Hermias Martyr

ON S. HERMIAS MARTYR, AT COMANA IN CAPPADOCIA.

UNDER ANTONINUS.

PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.

On the old cult among the Greeks, recent among the Latins, and on the Acts to be given from the Greek MS.

Hermias the soldier, Martyr at Comana in Pontus (S.)

D. P.

By a special Office of the whole day, on the last of May, among the Greeks is venerated S. Hermias the Martyr; and in all the Synaxaria or Menaea, both expressed by hand and by type, his elogium is found, Cult among the Greeks with elogium from the Acts, such as we have already given in Greek from the Menology of the Emperor Basil, and in Latin is rendered thus: This man was under the Emperor Antoninus, in the city of Comana, leading a military life; and he was already advanced in age and venerable for his white hair, when for the confession of Christ he was apprehended; and presented to Sebastianus the Duke, his jaws are first crushed, then with the skin of the whole face stripped off, his teeth are pulled out; afterwards thrown into the midst of a burning furnace, and coming forth thence without harm, he is ordered to eat poisoned food. But when he had eaten this also without injury, he converted to the faith the magician who had prepared them, and sent him before himself to the crown by being beheaded: he himself, with the sinews of his whole body cut, is put into a boiling cauldron. Finally with his eyes dug out he is hung by the head for three days, and at last is ordered to offer his neck to the sword, and so passed to the Lord. The same things are much praised in the whole Canon through the individual Odes: which Canon we believe to be one of the more ancient. To the elogium printed in the Menaea this distich is prefaced.

Βάπτεις σεαυτὸν κογχύλῃ τῶν αἱμάτων, Ἑρμεία, τμηθείς.

Ὢ βαφῆς ἀνεκπλυτοῦ!

Beheaded, you tinge yourself, Hermia, with your own blood, oh! indelible purple!

The Typicon of the Greeks, the metrical Ephemeris, and thence the figured Greco-Muscovite Calendar taken from it, praise this one Saint alone and name him: but nowhere is anything read, whence suspicion may be formed, from him is distinct S. Hermæus M. at Sirmium, that the body rests elsewhere than at Comana. Since therefore in the Synaxarium of Clermont, where on this day is read the prefaced elogium, also on the XXIX of April is found the memory τοῦ ἁγίου Μάρτυρος Ἑρμαίου τοῦ ἐν Σιρμίῳ, of the holy Martyr Hermæus at Sirmium; we are indeed compelled to distinguish between Hermias and Hermæus: but we labor to believe him distinct from this S. Hermes, Apostle of Dalmatia, of whom we treated on the VIII of April, on account of the common feast with five other co-Apostles; for next to Dalmatia lies adjoining on the borders of Pannonia Sirmium; and the name of Hermes is most easily converted into the name of Hermæus.

[2] From the Latins the first to receive S. Hermias into his Martyrology was Molanus, in the second edition of Usuard enlarged by him, Memory among the Latins more recent, and not without faults. curated in the year MDLXXXIII, as a notice received from the Greeks, in these words: On the thirty-first day of holy Apostle Hermius, and of the most sacred Martyr Hermæus: which nearly the same, I know not where, finding, Genebrardus, before the Psalter printed at Paris in the year MDXCII, in the Calendar of the Greeks caused to be read, Hermias the Apostle and Hermæus the Martyr. Both in the third edition of the year MDLXXXIII Molanus had omitted, doubtless not sufficiently trusting to the prior documents. And rightly indeed he could omit the Apostle, as one never to be found among the Greeks on this day: but the Martyr he ought to have retained. This Galesinius did in the year MDLXXVIII with this phrase: In Greece of S. Hermeus Martyr, who under the Emperor Antoninus, kindled with incredible ardor of faith, by no even most exquisite torments, which Sebastianus the Praeses had ordered to be inflicted on the Martyr, terrified, at length with head suspended rendered his spirit to God. In the Annotations he confesses that these things were more fully written in Greek, only a few things have been collected by him; but there he could have read, that he had consummated his martyrdom by the cutting off of his head, and that he is called Hermias not Hermeus. Therefore from Sirletus's Menology into the present-day Roman, Baronius transferred him thus: Among the Comani in Pontus of S. Hermias the Soldier, who under Antoninus the Emperor, from innumerable and most savage torments freed by divine help, converted his executioner to Christ, and made him sharer of the same crown, which however he himself first received, beheaded by the sword. But neither in this elogium are faults lacking, which you may correct. For neither did he go before to the crown the executioner by whom he was beheaded; but he followed to the same the magician, who had mixed poison for him: and there must also be distinguished Comana of Pontus, from Comana of Cappadocia, to which the Acts assign this Saint, just as Ptolemy well distinguishes them: but it is nothing new for Baronius to confound Pontus with Cappadocia, as we have seen in the Life of S. Gregory Nazianzen.

[3] The Acts are given from a Greek MS. of Florence, The Acts which I have said, the Laurentian Library of the Grand Duke supplied, from a codex often praised by us, the XIV of Pluteus IX. under this title, Μαρτύριον τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ἐνδόξου Μάρτυρος Ἑρμείου. Μηνὶ Μαίῳ λα᾽. Martyrdom of the holy and glorious Martyr Hermias. In the month of May XXXI. Into Latin them my once disciple, and fervent assistant so far as he was permitted, R. P. Hugh Bollius the Carthusian, by whose work in March we much profited, since first the resolution had stood concerning the Greek pieces, which never had seen the light in either language, to be subjoined at the end of each volume. Afterwards he had begun for other months to render certain things into Latin, but besides these Acts of S. Hermias he scarcely brought anything to perfection, hindered by illnesses and finally by death. And these very things had nearly slipped from our memory, when before the 1st Volume of May, at the Metrical Ephemerides of the Greeks, we came upon his name on this last day of May; because they had been placed in the wrong place under another month. As to the Codex, in which they were contained, this indeed we have judged to have pertained to some church of the Antiochene Patriarchate, on account of S. Sira and similar Eastern Saints found there: but now this seems to me very ambiguous, while I consider that in the same codex are contained not only those, but also certain others from parts subject to the Roman Patriarchate, as once were Illyricum, and the Islands of the Mediterranean Sea, and Achaia with Macedonia. Whencesoever however that collection is, it is truly outstanding, and great light to this work will bring other months, if anywhere the whole Year shall be found; as being most distinct from that collection, which from the error of the common people is imputed to Metaphrastes, and is everywhere found described in the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate.

ACTS OF MARTYRDOM

From a Greek MS. of the Laurentian Library of Florence. Translated by R. P. Hugh Bollius the Carthusian.

Hermias the soldier, Martyr at Comana in Pontus (S.)

TRANSLATED BY H. BOLLIUS, FROM A FLORENTINE MS.

[Greek text of the Acts continues — paragraphs 2 through 9, presented in Greek in the source. The Latin translation by Hugh Bollius follows in chunks 0003–0004.]

[1] Sebastianus sent into Cappadocia by the Emperor Antoninus, In those times the Christians sustained a great persecution, under the Roman Emperor the gentile Antoninus, who for this cause sent a certain Duke Sebastianus with mandates. He, having set out from Cilicia into Cappadocia, at Comana found a certain soldier, Hermias by name, a Christian, worshipping God and doing justice, to whom he himself said: Letters from the Roman King Antoninus sent to me convey, that all the Christians should sacrifice to the gods; but if they shall not have sacrificed, that they be tormented with great and bitter punishments. he invites Hermias the soldier to sacrifice: Come therefore, Hermias; sacrifice to the gods, and you will be a friend of Caesar Antoninus, and at once shall be augmented with great honors: therefore obey me, lest both your soul and body I torture.

[2] But the Athlete of Christ Hermias, replying, said to Sebastianus: I am a soldier of the heavenly and immortal king Christ, refusing this generously here, of whose kingdom there shall be no end: therefore I do not obey the mortal and most impious King, whose kingdom shall not endure; but the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ shall remain stable forever; and he who believes in Him, shall inherit life eternal. With these heard, Sebastianus the Duke said to S. Hermias: Sacrifice to the gods, and you shall enjoy eternal life in joy. The Saint said to him: When at your Emperor Antoninus's I served as soldier, what were his I did not relish; but in secret the Lord my God I worshipped, on which account the demon shall not conquer me. Of my body indeed you have power, and that with my Lord permitting; but of my soul you have no power except God alone, who is mighty to give me patience, and to preserve me unto the age of the age.

[3] Which heard, Sebastianus the Duke said to S. Hermias: I see you are endowed with much wisdom. S. Hermias replied saying: I, that I may not sacrifice, with pleasure shall suffer torments and shall die; and that his wisdom is from God, besides I am strengthened and strive to be afflicted with torments for the truth of my Lord Jesus Christ. The Duke says to him: I behold your white hair and prudence, and I spare you. But S. Hermias says: We do not need such kind of grace, but the grace of God; this will lead me to Him: for He is the one who supplies such prudence to me, and to those upright in heart gladness, and to those who keep His commandments wisdom; for wisdom and understanding He gives through His holy Spirit. For just as the farmer, if he cultivates his land, prepares it that it may bear rich fruits; in the same way the wisdom of God preserves itself in those, who follow it, granting no power to the adversary to invade them; but makes them bear fruit to God. Sebastianus the Duke said: and acknowledging fortitude, Do you choose rather to die, than to live life? Replying S. Hermias said; This death, is not death; but eternal life, if I shall patiently bear your tortures and punishments. The Duke Sebastianus says; Do you retain this mind, and wish to perish? To whom S. Hermias; I have said to you, that I do not perish; you do only what you wish.

[4] Then the Duke ordered his jaws and teeth to be crushed, and the skin of his face to be torn. his jaws are crushed: S. Hermias said: I give thanks to God, since the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ is with me. Sebastianus said; Why do you not receive your ration? The Holy Athlete of Christ Hermias said; Because unjustly and violently you defraud other poor men; therefore I neither receive, nor eat of it: I have indeed a spiritual food, which is of the Holy Spirit, and I shall not hunger forever. Which heard, Sebastianus the Duke commanded him to be cast into a furnace fiercely kindled; and with him cast in, and going forth unharmed from the furnace, far more amply did the furnace flame. After three days having passed he ordered the furnace to be opened, and S. Hermias the Athlete of Christ was found singing psalms and praying God, since the fire did not touch him at all in any way.

[5] Then the Duke, stirred by fury, ordered deadly drugs to be prepared, and given to him. when without harm he had drunk the poison, When they had been offered him by the Magus, S. Hermias said; I would not indeed wish to taste, but that I may show you, that God is mighty to dissolve all your tricks; therefore the flesh infected with incantations I take, and, having poured out prayers to God, I eat. And when he had taken them, he tasted, and in nothing was harmed, neither did he sustain any injury. Then the Magus when he had brought forth other more pernicious medicaments, said: Now take, and if you have suffered nothing, I also shall leave my magics, he converts the magus, and shall believe in the Crucified God, whom you also serve. When Hermias had received them, and had suffered nothing at all, the Magus said: You have conquered, and prevailed, because you have saved from hell my soul already perishing, that I may live to God. For just as a statue, by antiquity nearly worn out, is renewed by being recast; so I also by the evils, which I have committed, grown old and to the danger of perishing closest, according to the soul I have been renewed, returned to the living God, remaining ever and to eternity. O God, soon beheaded, who freed me from the error of demons and from execrable medicaments through your servant Hermias, through whom I have also believed in You. Then Sebastianus the Duke ordered the Magus to be beheaded, and in this manner in good confession he was consummated by martyrdom.

[6] Then the Duke says to S. Hermias: Sacrifice to the gods, and be prudent. To whom the Saint: Always I am prudent, The Saint shows that he is not foolish: with God supplying me strength. Sebastianus the Duke says:

Now indeed you have become foolish; sacrifice to the gods. 1 Cor. 1. To whom S. Hermias: But the foolish things of the world has God chosen, that He may destroy the wise; and the weak things of the world, and contemptible things has God chosen, that He may confound the strong; and those things which are not, that He might destroy those which are, as the Apostle Paul, eloquent orator, taught the Church of God. For coming in his holy vocation, with wisdom received from God, he had in himself the fullness of the Scriptures, and showed the way of salvation to those, who wish to be saved. The Duke Sebastianus said: Hermias, abstain from these foolish words, which shall not profit you. S. Hermias said: I am not foolish, but I strive to be wise. Foolish are they, who hearing you offer sacrifices to inanimate idols, and to false gods believe, despising the true God. It is written:

Let the gods, who did not make heaven and earth, perish; And with them shall perish all, who trust in them, not receiving the knowledge of the true faith.

[7] Then the Duke, growing hot with anger, commanded all the sinews of his whole body, and with the sinews cut, to be stretched out. To whom S. Hermias: These things all bearing, I scarcely feel: for, just as the lancet of a physician by piercing empties a fresh wound from all humor, and from the body draws out every depraved condition, and provides refreshment; so I also, with sinews more violently stretched, am refreshed through the faith which I have in Christ. These heard, Sebastianus the Duke commanded the Saint to be cast into oil, cast into boiling oil, boiling beyond measure. With this done, S. Hermias said: This oil, so much inflamed, has become for me as the dew of heaven; or as water poured over a man, so to my body it provides refreshment. For I do not feel such kind of torments, neither do I execute your will; but the will of the heavenly Father, and I offer myself a sacrifice unspotted to God, given vinegar and lye to drink, who fashioned me, since He is the Lord of bodies and souls. These heard, the Duke ordered vinegar and lye to be poured into his throat: to whom S. Hermias: Vinegar and lye are to me as a honeycomb, on account of God, by whose love I bear these things.

[8] Then the Duke ordered him to be deprived of his lights. These S. Hermias hearing said: he despises the threats of inflicting blindness, And since corporeal sight you take from me, the eye of my soul is able to provide me, that I may see more; and it cries to Him, by whose love I sustain these things: nevertheless, if you have need of them; take these eyes of my body, which behold the vain things of the world; but the eyes of the heart behold the true light. Sebastianus the Duke said: You force me, to inflict on you many and great torments. Holy Hermias said: To God who strengthens me I give thanks: therefore according to your will and pleasure torture me, and spare me not, for three days he is hung by the head, as you have decreed: I am ready every torment to suffer, with God helping me. Then the Duke ordered him to be hung by the head for three days, until from his nostrils should flow copious blood. For three days when he had hung, there came certain to see him, thinking he had already died. And coming they found him living and praising

God: and from fear they were blinded. When S. Hermias saw them, he said: In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ receive sight: and with hands placed upon them, he opened their eyes. And returning they reported to the Duke all things, which had happened. With these understood the Duke, offended, nor does he fear to be flayed: ordered him of his whole body to be stripped of skin. To whom S. Hermias: Although from my body you remove the skin, according to your will I do not sacrifice: do, what you wish. Indeed I am ready to fight against your father the devil.

[9] at length beheaded, These heard, Sebastianus the Duke, in the manner of a lion roaring, ordered him to be decapitated. Having heard the sentence S. Hermias praying said: To you I give thanks, God, who have conferred on me this grace of victory. Now indeed about to be consummated S. Hermias, again said: Lord Jesus Christ, I glorify you, and I pray, that whoever shall keep the memory of my contest, by the intervention of the Mother of God Mary and of the Saints, may become partakers of the holy Martyrs, who pleased you most well. These said, the executioner decapitated him, and there came forth blood and water; so that all the seers, who were present there, were carried into admiration, on account of all the things which had been done. he is buried at Comana. Therefore very many were joined to the Christian faith, having beheld the miracles wrought by him. And coming Christian men collected his venerable body, and with the rites completed laid it in Cappadocia, in a place, called Comana; and a great multitude through the relics of the Saint believed in Christ. The Saint indeed

Hermias, on the fourth of the Kalends of April first confessed the faith, but was consummated in the month of May completed, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.