Excerpt from Foxe's Book of Martyrs
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
About this period the emperor Trajan was succeeded by Adrian, who continued the persecution with the greatest rigour. When Phocas, bishop of Pontus, refusing to sacrifice to Neptune, was, by his immediate order, cast first into a hot lime-kiln, and being drawn from thence, was thrown into a scalding bath till he expired.
Trajan likewise commanded the martyrdom of Ignatius, bishop of Antioch. This holy man, when an infant, Christ took in his arms, and showed to his disciples; as one that would be a pattern of humility and innocence: he received the gospel afterwards from St. John the evangelist, and was exceedingly zealous in his mission and ministry. He boldly vindicated the faith of Christ before the emperor, for which he was cast into prison, and was tormented with in a cruel manner; for, after being dreadfully scourged, he was compelled to hold fire in his hands, and, at the same time, papers dipped in oil were put to his sides and lighted! His flesh was then torn with hot pincers, and at last he was despatched by the fury of wild beasts.
Ignatius had either presentiment or information of his fate; for writing to Polycarp at Smyrna, he thus described his adventures; "From Syria, even till I came to Rome, had I battle with beasts, as well by sea as land, both day and night, being bound in the midst of a cruel legion of soldiers who, the more benefits they received at my hands, behaved so much the worse unto me. But being now well acquainted with their injuries, I am taught every day more and more. And would to God I were once come to the beasts which are prepared for me; which also I wish with gaping mouths were ready to come upon me, whom also I will provoke that they, without delay, may devour me. And if they will not, unless they be provoked, I will then enforce them against myself. Now begin I to be a scholar; I esteem no visible things, not yet invisible things, so that I may get or obtain Christ Jesus. Let the fire, the gallows, the wild beasts, the breaking of bones, the pulling asunder of members, the bruising of my whole body, and the torments of the devil and hell itself come upon me, so that I may win Christ Jesus!"
SYMPHROSA, a widow and her seven sons, were commanded by this emperor to sacrifice to the heathen deities. Refusing to comply with the impious request, the emperor, in a rage, told her, that for her obstinacy, herself and her sons should be slain, and ordered her to be carried to the temple of Hercules, where she was scourged while she hung up by the hair of her head: then a large stone was fastened to her neck, and she was thrown into a river. The sons were bound to seven posts, and being drawn up by pulleys, their limbs were dislocated: these tortures, not affecting their resolution, they were thus martyred--Cresentius, the eldest, was stabbed in the throat: Julian, the second, in the breast; Nemesius, the third, in the heart; Primitius, the fourth, in the navel; Justice, the fifth, in the back; Stacteus, the sixth, in the side; and Eugenius, the youngest, was sawed asunder.
About this time, Alexander, bishop of Rome, with his two deacons, were martyred; as were Quirinus and Hermes, with their families; Zenon, a Roman nobleman, and about ten thousand other Christians. Many were crucified on Mount Ararat, crowned with thorns, and spears run into their sides, in imitation of Christ's passion.
