Fourth Century
The Seventh Year of the Persecution, Commenced, in the Year 308
THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE PERSECUTION, COMMENCED IN THE YEAR 308
It is stated that in the seventh year of the persecution the following persons were slain for the confession of the evangelical truth.
SOME PIOUS CHRISTIANS WHO WENT TO VISIT THEIR CONFINED FELLOW BROTHERS, APPREHENDED AT CESAREA, AND BANISHED TO THE MINES; BUT THREE OF THEM, NAMELY, ARES, PROMUS, AND ELIAS, PUT TO DEATH AT ASKALON, IN THE YEAR 308
About the beginning of the year 308, some God-fearing Christians left Egypt, intending to journey to Cilicia, to supply those who had been banished to the mines there for the confession of the faith with some of the things they needed in their misery and poverty. They were apprehended at Caesarea by the guard at the gate of the city. Some of them were sent into misery and slavery by the same sentence, which was this: that the right eye was to be put out, and the left kneecap cut away, and the wound seared; and so, with one eye and one leg, they were forced to labor in this hard slavery.
Three of their number were apprehended at Askalon, in Palestine, and were tormented in various ways, because they steadfastly confessed their faith. One of them, named Ares, was burned alive; the other two, Promus and Elias, were beheaded, and so departed this life in a godly manner. A. Mell., 1st book, folio 126, column 1, from Euseb.