Texier, Charles; Pullan, Richard P.: Byzantine architecture illustrated by examples of edifices erected in the East during the earliest ages of christianity (London, 1864)

THE CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE.

ANANI

ovnpec

BGYTOY

MHNI

IANOY

APIOY

139

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The Mcnology of the Emperor Basil1 2 for the month of January, contains the following
notice:—“The combat of the holy martyrs, Ananias, priest; Peter, key-hearer (or warder),
and seven other soldiers,3 who suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Diocletian,
Maximinus being prefect. Ananias having declared himself a Christian, and having
refused to sacrifice to idols, underwent frightful tortures. Peter the warder,
being a witness to many miracles, threw himself at the feet of Ananias and
demanded baptism. Maximinus, the prefect, had them both made fast to a
wheel and placed upon a burning grate. The seven soldiers who tortured the
saints, upon beholding the fire become extinguished of itself, confessed the Christian faith,
and were put to death with the others.3 The same work contains a notice of the three Biblical
saints Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, to whom one of the churches of Thessaloniea was dedicated.
Their feast was on December 17th.

Basiliscus was a native of the town of Cymiales, in the kingdom of Pontus, and a soldier
in the Tyronian legion, in which Theodore (who became one of the great martyrs of Armenia
in 304, during the reign of Maximianus Herculius) also served. Basiliscus was in the garrison at
Amasia, where, in concert with his companions Eutropius and Cleonieus, he
commenced his evangelical discourses. Arrested in consequence of the edicts of
Diocletian and Maximinian, they were all three conducted before the judge
Asclepiodotus, who put them to torture, and caused Eutropius and Cleonieus to
be executed on the spot. Basiliscus was conducted to Comana, where he arrived
after four days’ march; then he was again commanded to offer sacrifice to Apollo; upon his
reiterated refusals, the governor, Agrippa, again tortured him without result. Being condemned
to die, he was then conducted outside the town to a place called Discorus, on the banks of
the river Iris, where he was executed in the presence of a great multitude. According to the
Menology, he perished July 22nd.4 The Thessalonians commemorated his death in April; the
Latins on May 22nd.

Priscus was a Roman officer of the guard of the Emperor Aurelian, A.D. 273 ; he served
in Gaul, and was in the territory of the Senones, when he was arrested, with many of his
companions for having refused to sacrifice to idols. He was then taken to the
town Toucq, in the environs of Auxerre, where he again confessed the faith of
Christ, and was condemned to death and decapitated. A Christian, named Cottus,
took the head of St. Priscus and preserved it; in consequence of this, he himself
was condemned to death. The Greeks honour the martyr Priscus in the month
of October; the Latins on the 26th of May.5

BACIAIS

KOYCTPA

MHNIAPPIA

IOY

nPICKOY
CTPAT S
MHNH
OKTWBPI8

Philip was bishop of the town of IJeraclea in the 4th century; he is celebrated for the
services he rendered to the rising Church. His disciples, amongst whom we may
reckon the priest Severus, were distinguished amongst the confessors of the faith.
Bassus being governor of Thrace, sent the procurator Aristomachus to close the
church and seize the treasure. Philip still persisted in performing service under
the portico, and in exhorting Christians to remain steadfast in the faith: for this
he was sent to the stake, and became classed amongst the most celebrated confessors of the faith.

<HAin

nOYE-’

CKMH

NHOKTW

0GPINOY The legend of this saint is very obscure; we have not met with his name

CTPAT in the menologies of the Greek or Latin churches. His position, with regard

MHNH IOY 0f St. Philip, who was a martyr of Macedonia, gives us reason to suppose

^lOY that he had made himself illustrious in this province. The appellation of

stratiotes indicates that he belonged to the legion stationed in the country.

St. Leo of Patara, in Lycia, was the friend of Paregorius, martyr for the faith. Leo

raised a monument to him, and called the' Christians together at certain times to honour the

1 Menologium Grcecorum jussu Basilii imperatoris Gueci olim
editum studio et opera Annibalis Tit. S. dementis Presbyteri
Cardinalis Albani; 3 volumes. In folio.

2 "AOXrjaie Taiy ayia)i' Maprvpwv ’Avaviuv 7rpea€vT£pov, YUrprw

k\si<)mj>v\ai;oi, mi iripiav lirra (TTpciTiwTwv. He is designated

in tlie legend by tlie name of Ananias of Arbela. The M e-

nology places his festival in December.

3 See the same work, vol. ii. p. 36.

4 For further details of his life see Baillet, Vies des Saints,
1739. 4to.

,r> Id., ibid, (month of May).