E00280: Eusebius of Caesarea, in his Ecclesiastical History, recounts the martyrdom of *Marinos (soldier and martyr of Caesarea Maritima, S00157); the Christian senator Astyrios (also S00157), locally known as a miracle worker himself, buried the martyr. Written in Greek in Palestine, 311/325.

Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History 7.15-17

7.15
Although in that period peace prevailed in the churches, a rich military officer in Caesarea Maritima called Marinos refused to participate in a traditional ceremony and to sacrifice to the emperor. The judge interrogated him and gave him some time to reconsider. The local bishop, Theoteknos, took Marinos to the church and asked him to choose between the gospels and his sword, i.e. between honouring the faith and saving his military career. Marinos chose the gospels. He was taken to the judge, condemned, and martyred.

7.16.1
Ἔνθα καὶ Ἀστύριος ἐπὶ τῇ θεοφιλεῖ παρρησίᾳ μνημονεύεται, ἀνὴρ τῶν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης συγκλητικῶν γενόμενος βασιλεῦσίν τε προσφιλὴς καὶ πᾶσι γνώριμος εὐγενείας τε ἕνεκα καὶ περιουσίας· ὃς παρὼν τελειουμένῳ τῷ μάρτυρι, τὸν ὦμον ὑποθείς, ἐπὶ λαμπρᾶς καὶ πολυτελοῦς ἐσθῆτος ἄρας τὸ σκῆνος ἐπιφέρεται, περιστείλας τε εὖ μάλα πλουσίως, τῇ προσηκούσῃ ταφῇ παραδίδωσιν. τούτου μυρία μὲν καὶ ἄλλα μνημονεύουσιν οἱ τἀνδρὸς καὶ εἰς ἡμᾶς διαμείναντες γνώριμοι, ἀτὰρ καὶ παραδόξου τοιούτου.

'In connection with this affair [the martyrdom of Marinos in Caesarea], there is also Astyrios, remembered for his godly courage. He was one of the senators in Rome, befriended with the emperors and famous to everyone for his noble birth and wealth. Being present at the martyr's death, he took his body on his shoulder, and carried it away on a splendid and costly garment. And he prepared him for the grave sumptuously, and gave him fitting burial. Those acquainted with this man, who remain to our day, relate many other stories concerning him, for he was indeed such an extraordinary figure.'

7.17
Eusebius mentions oral traditions about Astyrios successfully exorcising demons at the sources of the Jordan on Mount Paneion near Caesarea Philippi. His intervention ended an ancient pagan rite of throwing a sacrificial beast into the water, which used to disappear immediately, this being regarded as miraculous by the attendants. Astyrios was present when this rite was performed, and he prayed to God for the demonic error to end. Thus, when the victim was thrown into the water, it floated on the surface, instead of vanishing.

Text: Schwartz et al. 1999. Summaries and translation: E. Rizos.