At any rate we know of them who became shining lights in Palestine, and we know those at Tyre in Phonecia. Did any man see them without being amazed at the merciless floggings and the endurance displayed under them by these truly astounding champions of pure religion; at the ordeal with man-eating beasts which came directly after the floggings, when they were attacked by panthers, bears of different kinds, wild boars, and bulls goaded with red-hot irons; at the unflinching courage of these noble people in the face of every one of the beasts? When these things were going on I was there myself, and I witnessed the ever present Divine Power of Him to whom they testified, Our Savior Jesus Christ Himself, visibly manifesting itself to the martyrs. For some time the man-eaters did not dare to touch or even approach the bodies of God's beloved, but rushed at others who were apparently irritating and proviking them from the outside; only the holy champions; as they stood naked, and in accordance with their instructions waved their hands to attract the animals to themselves, were left quite unmolested: sometimes when the beasts did start towards them, they were stopped short as if by some divine power, and retreated to their starting point. When this went on for a long time it astounded the spectators, so that in view of the ineffectiveness of the first a second ant third beast were set onto one and the same martyr.
Nothing could be more amazing than the fearless courage of these saints under duress, the stubborn, inflexible endurance in youthful bodies. You would see a youngster not yet twenty standing without fetters, spreading out his arms in the form of a cross, and with a mind unafraid and unshakeable occupying himself in the most unhurried prayers to the Almighty: not budging in the least and not retreating an inch from the spot where he stood, though the bears and panthers breathing fury and death almost touched his very flesh. Yet by some supernatural, mysterious power their mouths were stopped, and they ran back again to the rear. Again you would have seen others - there were five altogether - thrown to an infuriated bull. When the others approached from outside he tossed them with his horns into the air and mangled them, leaving them to be picked up half dead; but when in his fury he rushed head down at the lonely group of holy martyrs, he could not even get near them, but stamped his feet and pushed with his horns in all directions. Provoked by the hot irons he breathed rage and threats, but divine providence dragged him back. So, as he too did his intended victims no harm whatever, other beasts were set on them. At last, when these animals had launched their terrible varied assaults, the martyrs were one and all butchered with the sword, and instead of being buried in the earth were given to the waves of the sea.
Such was the ordeal of the Egyptians who championed the Faith so gloriously at Tyre. But we should feel equal admiration for those of them who were martyred in their own country, where immense numbers of men, women and children, despising this transient life, faced death in all its forms for the sake of our Savior's teaching. Some were scraped, racked, mercilously flogged, subjected to countless other torments too terrible to describe in endless variety, and finally given to the flames; some were submerged in the sea; others cheerfully stretched out necks to the head's man's axe; some died under torture; others were starved to death; others again were crucified, some as criminals usually are, some with still greater cruelty nailed the other way up, head down, and kept alive till they starved to death on the very cross.
But words cannot describe the outrageous agonies endured by the Martyrs of Thebais. They were torn to bits from head to foot with potsherds like claws till death released them. Women were tied by one foot and hoisted high in the air, head downwards, their bodies completely naked without a morsel of clothing, presenting thus the most shameful, brutal, and inhumane of all spectacles to everyone watching. Others again were tied to trees and stumps and died horribly; for with the aid of machinery they drew together the very stoughtest boughs, fastened one of the Martyr's legs to each, and then let the boughs fly back to their normal position; thus they managed to tear apart the limbs of their victims in a moment. In this way they carried on, not for a few days or weeks, but year after year. Sometiems ten or more, sometimes over twenty were put to death, at other times at least thirty, and at yet others not far short of sixty; and their were occasions when on a single day a hundred men as well as women and little children were killed, condemned to a succession of ever changing punishments.
I was in these places, and saw many of the executions for myself. Some of the victims suffered beheading, others punishment by fire. So many were killed on a single day that teh axe, blunted and worn out by the slaughter, was broken in pieces, while the exhausted executioners had to be periodically relieved. All the time I observed a most wonderful eagerness and a truly Divine Power and Enthusiasm in those who had put their trust in the Christ of God. No sooner had teh first batch been sentenced, than others from every side would jump onto the platform in front of the judge and proclaim themselves Christians. They paid no heed to torture in all its terrifying forms, but undaunted spoke boldly of their devotion to the God of the Universe, and with joy, laughter, and gaity received the final sentence of death; they sang and sent up hymns of thanksgiving to the God of the Universe till their very last breath.
Wonderful as these were, far, far more wonderful were those who were conspicious in their wealth, birth, and reputation, and for learning and philosophy, yet put everything second to true religion and faith in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. One was Philoromus, who had been entrusted with an important office in the imperial administration at Alexandria, and with his authority and Roman rank had a military bodyguard and conducted judicial investigations every day. Another was Phileas, Bishop of Thmuis, a man esteemed for his patriotic activities and public services, and for his works as a philosopher. Great numbers of relations and friends implored them, as did prominent officials, and the judge himself appealed to them to pity themselves and spare their wives and children; yet all this was not enough to make them yield to love of life and despise our Savior's warning about confessing and denying him. So many with philosophic determination, or rather with heartfelt devotion and love of God, they stood like rocks against all the judge's threats and insults, and were both beheaded."
EUSEBIUS - The History of the Church - Penguin Classics - Copyright G.A. Williamson 1965 - Revisions & new editorial matter copyright Andrew Louth 1989
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