The heathen, on one occasion, rose in sedition, attacked the house of the bishop, and set it on fire, so that he and his deacons were obliged to escape over the roof, and take refuge in the room of a maiden of fourteen, an orphan, named Salaphtha, and a heathen. The girl showed them every kindness, keeping their place of retreat secret, and supplying them with bread and cheese and vegetables. The bishop took the opportunity of infusing into the young mind of the girl the first principles of Christianity, and when the tumult was abated, and he with his companions were able to go forth in safety, he left her earnestly desiring baptism. The maiden afterwards became a zealous Christian, and was consecrated to a life of virginity by the old bishop, whom she had saved from the rage of his enemies. [Illustration] February 27. SS. JULIAN, CHRONION, AND BESAS, _MM. at Alexandria_, A.D. 250. S. GELASIUS, _M. at Heliopolis, in Phoenicia_, A.D. 297. S. HONORINA, _V. M. at Conflans, in France_. S. THALELÆUS, _H. in Syria, circ._ A.D. 460. S. COMGAN, _Ab. in Ireland, before_ A.D. 569. S. LEANDER, _B. of Hispala or Seville_, A.D. 596. S. BALDOMER, _Subd. at Lyons, circ._ A.D. 660. S. ALNOTH, _H. M. in England, circ._ A.D. 727. B. JOHN, _Ab. of Gorze, near Metz_, A.D. 1162. SS. JULIAN, CHRONION, AND BESAS, MM. (A.D. 250.) [Roman Martyrology; but some on Feb. 19th; by the Greeks on Oct. 30th. Authority:--The contemporary letters by Dionysius, B. of Alexandria, to Germanus, quoted by Eusebius, Hist. Eccles. vi., c. 41.] Saint Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, in a letter describing the sufferings of his church during the persecutions of Decius, after having lamented the apostacy of some, adds: "But others remained firm and blessed pillars of the Lord, confirmed by the Lord himself, and receiving of Him strength suited to their measure of faith, proved admirable witnesses of His kingdom. The first of these was Julian, a man afflicted with the gout, neither able to walk nor to stand, who, with two others that carried him, was arraigned. Of these, the one immediately denied his faith, but the other, named Chronion, surnamed Eunus, and the aged Julian himself, having confessed the Lord, were carried on camels through the whole city, a very large one, as you know, and were scourged, and finally consumed in an immense fire, in the midst of a crowd of spectators. But a soldier, named Besas, standing near, having opposed the insolence of the multitude whilst these martyrs were on the way to execution, was assailed by them with loud shouts, and this brave soldier of God, after he had excelled in the great conflict of piety, was beheaded." Relics at Autun. S. GELASIUS, M. (A.D. 297.)