Baring-Gould’s sources: By the Greeks on October 30, by the Latins on Aug. 23. The Ancient Martyrology of Jerome, and most other Latin Martyrologies. Authority: — The ancient and genuine Proconsular Acts, a. precious relic, the value of which can only be appreciated beside the rewritten, amplified, forged Acts of so many martyrs which abound.] During the greater part of their reigns Diocletian and Maximian did not persecute the Church. It was in a.d. 298 that persecution first began in the army, and in 303 that it became general. An edict had been issued against Christianity in 298, but it does not seem to have been enforced beyond the army for five years, when the spread of the faith in the household of Diocletian exasperated him into severity. But in the early part of his reign Diocletian showed no disposition to ill-treat the Christians. Persons in high stations allowed not only their servants, but their wives and children, to profess themselves members of the Church. Places about the Court, and even in the Imperial household, were filled with Christians, and what is more remarkable, Christians were appointed to the government of provinces, with an express exemption in their favour of not being obliged to assist at the usual sacrifices. Yet at this period when the Church was enjoying rest, some martyrdoms are said to have occurred at Rome and in Cilicia. Those at Rome are questionable. Those in the provinces are to be considered as isolated events, resulting from the cruelty or the caprice of some bigoted magistrate, or from a temporary ebullition of popular feeling. The edicts of Aurelian were unrepealed, and a governor, if so minded, could act upon them.

Lysias, proconsul of Cilicia, was a man of stern resolution and stubborn belief in the necessity of making all members of the empire conform to the established worship. Claudius, Asterius, and Neon were three brothers, impeached before the magistrate of iEgea by their mother-inlaw, who hoped by compassing their destruction to obtain possession of their estate. About the same time two women, Domnina and Theonella, with a little child, perhaps Domnina’s, were likewise thrown into prison by the same magistrate, on a similar charge, and brought to their trial before Lysias, on his making a visit to LEgea. The Proconsular Acts give the particulars of the trial. Lysias, being seated on his tribunal, said: “ Let those Christians who have been delivered by the officers to the city magistrate be brought before me.” Euthalius, the gaoler, said, “ The magistrate of this city having, pursuant to your orders, made the strictest inquiry after the Christians, has apprehended six of this profession; three young men, all brothers, two women, and a small child. One of them is here before you.” Lysias said to him, “ Well; what is your name?” He answered “Claudius.” “Be not such a madman,” said Lysias, “ as to throw thyself away in thy youthful days; but sacrifice to the gods, the only way to escape the torments prepared for thee in case of refusal.” Claudius. “ My God requires no such sacrifices; he rather delights in alms-deeds and holiness of life. Your gods are unclean demons, who are pleased with such sacrifices, whilst they are preparing eternal punishments for those who offer them.”

Lysias. “ Let him be bound and beaten with rods; there is no other way of bringing him to reason.” Claudius. “ Though you inflict upon me the most cruel torments, you will not move me.”

Lysias. “ The Emperors have commanded that the Christians sacrifice to the gods, and that they who refuse to do it be punished, but that honours and rewards be bestowed on such as obey.’' Claudius. “Their rewards are temporary and shortlived; whereas the confession of Jesus Christ has everlasting glory for its recompense.”

Then the proconsul commanded him to be put upon the rack: fire to be applied to his feet, and slices of flesh to be cut off his heels, and presented to him. The martyr said, “ Neither your fire nor all your other torments can hurt those who fear God. All this conduces to eternal life.” Lysias ordered his flesh to be torn with iron hooks; then his sides to be rubbed with broken potsherds, and^ burning torches to be applied to them. Claudius said, “ I esteem it a great benefit to suffer for God, and the greatest riches to die for Jesus Christ.”

Lysias. “ Take him hence, carry him back to prison, and bring another.” Euthalius, the keeper of the prison, said, “ According to your orders, my lord, we have brought hither Asterius the second brother.” Lysias said to him, “ Take my advice and sacrifice to the gods; you have before your eyes the torments that are prepared for those that refuse.”

Asterius. “There is one God who dwelleth in the heavens, and in the greatness of His power regardeth the lowliest things. Him my parents have taught me to love and adore. I know not those that you worship and call gods.” Lysias then ordered him to be laid on the rack, saying, “Squeeze his sides, tear them with iron hooks till he yields and sacrifices to the gods.” Asterius replied, “I am the brother of him whom you just now had before you; we have the same belief, and we make the same confession. My body is in your power; but my soul is out of your reach.” Lysias said, “ Bring the iron pincers and pulleys, bind his feet, squeeze and torture him to the utmost, that August 23.j SS. Claudius, Asterius, and others. 241 he may discover how I inflict torments.” After this he said, “ Put live coals under his feet; and lash him on the back and belly with leather thongs." The martyr replied, “ The only favour I desire of you is, that you will not spare any portion of my body." Lysias said, “Take him hence, put him with the rest, and bring the third." When Neon was brought forward, Lysias attempted to move him by milder treatment; and addressing him with kindness, exhorted him to sacrifice to the gods that he might escape torments. Neon answered, that his gods had no power if they were not able to defend themselves without the help of a magistrate to enforce obedience to them. Lysias said, “Strike him on the neck, and bid him not blaspheme the gods.” Neon replied, “ You think I blaspheme when I speak the truth.” Lysias said, “ Stretch him by the feet upon the rack; put burning coals upon him, and scourge his back.” While this was done, Neon said, “ I obey my conscience, and no man shall ever make me change this resolution.” Lysias then dictated his sentence: “ Euthalius the keeper, and Archelaus the executioner, shall take care that these three brothers be crucified without the town, that the birds of the air may devour their bodies.”

Then Euthalius presented Domnina; whereupon Lysias said to her, “ You see, woman, the fire and torments which are preparing for you; if you would avoid them, draw near, and sacrifice." Domnina replied, “ I shall not do it, lest I fall into eternal fire, and perpetual torments. I worship God and his Son Jesus Christ, who hath made heaven and earth, and all that is therein.” Lysias said, “ Take off her garments, lay her at her length, and scourge her with rods." After this was done, Archelaus the executioner said to Lysias, “ May it please you, Domnina has died under her torments." Lysias said, “ Throw her body into the river.” VOL. IX.

Euthalius said, “ Here, my lord, is Theonilla.” Lysias said to her, “ You have seen the flames and tortures with which the others have been punished. Honour the gods and sacrifice.’' Theonilla replied, “ I dread eternal torments, which will destroy both body and soul.” Lysias said, “ Buffet her, lay her flat, and bind her, and treat her with the utmost violence.” Theonilla said, “ Are you not ashamed to inflict such punishments on a woman that is free and a stranger too ? Remember ! God sees what you are doing.” Lysias said, “ Hang her up by the hair of her head, and strike her on the face.” Theonilla said, “ Shame on you ! is it not enough that you have stripped me naked ? It is not me only that you have injured, but your mother and your wife, who are put to confusion in my person.” Lysias said, “Are you a married woman, or are you a widow?” Theonilla replied, “I have been a widow these three-and-twenty years. It is for the love of God that I have continued in this state, accustoming myself to fasting, watching, and prayer, ever since I forsook your unclean idols.” Lysias said, “ Shave her head, to bring a blush to her cheek. Gird her about with brambles • extend her body, and tie it to four stakes; scourge her with thongs, not only upon the back, but over all her body; lay live coals upon her belly, and so let her die.” Euthalius the gaoler and Archelaus the executioner said, “ My lord, she is now dead.” Then said Lysias to them, “ Sew her body up in a sack; tie it fast, and throw it into the water.” Euthalius and Archelaus said, “ We have executed your orders relating to the bodies of the Christians.” The persecutors took these precautions with regard to the dead bodies, that the Christians might not get possession of their relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor]. These holy martyrs suffered at 4Egea in the consulate of Diocletian [Roman emperor 284–305, who began the ‘Great Persecution’ of Christians in 303] and Aristobulus, on the roth of the calends of September, that is, on the 23rd of August, in the year of Timothy and Apollinaris. 243 our Lord 285, Lysias being proconsul of Cilicia, by whose command SS. Cosmas and Damian, brothers and physicians, and a great number of other martyrs suffered.