The Martyrs of Alexandria

The same writer, in a letter to Fabius, bishop of Antioch, tells of the struggles of those who bore witness at Alexandria under Decius, in this way: “The persecution among us did not begin with the imperial decree; it came a whole year ahead of it. The prophet and maker of evils for this city, whoever he was, got in first and stirred up the crowds of the pagans against us, fanning them into the superstition of their own land. Roused by him, and taking full license for every unholy deed, [a] they decided that this alone was piety, this the worship of their demons: to murder us.

First, then, they seized an old man named Metras and ordered him to speak godless words. When he would not obey, they beat his body with clubs, stabbed his face and eyes with sharp reeds, led him out to the suburbs and stoned him. [d] Next they took a faithful woman named Quinta to the idol temple and tried to force her to worship. When she turned away in disgust, they tied her by the feet and dragged her through the whole city over the rough paving stones, battering her against the millstones and whipping her at the same time. Then they took her to the same place and stoned her to death.

Then with one accord they all rushed on the houses of the God-fearing. Each fell upon those he knew as neighbors, and they hauled them off, stripping and plundering. The more valuable goods they kept for themselves; the cheaper things, and whatever was made of wood, they threw about and burned in the streets, so that the city looked like one captured by an enemy. But the brothers gave way and slipped off, and like those to whom Paul bore witness, they accepted the plundering of their belongings with joy. I do not know of anyone who has denied the Lord up to now, except perhaps one who fell into their hands. [e]

They also seized Apollonia, a most wonderful virgin of advanced age. They beat her jaws and knocked out all her teeth. Then they built a pyre outside the city and threatened to burn her alive unless she joined them in shouting their impious slogans. She begged a short respite, and when they let her go, she leaped eagerly into the fire and was burned up. They caught Serapion at his own hearth, abused him with harsh tortures, broke all his joints, and threw him headlong from the upper room. No road, no highway, no lane was passable for us, by night or by day. Always and everywhere everyone was shouting that anyone who would not chant their blasphemous words must at once be dragged off and burned.

This went on at full strength for a long time. Then faction and civil war overtook the wretches and turned their savagery against us upon one another. We had a little breathing space, while they had no leisure for their rage against us. But at once the news came that the reign that had been kinder to us had changed, and great fear of what threatened us hung over us. [f] And then the decree arrived, very nearly that very thing our Lord foretold, the most terrible of all, so as to make even the elect stumble, if that were possible. [g]

Everyone cowered. Many of the more prominent came forward at once, some out of fear; others, holding public office, were led by their duties; others were dragged along by those around them. Called by name, they went up to the impure and unholy sacrifices. Some were pale and trembling, as if they were not going to sacrifice but to be the sacrifices and victims for the idols themselves. So the great crowd standing around jeered at them, and it was plain that they were cowards at everything, both at dying and at sacrificing. [h] But others ran to the altars more readily, insisting with presumption that they had never been Christians at all. Of these the Lord’s prediction is most true, that they will be saved with difficulty. Of the rest, some followed one or the other of these groups; some fled; [i] some were caught. Of these last, some went as far as chains and prison, and some were even shut up for several days, and then forswore the faith before they ever came to court. Others held out under torture for a while and then gave up.

But the firm and blessed pillars of the Lord, strengthened by him and given power and endurance worthy of and equal to the strong faith in them, became wonderful witnesses of his kingdom. The first of them was Julian, a man so crippled by gout that he could neither stand nor walk. He was brought before the court with two others who carried him. One of these denied at once. The other, named Cronion, called Eunus, and the old man Julian himself confessed the Lord. They were set on camels and led through the whole city, which, as you know, is very large, and were whipped as they rode up high. At last, with the whole populace crowded around, they were consumed in quicklime. [j] A soldier who stood by them as they were led away opposed those who insulted them. The crowd shouted against him, and he was brought before the court: Besas, the bravest man-at-arms of God. He won the prize of valor in the great war for piety and was beheaded. [k] Another, a Libyan by race, and by name and blessing alike a true Macar, was urged hard by the judge to deny. He would not be won over, and he was burned alive. After these, Epimachus and Alexander, after a long time spent in chains, bore countless agonies, scrapers and whips, and they too were destroyed in unquenchable fire. [l]

With them were four women. Ammonarium, a holy virgin, the judge tortured with stubborn determination for a very long time, because she had declared in advance that she would utter none of the things he ordered. She kept her promise truly and was led away. The rest were Mercuria, a most dignified old woman, and Dionysia, a mother of many children, who yet did not love her children more than the Lord. Since the governor was ashamed to go on torturing to no purpose and to be beaten by women, they died by the sword without any further trial of torture. For their champion, Ammonarium, had taken the tortures upon herself on behalf of them all. [o]

Heron, Ater and Isidore, Egyptians, were handed over, and with them Dioscorus, a boy of about fifteen. At first the judge tried to deceive the youth with words, as one easily led astray, and to force him with tortures, as one quick to give in. But Dioscorus was neither persuaded nor did he yield. [p] The others the judge tore most savagely, and when they held out, he gave them too to the fire. But Dioscorus had shone out in public and answered the judge’s own questions most wisely, and the judge admired him and let him go, saying that he granted him a delay for repentance because of his age. And now the most godly Dioscorus is with us, kept for a longer struggle and a more lasting contest.

A certain Nemesion, also an Egyptian, was falsely accused of living with robbers. When he had cleared himself before the centurion of this charge so foreign to him, he was informed against as a Christian and came in chains before the governor. That most unjust man mauled him with tortures and whips twice as many as he gave the robbers, and burned him between the robbers, honoring the blessed man with the pattern of Christ.

A whole squad of soldiers, Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy and Ingenes, and with them an old man, Theophilus, were standing in front of the court. Someone being tried as a Christian was already leaning toward denial. These men, standing by, ground their teeth, signaled with their faces, stretched out their hands and gestured with their bodies. When everyone turned toward them, before anyone could lay hands on them, they ran up the steps of the tribunal first, saying that they were Christians, so that the governor and his council were seized with fear. The men on trial seemed full of courage for what they were about to suffer, while their judges lost their nerve. They marched out of the court in triumph and exulted in their witness, as God led them in a glorious triumph.” [q]