Martyrius the Physician, and the Bodies of Paul and Meletius

Nectarius learned the order of the priestly ceremonies under the instruction of Cyriacus, bishop of Adana, whom he had asked Diodorus, bishop of Tarsus, to leave with him for a short time. Nectarius also kept several other Cilicians with him. Among them was Martyrius, his physician, who had witnessed the wild living of his youth. Nectarius wanted to ordain him deacon, but Martyrius refused the honor, pleading that he was unworthy of so divine a service, and he called on Nectarius himself to bear witness to how he had lived in the past. Nectarius answered him this way: “Although I am now a priest, don’t you know that my past life was guiltier than yours, since you were only a tool in my many debaucheries?” Martyrius replied: “But you, blessed one, were cleansed by baptism, and were then counted worthy of the priesthood. Both of these are appointed by the divine law for cleansing from sin, and it seems to me that you are now no different from a newborn infant. But I received holy baptism long ago, and since then I have gone on in the same shameful way of life.” On this plea he excused himself from being ordained. I commend the man for his refusal, and that is why I have given him a place in my history. [a]

The emperor Theodosius, on learning of various events connected with Paul, formerly bishop of Constantinople, had his body moved to the church built by Macedonius, Paul’s enemy, and buried there. This church is a large and most distinguished building, and it is still named after Paul. That is why many who do not know the facts, especially women and the common people, imagine that Paul the apostle is buried there. At the same time the remains of Meletius were carried to Antioch and laid near the tomb of Babylas the martyr. It is said that by the emperor’s command the relics were received inside the walls of every city along the public road, contrary to Roman custom, and were honored in each place with psalms sung antiphonally, until they were brought to Antioch. [c]