ON SAINT JULIUS MARTYR AT DOROSTORUM IN MOESIA. PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On his notice from the Latin Martyrologies, and on the Acts of the Passion.
PrefaceJulius, Martyr at Dorostorum in Moesia (St.)
G. H.
Among the illustrious Martyrs who at Dorostorum in lower Moesia, modern Bulgaria, suffered for the name of Christ, Memory in Florus, were Passicrates, Valentio, and others, whose contest we celebrated on May XXV. These was next followed by St. Julius, of whom Florus in the Supplement of Bede in the time of Charles the Great wrote thus: "VI Kalends of June, Passion of St. Julius, who under President Maximus completed his martyrdom by the cutting off of his head." Somewhat more is offered by Usuard in these words: "VI Kalends of June, In Moesia, in the city Usuard; of Dorostorum, the birthday of B. Julius, who in the time of persecution, when he was a veteran and of completed military service, having been seized by the Officials, was offered to the Judge: in whose presence when he execrated the idols, and most constantly confessed the name of Christ, he was punished with capital sentence." Of which things related by Ado, Ado, these are added: "And when he was being led to the place of carrying out the execution, a certain soldier Esychius, since he himself was being detained having been seized for the faith of Christ, asked him saying: 'Be mindful of me: for I also follow after you. Give greatest greetings to Passicrates and Valentio, the servants of God, who have already preceded us by good confession to the Lord.' But Julius kissing Esychius said: 'Brother, hasten to come: for those whom you saluted have heard your commands.' Thus receiving a kerchief, binding his eyes, he received the palm of martyrdom by the cutting sword." and others, Thus Ado, which things almost the same are read in Notker, and in the author who under the name of Bede published a Martyrology. The later Martyrologists generally followed, with Peter de Natalibus, book 5 of the Catalogue, chapter 56. Of the same is treated on June XIV, in the MS. Martyrology of Brussels of the church of St. Gudula. And all give credence to the MS. Acts of the martyrdom, Acts of the martyrdom. which we received at Augsburg from a MS. codex submitted by Marcus Velserus. Esychius or Hesychius, who is referred to in these Acts and the related Martyrologies, suffered martyrdom on June XV, when of him separately must be treated. Otherwise the Acts seem to be drawn from elsewhere, perhaps from the Acts of St. Passicrates, which are hidden. The time of the martyrdom is not expressed by the ancients. Galesinius ascribes Julius to the persecution of the Emperor Alexander, and was followed by Baronius in the Martyrology and in the Annals at the year 228 number 2.
[2] Cultus of St. Julius at Fiesole. Likewise on this day at Fiesole in Etruria St. Julius Martyr is venerated, whose body rests in the Abbey of Fiesole, and is believed to have suffered as a youth, but when is unknown. His cultus seems to have been assumed on this day on account of St. Julius of Dorostorum, although he is to be said to be entirely another: and Ferrarius treats of him in both Catalogues.
ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
From the MS. codex of Marcus Velserus.
Julius, Martyr at Dorostorum in Moesia (St.)
BHL Number: 4556
FROM THE MS.
Behold the most holy Julius, held worthy of the grace of God; A Soldier, secretly Christian, behold like a truly spiritual youth of the army of Christ: behold the most beloved Martyr, for the kingdom of the Lord, having suffered things similar to those concerning B. Passicrates. He was indeed according to the warfare of this world a fellow soldier with the aforementioned men, then by zeal of religion he became an imitator of those who before him had suffered martyrdom, made indeed heirs of God, but coheirs of Christ. For when those things which were according to the impious increased; when the precepts against all ran their course, ordering to sacrifice to demons; the Saint was not willing to do similar things to the lost, but secretly within himself preserved the faith of God. And a certain one of the seed of the envious diabolical hater of the good, accused, he professes the faith, denounces the man to the President, accuses indeed his faith, and did not avoid bringing him into the open. So passing into the midst he accused: "Most humane President, this Julius is a Christian, and is unwilling to obey the royal precepts." President Maximus said: "What do you say? Julius, are these things true?" Julius said: "Yes, a Christian I am." Maximus said: "What then? Have you been ignorant of the precepts of the Kings, which order to immolate to the gods?" Julius said: "I was not ignorant indeed: but I am a Christian: and this I cannot do, and to deny God." Maximus said: "What is hard about offering incense and going away?" Julius said: "I cannot transgress, and appear faithless to my God. For in the vain warfare, when I seemed to err for fully twenty-seven years, I was not offered to judgment either as a wicked man or as a quarrelsome one: six times I went out to war, I stood behind no one, nor did I fight worse than anyone: the Prince did not see me ever erring: and refuses to dissimulate: and how do you now think him, who in worse things was found faithful, in better things to be unfaithful?" Maximus said: "Julius, immolate to the gods. To me be imputed this sin: immolating with violence, you have no sin: afterwards you will go to your house receiving the bonus money of ten years, and no one shall be troublesome to you." Julius said: "Neither this money of Satan, nor your insidious doctrine deprives me of the light: for I cannot deny the eternal God. Therefore give sentence against me, as against a Christian." The President said: he himself urges the sentence of death: "Unless you are devoted to the Kings, and sacrifice, I will cut off your head." Julius said: "You have thought well. But I beseech you, pious President, by the safety of your Kings, complete your thought, and give sentence concerning me, that my vows may be fulfilled." President Maximus said: "If you do not wish to repent, you will be delivered to your desire." Julius said: "Thanks I give to my God." Maximus said: "Julius, unwilling to obey the precepts of the Kings, will give the capital sentence." But when he had been led to the customary place, all kissed him. But the blessed one was saying: "Each one knows his own peril, with what mouth he kisses me." But a certain Esychius, a Christian, since he was a soldier and was himself being kept under guard, saluted by St. Hesychius: said to the Martyr: "I beseech you, Julius, with joy complete the promise, and receive the crown: for I follow after you: and give greatest greetings to Passicrates and Valentio." Julius kissing Esychius, said: "Brother, hasten. For your commands they have already heard: as I see you, so now those standing around me." And taking a kerchief he bound his eyes, and stretched out his neck: completes martyrdom. but the soldier drawing his sword imposed an end to his martyrdom.