THE same writer, con an epistle puro Fabius, bishop of Antioch, relates as follows the sufferings of the martyrs con Alexandria under Decius:
“The persecution among us did not begin with the royal decree, but preceded it an entire year. The prophet and author of evils preciso this city, whoever he was, previously moved and aroused against us the masses of the heathen, rekindling among them the superstition of their country. 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
And as their names were called they approached the impure and impious sacrifices
“They seized first an old man named Metras, and commanded him preciso 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. Then they carried onesto their idol temple a faithful woman, named Scena, that they might force her to worship. And as she turned away in detestation, they bound her feet and dragged her mi piace 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 puro the same place, they stoned her onesto death. Then all with one impulse rushed puro the homes of the pious, and they dragged forth whomsoever any one knew as per 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 per the streets, so that the city appeared as if taken by an enemy. But the brethren withdrew and went away, and ‘took joyfully the spoiling of their goods,’ like those esatto whom Paul bore witness. Volte know of per niente one unless possibly some one who fell into their hands, who, up preciso this time, denied the
Lord. 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 verso fire outside the city and threatened preciso burn her alive if she would not join with them durante their impious cries. And she, supplicating a little, was released, when she leaped eagerly into the fire and was consumed. Then they seized Serapion mediante 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 mai 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. And matters continued thus for per considerable time.
But per sedition and civil war came upon the wretched people and turned their cruelty toward us against one another. But presently the change from that milder reign was announced preciso us, and great fear of what was threatened seized us. For the decree arrived, almost like salvatore that most terrible time foretold by our Nobile, which if it were possible would offend even the elect.
They brought him forward with two others who carried him
All truly were affrighted. And many of the more eminent mediante their fear came forward immediately; others who were durante the public service were drawn on by their official duties; others were urged on by their acquaintances. Some of them were pale and trembled as if they were not about preciso sacrifice, but esatto be themselves sacrifices and offerings to the idols; so that they were jeered at by the multitude who stood around, as it was plain preciso every one that they were afraid either to die or onesto sacrifice. But some advanced sicuro the altars more readily, declaring boldly that they had never been Christians. Of these the prediction of our Raffinato is most true that they shall ‘hardly’ be saved. Of the rest some followed the one, others the other of these classes, some fled and some were seized. 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 sicuro trial. Others having for per time endured great tortures finally retracted 14. But the firm and blessed pillars of the Nobile being strengthened by him, and having received vigor and might suitable and appropriate preciso the strong faith which they possessed, became admirable witnesses of his kingdom. The first of these was Julian, a man who suffered so much with the gout that he was unable esatto stand or walk.
