ON S. ALEXANDER MARTYR, BISHOP OF PRUSA IN BITHYNIA.
From the Greek Manuscript Synaxaria.
CommentaryAlexander Martyr, Bishop of Prusa in Bithynia (S.)
G. H.
Prusa, once a most celebrated city of Bithynia & Episcopal, near the roots of Mt. Olympus, brings forth both on this day IX June & on the following two of her Bishops Martyrs of Christ, namely Alexander & Timothy. The latter is established to have been slain under Julian the Apostate, as on the following day will be said; but at what time S. Alexander was crowned with martyrdom, we could not by investigation attain. Illustrious nevertheless his memory is celebrated in the ancient Greek Ms. Synaxarion of the Church of Constantinople, once granted for our use by our Fathers of Paris of the Clermont College, in which these things are read: On the same day, the contest of the holy hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Prusa. On the same day IX June, the contest of the holy Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Prusa. The same memorial we find at Milan in the Ambrosian Library in a book, marked with the letter O & number 148: likewise at Paris in the Ms. Menaea of Cardinal Mazarin, & of the Fathers of the Order of S. Dominic of the Congregation of S. Louis, and also at Dijon in the College of the Society of Jesus with Peter Francis Chifflet: in which exemplar is added, that "he is consummated by the sword," is consummated by the sword: these verses are also added: A most fitting ornament of priesthood is to thee The brilliant contest, Alexander, of the sword.
A great ornament of the Priesthood is thine, The sword finishing the agon, Alexander.