DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10357#0514
472
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
Dr. Robinson, quoting Eusebius, says, " The worship of Venus was also predominant at
Heliopolis," and adds, " the licentiousness and the intolerance of heathenism were alike
prevalent, as appears from the story of the martyr Gelasinus, the scene of which was Heliopolis,
in a.d. 297, under the reign of Diocletian. Gelasinus was an actor, and was to appear before
the people assembled in the theatre for the public games. Having embraced Christianity, he
THE TEMPLE OF VENUS, OR CIRCULAR TEMPLE.
In the village of Ba albek, not far from the south-east corner of the Acropolis. It is now converted into a Muslim shrine, and dedicated to
El Barbara.
declined his part, and was thrown by his fellow-actors into the reservoir of the bath, full of
warm water, in mockery of his baptism. Having been taken out and dressed in white
garments, he still refused to appear in the theatre, crying out, ' I am a Christian ; I saw the
terrible glory in the bath, and I will die a Christian ! ' The people rushed upon him, thrust
him out of the theatre, and stoned him. His relatives buried the body in the neighbouring-
village of Mariamme, and there a chapel was erected to his memory.
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
Dr. Robinson, quoting Eusebius, says, " The worship of Venus was also predominant at
Heliopolis," and adds, " the licentiousness and the intolerance of heathenism were alike
prevalent, as appears from the story of the martyr Gelasinus, the scene of which was Heliopolis,
in a.d. 297, under the reign of Diocletian. Gelasinus was an actor, and was to appear before
the people assembled in the theatre for the public games. Having embraced Christianity, he
THE TEMPLE OF VENUS, OR CIRCULAR TEMPLE.
In the village of Ba albek, not far from the south-east corner of the Acropolis. It is now converted into a Muslim shrine, and dedicated to
El Barbara.
declined his part, and was thrown by his fellow-actors into the reservoir of the bath, full of
warm water, in mockery of his baptism. Having been taken out and dressed in white
garments, he still refused to appear in the theatre, crying out, ' I am a Christian ; I saw the
terrible glory in the bath, and I will die a Christian ! ' The people rushed upon him, thrust
him out of the theatre, and stoned him. His relatives buried the body in the neighbouring-
village of Mariamme, and there a chapel was erected to his memory.