Pionius, Bishop of the Church at Smyrna, in the Year 254

Mention is made in this time of a certain pious Christian called Pionius, a man greatly noted for his remarkable virtue, who always stood fearlessly before the judges, and, as Eusebius declares, steadfastly answered all their questions, and indeed taught and disputed in the court, so that those who wavered because of the persecution were thereby strengthened and encouraged. While in prison, he strengthened the brothers, and encouraged them to fight steadfastly even to the end, in the faith, for the Lord, in which he went before them as a good leader. For, according to the testimony of Eusebius, he was finally nailed to a piece of wood, and cast into a flaming fire, and so died a blessed death. Euseb., book 4, chapter 15, taken from the letter of those of Smyrna, concerning the death of Polycarp and some of the martyrs who followed him. [n202-1]