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| The Genuine Acts of Peter.
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The
Genuine Acts of Peter.2241
| 2241
As interpreted by Anastasius Bibliothecarius. Apud Maium,
Spicilegii, tom. iii. p. 671. That Anastasius
Bibliothecarius translated from the Greek the Passion of St.
Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, is affirmed by Anastasius himself in his
prologue, Ad Passionem Martyrum, MCCCCLXXX.,
published by Mabillon in the Museum Italicum, tom. i. part ii,
p. 80: “Post translatam a me ad petitionem
sanctitatis tunæ (he is addressing Peter, Bishop of Gavinum),
passionem præcipui doctoris et martyris, Petri
Alexandrinæ urbis episcopi.” And then an anonymous
biographer of John viii., in Muratori R. I. S., tom. iii. p. i.
p. 269, confirms the same. Anastasius, the librarian of the Roman
church, translated from the Greek into Latin the Passion of St.
Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria. But it is a matter of conjecture
which of the different Passions of St. Peter Anastasius
translated. Of the Acts of St. Peter, there are three different
records:—(1) Acta Sincera, which, according to
Baronius, are the most genuine. (2) A shorter Latin version, by
Surius. (3) A Greek version, by Combefis. |
————————————
Were all the limbs of my
body to be turned into tongues, and all the joints of my limbs to utter
articulate sounds, it would noways be sufficient to express who, how
great and how good, was our most blessed Father Peter, Archbishop of
Alexandria. Especially incongruous do I consider it to commit to
paper what perils he underwent by tyrants, what conflicts he endured
with Gentiles and heretics, lest I should seem to make these the
subjects of my panegyric rather than that passion to which he manfully
submitted to make safe the people of God. Nevertheless, because
the office of the narrator must fail in narrating his inmost
conversation and wonderful deeds, and language is noways sufficient for
the task, I have considered it convenient to describe only those
exploits of his by which he is known to have attained to the
pontificate,2242
| 2242
[Significant to find this term applied from Western thought to this
great bishopric by such a translator as Anastasius.] | and after Arius
had been cut off from the unity of the Church,2243
| 2243
[See p. 257, supra, and p. 263, infra, note 2. Not
his final rejection after the Nicene Council.] | to have been crowned with the
martyr’s laurel. Yet this do I consider to be a glorious
end, and a spectacle of a magnificent contest, sufficient for those who
do not doubt of a truthful narration, which is unstained by
falsehood. In commencing, therefore, our account of the
episcopate of this most holy man, let us call to our aid his own
language, in order that we may make it co-operate with our own
style.
Alexandria is a city of exceeding magnitude, which
holds the first place not only among the Egyptians, but the Thebans
also and the Libyans, who are at no great distance from Egypt.2244
| 2244 [He
is here speaking of its civil importance only.] | A cycle
of two hundred and eighty-five years from the incarnation of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ had rolled round, when the venerable Theonas,
the bishop of this city, by an ethereal flight, mounted upwards to the
celestial kingdoms. To him Peter, succeeding at the helm of the
Church, was by all the clergy and the whole Christian community
appointed bishop, the sixteenth in order from Mark the Evangelist, who
was also archbishop of the city. He in truth, like Phosphor
rising among the stars, shining forth with the radiance of his sacred
virtues, most magnificently governed the citadel of the faith.
Inferior to none who had gone before him in his knowledge of Holy
Scripture, he nobly applied himself to the advantage and instruction of
the Church; being of singular prudence, and in all things perfect, a
true priest and victim of God, he watchfully laboured night and day in
every sacerdotal care.
But because virtue is the mark of the zealot,
“it is the tops of the mountains that are struck by
lightning,”2245
| 2245
Hor., Od., ii. 10, 11. | he hence
endured multifarious conflicts with rivals. Why need I say
more? He lived in persecution almost the whole of his life.
Meanwhile he ordained fifty-five bishops. Meletius
lastly—in mind and name most black—was made the
schismatical bishop of the city of Lycopolis, doing many things against
the rule of the canons, and surpassing even the bloody soldiery in
cruelty who, at the time of the Lord’s Passion, feared to rend
His coat; he was so hurried on by giving the rein to his madness, that,
rending asunder the Catholic Church not only in the cities of Egypt,
but even in its villages, he ordained bishops of his own party, nor
cared he aught for Peter, nor for Christ, who was in the person of
Peter. To him Arius, who was yet a laic, and not marked with the
clerical tonsure,2246
| 2246
[Anastasius, more Romano, uses the Middle-Age terminology
as if it had existed in the Ante-Nicene period. So all the
successors of the apostles at Rome, including St. Peter himself, are
transformed into “Popes.” We owe this abuse to the
“False Decretals,” of which we treat hereafter. But
why is exploded fiction and demonstrated untruth perpetuated by
enlightened historians? See vol. v. p. 155.] | adhered, and
was to him and his family most dear; and not without reason:
every animal, as says the
Scripture, loves its like. But upon this coming to his knowledge,
the man of God being affected with grief, said that this persecution
was worse than the former. And although he was in hiding, yet, so
far as his strength permitted, directing everywhere his exhortations,
and preaching up the unity of the Church, he strengthened men to
withstand the ignorance and nefarious temerity of Meletius.
Whence it came to pass that not a few, being influenced by his salutary
admonitions, departed from the Meletian impiety.
Nearly about the same time Arius, armed with a
viper’s craft, as if deserting the party of Meletius, fled for
refuge to Peter, who at the request of the bishops raised him to the
honours of the diaconate, being ignorant of his exceeding
hypocrisy. For he was even as a snake suffused with deadly
poison. Yet neither can the imposition of hands upon this false
one be imputed as a crime to this holy man, as the simulated magic arts
of Simon is not ascribed to Philip. Meanwhile, the detestable
wickedness of the Meletians increased beyond measure; and the blessed
Peter, fearing lest the plague of heresy should spread over the whole
flock committed to his care, and knowing that there is no fellowship
with light and darkness, and no concord betwixt Christ and Belial, by
letter separated the Meletians from the communion of the Church.
And because an evil disposition cannot long be concealed, upon that
instant the wicked Arius, when he saw his aiders and abettors cast down
from the dignity of the Church, gave way to sadness and
lamentation. This did not escape the notice of this holy
man. For when his hypocrisy was laid bare, immediately using the
evangelical sword, “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out
and cast it from thee,”2247
and cutting off Arius from the body of
the Church as a putrid limb, he expelled and banished him from the
communion of the faithful.
This done, the storm of persecution suddenly abating,
peace, although for a short time, smiled. Then this most choice
priest of the Lord shone manifestly before the people, and the faithful
began to run in crowds to keep the memory of the martyrs, and to
assemble in congregations to the praise of Christ. Whom this
priest of the divine law quickened with his holy eloquence, and so
roused and strengthened that the multitude of believers increased
continually in the Church. But the old enemy of salvation of man
did not long remain quiet and look on these things with favouring
eyes. For on a sudden the storm-cloud of paganism gave forth its
hostile thunder, and like a winter shower struck against the serenity
of the Church, and chased it away in flight. But that this may be
understood more clearly, we must necessarily turn back to the
atrocities of Diocletian, that impious one, and rebel against God, and
also to Maximian Galerius, who at that time, with his son Maximin,
harassed the regions of the East with his tyrannical sway.
For in the time of this man the fire of Christian
persecution so raged, that not only in one region of the universe, but
even throughout the whole world, both by land and by sea, the storm of
impiety gave forth its thunder. The imperial edicts and most
cruel decrees running hither and thither, the worshippers of Christ
were put to death now openly, and now by clandestine snares; no day, no
night, passed off free from the effusion of Christian blood. Nor
was the type of slaughter of one kind alone; some were slain with
diverse and most bitter tortures; some again, that they might want the
humanity of kinsmen, and burial in their own country, were transported
to other climes, and by certain new machinations of punishment, and as
yet to the age unknown, were driven to the goal of martyrdom. Oh,
the horrible wickedness! So great was their impiety that they
even upturned from their foundations the sanctuaries of divine worship,
and burned the sacred books in the fire. Diocletian of execrable
memory having died, Constantinus Major was elected to administer the
kingdom, and in the western parts began to hold the reins of
government.
In these days information was brought to Maximin
about the aforesaid archbishop,2248
| 2248
[Post-Nicene terminology, condemned even by the Gallicans, as, e.g.,
Dupin. Alexandria, founded by St. Mark, was virtually an
Apostolic See, though commonly called the Evangelic See.] | that he was a leader and holding chief
place among the Christians; and he, inflamed with his accustomed
iniquity, on the instant ordered Peter to be apprehended and cast into
prison. For which purpose he despatched to Alexandria five
tribunes, accompanied with their bands of soldiers, who, coming thither
as they had been commanded, suddenly seized the priest of Christ and
committed him to the custody of a prison. Wonderful was the
devotion of the faithful! When it was known that this holy man
was shut up in the dungeon of the prison, an incredibly large number
ran together, principally a band of monks and of virgins, and with no
material arms, but with rivers of tears and the affection of pious
minds. surrounded the prison’s circuit.2249
| 2249
Thus watched the faithful at Milan around Ambrose, their bishop,
against whom the wrath of the Arian Empress Justina was directed,
according to the testimony of Augustine, who was an eye-witness.
Cf. Confess., lib. ix. cap. 7. | And as good sons towards a good
father, nay, rather as the Christian members of a most Christian head,
adhered to him with all their bowels of compassion, and were to him as
walls, observing that no
pagan might get an opportunity of access to him. One indeed was
the vow of all, one their voice, and one their compassion and resolve
to die rather than see any evil happen to this holy man. Now
while the man of God was being kept for a few days in the same stocks,
with his body thrust back, the tribunes made a suggestion to the king
concerning him, but he, after his ferocious manner, gave his sentence
for capitally punishing the most blessed patriarch. And when this
got to the ears of the Christians, they all with one mind began to
guard the approaches to the prison with groaning and lamentation, and
persistently prevented any Gentile from obtaining access to him.
And when the tribunes could by no means approach him to put him to
death, they held a council, and determined that the soldiers should
with drawn swords break in upon the crowd of people, and so draw him
forth to behead him; and if any one opposed, he should be put to
death.
Arius, in the meanwhile, having as yet been
endowed only with the dignity of a Levite,2250
and fearing lest, after the death of so
great a father, he should noways be able to get reconciled to the
Church, came to those who held the chief place amongst the clergy, and,
hypocrite that he was, by his sorrowful entreaties and plausible
discourse, endeavoured to persuade the holy archbishop to extend to him
his compassion, and to release him from the ban of
excommunication. But what is more deceptive than a feigned
heart? What more simple than a holy composure? There was no
delay; those who had been requested went in to the priest of Christ,
and, after the customary oration, prostrating themselves on the ground,
and with groans and tears kissing his sacred hands, implored him,
saying: “Thee, indeed, most blessed father, for the
excellence of thy faith, the Lord hath called to receive the
martyr’s crown, which we noways doubt does quickly await
thee. Therefore do we think it right that, with thy accustomed
piety, thou shouldest. pardon Arius, and extend thy indulgence to his
lamentations.”
Upon hearing this the man of God, moved with
indignation, put them aside, and, raising his hands to heaven,
exclaimed: “Do ye dare to supplicate me on behalf of
Arius? Arius, both here and in the future world, will always
remain banished and separate from the glory of the Son of God, Jesus
Christ our Lord.”2251
| 2251 The
Acta Combefisiana add, “quemadmodem ille Dei Filium a
paterna gloria et substantia sequestravit,” even as he has
separated the Son of God from the glory and substance of His
Father. But Arius had not as yet laid bare his heresy, but had
been excluded from the Church for joining in the Meletian schism, and a
suspicious course of action. | He thus protesting, all who were
present, being struck with terror, like men dumb, kept silence.
Moreover they suspected that he, not without some divine
notification,2252
| 2252
[“The dying are wont to vaticinate;” but the prophetic
charismata (1 Cor. xiv.
31) were not yet extinct in
the Church, in all probability, hence this conjecture was natural.] | gave forth such
a sentence against Arius. But when the merciful father beheld
them silent and sad from compunction of heart, he would not persist in
austerity, or leave them, as if in contempt, without satisfaction; but
taking Achillas and Alexander, who amongst the priests appeared to be
the elders and the most holy, having one of them at his right hand, and
the other on his left, he separated them a little from the rest, and at
the end of his discourse said to them: “Do not, my
brethren, take me for a man inhuman and stern; for indeed I too am
living under the law of sin; but believe my words. The hidden
treachery of Arias surpasses all iniquity and impiety, and not
asserting this of mine own self, have I sanctioned his
excommunication. For in this night, whilst I was solemnly pouring
forth my prayers to God, there stood by me a boy of about twelve years,
the brightness of whose face I could not endure, for this whole cell in
which we stand was radiant with a great light. He was clothed
with a linen tunic2253
| 2253
κολόβιον—this
is the tunicle, tunica, tunicella, dalmatica. It originally had
no sleeves; it is said that wide sleeves were added in the West about
the fourth century; and the garment was then called dalmatic, and
was the deacon’s vestment when assisting at the holy communion;
while that worn by sub-deacons, called by the Anglo-Saxons
“roc,” and “tunicle” generally after the 13th
century, was of the same form, but smaller and less ornamented (Palmer,
Orig. Liturgicæ, vol. ii. p. 314). The word, in its
classical use, meant an under-garment with its sleeves curtailed
(κολοβός)—i.e.,
reaching only half down to the elbow, or entirely without
sleeves. [But the reference here is clearly to St. John xix. 23; and the introduction of the
mediæval dalmatic, to translate κολόβιον, is out
of place.] | divided into two parts, from the neck to
the feet, and holding in his two hands the rents of the tunic, he
applied them to his breast to cover his nudity. At this vision I
was stupefied with astonishment. And when boldness of speech was
given to me, I exclaimed: Lord, who hath rent thy tunic?
Then said he, Arius hath rent it, and by all means beware of receiving
him into communion; behold, to-morrow they will come to entreat you for
him. See, therefore, that thou be not persuaded to
acquiesce: nay, rather lay thy commands upon Achillas and
Alexander the priests, who after thy translation will rule my Church,
not by any means to receive him. Thou shalt very quickly fulfil
the lot of the martyr. Now there was no other cause of this
vision. So now I have satisfied you, and I have declared unto you
what I was ordered. But what you will do in consequence of this,
must be your own care.” Thus much concerning
Arius.
He continued: “Ye know too, beloved,
and ye know well, what has been the manner of my conversation amongst
you, and what conflicts I have endured from the idolatrous Gentiles,
who, being ignorant of the Lord and Saviour, do not cease in their
madness to spread abroad the fame of a multitude of gods who are no gods.
Ye know likewise how, in avoiding the rage of my persecutors, I
wandered an exile from place to place. For long time I lay in
hiding in Mesopotamia, and also in Syria amongst the Phœnicians;
in either Palestine also I had for a long time to wander: and
from thence, if I may so say, in another clement, that is, in the
islands, I tarried no short time. Yet in the midst of all these
calamities I did not cease day and night writing to the Lord’s
flock committed to my poor care, and confirming them in the unity of
Christ. For an anxious solicitude for them constantly kept urging
my heart, and suffered me not to rest; then only did I think it to be
more tolerable to me when I committed them to the Power above.
“Likewise also, on account of those
fortunate prelates, Phileus, I mean, Hesychius and Theodorus, who of
divine grace have received a worthy vocation, what great tribulation
agitated my mind. For these, as ye know, for the faith of Christ
were with the rest of the confessors wasted with diverse
torments. And because in such a conflict they were not only of
the clergy but of the laity also the standard-bearers and preceptors, I
on this account greatly feared lest they should be found wanting under
their long affliction, and lest their defection, which is terrible to
speak of, should be to many an occasion of stumbling and of denying the
faith, for there were more than six hundred and sixty confined along
with them within the precincts of a dungeon. Hence, although
oppressed with great labour and toil, I ceased not to write to them
with reference to all those predicted passages,2254
exhorting them to earn the martyr’s
palm with the power of divine inspiration. But when I heard of
their magnificent perseverance, and the glorious end of the passion of
them all, falling on the ground I adored the majesty of Christ, who had
thought fit to count them amongst the throng of the martyrs.
“Why should I speak to you about Meletius of
Lycopolis? What persecutions, what treachery, he directed against
me, I doubt not but that ye well know. Oh, the horrible
wickedness! he feared not to rend asunder the holy Church, which the
Son of God redeemed with His precious blood, and to deliver which from
the tyranny of the devil He hesitated not to lay down His life.
This Church, as I have begin to say, the wicked Meletius rending
asunder, ceased not to imprison in dungeons, and to afflict holy
bishops even, who have a little before us by martyrdom penetrated to
the heavens. Beware therefore of his insidious devices. For
I, as ye see, go bound by divine charity, preferring above all things
the will of God. I know, indeed, that under their breath the
tribunes whisper of my death with eager haste; but I will not from this
circumstance open any communication with them, nor will I count my life
more precious than myself. Nay, rather, I am prepared to finish
the course which my Lord Jesus Christ hath deigned to promise to me,
and faithfully render up to Him the ministry which from Him I have
received. Pray for me, my brothers; you will not see me longer
living in this life with you. Wherefore I testify before God and
your brotherhood, that before all of you have I preserved a clean
conscience. For I have not shunned to declare unto you the
injunctions of the Lord, and I have refused not to make known to you
the things which will hereafter be necessary.
“Wherefore take heed unto yourselves, and
the whole flock over which the Holy Ghost has appointed you as
overseers in succession—thee Achillas in the first place, and
next to thee Alexander. Behold with living voice I protest to
you, that after my death men will arise in the Church speaking perverse
things,2255
and will again
divide it, like Meletius, drawing away the people after their
readiness. So I have told you before. But I pray you, mine
own bowels, be watchful; for ye must undergo many tribulations.
For we are no better than our fathers. Are ye ignorant what
things my father endured from the Gentiles, he who brought me up, the
most holy bishop Theonas, whose pontifical2256
| 2256
[Another anachronism, but noteworthy as applied to the See of
Alexandria. See p. 261, note 2.] | chair I have under taken to fill?
Would that I had his manners also! Why too should I speak of the
great Dionysius his predecessor, who wandering from place to place
sustained many calamities from the frantic Sabellius? Nor will I
omit to mention you, ye most holy fathers and high priests of the
divine law, Heraclius and Demetrius, for whom Origen, that framer of a
perverse dogma, laid many temptations, who cast upon the Church a
detestable schism, which to this day is throwing it into
confusion. But the grace of God which then protected them, will,
I believe, protect you also. But why do I delay you longer, my
very dear brethren, with the outpouring of my prolix discourse.
It remains, that with the last words of the Apostle2257
who thus prayed I address you:
‘And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, which is
powerful to direct both you and His flock.’” When he
had finished, falling on his knees, he prayed with them. And his
speech ended, Achillas and Alexander kissing his hands and feet
and bursting into tears
sobbed bitterly, specially grieving at those words of his which they
heard when he said that they should henceforth see him in this life no
more. Then this most gentle teacher going to the rest of the
clergy, who, as I have said, had come in to him to speak in behalf of
Arius, spake to them his last consoling words, and such as were
necessary; then pouring forth his prayers to God, and bidding them
adieu, he dismissed them all in peace.2258
| 2258
[Acts xx. 38. The spirit of Ignatius and of
Polycarp is here clearly to be recognized in the fourth century.] |
These things having thus ended, it was everywhere
published far and wide that Arius had not been cut off from the
Catholic unity without a divine interposition. But that contriver
of deceit, and disseminator of all wickedness, ceased not to keep
hidden his viper’s poison in the labyrinth of his bosom, hoping
that he should be reconciled by Achillas and Alexander. This is
that Arius the heresiarch, the divider of the consubstantial and
indivisible Trinity. This is he who with rash and wicked mouth,
was not afraid to blaspheme the Lord and Saviour, beyond all other
heretics; the Lord, I say, and Saviour, who out of pity for our human
wanderings, and being sorely grieved that the world should perish in
deadly destruction and condemnation, deigned for us all to suffer in
the flesh. For it is not to be believed that the Godhead which is
impassible was subject to the passion. But because the
theologians and fathers have taken care in better style to remove from
Catholic ears the blasphemies of this nature, and another task is ours,
let us return to our subject.
This most sagacious pontiff2259
| 2259
[Another anachronism; but, as applied to the Alexandrian primate, it is
a concession to truth. The word was already used in the West, but
not exclusively with respect to the Apostolic Sees. See vol. v.
p. 270, note 1.] | then, perceiving the cruel device of the
tribunes, who, in order to bring about his death, were willing to put
to the sword the whole Christian multitude that was present, was
unwilling that they should together with him taste the bitterness of
death, but as a faithful servant imitating his Lord and Saviour, whose
acts were even as his words, “The good Shepherd giveth His life
for the sheep,”2260
prompted by his piety, called to him an elder of those who there waited
on his words, and said to him: “Go to the tribunes who seek
to kill me, and say to them, Cease ye from all your anxiety, lo! I am
ready and willing of mine own accord to give myself to
them.” Bid them come this night to the rereward of the
house of this prison, and in the spot in which they shall hear a signal
given on the wall from within, there let them make an excavation, and
take me and do with me as they have been commanded. The elder,
obeying the commands of this most holy man,—for so great a father
could not be contradicted,—departed to the tribunes, and made the
intimation to them as he had been commanded. They, when they had
received it, were exceedingly rejoiced, and taking with them some
stonemasons, came about the dawn of the day without their soldiers to
the place which had been pointed out to them. The man of God had
passed the whole night as a vigil, without sleep, in prayer and
watchfulness. But when he heard their approach, whilst all who
were with him were rapt in slumber, with a slow and gentle step he
descended to the interior part of the prison, and according to the
agreement made, made a sound on the wall; and those outside hearing
this, forcing an aperture, received this athlete of Christ armed on all
sides with no brazen breastplate, but with the virtue of the cross of
the Lord, and fully prepared to carry out the Lord’s words who
said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell.”2261
Wonderful was the occurrence!
Such a heavy whirlwind of wind and rain prevailed during that night,
that no one of those who kept the door of the prison could hear the
sound of the excavation. This martyr most constant too, kept urging on
his murderers, saying, Do what ye are about to do, before those are
aware who are guarding me.
But they took him up and brought him to the place
called Bucolia, where the holy St. Mark underwent martyrdom for
Christ. Astonishing is the virtue of the saints! As they
carried him along, and beheld his great constancy and strength of mind
when in peril of death, on a sudden a fear and trembling came upon them
to such a degree, that none of them could look stedfastly into his
face. Moreover, the blessed martyr entreated them to allow him to
go to the tomb of St. Mark, for he desired to commend himself to his
patronage.2262
| 2262
[Another anachronism. No such invocation of saints at this
period. See note 6, p. 261, supra.] | But they
from confusion, looking down on the ground, said, “Do as you
wish, but make haste.” Therefore approaching the
burial-place of the evangelist, he embraced it, and speaking to him as
if he were yet alive in the flesh, and able to hear him, he prayed
after this manner: “O father most honourable, thou
evangelist of the only-begotten Saviour, thou witness of His passion,
thee did Christ choose, who is the Deliverer of us all, to be the first
pontiff and pillar of this See; to thee did He commit the task of
proclaiming the faith throughout the whole of Egypt and its
boundaries. Thou, I say, hast watchfully fulfilled that ministry
of our human salvation which was intrusted to thee; as the reward of this
labour thou hast doubtless obtained the martyr’s palm.
Hence, not without justice, art thou counted worthy to be saluted
evangelist and bishop. Thy successor was Anianus, and the rest in
descending series down to the most blessed Theonas, who disciplined my
infancy, and deigned to educate my heart. To whom I, a sinner and
unworthy, have been beyond my deservings appointed as successor by an
hereditary descent. And, what is best of all, lo! the largeness
of the divine bounty has granted me to become a martyr of His precious
cross and joyful resurrection, giving to my devotion the sweet and
pleasant odour of His passion, that I should be made meet to pour out
unto Him the offering of my blood. And because the time of making
this offering is now instant, pray for me that, the divine power
assisting me, I may be meet to reach the goal of this agony with a
stout heart and ready faith. I commend also to thy glorious
patronage the flock of Christ’s worshippers which was committed
to my pastoral care; to thee, I say, I with prayers commend it, who are
approved as the author and guardian of all preceding and subsequent
occupiers of this pontifical chair, and who, holding its first honours,
art the successor not of man, but of the God-man, Christ
Jesus.” Saying these words,2263
| 2263
[Wholly apocryphal in all probability, or based on a mere
apostrophe. Such “patronage” was yet unknown.] | he went back to a little distance from
the sacred tomb, and, raising his hands to heaven, prayed with a loud
voice, saying: “O thou Only-begotten, Jesus Christ, Word of
the Eternal Father, hear me invoking Thy clemency. Speak peace, I
beseech Thee, to the tempest that shakes Thy Church, and with the
effusion of my blood, who am Thy servant, make an end to the
persecution of Thy people.” Then a certain virgin dedicated
to God, who had her cell adjoining to the tomb of the evangelist, as
she was spending the night in prayer, heard a voice from heaven,
saying: “Peter was the first of the apostles, Peter is the
last of the martyred bishops of Alexandria.”
Having ended his prayer, he kissed the tomb of the
blessed evangelist, and of the other pontiffs who were buried there,
and went forth to the tribunes. But they seeing his face as it
had been the face of an angel, being terror-stricken, feared to speak
to him of his instant agony. Nevertheless, because God does not
desert those who trust in Him, He willed not to leave His martyr
without consolation in the moment of so great a trial. For lo! an
old man and an aged virgin, coming from the smaller towns, were
hastening to the city, one of whom was carrying four skins for sale,
and the other two sheets of linen. The blessed prelate, when he
perceived them, recognised a divine dispensation with reference to
himself. He inquired of them on the instant, “Are ye
Christians?” And they replied, “Yes.”
Then said he, “Whither are ye going?” And they
replied, “To the market in the city to sell these things that we
are carrying.” Then the most merciful father answered,
“My faithful children, God has marked you out, persevere with
me.” And they immediately recognising him, said,
“Sire, let it be as thou hast commanded.” Then
turning to the tribunes, he said, “Come, do what ye are about to
do, and fulfil the king’s command; for the day is now on the
point of breaking.”2264
But they, suffering violence as it
were on account of the wicked decree of the prince, brought him to a
spot opposite to the sanctuary of the evangelist, into a valley near
the tombs. Then said the holy man, “Spread out, thou aged
man, the skins which thou carriest, and thou too, O aged woman, the
linen sheets.”2265
| 2265 The
Latin reads here: “Spread out, ye aged men, the skins which
ye are carrying.” | And when they had been spread out,
this most constant martyr, mounting upon them, extended both his hands
to heaven, and bending his knees on the ground, and fixing his mind
upon heaven, returned his thanks to the Almighty Judge2266
| 2266
ἀγωνοθέτης—the
president of the Grecian games, the judge. | of the contest,
and fortifying himself with the sign of the cross, said, Amen.
Then loosening his omophorion2267
| 2267
[Probably he wore ordinarily what afterwards became an
ecclesiastical ornament. So the casula and
other vestments were retained by the clergy after they ceased to be
commonly worn. Marriott, Vestiar. Christian., p.
198.] The omophorion, which is worn by every
Eastern bishop, resembles the Latin pallium, except that it is
broader, and tied round the neck in a knot. Cf. following
passage from Neale’s Introduction to the Translation of the
Eastern Liturgies: “But while the Gospel is being read,
the bishop lays aside his omophorion, thereby making
profession of his service to the Lord. For since it is the Lord
who is represented as speaking by the Gospel, and is, as it were,
Himself present, the bishop at that time ventures not to be arrayed
with the symbol of His incarnation—I mean, the omophorion;
but taking it off from his shoulders, he gives it to the deacon, who
holds it folded in his right hand, himself standing near the bishop,
and preceding the holy gifts. When he has finished the liturgy,
and comes to the communion, he again assumes the omophorion,
manifesting that before this he was one of the ministers, and was
afraid to put upon himself that holy garment. But when the work
is accomplished, and he goes on to elevate the bread, and to divide it
into parts, and to receive it himself, and distribute it to others, it
is necessary that he should put on all the sacred symbols of his
dignity; and since the omophorion is the principal vest of a
pontiff, he necessarily assumes that, and in that is partaker of the
most divine things.” [All this unknown to antiquity.] | from his neck, he stretched it forth,
saying, “What is commanded you, do speedily.”
Meanwhile the hands of the tribunes were
paralyzed, and looking upon one another in turn, each urged his fellow
to the deed, but they were all held fast with astonishment and
fear. At length they agreed that out of their common stock a
reward for the execution should be appointed, and that the man who
should venture to perpetrate the murder should enjoy the reward.
There was no delay, each of them brought forth five solidi.2268
| 2268 A
solidus or aureus worth 25 denarii, being 8½d.; it
was worth 17s. 8½d.; five solidi, £4, 8s. 6½d.
[More than $20.] | But, as
says the heathen poet,—
“Quid non
mortalia pectora cogis,
Auri sacra fames?”2269
one of them, after the manner of the traitor Judas, emboldened
by the desire of money, drew his sword and beheaded the pontiff, on the
25th day of November, after he had held the pontificate twelve
years—three of which were before the persecution, but the nine
remaining were passed by him under persecutions of diverse kinds.
The blood-money being instantly claimed by the executioner, these
wicked purchasers, or rather destroyers, of man’s life quickly
returned, for they feared the multitude of the people, since, as I have
said, they were without their military escort. But the body of
the blessed martyr, as the fathers affirm who went first to the place
of execution, remained erect, as if instant in prayer, until many
people, coming together, discovered it standing2270
| 2270
[Here “standing” = continuing. He knelt, no
doubt, to be beheaded; but the corpse remained in this
posture. A noble horse, shot on the field of Antietam, remained
on the field in an attitude of raising himself from the ground, as I
saw it myself.] | in the same posture; so that what was his
constant practice whilst living, to this his inanimate body
testified. They found also the aged man and woman watching with
grief and lamentation the most precious relic of the Church. So,
honouring him with a triumphal funeral, they covered his body with the
linen sheets; but the sacred blood which had been poured forth, they
collected reverently in a wallet.
In the meanwhile an innumerable multitude of
either sex, flocking together from the populous city, with groans and
ejaculations asked each other in turn, being ignorant, in what manner
this had happened. In truth, from the least to the greatest, a
very great grief was prevalent amongst all. For when the chief
men of the city beheld the laudable importunity of the multitude, who
were busied in dividing his sacred spoils to keep them as relics, they
wrapped him up the tighter in the skins and linen sheets. For the
most holy minister of God was always clothed in sacerdotal vestments of
a white colour2271
| 2271
[This may be credited. See Cyprian’s
Passion. But the technical names which follow seem an
anachronism if technically understood. I say this with no
spirit of objection to these vestments, however.] | —that
is, with the tunic, the kolobion, and the
omophorion. Then there arose among them no small
contention; for some were for carrying the most sacred limbs to the
church which he had himself built, and where he now rests, but others
were endeavouring to carry him to the sanctuary of the evangelist,
where he attained the goal of martyrdom; and since neither party would
yield to the other, they began to turn their religious observance into
a wrangling and a fight.2272
| 2272
[See Kingsley’s Hypatia. In Cyril’s time
this might have happened: one trusts that for Peter’s day
this, too, is an anachronism.] | In the meanwhile a spirited body
of senators of those who are engaged in the public transport service,
seeing what had happened, for they were near the sea, prepared a boat,
and suddenly seizing upon the sacred relics, they placed them in it,
and scaling the Pharos from behind, by a quarter which has the name of
Leucado, they came to the church of the most blessed mother of God, and
Ever-Virgin Mary, which, as we began to say, he had constructed in the
western quarter, in a suburb, for a cemetery of the martyrs.
Thereupon the throng of the people, as if the heavenly treasure had
been snatched from them, some by straight roads, and others by a more
devious route, followed with hasty steps. And when they at length
arrived there, there was no longer any altercation where he was to be
placed, but by a common and unimpeachable counsel they agreed first to
place him in his episcopal chair, and then to bury him.
And this, most prudent reader, I would not have
you regard as a wild fancy and superstition, since, if you learn the
cause of this novelty, you will admire and approve of the zeal and deed
of the populace. For this blessed priest, when he celebrated the
sacrament of the divine mysteries, did not, as is the ecclesiastical
custom, sit upon his pontifical throne, but upon its footstool
underneath, which, when the people beheld, they disliked, and
complainingly exclaimed, “Thou oughtest, O father, to sit upon
thy chair;” and when they repeated this frequently, the minister
of the Lord rising, calmed their complaints with tranquil voice, and
again took his seat upon the same stool. So all this seemed to be
done by him from motives of humility. But upon a certain great
festival it happened that he was offering the sacrifice of the
mass,2273
| 2273
[Another anachronism, and Occidental also.] | and wished to
do this same thing. Thereupon, not only the people, but the
clergy also, exclaimed with one voice, “Take thy seat upon thy
chair, bishop.” But he, as if conscious of a mystery,
feigned not to hear this; and giving the signal for silence,—for
no one dared pertinaciously to withstand him,—he made them all
quiet, and yet, nevertheless, sat down on the footstool of the chair;
and the solemnities of the mass2274
| 2274
[See vol. v. p. 256, note 6, and p. 259, Elucidation II.
Missa, a Latin word, has clearly no place here save by the Roman
rule of reading modern rites into antiquity. Thus, in
Raphael’s picture illustrating the story of 2 Macc. iii. 15, the
Jewish high-priest is made a Roman pontiff. (Compare note 6, p.
261, supra.] | having been celebrated as usual, each
one of the faithful returned to his own home.
But the man of God sending for the clergy, with tranquil
and serene mind, charged them with rashness, saying, “How is it
that ye blush not for having joined the cry of the laity, and
reproaching me? Howbeit, since your reproach flows not from the
muddy torrent of arrogance, but from the pure fountain of love, I will
unfold to you the secret of
this mystery. Very often when I wish to draw near to that seat, I
see a virtue as it were sitting upon it, exceeding radiant with the
brightness of its light. Then, being in suspense between joy and
fear, I acknowledge that I am altogether unworthy to sit upon such a
seat, and if I did not hesitate to cause an occasion of offence to the
people, without doubt I should not even venture to sit upon the stool
itself. Thus it is, my beloved sons, that I seem to you, in this,
to, transgress the pontifical rule.2275
| 2275 [See
note 2, p. 265, supra.] | Nevertheless, many times when I
see it vacant, as ye yourselves are witnesses, I refuse not to sit upon
the chair after the accustomed manner. Wherefore do ye, now that
ye are acquainted with my secret, and being well assured that, if I
shall be indulged, I will sit upon the chair, for I hold not in slight
esteem the dignity of my order, cease any further from joining in the
exclamations of the populace.” This explanation the most
holy father whilst he was yet alive, was compelled to give to the
clergy. The faithful of Christ, therefore, remembering all this
with pious devotion, brought his sacred body, and caused it to sit upon
the episcopal throne. As much joy and exultation arose then to
heaven from the people, as if they were attending him alive and in the
body. Then embalming him with sweet spices, they wrapped him in
silken coverings; what each one of them could be the first to bring,
this he accounted to himself as greatest gain. Then carrying
palms, the tokens of victory, with flaming tapers, with sounding hymns,
and with fragrant incense, celebrating the triumph of his heavenly
victory, they laid down the sacred relics, and buried them in the
cemetery which had been long ago constructed by him, where too from
henceforth, and even to this day, miraculous virtues cease not to show
themselves. Pious vows, forsooth, are received with a propitious
hearing; the health of the impotent is restored; the expulsion of
unclean spirits testifies to the martyr’s merits. These
gifts, O Lord Jesus, are Thine, whose wont it is thus magnificently to
honour Thy martyrs after death: Thou who with the Father and the
Holy Consubstantial Spirit livest and reignest for evermore.
Amen.
After this, how that wolf and framer of treachery,
that is Arius, covered with a sheep’s skin, entered into the
Lord’s fold to worry and torment it, or in what manner he was
enabled to attain to the dignity of the priesthood, let us employ
ourselves in relating in brief.2276
| 2276
Achillas, the successor of Peter, admitted Arius to the priesthood. | And this not to annoy those who
ventured to recall to the threshing-floor of the Lord those tares of
apostacy and contagion that had been winnowed out of the Church by a
heavenly fan; for these are without doubt reckoned eminent for
sanctity, but thinking it a light thing to believe so holy a man, they
transgressed the injunctions of the divine command. What
then? Do we reprehend them? By no means. For as long
as this corruptible body weighs us down, and this earthly habitation
depresses the sense of our infirmity, many are easily deceived in their
imaginations, and think that which is unjust to be just, that to be
holy which is impure. The Gibeonites who, by the divine
threatenings, were to be utterly destroyed, having one thing in their
wishes and another in their voice and mien, were able quickly to
deceive Joshua,2277
that just
distributor of the land of promise. David2278
also, full of prophetic inspiration,
when he had heard the words of the deceitful youth, although it was by
the inscrutable and just judgment of God, yet acted very differently
from what the true nature of the case required. What also can be
more sublime than the apostles, who have not removed themselves from
our infirmity? For one of them writes, “In many things we
offend all;”2279
and another, “If we say we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.”2280
But when
we repent of these, so much the more readily do we obtain pardon, when
we have sinned not willingly, but through ignorance or frailty.
And certainly offences of this sort come not of prevarication, but of
the indulgence of compassion. But I leave to others to write an
apology for this; let us pursue what is in hand. After that
magnificent defender of the faith, Peter, worthy of his name, had by
the triumph of martyrdom, etc.
The Rest is Wanting. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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