Silvanus
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/silvanus.html
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ON SAINT SILVANUS

BISHOP OF GAZA, MARTYR,

AND OTHER XXXIX OR XL MARTYRS.

A.D. CCCXI.

[Commentary]

Silvanus, Bishop of Gaza, Martyr in Palestine (S.)

Other XXXIX or XL Martyrs in Palestine

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

The illustrious of these Martyrs, and especially
of S. Silvanus the Bishop contest is celebrated
among the Greeks and Latins: to whom all
went before Eusebius: [Eulogy from the Menology of Basil the Emperor.] but it pleases in the first place to bring
the eulogy from the Menology Greek of Basil
Porphyrogenitus the Emperor, which a clear torch to the rest
of the history may kindle, and is of this kind. On the fourth day of the month
of May. The contest of the holy Martyr Silvanus. Silvanus
the sacred martyr of Christ, was from the region of the Gazaeans,
first indeed a soldier, but afterward for Christ
having abdicated the camp of the earthly King, the soldiery of the heavenly
King Christ assumed. Wherefore also of the Priesthood
great worthy held, first Presbyter then
Bishop he was ordained. But when of the Church to him
committed to the rule with the highest tolerance he applied himself, and
many of the heathen by his doctrine to Christ brought:
caught by the idolaters, and before the Caesarean
people in the midst set, cruelly he was beaten,
then hung and with scourges received, and afterward
to the metals of brass to be dug condemned: where when many
hardships he had sustained, and Christ not only
to profess he ceased not, but also to others and chiefly to those,
who with him were of the same punishment partakers, Christ
the true God he announced; together with other forty
Martyrs, [and the MS. Synaxarion of Clermont.] who by him the faith of Christ taught
had been, beheaded he was. These things in the said
Menology. In the ancient MS. Synaxarion of Clermont of the Society
of Jesus at Paris, in which almost the same are recounted, is added,
of the Priesthood made worthy, on account of the eminence
of urbane manners and the chastity of life, and at length beheaded
with other forty Martyrs,
of whom some were from Egypt, others from Palestine
sprung.

[2] These reported, what by Eusebius are indicated we bring forth.
First he book 8 of the Ecclesiastical History chapter 13 reports the Presidents of the Churches, [From Eusebius is had that in the year 308]
who of the religion which they preached, the sincerity
with shed blood declared: then, Among the Martyrs
of Palestine, he says, Silvanus of the city of Gaza Bishop,
at the metals of brass, which are at Phæno, with
thirty-nine others was beheaded. But in the subjoined
treatise on the Martyrs of Palestine more accurately each thing, which
to S. Silvanus and these Martyrs pertains, he describes,
and chapter 7 these things has: When the fifth now year
of the persecution was rolling (that is the year of Christ CCC
VIII, [together with many to the metals condemned Silvanus] (after the narrated martyrdom of S. Theodosia the Virgin, of
whom largely we treated on the second day of April) the Governor Urbanus, to
the rest of Christ's Confessors transferring himself, all
to the metals of brass, which are at Phæno of Palestine
condemned. After these things on the fifth day of the month Dius, that is
as the Romans say, on the Nones of November, in the same city
Caesarea Silvanus, who even then Presbyter and
Confessor was, but a little after to the honor of the Episcopate
elevated, the martyrdom consummated; and others
certain his companions, when for true piety singular
constancy they had shown, to the work in the same metals
to be done, by him whom I said the Governor, were condemned,
and it was decreed that the joints of the feet with glowing
iron first to them should be disabled.
Again chapter 13 these things he sets forth: The seventh now of the persecution
year to its end was verging, [and there after some rest,] and our affairs
gradually without sense by the molestation of the calumniators freed
to the eighth even year had proceeded. And when
in the metals of brass at Palestine the greatest of Confessors
multitude into one gathered an incredible liberty
enjoyed, so that churches even they built;
the Governor of the province, a man savage and wicked, as from
those things which against the Martyrs he did to be perceived easily can,
thither carried, having heard their manner of living,
the matter at once to the Emperor referred, whatever,
as to himself had seemed, calumniously against them writing.
Then the Prefect of the metals there arriving, as
from an Imperial precept the Confessors into various troops
distributed, and some indeed in Cyprus, others in Lebanon
ordered to dwell … Others again there abided, [again in the year 311 vexed]
a region separate from the rest apart to be inhabited
having obtained by lot: as many namely of the Confessors, on account of old age,
or weakness of members, or various
diseases of the body, from the work to be done were exempt.
Of whom the chief was Silvanus, from Gaza sprung the Bishop,
a man who of the Christian religion a most absolute
and venerable example stood forth. He when
from the first so to say day of the persecution, and through all
thenceforth that time, with various contests of confession
had grown famous; to that very time was preserved,
that all that in Palestine contest the last
as with a seal he might close …

[4] [at length with companions 39 he was beheaded.] Moreover the above-said men, who apart living
to prayers and fasts and exercises of this kind
after the wonted manner applied themselves, God indeed with a blessed
and salutary exit to gift now was preparing, a helping
to them extending hand. But that enemy and of all goods
the foe, when them always armed
with assiduous to God prayers, and to battle ready
to bear he could not; to slay, as to himself troublesome,
and from the midst to take away strove. Which indeed
God to effect to him permitted; partly lest he from his spontaneous
wickedness be deterred, partly that these of so many
and so great contests the rewards at length might receive.
So therefore thirty-nine men, by the command of the most wicked
Maximinus, on one and the same day beheaded
were. Thus far Eusebius, from whom the indicated year VIII
of the persecution falls in the year of Christ CCCXI, in which still
raged in the East Maximinus the Emperor. But John who
with a great eulogy was praised in this 13th chapter, seems by the Greeks in
the Menaea and in the Synaxarion of Clermont to be reported on the day XX of September,
when of him it will be possible to treat.

[5] Thus far the Greeks with Eusebius. Among the Latins went before
Rufinus the Presbyter, [The same praise Rufinus] who book 8 of the Ecclesiastical History these things
chapter 14 writes: In Palestine first Silvanus the Bishop
at Gaza, with very many of the Clergy: but in the metal
Fanensian forty together beheaded.
Thus his editions of the year MCCCCLXXIX and of the year MDXXVI. [Usuard and other Latin Martyrologists.]
Followed Usuard on this day with these words: IV Nones
of May. In Palestine, the city Gaza, the birthday of B. Silvanus
of the same city the Bishop, who in the persecution of Diocletian,
with very many of his Clergy, with martyrdom
was crowned: then S. Quiriacus interposed these are had:
Likewise in the metal Fanensian of the holy Martyrs
forty, who together were beheaded. Which same
consequently, S. Quiriacus being put after, have Ado, Notker
and the later Martyrologists. In the day to be assigned went before the Martyrology
of S. Jerome, [after S. Jerome,] in whose apograph Epternach
thus is read: At Caesarea the birthday of Silvanus, Alexander and
others XL. In the copies Lucca and Blume these thus
are indicated: At Caesarea the birthday of the Saints Silvanus. At
Alexandria of XL Martyrs. In the MS. Corbie but at Paris
printed he is called Silvinus, and Vibianus is added. Like things
in other MSS. are read. Who here Vibianus is read,
seems repeated Urbanus, among the Martyrs of Africa before
placed. So, and Alexander, in others Alexandria, is interposed.
Whether because partly Egyptians they were, there some
cult they had, or for another cause, it pleases not to conjecture.
In the present Roman Martyrology these are had: In
the metal Phennensian of Palestine the birthday of B. Silvanus of Gaza
the Bishop, who in Diocletian's persecution by Galerius
Maximian's mandate, with very many of his Clergy
with Martyrdom was crowned. Likewise of the Saints thirty-
nine Martyrs who there to the metals condemned,
after the burning of glowing iron and other torments together
were beheaded. In the Notes is alleged Eusebius, who, as above
we saw, asserts by the command of Maximinus beheaded.

[6] The Greeks on other days also S. Silvanus and other
Martyrs celebrate: [they are remembered also May 2.] and especially in the MS. Menaea, which at Dijon
in the keeping of Peter Francis Chifflet we found, on
the second day of May are reported, with added to the eulogy a distich,
one for S. Silvanus, another for the XL Martyrs, who partly
from Egypt, partly from Palestine are said to be sprung.
Of Silvanus the distich is this.
The white-reddish Silvanus' white hair
To have dyed the sword and old age I know.
The whitening hair of white-ruddy Silvanus
The sword and old age, I know, have dyed.
To the forty Martyrs these verses are sung.
A double score of Martyrs the sword bore,
Whom Egypt bore and Palestine.
A double score of Martyrs the sword bore,
Whom Palestine brought forth and whom Egypt.

[7] [October 14.] Besides on the day XIV of October is reported S. Silvanus,
in the MS. Synaxarion of Clermont and in the printed Menaea and
in Maximus of Cythera, with this eulogy. Silvanus from Gaza
sprung, a man of mild disposition and sincere faith, of the Gazan
Church Presbyter, now great in age to the people
of the city of Caesarea led, with scourges most bitterly is beaten, and on the sides lacerated. Then to the brazen
mines of metal condemned, by the faithful with the Pontifical office
was set over them. But somewhat after with age worn out,
and with weakness broken, he was beheaded.

Finally on the fifth day of November is reported S. Silvanus
to the metals condemned, [and November 5.] where altogether to be believed this Bishop
to be understood, because this is the same day, on which the given against him and his companion
Confessors sentence indicates Eusebius: and because
on the same day in the Martyrology of Basil the Emperor and other
Greek MSS. with SS. Domninus, Theotimus and others not
only, to the metals condemned he is said; but expressly
is added in some, that he was at length beheaded,
and that under the Governor of Palestine Urbanus.
