Olbianus Bishop of the Aneans
Acta Sanctorum, May 4
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-04/olbianus-bishop-of-the-aneans.html
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ON SS. OLBIANUS BISHOP OF THE ANEANS

AND DISCIPLES, MARTYRS IN ASIA.

UNDER MAXIMIAN

[Commentary]

Olbianus, Bishop of the Aneans, Martyr in Asia (S.)

The Disciples, Martyrs in Asia (SS.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

The Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor
mentions these Saints with these words: On the same
day IV of May the contest of the most sacred
Martyr Olbianus and of his disciples. [Eulogy from the Menology of Basil the Emperor]
Saint Olbianus the Martyr of Christ suffered under Maximian
the Emperor, and Ælianus Governor of Asia. When
moreover a certain priest of idols, by name Agrippinus,
sacrifices to Juno offered; apprehended Olbianus,
was ordered also himself to sacrifice, and on the altars incense
to burn. But he with many arguments and pious discourses
the Christian faith exalted and praised,
and on the contrary the superstitious cult of idols depressed
and condemned. Wherefore with fiery awls first
his viscera and loins are burned, then with iron rods
beaten into prison he is thrust. But afterward from
prison brought out, and again ordered Christ to abjure
and to idols to sacrifice, when constantly he had spurned it, together
with his disciples to the fire he was condemned: and accordingly
a huge furnace being kindled, together with them into it
cast Martyrdom he consummated. Thus far the said
Menology.

[2] The eulogy in the old Synaxarion MS. Greek of the College
of Clermont of the Society of Jesus at Paris, is of this kind. [another from the Synaxarion of Clermont.] This man
was under Maximian the Emperor and the Governor of Asia Julius
Sextus Ælianus. When Agrippinus and Clementius
the petty-priests of Juno the sacred rites performed, ordered also Olbianus
the Bishop to sacrifice. But he with many words
and oppositions the Christian faith praised and
extolled, and the cult of idols condemned and rejected.
Wherefore with fiery spits on his back and viscera he is burned.
But when neither he yielded anything,
nor that to the Sun he should sacrifice could be brought; the Proconsul
on his account returning and commanding, cruelly
with rods he is beaten, and so at length with his disciples
through fire martyrdom he underwent. That this Saint
while still he lived many miracles wrought, as also in the place,
where his sacred relics rest, shines with miracles,
the history of his life written declares. Thus there.
Other eulogies but to these similar are read on this or the following
day in the Menaea MS. of Milan of the Ambrosian library, [and other MSS.]
of Turin of the Duke of Savoy, of Dijon of Peter
Francis Chifflet and a double codex of Cardinal Mazarin.

[3] Meanwhile in the printed Menaea is celebrated on the day XXIV
of May with this eulogy added. [and May 29 in the printed Menaea.] On the same day of the holy Martyr Olbianus
Bishop of the city Aneo. He was under the Empire of Maximian,
the Consuls Alexander and Maximus, and led
he was to Julius and Ælianus: by whom asked
whether he wished to sacrifice, and he refusing, of all garment
stripped, with glowing spits through the viscera he is transfixed and
burned. Then brought back into prison, and to a second
question brought out, when in the faith he persevered, again
stripped foully he is torn, and into a pyre huge and high
as a javelin cast, in it his spirit to God rendered.
Thus there. Which thence to his Menology transferred
Sirletus.

[4] From this last relation is dug out the Episcopal See,
which here Ἀνέω, in the ancient Notitia of the East, which from a MS.
Vatican stands edited in the Sacred Geography of Charles of S. Paul,
is called Ἄνεα and Ἔνεα, situated in the Province of Asia, under
the Metropolitan of Ephesus, [Anea his Episcopal See] on the western coast of Caria opposite Samos
the island. Of that city the Bishop Modestus subscribed the Council
of Ephesus Oecumenical. The time is assigned in all
the eulogies the Empire of Maximian, but who in the last encomium
are added the Consuls Alexander and Maximus, are not
to be reckoned Roman, and universal of the Empire, but particular
of the city Anea or of the province under which it was. The Governor of Asia
in the first relation is called Ælianus, [the time of the martyrdom.] in the second Julius
Sextus Ælianus; in the third is said S. Olbianus led
to Julius and Ælianus, and their condition is silent. Which
of them is righter to judge we could, if there existed the history of
the Life of S. Olbianus written, [The Life is desired] and by the author of the Clermont Synaxarion
cited, which would that someday it emerge into light! still
for somewhere yet to survive to hope makes the age of the Synaxaria not
the greatest, while of it as known they speak. Nay the Ephemeris
metrical which used the compiler of the Chifflet Synaxarion, while
his name it reports, where the other which we give it names Pelagius,
signifies to some in chief honor this Saint to have been.
Thus moreover it has
Olbianus sent down on the fourth the divine-burning fire [the etymon of the name.]
On the fourth Olbianus the fervid fire transmitted.
The same in the same place is praised with this distich.
Incorruptible wealth Olbianus having hoped,
For Thy love wholly he was burned, O Word.
Wealth immortal while he hopes Olbianus,
With love wholly for Thee burns, Christ.
The allusion is to the signification of the Greek word ὄλβος riches,
wealth, beatitude, whence ὄλβιος blessed, opulent, and
hence Olbianus: for which to the Romans in Latin seems to be said
Ulpianus, among the old authors of the Civil Law most renowned;
just as Orbanus sometimes is to the Greeks, which to the Latins
Urbanus.
