The Lives of the Saints, Volume 03 (of 16): MarchBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 03 (of 16): March
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Christian saints
On Sunday, Jan. 28th, 1369, his relics were deposited with great pomp
at Toulouse, where they still repose in the Church of S. Sernan.
The king, Charles V., wished his arm to be brought to Paris, and he
received it on his knees in the chapel royal, which he had built for it
at S. James's convent. This relic was at the French Revolution taken to
Italy.
March 8.
S. PONTIUS, _D. at Carthage, circ._ A.D. 262.
SS. PHILEMON AND APOLLONIUS, _MM. at Antinoe, in Egypt_, A.D. 305.
SS. CYRIL, _B.M._, ROGATUS, FELIX, AND OTHERS, _MM. in Africa_.
S. QUINTILLUS, _B.M. at Nicomedia_.
S. SENAN, _of Iniscatthy, B. Ab. in Ireland, circ._ A.D. 546.
S. FELIX, _B. among the East Saxons_, A.D. 654.
S. JULIAN, _B. of Toledo_, A.D. 690.
S. THEOPHYLACT, _B.C. at Nicomedia_, A.D. 845.
S. HUMPHREY, _B. of Therouane_, A.D. 871.
S. DUTHAC, _B. of Ross_, A.D. 1250.
S. JOHN OF GOD, _C. at Granada_, A.D. 1550.
SS. PHILEMON AND APOLLONIUS, MM.
(A.D. 305.)
[By the Greeks on December 14th. By the Latins on March 8th. Arian
and Theotychus, who are included in the Roman Martyrology, are not
mentioned in any ancient Martyrologies except that of Usuardus.
Authority:--The Acts, which as they now exist, are very corrupt. The
original Acts have apparently been made a foundation to which a later
Greek writer has added a superstructure of fable. The conversion and
the martyrdom of the governor Arian has all the appearance of being
an addition by a later hand, to complete the story, for the fabulous
Greek Acts generally wind up with the conversion or destruction of the
judge. This seems to have been regarded as the proper conclusion of
every martyrdom.]
Arianus the judge, who had condemned S. Asclas (Jan. 23rd) to a cruel
death, at Antinoë in Upper Egypt, did not leave the place till many
other Christians had suffered by his orders. Now there was at Antinoë
a deacon named Apollonius, who feared torture, being by nature of a
highly sensitive and timorous constitution, and when the governor
had given orders that every inhabitant should appear before him and
sacrifice, he went to Philemon, a stage piper and dancer, and offered
him money if he would go and sacrifice in his name, and bring him a
ticket to the effect that Apollonius had sacrificed. Christians who
thus acted were called libellatics; and on the return of tranquillity
were put to penance, but were not regarded in the same light as
apostates. Philemon asked Apollonius for one of his hooded cloaks,
which would conceal his face, and then went before the judge.
Then Arian said, "Well, fellow, what art thou? A Christian perhaps,
muffled thus, as if thou fearedst to be seen."
Philemon, filled with the grace of God, answered gravely, "Yes, my
lord, I am a Christian."
"Thou knowest the choice that is set before thee, torture or
sacrifice," said the magistrate.
"I will not sacrifice," answered the piper, "I saw how, by the power of
God, Asclas held thee stationary in the midst of the river."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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