ON S. MOCIUS OR MUCIUS PRESBYTER MARTYR AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
XI AND XIII MAY.
PrefaceMocius or Mucius Presbyter, Martyr at Constantinople (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
This holy Presbyter and Hieromartyr both Greeks and Latins celebrate; the former on the day XI of May and call him Mocius; the latter on the day XIII of the same month of May, and write Mucius. He suffered various torments under Diocletian, and at last at Constantinople was beheaded: and there an annual solemnity was wont to be celebrated in the Martyrium or temple dedicated to him, Sacred cult at Constantinople 11 May, is read in the MS. Synaxarium of the Church of Constantinople, preserved in the Clermont College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, and other Menaea both printed and by hand written. That moreover that Martyrium for him was constituted by Constantine the Great, and his sacred Relics there placed, is added in the same Menaea and Synaxarium. George Codinus on the Origins of Constantinople pag. 37, where he treats of the buildings of the same city, has these things: The temples of SS. Mocius and Menas Constantine the Great dedicated, when before they were temples of idols. And what then about S. Menas is added, in the temple constituted to him by Constantine the Great, will be referred to his birthday XI November. But about S. Mocius these things then are read: The temple of S. Mocius, twice as great then as it is now, by the middle part Constantine the Great contracted, and the altar there erected. Since indeed there formerly S. Mocius had been killed, for that reason this temple to his name he dedicated, and his body thither translated. In the time of Theodosius the Great the Arians were ejected from the great Church: and afterwards returning, by the permission of the Emperor occupied the temple of S. Mocius. But in the seventh year, after this temple began to be possessed by the Arians, it collapsed while sacred things were being done, which collapsed Justinian restored, and crushed many of them. But in the time of Justinian the Great, that temple was again built, and to this time has remained safe. Thus Codinus. But Procopius in book 1 on the Buildings of the Emperor Justinian chap. 4 thus writes: I almost passed over the Martyrium sacred to S. Plato, splendid indeed and august and near the forum of Constantine: likewise the temple of Mocius the Martyr the greatest of all, and also of Thyrsus likewise the Martyr, of Theodore, of Thecla, of Theodota… For all those this our Prince, at the time when his uncle Justin reigned, built from the foundations: which neither could anyone easily describe, nor worthily admire as a spectator. Thus Procopius. But, as George Cedrenus asserts in the Compendium of Histories, the Emperor Basil the great temple of Mocius the Martyr, as afterwards Emperor Basil. and its inner shrine leveled to the ground, the broken sacred table also, raised up from the ruins. And these things about the care of Emperors in raising up and restoring the temple of S. Mocius. Besides in the Acts of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus held in the year CCCCXXXI, vol. 2 according to the Translation of Theodore Peltanus chap. 19, in which a letter against Nestorius is read. the Archimandrites are ordered by mandate of the Emperor Theodosius to go to the basilica of S. Mocius. All therefore… to the Martyrium of S. Mocius withdrew. Finally when all had entered into the basilica of B. Mocius, publicly was recited the letter of the Council on the condemnation of Nestorius.
[2] The contest of S. Mocius the Martyr is adorned with this elogium in the Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor: Mocius the Hieromartyr of Christ, born in the city of Byzantium, Elogium from the Menology of Basil the Emperor, son of Euphratus and Eustathia parents Christians, who from old Rome drew their origin. Since indeed Mocius was a Presbyter of the Church of Christ, he exhorted all, that from the worship of idols they should withdraw, and venerate Christ, and Him as God and Lord of all things adore. On a certain day, when by the Governor and the people sacrificing victims were being immolated to the gods; moved by divine zeal, running up he overthrew the altar and dispersed the victims. Seized therefore he was subjected to torments, and cast into the fire. But in the midst of the flame he was seen together with three men chanting psalms: of whom to one above the rest the face shone brighter than the sun. And he indeed escaped from the fire unharmed: but the flame consumed those who were standing around and at the same time the Governor. Then he was sent to Heraclea a city of Thrace, where he was beheaded and buried. Finally when Constantine the Great had built him a temple, he took his sacred Relics, and there honorably deposited them. Thus far that Menology of Basil the Emperor, in which while the Acts of martyrdom are contracted, was omitted S. Mocius's Presbytery in the Amphipolitan Church, and the transit from the city of Heraclea to Byzantium, where he was beheaded and buried the rest of the Acts have: among which stand out what from the Synaxarium MS. praised above of the Church of Constantinople we here add, and the MS. Synaxarium. and are of this kind:
[3] Presbyter at Amphipolis This S. Hieromartyr Mocius under the rule of Diocletian, and the Proconsul of Europe Laodicius, flourished a Presbyter of the holy Amphipolitan Church. He had as parents Euphratius and Eustathia, very illustrious and wealthy, originating from old Rome. Saint Mocius however expended himself in teaching others, and preaching Christ, and from the error of idols striving to recall all. overthrows the altar of Bacchus: But when the festivals of Bacchus were on and sacrifices were being prepared by the Proconsul Laodicius, with very many worshipers of idols present, Mocius also approached and overthrew the altar. He was therefore seized, and because he was confessing Christ was hung up: and the temples of his head, his jaws and sides were scraped. hung up and unharmed by fire, Then from pitch, tow and brushwood so violently was the furnace kindled, that its flame to seven cubits was lifted up: and then into the middle of the fire was cast the holy Martyr. But the pyre received him and preserved him whole without any harm: and he seemed to walk about in the midst of the flames with three other men of much glory, of whom one's countenance surpassed by its splendor the very rays of fire. He went out so untouched and sound, that not even a hair did the flame touch: which however poured forth both the Proconsul himself and nine men of his retinue utterly burned, so that not the smallest part of their bodies was found when the pyre was extinguished. Then the blessed Martyr by the Prince Thalassius was cast into prison: then with Maximus entering the Proconsulate again to the question is recalled the Saint: and when he could not be persuaded to deny Christ, but rather to praise Him with illustrious encomium publicly; to two wheels he is bound, by which he might be ground and torn apart: in vain bound to wheels and exposed to beasts. but in a wonderful way snatched from these, he is exposed to beasts, and from these too he remained unharmed. When then the whole people cried out he should be dismissed, he was sent to Philippesius into Perinthus a city of Thrace, at Byzantium he is beheaded. which is now called Heraclea, and thence to Byzantium, where having received the sentence of death by the sword, he is beheaded. And then indeed at one milestone from the city he was buried. Afterwards a most magnificent, most sumptuous, and most splendid temple having been built for him by Constantine the Great, into it he was translated. His Synaxis or festal solemnity in his most holy martyrium or temple is performed.
[4] Thus far the MS. Synaxarium. Almost the same things are read in the Greek Menaea printed and by hand written of Mazarin, of Chiflet, and others, also in Maximus Bishop of Cythera in lives of Saints. But in the new Anthology of Antony Arcudius, published from Vatican type under the auspices of Pope Clement VIII, the same elogium is had, which we gave from the MS. Menology of Basil the Emperor. In Sirletus's Menology there are some errors: Sirletus also from there in his Menology contracted some things, inserting from the Menaea already mentioned, that he was sent to Philippesius into Perinthus a city of Thrace, which is now called Heraclea. There are meanwhile in Sirletus some errors, while with the day XI May omitted, these and other things are referred to the day X May: and not reflecting on this Baronius asserted in the Notes on the day XIII May, that by the Greeks in the Menology he is referred to the VI Ides of May. Besides in the very elogium of Sirletus is inserted the Genethliac day of the city of Constantinople, which separately from the rest of the books of the Greeks is placed in the first place. Finally he is called Mochius, who likewise everywhere by the Greeks is called Mokios, to which name, from the word mokos meaning mocker, not far departing, in the Menaea with this distich it is alluded. Mocking you the wretched error, The impious slay you, Mocius, with the sword.
Reproving the wickedness of unhappy error with laughter, Blessed Mocius, the impious slay you with the sword.
Besides from the metrical Ephemeris is added this verse:
Mocius on the eleventh, wise, gives his neck to the axe.
[5] The Greek Acts are missing, Finally the multiplied odes and canticles in the Menaea about him composed by the Hymnographers are exhibited: from all of which we gather, that the Acts of the Martyrdom of S. Mocius were once composed by the Greeks, although hitherto we have not been able to obtain them. But this defect is supplied by the Acts of martyrdom, Once translated into Latin from MSS. they are given. once translated into Latin, plainly conformed to those, which in the said Greek Odes and hymns are contained. We obtained these from very ancient MS. codices, the Hamburg one sent from the library of Frederick Lindebrog; the Trier one of the monastery of S. Maximinus, and another of the Queen of Sweden no. 569; which codex was indicated to have been of the monastery of S. Dionysius. In these not Mocius but Mucius is called. It is moreover probable that he who by origin was Roman, took the name of Mucius from the ancient Romans, which the Thracians corrupted in their dialect. He is said also to have consummated his contest on the third Ides of May, and is added the same day Constantine to venerate him and to have consecrated the natal day of the city of Constantinople. But, since the Greeks have always solemnly celebrated his Natal day and that Dedication on the day XI May or fifth Ides of May, cult among the Latins 13 May. we gather some error to have crept in formerly into the said number of third Ides of May, and that fifth Ides of May ought to be replaced. From these meanwhile Acts Usuard, and perhaps Florus, referred S. Mucius to the day XIII May: and these have been followed everywhere by later Martyrologists, with the present Roman Martyrology, in which these things are read: At Constantinople of B. Mucius the Presbyter and Martyr, who under the Emperor Diocletian and the Proconsul Laodicius, first at Amphipolis afflicted with many penalties and tortures for the confession of Christ, afterwards led even to Byzantium, by capital sentence fell. Amphipolis is moreover a city of Macedonia, on the river Strymon, Site of the city of Amphipolis which there flowing in a circle the place of the city on both sides girded, so that even therefore Amphipolis seems to be called; the city itself by greatness and frequency of people once most famous, in the region of the Edones founded by the Athenians, not far from the borders of Thrace, in which Suidas and Herodotus place it. and of Perinthus or Heraclea. Thence S. Mocius was led away to Perinthus or Heraclea, the metropolis of Europe, of the first province in Thrace. This city is sited on the shore of Propontis with a port, and is distant LX miles from the city of Byzantium, or Constantinople, in which the holy Martyr was crowned and was venerated XI May.
Annotation* Menaea suns
ACTS OF MARTYRDOM.
From very ancient MS. codices.
Mocius or Mucius Presbyter, Martyr at Constantinople (S.)
BHL Number: 6023
FROM MSS.
CHAPTER I.
Zeal of faith. Torments inflicted under Laodicius the Proconsul. Protection from scraping and fire. The image of Bacchus cast down.
[1] Under Laodicius and Maximus a, for four years alternately holding the Proconsulate of Europe, there was much madness of the Gentiles in the same province: for there was a great convocation and pomp of all the idols in the city of Amphipolis. They were sacrificing namely to Dionysius, perfecting their demoniac error. Mucius however, S. Mucius the Presbyter at Amphipolis, a teacher of modesty and wisdom, and Presbyter at Amphipolis of the holy Church of God, setting himself forth as an example to all, for many years was teaching the saving word, saying: See and hear, execrate and abhor the madnesses of the idols, and the seduction of idolatry: calls citizens away from idolatry. and turn back and know the Lord God, who through His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord shone forth, and through the light of justice illuminated the darkness of ignorance. And through the single days he did this work in the city.
[2] Therefore moved by madness the citizens, danced in the festivals of Dionysius. But in the fifth month Laodicius the Proconsul came b from the city of Apollonia to Amphipolis, and sacrificed to Dionysius. accused before Laodicius the Proconsul. And on another day it was reported to him about the strong soldier of Christ Mucius, that many he had recalled from the solemnity of the Gods; teaching new seductions, by which he persuaded to turn back to the crucified and dead man: and many believing these things, have turned back from the worship of the gods. If you indulge this, all believing in what he teaches, will reckon vain our sacrifices. Inflamed with fury the Proconsul, and sitting before the tribunal in a high place, ordered the soldier of Christ to be brought, and the Proconsul says to him: Tell me, who are you, who do not sacrifice; but even those who sacrifice you make to turn back, he is set before him. and alone you seduce them? Mucius answered: Ignorant of truth, why do you ask what you cannot know? But compose first the knowledge of your mind, and you will understand the truth. For I also c learning the sacred letters, knew the images of the Gentiles to be demons: and their patronage I teach to be vain. Laodicius said: As I see, you have learned much speaking. Mucius said: Our much speaking is true: and that you may know the truth, hear what I say. The gods whom you worship are deaf and mute demons. Laodicius said: Gain your life, and sacrifice. Mucius answered: So great a gain, Proconsul, is death in Christ.
[3] Laodicius said: Let him be hung up and scraped from the top of the head, Hung up and scraped, until all his bones be laid bare, that through this man all may be taught not to blaspheme the Gods, but to sacrifice to them [d] reverently. Scraped strongly, refreshed in Christ he cried out with a great voice, saying: You who reign forever, Lord, and shine forth with the rays of justice, show to your servants your Deity, and grant me without impediment to contend for your precepts. And as he said these things, they scraped him, so that the punishments descended even to his bones. But the executioners ceasing, and now no longer able for weariness to inflict punishments, appears stronger: Laodicius the execrable ordered them as if idle and weak to be cast out and sent outside, and to be reckoned as plebeian and soft. After this S. Mucius was brought before the Governor glorifying God; and appeared stronger and more powerful in the testimony of truth. And Laodicius says to him: Sacrifice to the God Dionysius, that he may free you from many evils. Mucius said: Do you think to be God in the art of man a sculptured thing, made immobile without voice? e Persuader of every error, finder of the devil, do you not see that my body is not weakened by your punishments, and I have not felt the pains of them? Difficult indeed and inane is your power.
[4] shown the fire of the kindled furnace he is not terrified: Hearing these things Laodicius said: This is not the power of your God, but by magical art you seduce all. I order you to be consumed by fire, that all the structure of your bones may become ash, and by snatching winds be dispersed. Meanwhile Laodicius orders a furnace to be kindled from pitch and tow and brushwood, so that it seemed the flame ascended on high to sixty cubits, and with smoky cloud darkened the air: and seeing Laodicius the strong flame, he ordered the Saint of God to be brought, and interrogated him, saying: Sacrifice to the God Dionysius. He however was silent. And again he says to him: Do you persist in the obstinacy of your mind which you began? f Look at the punishment prepared for you, and see the great most excellent protection of the God Dionysius: and converted from madness, sacrifice to the God Dionysius. Mucius answered: I have already said, Proconsul; I do not sacrifice to the deaf, blind and mute, who destroys souls g, by which by divine precept every man is inspired. Do you wish to know, that whom you say is God is not God, but a hand-made sculpture? Laodicius said: Cursed one, is it not an idol which by the power of God is composed? For the power which dwells in this, takes sacrifices from us, and bestows salvation on us.
[5] entering the temple, Mucius answered: Yet do you wish that approaching I sacrifice: that through my sacrifice all may know the power of Dionysius. Laodicius said: Adore and sacrifice, and know his great power. Entering then B. Mucius, and making the sign of Christ on his forehead, the Cross, the Lord's trophy against the devil armed h grasping, he entered into the temple: and standing, where the idol of Dionysius was set, so said: God, who hold all things, and have made all things through the glory of your Christ; i who drew down the devil alien from your truth to shame, with the sign of the Cross he shatters the image of Bacchus and the beatitude of modesty to those fearing your name gave; who shattered the mute and immobile and deaf idols of Babylon, and with the justice and faith of your just Daniel showed the truth; who through the three boys destroyed the execrable throne; and k extinguished the overflowing flame of the furnace; who plunged the wavering and blinded fury of Pharaoh into the depth of the sea; who heard Moses your servant in prayer, and through the rod brought forth a fountain of water from the rock, and gave life to the people knowing you; you who are, and who were, and who shall come, eternal King, I beseech you: now come invoked to my help, and show to those, who hold truth in lying, that they may know your truth: because you are who live forever and remain always, and through you your light wipes away the eternal darknesses and errors of idols. And saying these things, with a great voice he said: Fruitless and inane, deaf and immobile Dionysius, I command you through the great and glorious name of Christ, who dwells on high; that you fall from your firmament, and be prostrated on the earth, because hidden error dwells in you. And at once an earthquake was made, and Dionysius fell, and was made as dust, so that all, who were standing near, fleeing and terrified marveled at what had been done. And B. Mucius said to Laodicius: Behold the error, which men in [l] the security of their mind living was plunging to death, has fallen: but go down now, and gather his dust, and know in what evils you stand.
[6] Then saddened Laodicius for the statue of Dionysius, ordered him to be cast into the furnace of burning fire. Standing there as in the pleasant places of a garden, with all marveling m he was seen with three men chanting psalms of one however the face was shining as the sun, is cast into the fire but unharmed: surpassing all the splendor and brightness of the fire, so that by his brilliance the fire was darkened. And opening the Just one his mouth, said: Thanks I give you, Lord God of our Fathers, by whose word all things are subjected. Blessed are you Lord God of all the army of Angels, who are praised in [n] the mouth of the Archangels, who to the three boys sent into the flame stood by as the fourth, disperse the flame of the burning oven of fire here, and burn this Proconsul. Send upon him your unbearable wrath, that all receiving your knowledge may know, The Proconsul with his attendants is burned. that you are the true God in the heavens. And at once the flame went out from the furnace to the Proconsul, and so wholly consumed him with his nine attendants standing by, so that no one at all could collect their bodies, because the wrath of God consumed them. And when this had been done, all trembled and grew faint: and the Saint went out of the furnace, unharmed by the fire.
ANNOTATIONS.
d. The same, patiently.
l. The same, sincerity.
n. MS. Hamburg, honor.
CHAPTER II.
Torments inflicted under Maximus the Proconsul on the wheel. Unharmed by beasts he is beheaded.
[7] Thalasius therefore the Prince, inflamed with fury against him, ordered him to be enclosed in prison. After twenty-six days came the Proconsul, named Maximus; and hearing about the soldier of the elder which had been done by the blessed man, and knowing the destruction of the Proconsul, was indignant greatly against him. On the first day he held council with his soldiers, that he might destroy the Saint of God. S. Mucius however was in prison, praising and magnifying God. After three days at last came the Proconsul to destroy him: and sitting in a high place, which is called a Sarus, B. Mucius is brought, and the Proconsul says to him: Tell me, what are you called? B. Mucius answered: If you wish to know my name: my great father [b] Euphrates and my sincere mother [c] Eustachia, purifying me with sacred baptism called me Mucius. So I grew nourished by them as a most dear son, Set before Maximus the Proconsul: he indicates his illustrious descent: and under them growing I matured, and adult by the access of time into virile age I came, and made a man now by senile maturity I begin to bend. Hearing the Proconsul said: With what kind in life? S. Mucius answered: My father [d] a Roman citizen served, and in the dignity of military service ruling those serving most clearly flourished, and from much liberality conciliated to himself the affection of nearly all the Romans. My mother however from the father Lampadius, son of Clarus, the Proconsul, most illustrious. The Proconsul said: How then since you are of such kind, did you shatter the great god Dionysius, and the friend of the Emperor the Proconsul to fire deliver, and the custom of sacrifices destroy? Mucius the holy answered: I, Proconsul, so think, that I neither shattered anything, nor delivered the friend of the Emperor to the fire: but with great fear adhering to the one King of the heavens, the sculptured idol the dwelling of the enemy I crushed, and the friend of the devil [e] put to flight; the execrable solemnities I dispersed, and through modesty and prayer beseeching God, I reduced Dionysius to nothing, standing firm in prayers from my whole heart in the confession of the testimony of Christ. Maximus said: Strong and blessed you esteemed yourself, while you are entangled in evil ways. S. Mucius answered: Through the fear of my Lord I am strong to endure the suffering for the destruction of idols. Maximus said: Forget your folly, and approaching sacrifice to Apollo, that you may not die badly. Mucius the holy answered: Badly will I die, explains the deed in the overthrow of the idol: if I forget the kindness and protection of my true God, and adhere to those who are not gods. The Proconsul said: Do not be insane, and do not be mindful of the things of your ancient thoughts, by whose impudicity you overthrew the great God Dionysius, acting foolishly, and not understanding his and the patience of prudent men. Therefore sacrifice to Apollo. S. Mucius answered: Do you not yourself rage, Proconsul, by the art of the devil? nor will you be mindful of the uncircumcised mind of Laodicius, lost and from God alienated through the exacerbation of his own mind? [f] Remember and attend to the protection of God, which has been done in me: and flee their punishment, that you may not be badly punished going out of this life.
[8] Maximus hearing these things, ordered him to be sent under two wheels, bound to 2 wheels he is torn: that turning they might divide his members. He however not fearing such punishment, said: How sweet is love to God! Wholly to the malign mind of the exposition of your art, for so through the words of your punishments to me to the soundness of my soul reward before God is laid up. Hasten then, and to me, desiring to truth, do the will of your father the devil. For to me to live is Christ, and to die in this confession is gain. The wheels turning, and the members of the Just being crushed, the pains did not prevail in his members to the failing of the soul: but magnanimous he said: Giver of modest mind and helper, protector and liberator, I give thanks to you, Lord, because unworthy me you have deigned to receive, and contending against the devil to help: because you are God, who [g] hold my mind, that the impudent mind not prevail in me; since your name is great to those fearing you. the wheels dissolved, freed, And at once the wheels were dissolved, and the Just went out seeming, as if from the whole body crushed, but in soul without pain confirmed in the Lord.
[9] Men marveling at his suffering, Maximus the Proconsul was saddened because he was being conquered: and ordered him to be thrust back into prison, after three days sound is exposed to a lioness venerating him, and after three days to be brought, that he might be consumed by beasts. And when B. Mucius came, Maximus ordered him to be brought into the amphitheater. And he sitting before the tribunal, before all the people of the city, the great Athlete of Christ entered into the amphitheater, sound in body, so that all marveled, saying: How cheerful a countenance has this man called to punishment! Silence having been made, a great lioness was released, roaring vehemently: and running fell at his feet, and licked, and kissed the footsteps of the Saint. For one hour standing the lioness embraced him and his sweat. And going out two huntsmen called her to enter into her cage. She however running and adoring the Saint, and to a lion licking his sweat: entered into her cage. After this a lion was released, who for two days had been kept from food: and running embraced the Saint of God, licking his sweat. And seeing all the assembly cried, saying: Let the Just be released, whom even the beasts [h] revere, and God merciful and compassionate loves. As they were acclaiming, the lion entered into his cage.
[10] Maximus then directed S. Mucius to Philippisius the Prefect of the city of Heraclea, writing all things which against him had been done. directed to Heraclea and Byzantium, And going he made eight days in prison: but after these days he ordered him to be led into Byzantium, that there he might be beheaded. Beginning then to undertake martyrdom, he said: Blessed are you, Lord, who made the ages, who the glorious contests of the Saints happily begun, more happily consummate: receive me in peace. is beheaded, And at once a voice was made to him: Rejoice, good victor Mucius and athlete, publicly conquering the tyrant and crushing his power: with confidence in the kingdom of heaven rejoice with the fathers: you have labored in the world, rejoice in the heavens. And this voice having been made, they beheaded him. S. Mucius consummated his contest [i] on III Ides of May: on which day B. Constantine the Emperor venerated the Martyr of Christ, [k] and on this day consecrated the natal of the city of Constantinople. If anyone shall be mindful of his holy memory, let him most certainly believe himself to have a share of the lot of martyrdom, with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: to whom is honor and glory, virtue and power forever and ever. Amen.