Aristoclus the Presbyter

ON SAINTS ARISTOCLUS THE PRESBYTER, DEMETRIANUS THE DEACON, AND ATHANASIUS THE LECTOR, MARTYRS AT CONSTANTIA IN CYPRUS.

The cult & Acts from Manuscript Synaxaria.

UNDER MAXIMIAN

Aristoclus the Presbyter, Martyr at Constantia in Cyprus (St.) Demetrianus the Deacon, Martyr at Constantia in Cyprus (St.) Athanasius the Lector, Martyr at Constantia in Cyprus (St.)

AUTHOR. G. H.

The very ancient Manuscript Menology of the Greeks, collected under the auspices of Basil the Emperor Porphyrogenitus in the tenth century of Christ, The cult in the Menology of Basil. on this 23rd of June sets forth concerning these holy Martyrs such a eulogy: Greek text follows; rendered: The holy Aristocles was from Cyprus, a Presbyter of the Church of God, and in the reign of Maximian, fearing the persecution, going up onto a certain mountain, hid himself in a cave; in which, praying, he heard a voice from heaven commanding him to go away to the metropolis, and there to contend the martyrdom. And arriving at the house of the holy Apostle Barnabas, he came upon the Deacon Demetrianus, and the Lector Athanasius, and being given hospitality by them, related to them all the matters of the vision. And taking them too as fellow-travelers, he went away to the metropolis to the Governor; and having confessed Christ, he was shut up with his company in prison. And after these things he indeed was beheaded, but Demetrianus and Athanasius were given over to fire, and coming out of the fire unharmed, were themselves also beheaded.

[2] The contest of the holy Martyr Aristoclus and his Companions. An Eulogy from the same, St. Aristocles was a Presbyter of the Church of God in Cyprus, in the time of the reign of Maximian: but terrified on account of the persecution, he went up onto a certain mountain, and hid himself in a cave: where, during prayer, he heard from heaven a voice, ordering him to go to the metropolis, and there to undergo the contest of martyrdom. Going forth, then, he came to the house of the holy Apostle Barnabas, and took Demetrianus the Deacon and Athanasius the Lector; and among them, received in hospitality, he related to them all that had happened to him in the vision. Taking them, therefore, as companions of his journey, he went away to the metropolis to the Governor: and having confessed Christ, with his companions he was shut in prison, and afterward himself beheaded; but Demetrianus and Athanasius were given over to fire: but they come out from it unharmed, and their heads being cut off, are crowned.

[3] A memorial in other Manuscripts. The memory of the same is celebrated also in the Manuscript Menaia of Milan, of the Ambrosian library, and in the printed Menaia; but on the 20th day of June in the Manuscript Menaia of Dijon of the Society of Jesus, with this verse alluding to the name of Aristocles.

Aristocles, altogether the best warrior: who, being beheaded, contended best. Of St. Barnabas it was treated on the 11th of June. But the metropolis of Cyprus here alleged was then Constantia, afterward called Salamis of Cyprus, concerning which consult the Acts of St. Epiphanius, Bishop there, on the 12th of May.

[4] These things being written, I find another encomium somewhat more exact in the Manuscript Greek Synaxarium of the Church of Constantinople, Another Eulogy belonging to the College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, which I add: Greek text follows; rendered: The holy Martyr Aristocles was a Cypriot by race, of the city of Tamasus, a Presbyter of the catholic Church. And in the times of Maximian the emperor, going up onto the mountain into a certain cave, he hid himself, fearing the impending persecution; in which, praying, he was encircled with a light surpassing the sun, and a voice being borne from heaven he was urged to go away to Salamis the metropolis, and there to contend the martyrdom. And journeying, he arrived at Ledra, at the house of the holy Apostle Barnabas; and finding there Demetrianus the Deacon, and Athanasius the Lector, and being given hospitality by them, and having set forth the cause for which he came and the matters of his vision, he took them as partners of the deed, they readily choosing to contend for Christ. And arriving at the city to which they hastened, they stood in a conspicuous and lofty place; whom the Governor, seeing and summoning, and having learned from those very ones that they were Christians, first commanded the holy Aristocles to be scraped with scourges, and then thus to have his head cut off with the sword; but the holy Demetrianus and Athanasius, abiding in the confession of Christ, after many torments he ordered to be given over to fire; and being kept unhurt in it, he directed them to be slain by the sword. The Latin rendering follows: The contest of the holy Martyrs Aristoclus the Presbyter, and Demetrianus the Deacon, and Athanasius the Lector: of whom the holy Martyr Aristoclus was a Cypriot from the city of Thamassus, a Presbyter of the Catholic Church, the former more accurately, and that in the times of the Emperor Maximian. Going up onto a mountain, he hid himself in a certain cave, stricken with terror on account of the rising persecution. But when he was intent on prayer, he was lit up with a light greater than the sun's, and admonished by a voice coming from heaven to proceed to the metropolis of Salamis; and there to undergo the contest of martyrdom. Rising, therefore, he came to Ledra, to the house of the holy Apostle Barnabas, and taking there Demetrianus the Deacon and Athanasius the Lector, he is received by them in hospitality: to whom he set forth the cause for which he came and the vision which had befallen him, and obtained that they become partners of his action, choosing readily to contend for Christ. And arriving at the city to which they hastened, they stood in a conspicuous and high place: whom the Governor, beholding, questioned; and having been taught by those very ones that they were Christians, first indeed he ordered St. Aristoclus to be torn with scourges, and so to have his head cut off with the sword, but the holy Demetrianus and Athanasius, persevering in the confession of Christ, after many torments he commanded to be given over to fire: but kept unharmed in the fire, he ordered them also to be slain by the sword. Hence you may understand that more extended Acts existed, which perhaps still lie hidden somewhere: there are indicated, moreover, three Episcopal cities of Cyprus, Thamassus, whose Bishop Tychon was in the first Council of Constantinople; Ledra, commonly called Nicosia; whence Triphylius, Bishop of Ledra in Cyprus, praised by St. Jerome in his Ecclesiastical Writers, chapter 92; and Salamis the metropolis, formerly Constantia, mentioned by us above.