Cyrillus
Acta Sanctorum, May 29
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-29/cyrillus.html
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ON SS. CYRILLUS, CARELLUS, PRIMOLUS, FINODUS, VENUSTUS, GISSINUS, ALEXANDER, TREDENTHEUS, JOCUNDUS,

MARTYRS AT CAESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA.

HISTORICAL COLLECTION.

On the cult and passion of S. Cyrillus, separately known, and the names of the others in the Hieronymian Martyrology.

Cyrillus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Carellus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Primolus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Finodus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Venustus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Gissinus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Alexander, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Tredentheus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

Jocundus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)

BHL Number: 2068

G. H.

Caesarea, in Cappadocia a region of Asia,
supplies us several
holy Martyrs, [S. Cyrillus placed separately,] and on this day
first Cyrillus; then with others interposed,
four others, whom together
we conjoin. And first the Apograph
of Echternach thus has it:
In Caesarea of Cappadocia of Cyrillus;
as also is read in the Ms. of the Queen of Sweden by Holstenius
esteemed. The words are interposed, the Birthday of the Saint,
in the apographs of Lucca and of Blume. In the apograph of Corbie
that to Nicomedia by error was ascribed S. Cyrillus
we already said. Florus in the Mss. Tournai of S. Martin,
and Arras of the Cathedral Church relates these things: At Caesarea
the passion of S. Cyrillus, who for the faith of Christ the losses
of death freely undertook. The former also are read in the Ms.
of Liessies.

[2] Of the other Martyrs there having suffered these things are read in
the Ms. of Echternach: [then with Six others.] Likewise in Cappadocia of Carillus, Primolus,
Venodus, Venustus, Gissinus, Alexander Mart. Which with one added
thus more accurately are read in the Ms. of Blume: In Caesarea
of Cappadocia of Carellus, Primolus, Finodus, Venustus,
Tredentheus. The same are in the apograph of Lucca, but in place
of Carellus, with letters contracted and changed, is read Carchus.
In the Ms. of Corbie printed at Paris, with one yet added, these
are had: In Caesarea of Cappadocia of Carellus, Primulus,
Finodus, Venustus, Tredentheus, Jocundus. In the Mss. Roman
of Cardinal Barberini, Trier of S. Maximinus, Liège
of S. Laurentius, and the Ms. Florarium, of three Martyrs these
are related: In Caesarea of Cappadocia the Birthday of SS. Cyrillus,
Primolus, and Venustus. The same, but the arena of the martyrdom
being omitted, are indicated in the Mss. Prague, and Augsburg of S.
Udalric; but at the end, in place of Primulus, contractedly is read
Primus. So also the names of Cyrillus and Primius are set forth
in the Mss. Aix-la-Chapelle and Paris of Labbe. He who in these
Mss. is Cyrillus, affords occasion of asking, whether he be that
one, who alone at the beginning had been placed, or whether in place of Carellus or
Carillus he is substituted: of which matter let the resolution remain with
the Reader. Gissinus and Alexander are only in
the Echternach one.

[3] Of the former and solitarily related Cyrillus we have certain Acts
in the manner of an epistle, [The Acts of S. Cyrillus from the Ms. of Welser] written to other Brethren or Faithful elsewhere,
from a very old Ms. of Marcus Welser, Patrician of Augsburg;
which would that we had found somewhere in the Greek and
primitive phrase: for both he who turned it into Latin used a ruder
style; and they who copied it, seem to have made it much
more barbarous, while they did not sufficiently grasp what they were copying.
Yet itself, such as we received the Latin context,
receive, moderately smoothed by conjecture, lest wholly thy stomach
it turn, so gaping a stammering, until a more sincere
exemplar somewhere come forth.

[4] The martyrdom of holy Cyrillus the boy it is not just
to keep silent to you, [In age a boy, on account of the constancy of his faith] but most of all to narrate:
for not without the nod of some divine spirit;
but (if it is true to say, and most certainly to set forth) with
him the Lord was striving, with him faith against the most wicked
[Judges] of Caesarea was contending. For the youthful
age of the most blessed Cyrillus much afforded to beholders
amazement, but the stability of his faith a wondrous
[praise of Christ] to the sensible … For at all time
Christ he was naming, and himself thence
to be moved he confessed; and with stripes fixed and with words
terrified, neither the threat of words, nor the injury of affliction
did he reckon: but he sustained these indeed most willingly;
and promptly moreover and some other greater
evil he was awaiting. But when there grew in him
[the spirits] which are toward good faith, and he had
many emulators who were like to his age; his father disowns
him indeed, closing the house to him, and what was in it
utterly denied to him. But some in this
praised the father and greatly wondered: [disowned by his father,] [but he
as though nothing reckoned to be disowned by his father,] and that
small things taking from him, greater and more useful things
the faith which was in the Lord provided for him, he said.

[5] Doing these things he provoked to wrath the Judge of Caesarea:
and calling him by the ministration of soldiers, [in vain solicited by the Judge:] and
terrifying him at once with the judgments; he saw indeed in the beginning
him not to be terrified, [but] at every moment from all
trepidation secure [to stand], reckoning all moderate things against
faith. And, I indulge to thee, says
the Judge, O boy, thy faults: thy father remits to thee the offense,
into his house receives thee: it is allowed to thee to enjoy thy father's goods,
if thou become sober, if to thyself thou give thought.
But the most blessed Cyrillus; I rejoice, he said, when for
these things I am rebuked: for I before God shall best
[be received:] I delight to be deprived of my house, [he is not terrified by death threatened?] for I shall inhabit
a greater and a better: of my own will I become poor, that
I may enjoy [eternal] riches: a good death I fear not,
[because] a better life I provide for myself. Saying these things
with a certain deific virtue, he is ordered to be bound solemnly,
as if to be led to death. But up to terror
and command that the public [ministers] do
the [Judge] orders, taking a proof
of the boy.

[6] But when neither was the boy reported to have wept,
nor fearing the fire, [and grieves to have been recalled from it,] into which to cast
him they threatened, but most readily to death going;
again the Judge calls him, animated to teach,
and by word to persuade according to his accustomed manner.
Thou hast seen, O boy, [he says] the fire; thou hast seen, O youth,
the sword: be sober, that [again] thou mayest have thy father's
house, and fortune … Who answered: Thou hast harmed,
O Tyrant, me by recalling; thou hast harmed, and most ill hast done:
in vain hast thou kindled the fire, without cause the sword
hast sharpened: much greater [is] the house, which to inhabit
I hasten: much the riches more excellent: these to receive
from the Lord I hasten: more quickly consummate me, [and rejoicing he dies.] that more quickly
I may enjoy. And these hearing the bystanders wept:
but the boy blamed the tears of these: and,
You ought, he says, to laugh, you ought to delight, you ought
[me] to lead rejoicing to suffering. Know you not
what city I shall inhabit? know you not what confidence
I have? Allow me thus to spend life. Saying these things
he went to die. Splendid moreover and notable he was,
not only to him, who received his soul; but also to others,
who at Caesarea dwelt, himself aiding, who reigns
unto the ages of ages.
