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History of the Martyrs in Palestine
Eusebius of Caesarea, tr. Cureton, 1861; longer recension
The Confession of Alosis (Gr. Ædesius)
Like what had befallen the martyr Epiphanius, so after a short time the brother of Epiphanius, both on the father’s and the mother’s side,1 became a confessor, whose name was Alosis.2 He too, as he contended against them with the words of God, made use of his faith in the truth as armour; they also fought against him with smiting and scourging, and they stood up against each other as it were in battle array, and strove which side should get the victory. But even before his brother had given himself up to God, this admirable Alosis had applied his mind to philosophy, and meditated upon all the learned investigations of the greatest minds. Nor was he a proficient in the learning of the Greeks only, but he was also well acquainted with the philosophy of the Romans, and he had passed a long time in the society of the martyr Pamphilus,3 and by him had been embued with the godly doctrine as with purple suited for royalty. This same Alosis, after his admirable confession, which was accomplished before our eyes, and his sufferings of the evils of imprisonment for a long period, was first of all delivered over to the copper mines which are in our country, Palestine; and after that he had passed through many afflictions there, and then been released, he went thence to the city Alexandria, and fell in with Hierocles,4 who held the government of the province in all the land of Egypt. Him also he beheld judging the Christians severely, and contrary to just laws, making mock of the confessors of God, and delivering up the holy virgins of God to fornication, and to lust, and to bodily shame. When therefore these things were perpetrated before the eyes of this brave combatant, he devoted himself to an act akin to that of his brother; and the zeal of God was kindled within him like fire, and its heat burned within his members as in dry stubble, and he drew near to Hierocles, the wicked governor, with indignation, and put him to shame by his words of wisdom and his deeds of righteousness, and, having struck him on the face with both his hands, he threw him on his back upon the ground; and as his attendants laid hold upon him to help him, he gave him some severe blows, saying to him, Beware how thou darest to commit acts of pollution contrary to nature against the servants of God. And, being well instructed, he convicted him from the laws themselves of acting contrary to the laws.
And after Alosis had so courageously done all these things, he endured with great patience the torments which were inflicted upon his body; and as he resembled his brother in his appearance, and conduct, and in his zeal and confession, so also did they resemble each other in their punishment, and at the last, after their death the terrible sea received them from the hand of the judge.
Now this servant of Jesus exhibited his contest for the truth in the city of Alexandria, and was there adorned with the crown of victory; but the next confessor after Epiphanius who was called to the conflict of martyrdom in Palestine was Agapius.
Notes
- “Both on the father’s and the mother’s side.” And so also in the other Syriac.—Ibid. p. 195. The Greek has here ομοπατριος αδελφος only. Valesius has this note (b):—“In the Greek Menæum, at the second day of April, Ædesius is styled Apphianus’s brother by the mother’s side.”—Eng. Trans. p. 161. Hence it appears they both followed a text like this, each omitting one part of it.
- “Alosis.” In the Greek Ædesius, Αιδεσιος, the variation has doubtless arisen from the similarity of the names 4λ0ΟΙΟΟ and ΑΔΕΟΙΟΟ in a MS. partly effaced. The other Syriac published by S. E. Assemani has ܩ ܝܣ See Acta SS. Martt. P. ii. p. 195. The account of this martyrdom is given by Baillet, at the 2d of April.
- “In the society of the martyr Pamphilus.” There is no mention of this or of Pamphilus in the Greek; but in the Menæa and in the Menology Apphianus, with his brother Ædesius, is said to have been instructed by Pamphilus. See Valesius, note (f), Eng. Trans. p. 160.
- “Hierocles.” His name is also omitted in the Greek, but it is given in the Menæum of the Greeks, which Valesius quotes in explanation of the passage, otherwise obscure, as it is found in the Greek, but plain enough from the facts supplied in the Syriac. “The explanation of this place is to be had from the Menæum of the Greeks, where Ædesius is said to have struck Hierocles, Prefect of Egypt, with his fist. The words there are these:—But Ædesius, who was condemned to work in the mines of brass, having seen (at Alexandria in Egypt) Hierocles, the president, punishing the Christians, he accounted him a despicable person, and struck the president with his own hand.—Epiphanius and Lactantius mention this Hierocles, Prefect of Egypt, who was famous for the great slaughter he made amongst the Christians. This was the Hierocles against which our Eusebius wrote a book.” See Note (d) p. 161, Eng. Trans. See also Acta SS. Martt. S. E. Assemani, p. 1, p. 197. The last and best edition of Eusebius Against Hierocles was published by the late most excellent and learned Dr. Gaisford, Dean of Christ Church: Eusebii Pamphili contra Hieroclem et Marcellum libri, 8vo., Oxonii, 1852.