Pelagia the Virgin
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/pelagia-the-virgin.html
----------------------------------------

ON S. PELAGIA THE VIRGIN

MARTYR AT TARSUS IN CILICIA.

UNDER DIOCLETIAN

[Preface]

Pelagia the Virgin, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

While Diocletian Consul for the fourth time
and Maximian for the third raged against the Christians,
that is in the year of Christ CCXC, that much blood was shed
at Tarsus in Cilicia, [she suffered at Tarsus, as several others at the end of the 3rd century,] under the most cruel and at the same time
most avaricious Judge Simplicius, who by selling the bodies of the Martyrs
even made gain, is certain from the Acts of S. Boniface,
to be given on May XIV. These Acts since Cardinal
Baronius praises, as consigned to certain Consuls,
it is wonderful, that the martyrdom narrated under them he refers
to the year CCCV, when those, the Empire laid down, deposed
had handed the torch of persecution to Galerius Maximian already.
But he goes on to the same year also to refer
the Passion of S. Pelagia the Virgin: of whom nevertheless in the Martyrology
on this day he says, that, under Diocletian in
Thus indeed had it not only Sirletus in the Menology,
the Menaea, and the Synaxaria as much printed as MS.
but also the Acts, which in Lipomanus and Surius to be read
he alleges.

[2] [then translated to Constantinople] But just as the body of S. Boniface redeemed by his companions was carried back
to Rome, and of the other twenty then also having suffered
by the African merchants were brought to Hippo; so also
the Relics of S. Pelagia to have fallen to the Byzantine traders, who
deposited them in that which across the gulf is a suburb, we could
suspect, were not the Acts to say, they were by the Bishop laid up outside
the city, in a place as if divinely prepared, which thence from holding
there assemblies was called the Mount of Congregation: whence
it follows that the translation was made much later. However
it be, it seems certain that some part at least was translated:
because among the Greeks the chief place in the present day's Offices
S. Pelagia for no other cause now has, than that
her assembly is celebrated in her martyrium,
which is at Pera, near the holy
Martyr Conon,
which, [she is venerated chiefly on this May 4,] I say, her feast is kept in her confession,
constructed at Pera, near S. Martyr Conon:
just as has the MS. Clermont, for the uses of some Constantinopolitan
church described: but, which we wonder, on May 5, since the metrical
Ephemeris expressly says,
About the fourth Pelagia in the ox burned
of brass
Under the fourth in the brazen bull Pelagia burns.
On the same day her Office to be kept prescribes the Typicon, and
in the Menaea are placed all the propers of her only,
especially the Canon of an unnamed author, under this acrostic,
To Pelagia the praise fittingly I weave
For Pelagia's praise a fitting hymn I weave.

[3] In this Canon, frequent to the name, as from Pelagus
derived, [on account of frequent miracles,] allusion occurs; likewise to baptism, through which
she emerged to the port of life: but notable beyond the rest is the first
and third strophe of Ode IX, in which both the working of miracles
is affirmed, and the patronage is invoked. The first thus
has: Speech cannot utter your praises, Pelagia:
for a Sea of miracles you send forth, by the grace and power of your Spouse: whom even now ask, that all singing the hymn
to you may be saved. The second is of this kind.
Ask your Spouse that to the world peace He bestow,
Pelagia the Martyr, [and for the whole Church she is invoked.] divinely wise, the Church amid temptations
saving, and with grace illumining those who venerate you.
There is interposed by custom between the sixth and seventh
ode a eulogy or summary of the Passion, before which is sung
a distich,
A sea of contest Pelagia swims,
In the dock now her flesh giving of the furnace.
Pelagia swims in the sea of passion,
Into the dockyard of the furnace casting her body.
The eulogy itself thus sets forth the matter.

[4] She was of Tarsus in the times of Diocletian:
but hearing of the faith of Christ, [an epitome of the Acts.] and desiring to learn what
it was, through a dream she saw a Bishop baptizing.
Dismissed therefore by her mother under the pretext of visiting
her nurse, she went to him: who by divine inspirations moved
baptized her. Which understanding her spouse,
the son of the Emperor, wholly raging from love,
laid violent hands upon himself. But Diocletian summoning
the Virgin, and not being able to draw her away from the faith
of Christ, ordered a brazen bull to be made glowing, and into it cast the Saint,
in which both the end of her life and the crown of confession
she received.

[5] [these are had from Greek MSS.] The Acts, of which this is the compendium; finding the Greek
in a Codex from the monastery of Grottaferrata brought to the Library
of the Vatican William Sirletus, at the request of Aloysius Lipomanus
together with others rendered into Latin: whose interpretation
we adapted to another Greek copy of the same Acts,
transcribed by us in the same library from the Codex
Palatine. But those are not only by verbosity but
also by Greek faith, from vulgar tradition rather, than from certain
and faithful documents described, [written long after the matter was done at Constantinople.] and with circumstances beyond the appearance
of truth sometimes exaggerated adorned at Constantinople
(as I at least esteem) after many ages, when perhaps
her Confession restored began to shine with new miracles.
Certainly (to dissemble Diocletian himself present at the martyrdom of the Virgin
at Tarsus, which ought by a more certain witness to be proved)
by no means is it to be borne, that it is said the Saint to the son of Diocletian
was betrothed, who is known to have begotten none ever, [not without errors.] and of these
in default Constantius, the father of Constantine, as a son-in-law
he chose for himself, and Cæsar called, and finally constituted in his place
Emperor.

[6] That therefore under Diocletian Pelagia is said to have suffered,
not so certain from these Acts is made, that not easily to Maximian
Galerius, together with Constantius reigning, [the time of the martyrdom not quite certain.] times deferred I would suffer
her martyrdom, if any authority should persuade to depart
from the rigor of the words; since it is known, that Diocletian's persecution
by Galerius continued, is often under the name of the first author
reckoned, even after he yielded the Empire. As long
however as nothing else is offered than the bare conjecture of Baronius; to adhere
I prefer to the native and first obvious sense of the words.
Meanwhile by the name of Diocletian the Governor let be understood either
Simplicius, or any other Judge sent by the Emperor to Tarsus,
under whom the matter was done.

SUSPECT ACTS

From the Greek MS. Palatine of the Vatican Library.

Collated with the edition of Lipomanus from another MS.

Pelagia the Virgin, Martyr at Tarsus in Cilicia (S.)

FROM GREEK MSS.

[1] When there had lately been by Diocletian the Emperor
through the whole world of the Christians
men, fearing the fury of the Emperor, to the mountains
themselves fled. But those who were in faith more stable,
and God more than men feared, remained
in the holy churches, God Himself praying,
that, undergoing the contest for Christ, victors they might be made.
At that time a blessed and religious Bishop,
who Clino [a] was called, baptized many; and each one,
who the prize of the supernal vocation to pursue wished,
by his exhortations more and more excited.
But his fame through all the East was celebrated.
Afterward also to Tarsus the city of Cilicia that Bishop
betook himself, in which city he baptized many. [many at Tarsus baptized by Clino the Bishop.] But on the third
day after the coming of that blessed man into that city, heard
the Emperor whatever that Bishop did,
and that many from his gods turning away, to their own God
he was joining: and so the gates of the city he ordered to be shut, and that
man to be apprehended. But the blessed Bishop Clino,
by divine revelation admonished, went out of that city, no one
seeing him. And when through the whole city
sought, he had not been found, the Emperor angered with all
those, whom the Bishop Clino had baptized, ordered
them in prison to be shut up: for they were many, whom the Lord
one by one had received.

[2] But a certain Virgin by name Pelagia, in the fear of God
exceedingly excelling, whose beauty according to its
dignity to explain we cannot, since in that city
she dwelt, which above is said, heard of the Bishop's flight,
and him to see desired. That virgin's beauty
and comely appearance when Diocletian's son [b]
had heard, he sent Protectors [c] and many soldiers, who
to the virgin should persuade, that she to him in matrimony should give herself.
But blessed Pelagia, when she had fortified herself with the sign of Christ, [Pelagia refusing the nuptials,]
them from herself repelling: Betrothed, she says, I
am to the Son of God. They returned, and what they had heard,
to the Emperor's son they reported: who the greatest fury
against her conceived. But then indeed he kept silent, his wrath
reserving to another time. But holy Pelagia
to her mother entering: I wish, she says, mother, my nurse
to visit: for her a long time I have not seen. Doubtless
wished that holy virgin, through the occasion of the nurse, to
the Bishop that divine man to approach: for she had heard
from certain ones, in what place he then lived.
But her mother by the instinct of an evil demon did not grant,
what the daughter had asked: but altogether prohibited her
to depart, saying: You cannot now, O daughter, thither go, but
another time more opportunely to go you will be able.

[3] But the Lord at the time of night the blessed Bishop
Clino's appearance by divine revelation to Pelagia showed: [him in dreams seen by her]
whose aspect she admired and the exceeding glory of his face,
But when she saw herself prohibited by her mother, that to
the nurse she should go, secretly her servants to the prison she sent to
those, whom by that Bishop baptized the Emperor
had ordered to be confined, that from them about the Bishop Clino's
form she might be made more certain: that she might know, whether true
it had been, what by night through a vision she had contemplated.
When therefore the boys had come, and the Bishop's form and
character had announced, she knew all to agree
with that form, which through the nocturnal vision
she had learned. And so holy Pelagia with great joy
affected: Of Thy, she says, Lord, good things a messenger
is that man: I pray Thee, that of Thy mysteries unworthy
me Thou make not. And when this she had prayed, to her mother
she entered, and to her said: I ask you now, lady
and my mother, that you grant me, what you promised
when you said, in an opportune time me to my nurse
to go. Behold the time now is at hand: come, send
me to her.

[4] When her words the mother had heard, [under pretext of visiting the nurse she goes,] with herself she was thinking
doubting, lest, if the daughter she should prohibit to go; from grief
she into a sickness should fall. At once therefore rising,
royal purple, with precious and various gems distinguished,
and all the ornaments thither to be brought she ordered, just
as if to the son of Diocletian she were betrothed: and her
so clad, with of boys and many soldiers
in my words your nurse salute. When therefore on a litter
exceedingly glad and exulting. But when by miles
about ten they had advanced, one of the soldiers, who
together went, Longinus by name, saw someone coming
under a certain mountain's trees. Whom when
from the habit and comely appearance of his face he had recognized, to his fellow-soldier
turned: Julian, he says, brother,
do you know this man before us coming? This is
that man of God Clino, that, I say, worker of miracles
through all the East, whose fame even to the Emperor
came, and on account of whom of the Christians
the persecution was stirred up. But those soldiers Longinus
and Julian were of the number of those, who Christ
served.

[5] But certain of the Eunuchs when they had heard,
what the soldiers said, [and by him met] announced to their lady.
Who when she had heard, the matter she knew: and the litter to be stopped
ordered, from which descending, on foot to that holy man she went
to meet, the soldiers and boys commanding quietly to bear themselves,
nor to the man to be troublesome, but to withdraw, and
under the shade of those trees to contain themselves, until she
with that man of God should speak: for there were among those
very many of Christ's mysteries inexperienced, and on that account she did not
suffer them the mysteries of God to hear. When therefore all
had withdrawn, the holy virgin Pelagia that divine man of God
addressing said, Hail, servant of Christ. Who at her
sight struck, answered: With you be of my Christ
the peace, young maiden. Then she: Blessed, she says,
be God, who in that image of yours to me has been revealed,
because He sent you to me, that you may save my soul from
destruction. Now therefore by God, whom you serve, you I pray,
that truly to me you say, who you are, and what is your name,
and what your condition. To whom the blessed Bishop
said: I, what to me chief and than all
things more precious is, a Christian am, of the rational
sheep of Christ the shepherd, who Clino am called.
Then she, when she had esteemed him the shepherd of those flocks
which are sacrificed, to him said: I pray you, Lord,
that hearing me you be not annoyed. Many
are the sheep in the house of my father, and so, if it please, come,
and them pasture, and I to you a great reward will give.

[6] Then the Bishop: I am not the shepherd of flocks,
which you suppose, but of the rational sheep of Christ,
that is, of men, who eternal life to obtain hope.
And what then, says holy Pelagia, [she asks to be instructed and baptized.] to your lambs
do you give, that eternal life to have they can? But
the blessed Clino: To them I announce the knowledge of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Come, says she, my Lord
Father, say, what is more necessary for those, who wish
to be with your God. Give, I beg, me this. To whom
of Christ's sheep the shepherd answered: I announce to you baptism
unto the remission of sins, and unto life eternal:
than this itself nothing more necessary. Which when she had heard
Pelagia, and at the blessed Bishop Clino's knees
she had cast herself down: Have mercy, she says, on me Lord, and give
me that gift: for from the time when with me
you have spoken, the very light of God in my heart shone forth:
And so to Satan and his angels and his engines, that is,
to the idols lacking life, I renounce. Those I hitherto
have worshipped [f], from these mercy seeking, from whom profit does not proceed, but destruction and everlasting death.
Now therefore God I pray, that I, though unworthy,
to His son may be betrothed, who the hidden parts of my heart
has illumined: for He is the sun of justice.

[7] When so admirable a prayer of the virgin the blessed
Bishop Clino had heard, marveling at her, his hands
to heaven he raised, and said: God and Father
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who sittest above the heavens, [and a fountain stirred up at his prayers] and
this virgin to Thy knowledge hast called, send
to her the holy and luminous baptism of Thy beloved Son
Our Lord Jesus Christ. When so he prayed to God,
suddenly a fountain of living water before them gushed forth:
and when the blessed Bishop saw himself quickly by God
heard, at once praising Him: Great art Thou, he says,
our God, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit,
because Thou hast given an inheritance to the sons of men, baptism
unto everlasting life. And now Lord, Thou, who
knowest the hearts of men, knowest the humility of Thy servant,
that I fear this virgin so with baptism to wash:
but Thou, who art powerful in all things, provide what
ought to be done. When so he had prayed to God, Pelagia
said: Lord and father, heard is in this
your prayer: for behold God has sent a light, as you prayed:
for I see two soldiers above the fountain standing,
and in their hands a linen cloth so splendid having,
that this fountain's waters, like the sun, gleam: do not therefore
fear with baptism me to wash. The blessed Bishop
when Pelagia these things saying he had heard, to God glory
rendered, and to the fountain approached, that the waters themselves he might purify,
and holy make: who when he prayed to God, it was made
that he too the Angels above the fountain standing saw in that
figure, in which Pelagia them had seen.

[8] When therefore the Angels he had seen, a voice to God
thus he raised: Glory to Thee be, King of all things,
who hast made Thy Angels spirits, [baptized and refreshed with communion,] and Thy ministers
whom Thou Thyself to me hast offered, to Thee I may offer a victim
living unto memory and an odor of sweetness.
Make also her worthy, who in the flock of Thy elect
may be numbered, that in the day of Thy kingdom, she too with
those five wise virgins into the chamber
of Thy Christ, her lamp burning having, may enter.
When the prayers he had completed, exulting in the Spirit
holy, at those things which he had seen wonderfully done, the virgin
herself in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit illumined. Who when by baptism renewed
she had been, communion from Christ's table [g] to her he imparted.
Afterward holy Pelagia the Bishop adored,
and his footsteps kissing; Lord, she says,
and Father blessed, pray to God for me, that by
the Holy Spirit strong I may be made. To whom the blessed Bishop
said: God that, to whom you have given the pledge of your soul, He
send you help from His holy habitation, and give
you that the adversary you overcome.

[9] From this prayer of the holy Bishop when the virgin through
the Holy Spirit much gladness had received, [she gives him her precious garments,] the Bishop
thus addressed: Father, by God that I pray you,
who through yourself to me salvation gave, despise me not,
nor what from you I shall ask, deny me. Since
from your holy hands that of the Lord and eternal
King's purple I received, hereafter corruptible and earthly
this garment and the rest all these to have
it is not lawful. You therefore these take, and into a far-off
region carry, where they can be sold, and their prices
take, and to the needy distribute: for to me from
this time these very things are execrable. Then the Bishop
Clino: To me indeed, he says, it would not be lawful that
to do: but lest to you it be troublesome, since me by
God you have adjured, I will take these. Then Pelagia: I
have heard, when you said, Our Lord to have said, no one
can two Lords serve. When the virgin's
prudence the blessed Bishop admired, and
for her to God had prayed, he blessed her, and her
dismissing, that to her own she should return: Go, he says, in
peace: [h] for awaited her her boys.

[10] But the holy one with joy affected in the Spirit
holy, God's glory praised, that worthy made
she had been who heavenly goods should receive: and returning to
her boys, [she converts her servants companions of the way to Christ,] who her had followed, saw them in darkness
and gloom held: for blindness to them had happened,
and on that account walk they could not. Pelagia when those
very ones, as bound to be held she had perceived,
knew by the devil's art and snares it done: and so
both to herself and to the boys the sign of the Cross applied, and at once
that temptation from them was removed. But they began
from her to ask, where was that man, who light
to her had afforded; and a woman very beautiful, whom
between her and that man standing by them seen they said,
on the head itself two diadems, and over them of the Cross
the sign holding. Pelagia these hearing: Be silent,
she says. But can you also approach, whither also
I have approached, to the good, I say, that hope and kingdom
everlasting? Answered those youths:
Why could we not also we, our mistress, in Him believe,
who can from punishments everlasting us snatch, and in
the highest heaven life give? Pelagia therefore, when she had made
that the idols they abjure, which to that day
they had worshipped, such made them that of heavenly erudition partakers
they could be made.

[11] Then when into the litter she had ascended, she went to
her nurse; who (as she had been wont) to meet her
came, and holy Pelagia's countenance glad and far
more beautiful saw, than before she had seen: she saw also
in her many other things changed. Before with sumptuous garments
she was adorned, [recognized by the nurse a Christian,] but then in a modest habit clad
she was; before of lofty mind she had been, then submissively and
humbly herself she bore; before proud, then with abject garment
her body covered; before with various and delicate foods delighted,
then [i] with prayers and fasting. When these things
the nurse understood, her a Christian made to be
she perceived: and when she had recalled, in how many ways
Diocletian the Emperor tortured those, who of this kind
he could not, that Christ they deny, this with herself she thought:
If to this one counsel I give, that she be not a Christian, as
by the Emperor's edict is commanded, she in no wise
will obey me: for a partaker made
she is of that grace, which the Christians profess, when
they say one only to be God. And began the nurse
herself thus Pelagia to address: Daughter, as your exceeding beauty
and honest form's admiration you brought
to Diocletian the Emperor and his son, and to all
the nobles and the whole army, to those finally
Kings [l] who far hence are absent; so with true beauty
endowed, may you please the Son of God, to whom yourself a spouse
you have given: for to the eternal Emperor, as you bear yourself, [she is sent back to her mother;]
you have believed: He afford you strength and patience
against the adversaries, and victorious rewards to your contest
repay. Return moreover with peace, since into
my house you to admit I dare not, lest perhaps
this hear he, who you a spouse woos, and with all
my race and family me destroy. Indeed this for my
sake I do not, since if to perils I delivered myself,
the God, in whom you have believed.

[12] When these things had heard Pelagia, with countenance lowered from
her nurse she departed: and when to her mother she returned, and
near she was, the mother to meet her came, as she had been wont. [whose fury withdrawing herself from]
But when her garment changed she had seen, of that matter the
cause she did not ask, but a great clamor with
wailing and howling she emitted. But Pelagia laughed she
indeed, but nothing answered. But the mother with fury smitten,
lay half-dead, and without voice long remained. Afterward
when she had collected her mind, and to herself returned had,
she rose, and nothing saying to the daughter nor what done
had been by her seeking out, hastened to the soldiers' multitude
from the Emperor to be sought. And sent with her
the Emperor [m] of armed horsemen and footmen a crowd,
commanding them, that in all those things, which she
wished, her they should obey. She came with the soldiers: but
her daughter she did not find, since she meanwhile had withdrawn.
They went out therefore thence, and all roads and paths going round,
all places they searched even unto
miles forty, tracking down [n] him who such
injury to her daughter had brought: for had heard her
mother from the boys, that to a certain Bishop
she had betaken herself: and on that account to those soldiers, who sent
had been, she had commanded, that if the Bishop they found,
him bound to her they should lead.

[13] The soldiers therefore going away, and far-off places
searching, no one found. But holy
Pelagia with her servants, who in Christ had believed,
sat across the river [o]; and she indeed the soldiers saw;
but they, who her sought, no one to see
could: [in vain she is sought,] wherefore her mind exulted
in the Lord, and smiling on the youths, who with her
were; Do you see, she says, how the Lord Jesus dear
holds all to Him coming, and their hope in
Him placing? And so the soldiers in vain laboring
to her mother returned: to whom when they had said, neither
the man, who to the daughter injury (as it became her) had brought,
nor the daughter herself by them found; she
these hearing, with grievous grief was affected. But Pelagia
together with those, whom with her she had, came to the mother,
and to her said: Why with madness and rage art thou smitten?
Why wilt thou not recover thy senses? Hast thou not feared to send those, who
to thee should lead the holy man, who worships of all nature
breathing and of all power the Lord? [afterward the same generously she reproves.] Art
thou not ashamed war against God Himself to undertake? from
whom if His servant the Bishop shall ask, an Angel He Himself
will send, and in a moment of time the whole army by
thee sent will dissipate, since God Himself the Bishop
worships: wherefore also by Him he is heard. Answering
her mother: And who then, she says, is this,
of whom these things thou sayest? The King, says the daughter, of those reigning, to whom
also myself I have given, my former spouse abhorring.
Then her mother the daughter a Christian made
truly knew, and adding: Come, she says, say: And who
is of the Christians the God, to whom thyself thou hast given?
Then the daughter, Why, she says, curiously dost thou inquire of
that divinity, which by words explained cannot be? Know
for He Himself to be the Lord of heaven and earth, of the mountains
and the hills, who also the firmament created, the abysses
established, a bound to the sea set, lest it leap over
and the continent land devastate. Dost thou ask of God mine? This is He, who the brazen gates crushed, and the bars
of iron broke, and the dead unto life restored.

[14] [and when her spouse had slain himself,] These when her mother had heard, at once to
Diocletian's son she sent, saying: Behold thy spouse,
to the Christians' God is joined. He this hearing,
took it ill, and recalled, how before
his father Diocletian the Christians took,
and in many ways them tortured. Withdrawing therefore, with himself
thus [p] he spoke: Because the young maiden
this the God of the Christians has desired, she will not be able
henceforth Him to leave, and to me a wife to be: after
this therefore I shall wonder at the Christians themselves for their God
delivering, and Him not denying: and so lest her and
myself to torments subjected I see, just I deem
for her cause myself to slay. A sword therefore
taken, ready he was himself to slay, since Pelagia's desire
on account of her admirable beauty
to bear he could not: wherefore mourning thus he said:
Woe to the beauty, of which I am deprived; woe to the breasts,
in which I rested not; woe to the mouth, whose
kisses to enjoy is not lawful for me. These lamenting, nor
his fury sustaining, upon the sword he fell, and dead
was.

[15] But Pelagia's mother, when she had heard her daughter's
spouse for her cause to himself death to have brought, the daughter
seized, [brought to the tyrant,] and to Diocletian led, lest her
with the whole family the Emperor should destroy. Into the palace
therefore entered, in the midst she stood: Diocletian
indeed when the mother together with the daughter standing he had seen:
What then, he says, is this, that thou hast done? Pelagia's
mother to him answered: Behold my daughter I have brought,
for whose cause thy son himself slew. Now therefore
her punishing, thy son's slaying avenge. Diocletian
when Pelagia more beautiful he had seen, than
all wives and concubines his were, did not think
the son's slaying to avenge, but in what manner her he might bring, that
the Christians' faith she should deny, and his wife be made.
At once therefore he ordered his satellites, who at hand were, before
that virgin to bring an infinite force of gold: for he wished
with much of his gold's abundance Christ's spouse and
the holy maiden of God to take. And when to her mother
returned from the daughter separated, and with diabolical joy
affected.

[16] But Diocletian ordered Pelagia in the morning to be led
before his army, [her promises she despises,] that her to the faith's denial
he might impel, and as wife take. And so her before
all thus he addressed: One this from thee I ask,
that Christ thou deny, and with me in matrimony be coupled,
and the whole Empire of mine possess. Which if thou shalt do,
the son, whom from thee I shall receive, after me shall reign;
and if to my will thou shalt obey, of my head the diadem
on thy head I will impose. To this Pelagia: Raging
thou indeed rashly these things hast spoken: but know
to thy will me not about to obey, nor to thee
of use to be in these things which thou sayest, nor of thy head the diadem
on my head to be imposed: for I know three diadems
in the highest heavens prepared and already adorned
for me to be. The first diadem will be for the faith, by which myself
to the Lord I gave: the other will be of the kingdom of heaven
the diadem, since it I await; the third for me
is set for the hardships and torments, among
men by me to be received, for whose cause heavenly
grace will receive me with God. That therefore know,
that to thy will compliance I shall not show, nor my God
I shall deny. These heard, Diocletian the Emperor
ordered the soldiers, who were present, a brazen ox, wood,
bitumen and swine's fat to bring, and that ox
under fire to kindle. When therefore the brazen
ox, as by the Emperor commanded they had been, so they had kindled, [by whose command when the brazen ox was kindled;]
that its aspect, like fire, from afar shone,
(but distant was that ox from the Emperor fifty
ells) the young maiden into the midst they brought:
whom when the Presbyters [q] and Christians had seen,
for her to God they prayed, that strength and patience
to her the Lord should supply.

[17] But the Emperor: Put off, he says, young maiden,
the garments, with which thou art clad. [she rebuking the demon acting in the tyrant,] But Pelagia when she had seen
ready to be those, who her should strip, with a great voice
and clamor the Emperor calling: Remember,
she says, thy wives and concubines, them also, like me,
with flesh to be clad. The Emperor when these things he had heard, and
the madness of love bear could not, ordered all the more
as soon as possible her to be stripped. But she when herself with the Cross's sign
she had fortified, and of her own accord herself had stripped, her garments in
the sight of the Emperor cast away, and said: Perhaps thou
art that crafty serpent in the tree wrapped, and into
Eve creeping: thou her corrupted, and through her Adam
also himself didst take, wherefore each was from Paradise
cast out. Thou art that crafty one, who once into the heart
of Cain didst insinuate thyself, and into his mind envy didst sow,
that a virgin and consanguineous brother he should slay.
Thou art, who in thine own lust and petulance
trusting, before God didst stand, and didst demand that just
man Job, whom thou mightest tempt: whose also sons thou didst slay,
and all his faculties didst destroy. But the enemies
of Christ shall fail consumed by the sword: of whose
number thou also since thou art, to nothing utterly shalt be brought
and shalt disappear forever: for thou hast struck against
the very name of Jesus, to whom myself I have given. These the holy
that virgin said to the Emperor, with which also the assisting
devil she convicted.

[18] [of her own accord into the Jupiter she casts herself,] Then the devil himself destitute of counsel fled away,
and who from the truth more alien is, from a far-off place thus
was crying: O how great is of the Christians me assailing
the violence! But the maiden Pelagia, by the Holy
Spirit strengthened, ran, and the brazen ox seized:
and at once of her hands the flesh as
wax was liquefied: but nothing at all feeling,
her head [r] into the belly of the ox she cast, and herself
within the ox placed: and at once from her face, belly
and sides, and the whole body, when she wholly
into the ox had entered, the flesh like oil flowed out:
and through the whole city at that hour the odor's sweetness, as
of some ointment, was poured. And when still
thus she praised: Glory to Thee be, Lord only-begotten Son
of the most high God, by whose coming it was made, that those who before
had been deceived, to Thy hands should return, and, conquered
and trodden down the enemy's power, in Thee perfect
should come forth. Thus the maiden Pelagia in the Lord was consummated.

[19] Then to two soldiers near the ox standing
the Emperor: See, he says, whether still lives Pelagia.
One of the soldiers Theonicus, the other Julian was called. [by whose example two others confess Christ,]
These when the victorious maiden in the Lord
consummated they had seen, said to Diocletian:
Not dead is the maiden, but a martyr made, since the most beautiful
confession she has confessed, and her Lord
not denied. The Emperor when those these answering
he had heard, ordered them to be bound, and into prison
to be cast: and other soldiers sent, who should see, whether truly
the maiden dead was. They when her dead had seen,
reported to the Emperor, that dead she was.
Then Diocletian raging, with a great voice cried out, and
with his hands his purple garment rending, said: O
of the Christians the souls! Behold how they unto death even
persevere God not denying, nor to the will
of us yielding. Are they then by my power
stronger? Shall I on my enemies not be sated? When
these things he had said, he forbade holy Pelagia's relics with burial
to be honored: but to be cast he ordered into a mountain, Linatus
by name. But there descended four lions, and around
Pelagia's bones sat down, from beasts and birds
them guarding.

[20] But there appeared the Holy Spirit to the blessed Bishop
Clino, [Lions guard the Relics,] who Pelagia in the catechism had instructed,
and to him said: I announce to you a wished-for message. Today
the maiden Pelagia martyrdom has sustained, just as
thou for her to God hadst prayed. Rise therefore,
her in oblation to God offer, because constant and
firm her confession was. He indicated moreover to him
also the place, where the holy martyr Pelagia lay: whither
went the blessed Bishop Clino. And when he had seen the place
of blessed Pelagia, he saw also the lions four to her sitting near:
who when that Bishop blessed they had beheld,
to meet him advanced, and him with bowed
bodies adored. But the blessed Bishop, at that matter
rejoicing and exulting, holy Pelagia's relics took up
and into the mountain's higher part carried. And when
by stadia about ten he had advanced, to that mountain's summit
he ascended: [until they are worthily buried.] which when as marble polished to be
he had seen, he hired those who stones should cut: and an altar
built, and holy Pelagia's relics there laid up;
and that mountain he called, the mountain [s] of congregation,
and holy Pelagia's name thus inscribed: The holy
virgin Pelagia, who to God herself offered, and to the end
even for the truth contended, as to the body pertains,
here rests; but her soul in the heavens reigns with
the Angels. Thus the martyrdom completed the holy martyr
of Christ Pelagia, to the Father and Son and Holy Spirit's
glory, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.


b Already
I have said Diocletian a son not to have had: perhaps these things may be true of
Simplicius or of another judging for Diocletian's son, just as for
his name Diocletian's name is used.

from Cedrenus, Zonaras, and others. In the Acts of S. Philemon and companions on March 8
are read four Protectors, by Diocletian sent to Alexandria to
lead away thence S. Arianus, Governor of Egypt, of the Christian faith from a professor a persecutor made, made themselves also Martyrs. The Gloss of Basil in Meursius πριμοσκουτάριοι,
ὑπερασπίσται,
οἱ
νῦν
λεγόμενοι
προτίκτορες, namely from protecting called, of the Royal body the bodyguards.




pleasing is the briefer phrase of the Palatine MS.; for not in a temple was the matter done,
but on the way: where the divine Pearl (for so they called the sacred Particle)
with himself to have had the Bishop could, as often on a journey the Christians,
on the testimony of S. Ambrose in his brother S. Satyrus.


either better are absent in the Palatine MS., or a longer with the nurse
suppose a stay, and that fitly enough; that the living together of several days made certain
that, which to suspect at the beginning the humbler dress had bidden.





p Thus Sirletus, much better than in the Palatine MS., where the youth is said thus to have spoken to his father, which with the following did not cohere.

q As though openly to him they had stood by, nothing fearing the tribunal of the tyrant.

r In Greek εἰς
τὸ
σῶμα: Sirletus seems to have read, εἰς
τὸ
στόμα, into the mouth. If the mouth of the furnace be understood, not ill: for that ox was brazen a true and huge of brass furnace, with prefixed above
the ox's head into some appearance of an animal conformed, as most clearly
it describes Codinus in the book on origins; and this furnace its own had a door, in that part which
to the breast of the ox was likened. Moreover more pleasing is what the Synaxaria say the Saint into the ox to have been put, not entered.

s In
the peace of the church after some years, Constantine now alone and peacefully
reigning, done this to have been may be believed, not indeed immediately after
the Martyrdom.
