Apphian, a God Fearing Youth, in the Year 304

When the third year of the aforementioned persecution had begun, the second oppression of the Christians arose in Palestine, through letters which had been sent in the Emperor's name to Urbanus, the Proconsul; by which the magistrates of every city were commanded to exert the utmost diligence, so that all Christians, men and women, old and young, would sacrifice to the gods; and that the criers should call together in the city of Caesarea, men, women, and children, to assemble in the temples of the idols; and also that the chief men of every quarter of the city should read off from their lists the name of every citizen, so as to make it impossible for anyone to conceal himself. This caused great misery and distress throughout the whole city.

When it came to pass, on the first day of the goddess Hecate, that the Proconsul of Palestine was engaged in offering his sacrifice, Apphian, who was not yet twenty years old, went undauntedly to the Proconsul, and reproved him for his wicked idolatry, admonishing him to give it up. At once the youth was frightfully torn, as if by wild beasts, by the bodyguards of the Proconsul, suffering stripes without number from them, which he endured with great steadfastness. After that he was imprisoned for a while, but was then brought out again, and dreadfully tormented. He was beaten so inhumanly in his face and on his neck that, because of the wounds and the swelling of his face, he was so disfigured that those who formerly knew him well now no longer recognized him. At the command of the Proconsul they also took linen cloths, which they had soaked with oil, wound them around his bare legs, and then set them on fire, so that the flames leaped up high, consuming not only the flesh off the bones, but even melting the marrow within them, causing it to trickle down; which must have caused a pain beyond all comparison. But through all this he remained steadfast. Three days after this he was again brought before the judge, and received sentence of death, namely, that he should be drowned in the sea; which sentence was carried out on the second of April, in the year 304. Compare Abr. Mell., 1st book, folio 123, columns 1 and 2, with Eus., book 8, chapter 14. [n258-1]