NPNF2-01 Eusebius 159
1 There flourished many learned men in the Church at that time, whose letters to each other have been preserved and are easily accessible. They have been kept until our time in the library at Aelia,169 which was established by Alexander, who at that time presided over that church. We have been able to gather from that library material for our present work.
160 2 Among these Beryllus170 has left us, besides letters and treatises, various elegant works. He was bishop of Bostra in Arabia. Likewise also Hippolytus,171 who presided over another church, has left writings.
3 There has reached us also a dialogue of Caius,172 a very learned man, which was held at Rome under Zephyrinus,173 with Proclus, who contended for the Phrygian heresy. In this he curbs the rashness and boldness of his opponents in setting forth new Scriptures. He mentions only thirteen epistles of the holy apostle, not counting that to the Hebrews174 with the others. And unto our day there are some among the Romans who do not consider this a work of the apostle.
1 After Antoninus175 had reigned seven years and six months, Macrinus succeeded him. He held the government but a year, and was succeeded by another Antoninus. During his first year the Roman bishop, Zephyrinus,176 having held his office for eighteen years, died, and Callistus177 received the episcopate.
2 He continued for five years, and was succeeded by Urbanus.178 After this, Alexander became Roman emperor, Antoninus having reigned but four years.179 At this time Philetus180 also succeeded Asclepiades181 in the church of Antioch.
3 The mother of the emperor, Mammaea182 by name, was a most pious woman, if there ever was one, and of religious life. When the fame of Origen had extended everywhere and had come even to her ears, she desired greatly to see the man, and above all things to make trial of his celebrated understanding of divine things.
4 Staying for a time in Antioch, she sent for him with a military escort. Having remained with her a while and shown her many things which were for the glory of the Lord and of the excellence of the divine teaching, he hastened back to his accustomed work.
1 At that time Hippolytus,183 besides many other treatises, wrote a work on the passover.184 He gives in this a chronological table, and presents a certain paschal canon of sixteen years, bringing the time down to the first year of the Emperor Alexander.
2 Of his other writings the following have reached us: On the Hexaemeron,185 On the Works after the Hexaemeron,186 Against Marcion,187 On the Song of Songs,188 On Portions of Ezekiel,189 On the Passover,190 Against All the Heresies;191 and you can find many other works preserved by many).
161 1 At that time Origen began his commentaries on the Divine Scriptures, being urged thereto by Ambrose,192 who employed innumerable incentives, not only exhorting him by word, but also furnishing abundant means.
2 For he dictated to more than seven amanuenses, who relieved each other at appointed times. And he employed no fewer copyists, besides girls who were skilled in elegant writing. For all these Ambrose furnished the necessary expense in abundance, manifesting himself an inexpressible earnestness in diligence and zeal for the divine oracles, by which he especially pressed him on to the preparation of his commentaries.
3 While these things were in progress, Urbanus,193 who had been for eight years bishop of the Roman church, was succeeded by Pontianus,194 and Zebinus195 succeeded Philetus196 in Antioch.
4 At this time Origen was sent to Greece on account of a pressing necessity in connection with ecclesiastical affairs,197 and went through Palestine, and was ordained as presbyter in Caesarea by the bishops of that country. The matters that were agitated concerning him on this account, and the decisions on these matters by those who presided over the churches, besides the other works concerning the divine word which he published while in his prime, demand a separate treatise. We have written of them to some extent in the second book of the Defense which we have composed in his behalf.198
1 It may be well to add that in the sixth book of his exposition of the Gospel of John199 he states that he prepared the first five while in Alexandria. Of his work on the entire Gospel only twenty-two volumes have come down to us.
2 In the ninth of those on Genesis,200 of which there are twelve in all, he states that not only the preceding eight had been composed at Alexandria, but also those on the first twenty-five Psalms201 and on Lamentations.202 Of these last five volumes have reached us.
3 In them he mentions also his books On the Resurrection,203 of which there are two. He wrote also the books De Principiis204 before leaving Alexandria; and the discourses entitled Stromata,205 ten in number, he composed in the same city during the reign of Alexander, as the notes by his own hand preceding the volumes indicate.
1 When expounding the first Psalm,206 he gives a catalogue of the sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament207 as follows:
“It should be stated that the canonical books, as the Hebrews have handed them down, are twenty-two; corresponding with the number of their letters.” Farther on he says:
162 2 “The twenty-two books of the Hebrews are the following: That which is called by us Genesis, but by the Hebrews, from the beginning of the book, Bresith,208 which means, ‘In the beginning’; Exodus, Welesmoth,209 that is, ‘These are the names’; Leviticus, Wikra, ‘And he called‘; Numbers, Ammesphekodeim; Deuteronomy, Eleaddebareim, ‘These are the words’; Jesus, the son of Nave, Josoue ben Noun; Judges and Ruth, among them in one book, Saphateim; the First and Second of Kings, among them one, Samouel, that is, ‘The called of God’; the Third and Fourth of Kings in one, Wammelch David, that is, ‘The kingdom of David’; of the Chronicles, the First and Second in one, Dabreïamein, that is, ‘Records of days’; Esdras,210 First and Second in one, Ezra, that is, ‘An assistant’; the book of Psalms, Spharthelleim; the Proverbs of Solomon, Meloth; Ecclesiastes, Koelth; the Song of Songs (not, as some suppose, Songs of Songs), Sir Hassirim; Isaiah, Jessia; Jeremiah, with Lamentations and the epistle in one, Jeremia; Daniel, Daniel; Ezekiel, Jezekiel; Job, Job; Esther, Esther. And besides these there are the Maccabees, which are entitled Sarbeth Sabanaiel.211 He gives these in the above-mentioned work).
3 In his first book on Matthew’s Gospel,212 maintaining the Canon of the Church, hetestifies that he knows only four Gospels, writing as follows:
4 “Among the four Gospels,213 which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the first was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism, and published in the Hebrew language.214
5 The second is by Mark, who composed it according to the instructions of Peter,215 who in his Catholic epistle acknowledges him as a son, saying, ‘The church that is at Babylon elected together with you, saluteth you, and so doth Marcus, my son.’216
6 And the third by Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul,217 and composed for Gentile converts. Last of all that by John.”218
7 In the fifth book of his Expositions of John’s Gospel, he speaks thus concerning the epistles of the apostles:219 “But he who was ‘made sufficient to be a minister of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit,’220 that is, Paul, who ‘fully preached the Gospel from Jerusalem and round about even unto Illyricum,’221 did not write to all the churches which he had instructed and to those to which he wrote he sent but few lines.222
8 And Peter, on whom the Church of Christ is built, ‘against which the gates of hell shall not prevail,’223 has left one acknowledged epistle; perhaps also a second, but this is doubtful.224
9 Why need we speak of him who reclined upon the bosom of Jesus,225 John, who has left us one Gospel,226 though he confessed that he might write so many that the world could not contain them?227 And he wrote also the Apocalypse, but was commanded to keep silence and not to write the words of the seven thunders.228
10 He has left also an epistle of very few lines; perhaps also a second and third; but not all consider them genuine, and together they do not contain hundred lines.”
11 In addition he makes the following statements 11 in regard to the Epistle to the Hebrews229 in his Homilies upon it: “That the verbal style of the epistle entitled ‘To the Hebrews,’ is not rude like the language of the apostle, who acknowledged himself ‘rude in speech‘230 that is, in expression; but that its diction is purer Greek, any one who has the power to discern differences of phraseology will acknowledge.
12 Moreover, that the thoughts of the epistle are admirable, and not inferior to the acknowledged apostolic writings, any one who carefully examines the apostolic text231 will admit.’
163 13 Farther on he adds: “If I gave my opinion, I should say that the thoughts are those of the apostle, but the diction and phraseology are those of some one who remembered the apostolic teachings, and wrote down at his leisure what had been said by his teacher. Therefore if any church holds that this epistle is by Paul, let it be commended for this. For not without reason have the ancients handed it down as Paul’s.
14 But who wrote the epistle, in truth, God knows. The statement of some who have gone before us is that Clement, bishop of the Romans, wrote the epistle, and of others that Luke, the author of the Gospel and the Acts, wrote it.” But let this suffice on these matters).
It was in the tenth year of the above-mentioned reign that Origen removed from Alexandria to Caesarea,232 leaving the charge of the catechetical school in that city to Heraclas. Not long afterward Demetrius, bishop of the church of Alexandria, died, having held the office for forty-three full years,233 and Heraclas succeeded him. At this time Firmilianus,234 bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, was conspicuous.
1 He was so earnestly affected toward Origen, that he urged him to come to that country for the benefit of the churches, and moreover he visited him in Judea, remaining with him for some time, for the sake of improvement in divine things. And Alexander,235 bishop of Jerusalem, and Theoctistus,236 bishop of Caesarea, attended on him constantly,237 as their only teacher, and allowed238 him to expound the Divine Scriptures, and to perform the other duties pertaining to ecclesiastical discourse.239
1 The Roman emperor, Alexander, having finished his reign in thirteen years, was succeeded by Maximinus Caesar.240 On account of his hatred toward the household of Alexander,241 which contained many believers, he began a persecution, commanding that only the rulers of the churches should be put to death, as responsible for the Gospel teaching. Thereupon Origen composed his work On Martyrdom,242 and dedicated it to Ambrose and Protoctetus,243 a presbyter of the parish of Caesarea, because in the persecution there had come upon them both unusual hardships, in which it is reported that they were eminent in confession during the reign of Maximinus, which lasted but three years. Origen has noted this as the time of the persecution in the twenty-second book of his Commentaries on John, and in several epistles.244
1 Gordianus succeeded Maximinus as Roman emperor;245 and Pontianus,246 who had been bishop of the church at Rome for six years, was succeeded by Anteros.247 After he had held the office for a month, Fabianus248 succeeded him.
2 They say249 that Fabianus having come, after the death of Anteros, with others from the country, was staying at Rome, and that while there he was chosen to the office through a most wonderful manifestation of divine and heavenly grace.
164 3 For when all the brethren had assembled to select by vote him who should succeed to the episcopate of the church, several renowned and honorable men were in the minds of many, but Fabianus, although present, was in the mind of none. But they relate that suddenly a dove flying down lighted on his head, resembling the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Saviour in the form of a dove.
4 Thereupon all the people, as if moved by one Divine Spirit, with all eagerness and unanimity cried out that he was worthy, and without delay they took him and placed him upon the episcopal seat.250
5 About that time Zebinus,251 bishop of Antioch died, and Babylas252 succeeded him. And in Alexandria Heraclas,253 having received the episcopal office after Demetrius,254 was succeeded in the charge of the catechetical school by Dionysius,255 who had also been one of Origen’s pupils.
While Origen was carrying on his customary duties in Caesarea, many pupils came to him not only from the vicinity, but also from other countries. Among these Theodorus, the same that was distinguished among the bishops of our day under the name of Gregory,256 and his brother Athenodorus,257 we know to have been especially celebrated. Finding them deeply interested in Greek and Roman learning, he infused into them a love of philosophy, and led them to exchange their old zeal for the study of divinity. Remaining with him five years, they made such progress in divine things, that although they were still young, both of them were honored with a bishopric in the churches of Pontus.
1 At this time also Africanus,258 the writer of the books entitled Cesti, was well known. There is extant an epistle of his to Origen,expressing doubts259 of the story of Susannah in Daniel, as being spurious and fictitious. Origen answered this very fully. Other works of the same Africanus which have reached us are his five books on Chronology, a work accurately and laboriously prepared. He says in this that he went to Alexandria on account of the great fame of Heraclas,260 who excelled especially in philosophic studies and other Greek learning, and whose appointment to the bishopric of the church there we have
3 already mentioned. There is extant also another epistle from the same Africanus to Aristides on the supposed discrepancy between Matthew and Lc in the Genealogies of Christ. In this he shows clearly the agreement of the evangelists, from an account which had come down to him, which we have already given in its proper place in the first book of this work.261
1 About this time Origen prepared his Commentaries on Isaiah262 and on Ezekiel.263 Of the former there have come down to us thirty books, as far as the third part of Isaiah, to the vision of the beasts in the desert;264 on Ezekiel twenty-five books, which are all that he wrote on the whole prophet. Being at that time in Athens,265 he finished his work on Ezekiel and commenced his Commentaries on the Song of Songs,266 which he carried forward to the fifth book. After his return to Caesarea, he completed these also, ten books in number.
3 But why should we give in this history an accurate catalogue of the man’s works, which would require a separate treatise?267 we have furnished this also in our narrative of the life of Pamphilus,268 a holy martyr of our own time. After showing how great the diligence of Pamphilus was in divine things, we give in that a catalogue of the library which he collected of the works of Origen and of other ecclesiastical writers, Whoever desires may learn readily from this which of Origen’s works have reached us. But we must proceed now with our history.
165 1 Beryllus,269 whom we mentioned recently as bishop of Bostra in Arabia, turned aside from the ecclesiastical standard270 and attempted to introduce ideas foreign to the faith. He dared to assert that our Saviour and Lord did not pre-exist in a distinct form of being of his own271 before his abode among men, and that he does not possess a divinity of his own,272 but only that of the Father dwelling in him.
2 Many bishops carried on investigations and discussions with him on this matter, and Origen having been invited with the others, went down at first for a conference with him to ascertain his real opinion. But when he understood his views, and perceived that they were erroneous, having persuaded him by argument, and convinced him by demonstration, he brought him back to the true doctrine, and restored him to his former sound opinion.
3 There are still extant writings of Beryllus and of the synod held on his account, which contain the questions put to him by Origen, and the discussions which were carried on in his parish, as well as all the things done at that time.
4 The elder brethren among us273 have handed down many other facts respecting Origen which I think proper to omit, as not pertaining to this work. But whatever it has seemed necessary to record about him can be found in the Apology in his behalf written by us and Pamphilus, the holy martyr of our day. We prepared this carefully and did the work jointly on account of faultfinders.274
1 Gordianus had been Roman emperor for six years when Philip, with his son Philip, succeeded him.275 It is reported that he, being a Christian desired, on the day of the last paschal vigil, to share with the multitude in the prayers of the Church,276 but that he was not permitted to enter, by him who then presided,277 until he had made confession and had numbered himself among those who were reckoned as transgressors and who occupied the place of penance.278 For if he had not done this, he would never have been received by him, on account of the many crimes which he had committed. It is said that he obeyed readily, manifesting in his conduct a genuine and pious fear of God.
1 In the third year of this emperor, Heraclas279 died, having held his office for sixteen years, and Dionysius280 received the episcopate of the churches of Alexandria.
1 At this time, as the faith extended and our doctrine was proclaimed boldly before all,281 Origen, being, as they say, over sixty years old,282 and having gained great facility by his long practice, very properly permitted his public discourses to be taken down by stenographers, a thing which he had never before allowed. He also at this time composed a work of eight books in answer to that entitled True Discourse, which had been written against us by Celsus283 the Epicurean, and the twenty-five books on the Gospel of Matthew,284 besides those on the Twelve Prophets, of which we have found only twenty-five.285
166 3 There is extant also an epistle286 of his to the Emperor Philip, and another to Severa his wife, with several others to different persons. We have arranged in distinct books to the number of one hundred, so that they might be no longer scattered, as many of these as we have been able to collect,287 which have been preserved here and there by different persons.
4 He wrote also to Fabianus,288 bishop of Rome, and to many other rulers of the churches concerning his orthodoxy. You have examples of these in the eighth book of the Apology289 which we have written in his behalf.
1 Aboutsame time others arose in Arabia, putting forward a doctrine foreign to the truth. They said that during the present time the human soul dies and perishes with the body, but that at the time of the resurrection they will be renewed together. And at that time also a synod of considerable size assembled, and Origen, being again invited thither, spoke publicly on the question with such effect that the opinions of those who had formerly fallen were changed).
1 Another error also arose at this time, called the heresy of the Elkesites,291 which was extinguished in the very beginning. Origen speaks of it in this manner in a public homily on the eighty-second Psalm:292
“A certain man293 came just now, puffed up greatly with his own ability, proclaiming that godless and impious opinion which has appeared lately in the churches, styled ‘of the Elkesites.’ I will show you what evil things that opinion teaches, that you may not be carried away by it. It rejects certain parts of every scripture. Again it uses portions of the Old Testament and the Gospel, but rejects the apostle294 altogether. It says that to deny Christ is an indifferent matter, and that he who understands will, under necessity, deny with his mouth, but not in his heart. They produce a certain book which they say fell from heaven. They hold that whoever hears and believes295 this shall receive remission of sins, another remission than that which Jesus Christ has given.” Such is the account of these persons.
1 After a reign of seven years Philip was succeeded by Decius.296 On account of his hatred of Philip, he commenced a persecution of the churches, in which Fabianus297 suffered martyrdom at Rome, and Cornelius succeeded him in the episcopate.298
2 In Palestine, Alexander,299 bishop of the church of Jerusalem, was brought again on Christ’s account before the governor’s judgment seat in Caesarea, and having acquitted himself nobly in a second confession was cast into prison, crowned
3 with the hoary locks of venerable age. And after his honorable and illustrious confession at the tribunal of the governor, he fell asleep in prison, and Mazabanes300 became his successor
167 4 in the bishopric of Jerusalem. Babylas301 in Antioch, having like Alexander passed away in prison after his confession, was succeeded by Fabius302 in the episcopate of that church.
5 But how many and how great things came upon Origen in the persecution, and what was their final result,—as the demon of evil marshaled all his forces, and fought against the man with his utmost craft and power, assaulting him beyond all others against whom he contended at that time,—and what and how many things he endured for the word of Christ, bondsand bodily tortures and torments under the iron collar and in the dungeon; and how for many days with his feet stretched four spaces in the stocks303 he bore patiently the threats of fire and whatever other things were inflicted by his enemies; and how his sufferings terminated, as his judge strove eagerly with all his might not to end his life; and what words he left after these things, full of comfort to those needing aid, a great many of his epistles show with truth and accuracy.304
1 I Shall quote from the epistle of Dionysius to Germanus306 an account of what befell the former. Speaking of himself, he writes as follows: “I speak before God, and he knows that I do not lie. I did not flee on my own impulse nor without divine direction.
2 But even before this, at the very hour when the Decian persecution was commanded, Sabinus307 sent a frumentarius308 to search for me, and I remained at home four days awaiting his arrival.
3 But he went about examining all places,—roads, rivers, and fields,—where he thought I might be concealed or on the way. But he was smitten with blindness, and did not find the house,309 for he did not suppose, that being pursued, I would remain at home. And after the fourth day God commanded me to depart, and made a way for me in a wonderful manner; and I and my attendants310 and many of the brethren went away together. And that this occurred through the providence of God was made manifest by what followed, in which perhaps we were useful to some.”
4 Farther on he relates in this manner what happened to him after his flight:
“For about sunset, having been seized with those that were with me, I was taken by the soldiers to Taposiris,311 but in the providence of God, Timothy312 was not present and was not captured. But coming later, he found the house deserted and guarded by soldiers, and ourselves reduced to slavery.”313
5 After a little he says: “And what was the manner of his admirable management? for the truth shall be told. One of the country people met Timothy fleeing and disturbed, and inquired the cause of his haste. And he told him the truth. And 6 when the man heard it (he was on his way to a marriage feast, for it was customary to spend the entire night in such gatherings), he entered and announced it to those at the table. And they, as if on a preconcerted signal, arose with one impulse, and rushed out quickly and came and burst in upon us with a shout. Immediately the soldiers who were guarding us fled, and they came to us lying as we were upon the bare couches. But I, God knows, thought 7 at first that they were robbers who had come for spoil and plunder. So I remained upon the bed on which I was, clothed only in a linen garment, and offered them the rest of my clothing which was lying beside me. But they directed me to rise and come away quickly. Then I understood why they were come,8 and I cried out, beseeching and entreating them to depart and leave us alone. And I requested them, if they desired to benefit me in any way, to anticipate those who were carrying me off, and cut off my head themselves. And when I had cried out in this manner, as my companions and partners in everything know, they raised me by force. But I threw myself on my back on the ground; and they seized me by the hands and feet and dragged me away. And the witnesses of all these occurrences 9 followed: Gaius, Faustus, Peter, and Paul.314 But they who had seized me carried me out of the village hastily, and placing me on an ass without a saddle, bore me away.”315
Dionysius relates these things respecting himself).
168 1 The same writer, in an epistle to Fabius,316 bishop of Antioch, relates as follows the sufferings of the martyrs in Alexandria under Decius:
“The persecution among us did not begin with the royal decree, but preceded it an entire year.317 The prophet and author of evils318 to this city, whoever he was, previously moved and aroused against us the masses of the heathen, rekindling among them the superstition of their country.
2 And being thus excited by him and finding full opportunity for any wickedness, they considered this the only pious service of their demons, that they should slay us.
3 “They seized first an old man named Metras,319 and commanded him to utter impious words. But as he would not obey, they beat him with clubs, and tore his face and eyes with sharp sticks, and dragged him out of the city and stoned him.
4 Then they carried to their idol temple a faithful woman, named Quinta, that they might force her to worship. And as she turned away in detestation, they bound her feet and dragged her through the entire city over the stone-paved streets, and dashed her against the millstones, and at the same time scourged her; then, taking her to the same place, they stoned her to death.
5 Then all with one impulse rushed to the homes of the pious, and they dragged forth whomsoever any one knew as a neighbor, and despoiled and plundered them. They took for themselves the more valuable property; but the poorer articles and those made of wood they scattered about and burned in the streets, so that the city appeared as if taken by an enemy.
6 But the brethren withdrew and went away, and ‘took joyfully the spoiling of their goods,’320 like those to whom Paul bore witness. I know of no one unless possibly some one who fell into their hands, who, up to this time, denied the Lord.
7 Then they seized also that most admirable virgin, Apollonia, an old woman, and, smiting her on the jaws, broke out all her teeth. And they made a fire outside the city and threatened to burn her alive if she would not join with them in their impious cries. And she, supplicating a little, was released, when she leaped eagerly into the fire and was consumed.
8 Then they seized Serapion in his own house, and tortured him with harsh cruelties, and having broken all his limbs, they threw him headlong from an upper story. And there was no street, nor public road, nor lane open to us, by night or day; for always and everywhere, all of them cried out that if any one would not repeat their impious words, he should immediately be dragged away and burned.
9 And matters continued thus for a considerable time. But a sedition and civil war came upon the wretched people and turned their cruelty toward us against one another.321 So we breathed for a little while as they ceased from their rage against us. But presently the change from that milder reign was announced to us,322 and great fear
10 of what was threatened seized us. For the decree arrived, almost like unto that most terrible time foretold by our Lord, which if it were possible would offend even the elect.323
169 11 All truly were affrighted. And many of the more eminent in their fear came forward immediately;324 others who were in the public service were drawn on by their official duties;325 others were urged on by their acquaintances. And as their names were called they approached the impure and impious sacrifices. Some of them were pale and trembled as if they were not about to sacrifice, but to be themselves sacrifices and offerings to the idols; so that they were jeered at by the multitude who stood around, as it was plain to every one that they were afraid either to die or to sacrifice.
12 But some advanced to the altars more readily, declaring boldly that they had never been Christians. Of these the prediction of our Lord is most true that they shall ‘hardly’326 be saved. Of the rest some followed the one, others the other of these classes, some fled and some were seized.
13 And of the latter some continued faithful until bonds and imprisonment, and some who had even been imprisoned for many days yet abjured the faith before they were brought to trial. Others having for a time endured great tortures finally retracted.
14 But the firm and blessed pillars of the Lord being strengthened by him, and having received vigor and might suitable and appropriate to the strong faith which they possessed, became admirable witnesses of his kingdom.
15 The first of these was Julian, a man who suffered so much with the gout that he was unable to stand or walk. They brought him forward with two others who carried him. One of these immediately denied. But the other, whose name was Cronion, and whose surname was Eunus, and the old man Julian himself, both of them having confessed the Lord, were carried on camels through the entire city, which, as you know, is a very large one, and in this elevated position were beaten and finally burned in a fierce fire,327 surrounded by all the populace.
16 But a soldier, named Besas, who stood by16 them as they were led away rebuked those who insulted them. And they cried out against him, and this most manly warrior of God was arraigned, and having done nobly in the great contest for piety, was beheaded.
17 A certain other one, a Libyan by birth, but in name and blessedness a true Macar,328 was strongly urged by the judge to recant; but as he would not yield he was burned alive. After them Epimachus and Alexander, having remained in bonds for a long time, and endured countless agonies from scrapers329 and scourges, were also consumed in a fierce fire.330 And with them there were four women.
18 Ammonarium, a holy virgin, the judge tortured relentlessly and excessively, because she declared from the first that she would utter none of those things which he commanded; and having kept her promise truly, she was dragged away. The others were Mercuria, a very remarkable old woman, and Dionysia, the mother of many children, who did not love her own children above the Lord.331 As the governor was ashamed of torturing thus ineffectually, and being always defeated by women, they were put to death by the sword, without the trial of tortures. For the champion, Ammonarium, endured these in behalf of all.
19 The Egyptians, Heron and Ater and Isidorus, and with them Dioscorus,332 a boy about fifteen years old, were delivered up. At first the judge attempted to deceive the lad by fair words, as if he could be brought over easily, and then to force him by tortures, as one who would readily yield. But Dioscorus was neither persuaded nor constrained.
20 As the others remained firm, he scourged them cruelly and then delivered them to the fire. But admiring the manner in which Dioscorus had distinguished himself publicly, and his wise answers to his persuasions, he dismissed him, saying that on account of his youth he would give him time for repentance. And this most godly Dioscorus is among us now, awaiting a longer conflict and more severe contest.
21 But a certain Nemesion, who also was an Egyptian, was accused as an associate of robbers; but when he had cleared himself before the centurion of this charge most foreign to the truth, he was informed against as a Christian, and taken in bonds before the governor. And the most unrighteous magistrate inflicted on him tortures and scourgings double those which he executed on the robbers, and then burned him between the robbers, thus honoring the blessed man by the likeness to Christ.
170 22 A band of soldiers, Ammon and Zeno and Ptolemy and Ingenes, and with them an old man, Theophilus, were standing close together before the tribunal. And as a certain person who was being tried as a Christian, seemed inclined to deny, they standing by gnashed their teeth, and made signs with their faces and stretched out their hands, and gestured with their bodies. And when the attention of all was turned to them, before any one else could seize them, they rushed up to the tribunal saying that they were Christians, so that the governor and his council were affrighted. And those who were on trial appeared most courageous in prospect of their sufferings, while their judges trembled. And they went exultingly from the tribunal rejoicing in their testimony;333 God himself having caused them to triumph gloriously.”
NPNF2-01 Eusebius 159