Alcibiades, a Pious Christian

In the letter of the church at Lyons and Vienne, among the various pious martyrs who suffered for the name of Jesus Christ, Alcibiades is mentioned. It is stated of him that he lived a very retired and austere life, his diet consisting of nothing but salt, bread and water. He wanted to keep up this manner of life in prison as well. But the pious man Attalus instructed him that by doing so he would leave his brothers and fellow martyrs under a seeming reproach for luxurious living, if they did not do the same; and from then on he ate other food as well, with thankfulness. However, this did not last long, since he was soon deprived, not only of food, but of life itself. For the letter mentioned above calls him a martyr, which was generally understood to mean one of those who suffered a violent death for the name of Jesus, the Son of God, and had valiantly passed through the conflict. Compare Euseb., 5th book, chapter 3, with Abr. Mell., 1st book, folio 49, columns 3, 4. [n162-1]