Genuine Acts Of Peter, Bishop Of
Alexandria & Martyr
Anastasius The Librarian
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 no ways 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 no ways 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 labored 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 honors of the deaconate, 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 aides 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 favoring 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
dispatched 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 no ways 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,
endeavored 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 no ways doubt does quickly await thee. Therefore do we
think it right that, with thy accustomed piety, thou should 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
brethren, 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 radiant 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 shall very quickly fulfill 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 labor 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, spoke 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 Savior, beyond all other heretics; the Lord, I say, and Savior,
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
Savior, whose acts were even as his words, "The good Shepherd gives 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 rearward 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
honorable, 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
entrusted to thee; as the reward of this labor 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 deserving 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 odor 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 honors, 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, recognized 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 recognizing 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 fulfill 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 carries, 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,
"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, honoring 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.
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
color -- 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
endeavoring 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
ought, 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 won't it is thus magnificently to honor Thy martyrs after death: Thou who
with the Father and Holy Consubstantial Spirit lives and reigns 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
apostasy 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...
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