Baring-Gould’s sources: Greek Mensea and Menology, Russian and Coptic Kalendars. The Roman and ancient Latin Martyrologies. Authority: — The Acts, late, amplified and re-written in bomhastic style, prohablyby Metaphrastes. The mention in the Martyrologies, being more ancient, is more trustworthy.] In the reign of Maximian, persecution was waged against the soldiers who would not sacrifice to the Genius of the Emperor. At first, as Eusebius tells us, they were given the option to conform to the established superstition or to leave the army. “ When the general, whoever he was, first undertook the persecution against the soldiers, he began by a review and lustration of those that were enrolled in the army, and gave them their choice, either to enjoy the honour conferred on them if they obeyed, or to be deprived of this if they proved disobedient. Very many soldiers in the kingdom of Christ, without hesitation, preferred the confession of His name to the apparent glory and comfort that they enjoyed, and of tnese a few here and there exchanged their honours, not only for degradation, but even 1 As the notice of Galesinius, “ Caesarea, sanctorum mar ty rum Magni, Andrea et Sociorum, qui bis mille quingenti et nonaginta septem, cum Ieonem conspexisseot in homines a fide alienos ssevientem ad bead martyris Magni pedes mansuetum jacere; ad Christi fidem se contulerunt. Quamobrem Alexandri praesidis jussu capite plectuntur. Magnus vero lapidibus obruitur.” VOL. IX.

…for death, on account of their perseverance in religion. These last were not, however, as yet numerous, as the great instigator of these violent measures proceeded at first with moderation, venturing only to shed the blood of a few. The great numhers of the faithful, probably, deterred him, and made him shrink from a general attack upon all; but when once he began to arm openly, it is impossible to say how many or how eminent were those who presented themselves in every place and city and country, as martyrs in the cause of Christ.” 1 Andrew was a tribune in the army sent against the Persians. After a victory, the general, Antiochus, reviewed his troops and ordered a sacrifice to the immortal gods. As Andrew and some of the soldiers refused to participate in the ceremonial, the general ordered their hands to be transfixed with nails, and their heads to be struck off. The number of the comrades of S. Andrew has been exaggerated by Western Martyrologists into two thousand five hundred and ninety-seven men. About the number the Greek Menaea and Menology are silent; these two thousand five hundred and ninety-seven have also, along with the title of the Saint, detached themselves from him, and adhered together as separate Saints, S. Magnus and his Companions, Martyrs.