the
sanctuary of the evangelist, into a valley near the tombs. Then said
the holy man, "Spread out, thou aged man, the skins which thou
carriest, and thou too, O aged woman, the linen sheets." And when
they had been spread out, this most constant martyr, mounting upon
them, extended both his hands to heaven, and bending his knees on the
ground, and fixing his mind upon heaven, returned his thanks to the
Almighty Judge of the contest, and fortifying himself with the sign of
the cross, said, "Amen." Then loosening his omophorion from his neck,
he stretched it forth, saying, "What is commanded you, do speedily."
Meanwhile the hands of the tribunes were paralyzed, and looking upon
one another in turn, each urged his fellow to the deed, but they were
all held fast with astonishment and fear. At length they agreed that
out of their common stock a reward for the execution should be
appointed, and that the man who should venture to perpetrate the
deed should enjoy the reward. There was no delay, each of them
brought forth five solidi. But, as says the heathen poet,
In the meanwhile an innumerable multitude of either sex, flocking
together from the populous city, with groans and ejaculations asked
each other in turn, being ignorant, in what manner this had happened.
In truth, from the least to the greatest, a very great grief was
prevalent amongst all. For when the chief men of the city beheld the
laudable importunity of the multitude, who were busied in dividing his
sacred spoils to keep them as relics, they wrapped him up the tighter
in the skins and linen sheets. For the most holy minister of God was
always clothed in sacerdotal vestments of a white colour -- that is,
with the tunic, the kolobion, and the omophorion.
Then there arose among them no small contention; for some were for
carrying the most sacred limbs to the church which he had himself built,
and where he now rests, but others were endeavouring to carry him to the
sanctuary of the evangelist, where he attained the goal of martyrdom; and
since neither party would yield to the other, they began to turn
their
religious observance into a wrangling and a fight. In the meanwhile a
spirited body of senators of those who are engaged in the public
transport service, seeing what had happened, for they were near the
sea, prepared a boat, and suddenly seizing upon the sacred relics, they
placed them in it, and scaling the Pharos [Lighthouse] from behind, by
a quarter which has the name of Leucado, they came to the church of the
most blessed mother of God, and Ever-Virgin Mary, which, as we began
to say, he had constructed in the western quarter, in a suburb, for
a cemetery of the martyrs. Thereupon, the throng of the people, as
if the heavenly treasure had been snatched from them, some by
straight roads, and others by a more devious route, followed by
hasty steps. And when they at length arrived there, there was no
longer any altercation where he was to be placed, but by a common
and unimpeachable counsel they agreed first to place him in the
episcopal chair, and then to bury him.
And this, most prudent reader, I would not have you regard as a wild
fancy and superstition, since, if you learn the cause of this novelty,
you will admire and approve of the zeal and deed of the populace. For
this blessed priest, when he celebrated the sacrament of the divine
mysteries, did not, as is the ecclesiastical custom, sit upon his
pontifical throne, but upon its footstool underneath, which, when the
people beheld, they disliked, and complainingly exclaimed,"Thou oughtest,
O father, to sit upon thy chair"; and when they repeated this frequently,
the minister of the Lord rising, calmed their complaints with tranquil
voice, and again took his seat upon the same stool. So all this seemed
to be done by him from motives of humility.
But upon a certain great festival it happened that he was offering the
sacrifice of the mass, and wished to do this same thing. Thereupon, not
only the people, but the clergy also, exclaimed with one voice, "Take thy
seat upon thy chair, bishop." But he, as if conscious of a mystery,
feigned not to hear this; and giving the signal for silence (for no one
dared pertinaciously to withstand him), he made them all quiet, and yet,
nevertheless, sat down on the footstool of the chair; and the
solemnities of the mass having been celebrated as usual, each one of the
faithful returned to his own home.
But the man of God sending for the clergy, with tranquil and serene
mind, charged them with rashness, saying, "How is it that ye blush not
for having joined the cry of the laity, and reproaching me? Howbeit,
since your reproach flows not from the muddy torrent of arrogance, but
from the pure fountain of love, I will unfold to you the secret of
this mystery. Very often when I wish to draw near to that seat, I see
a virtue as it were sitting upon it, exceeding radiant with the
brightness of its light. Then, being in suspense between joy and fear,
I acknowledge that I am altogether unworthy to sit upon such a seat,
and if I did not hesitate to cause an occasion of offence to the
people, without doubt I would not even venture to sit upon the stool
itself. Thus it is, my beloved sons, that I seem to you in this to
transgress the pontifical rule. Nevertheless, many times when I see it
vacant, as ye yourselves are witnesses, I refuse not to sit upon the
chair after the accustomed manner. Wherefore do ye, now that ye are
acquainted with my secret, and being well assured that, if I shall be
indulged, I will sit upon the chair, for I hold not in slight esteem
the dignity of my order, cease any further from joining in the
exclamations of the populace."
This explanation the most holy father, whilst he was yet alive, was
compelled to give to the clergy. The faithful of Christ, therefore,
remembering all this with pious devotion, brought his sacred body, and
caused it to sit upon the episcopal throne. As much joy and exultation
arose then to heaven from the people, as if they were attending him
alive and in the body. Then embalming him with sweet spices, they
wrapped him in silken coverings; what each one of them could be the
first to bring, this he accounted to himself as greatest gain. Then
carrying palms, the tokens of victory, with flaming tapers, with
sounding hymns, and with fragrant incense, celebrating the triumph of
his heavenly victory, they laid down the sacred relics, and buried
them in the cemetery which had been long ago constructed by him, where
too from henceforth, and even to this day, miraculous virtues cease
not to show themselves. Pious vows, forsooth, are received with a
propitious hearing; the health of the impotent is restored; the
expulsion of unclean spirits testifies to the martyr's merits. These
gifts, O Lord Jesus, are Thine, whose wont it is thus magnificently to
honour Thy martyrs after death: Thou who with the Father and Holy
Consubstantial Spirit livest and reignest for evermore. Amen.
After this, how that wolf and framer of treachery,
that is Arius, covered with a sheep's skin, entered into the
Lord's fold to worry and torment it, or in what manner he
was enabled to attain to the dignity of the priesthood, let
us employ ourselves in relating in brief. [Editor's Note:
It was Achillas, the successor of Peter, who admitted Arius to
the priesthood.]
And this not to annoy those who ventured to recall to the threshing-floor
of the Lord those tares of apostacy and contagion that had been winnowed
out of the Church by a heavenly fan; for these are without doubt reckoned
eminent for sanctity, but thinking it a light thing to believe so holy
a man, they transgressed the injunctions of the divine command. What
then? Do we reprehend them? By no means. For as long as this corruptible
body weighs us down, and this earthly habitation depresses the sense
of our infirmity, many are easily deceived in their imaginations, and
think
that to be just which is unjust, that to be holy which is impure. The
Gibeonites who, by the divine threatenings, were to be utterly destroyed,
having one thing in their wishes and another in their voice and mien,
were able quickly to deceive Joshua, that just distributor of the land
of promise. David also, full of prophetic inspiration, when
he had heard the words of the deceitful youth, although it was by
the inscrutable and just judgment of God, yet acted very differently
from what the true nature of the case required. What also can be more
sublime than the apostles, who have not removed themselves from our
infirmity? For one of them writes, "In many things we offend all;" [James
3:2],
and another, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us." [I John 1:8]. But when we repent of these,
so much the more readily do we obtain pardon, when we
have sinned not willingly, but through ignorance or frailty.
And certainly offences of this sort come not of prevarication,
but of the indulgence of compassion. But I leave to others
to write an apology for this; let us pursue what is in hand.
After that magnificent defender of the faith, Peter, worthy of
his name, had by the triumph of martyrdom...
[Here the manuscript ends.]
Have mercy, O Lord, upon Thy servants
the translator James and the scribes
Walter, Tony, Steven, Paul, Maurice, Michael, Tae Han, Amgad, Vassilios,
and Alifa.
"O sacred hunger of pernicious gold,
What bands of faith can impious lucre hold?"
[Virgil, Aeneid iii, 56 Dryden],
one of them after the manner of the traitor Judas, emboldened by
the desire of money, drew his sword and beheaded the pontiff, on the
25th day of November, after he had held the pontificate twelve
years -- three of which were before the persecution, but the
nine remaining were passed by him under persecutions of diverse
kinds. The blood-money being instantly claimed by the executioner,
these wicked purchasers, or rather, destroyers, of man's life
quickly returned, for they feared the multitude of the people, since,
as I have said, they were without military escort. But the body of the
blessed martyr, as the fathers affirm who went first to the place of
execution, remained erect, as if instant in prayer, until many people,
coming together, discovered it standing in the same posture; so that
what was his constant practice whilst living, to this his inanimate
body testified. They found also the aged man and woman watching with
grief and lamentation the most precious relic of the Church. So,
honouring him with a triumphal funeral, they covered his body with the
linen sheets; but the sacred blood which had been poured forth,
they collected reverently in a wallet.