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E00316: Eusebius of Caesarea, in his Ecclesiastical History, reports that, during the persecution of Diocletian, several people were martyred in Nicomedia (north-west Asia Minor), including *Dorotheos (S00242), *Gorgonios (S00978), and their companions, a certain *Petros (S01119), and the bishop *Anthimos (S00124). Their bodies are thrown into the sea lest Christians worship them as gods. Written in Greek in Palestine, 311/325.
online resource
posted on 2015-02-23, 00:00 authored by dlambertEusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History 8.5-6
8.5-8.6
When the imperial decree against the Christians is published in Nicomedia, and while both Diocletian and Galerius are resident in the city, an unnamed notable Christian publicly seizes and tears apart a copy of the edict, for which he is arrested and executed (8.5). The most famous of all the martyrs of Nicomedia is a group of young members of the imperial household, vaguely described as βασιλικοὶ παῖδες (basilikoi paides, probably imperial slaves), around a certain Dōrotheos and Gorgonios, who are tortured and hanged (8.6.1 and 8.6.5). A certain Petros refuses to sacrifice and is therefore tortured to death. (8.6.2-4). The bishop of the local church, Anthimos, is beheaded, while several others are beheaded, burnt or drowned in the sea, after a fire in the palace is falsely ascribed to arson by Christians (8.6.6).
8.6.7
(7.) τοὺς δέ γε βασιλικοὺς μετὰ θάνατον παῖδας, γῇ μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης κηδείας παραδοθέντας, αὖθις ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς ἀνορύξαντες ἐναπορρῖψαι θαλάττῃ καὶ αὐτοὺς ᾤοντο δεῖν οἱ νενομισμένοι δεσπόται, ὡς ἂν μὴ ἐν μνήμασιν ἀποκειμένους προσκυνοῖέν τινες, θεοὺς δὴ αὐτούς, ὥς γε ᾤοντο, λογιζόμενοι. καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς Νικομηδείας κατὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀποτελεσθέντα τοῦ διωγμοῦ τοιαῦτα·
'(7.) After their death, the royal servants [probably Dorotheos, Gorgonios and their companions] were commended to the earth with proper funeral, but immediately the so-called rulers thought that they had to dig them up afresh, and throw also them into the sea, lest some people might worship them as gods – as they believed – if they were to lie in the graves. Such were the events in Nicomedia at the beginning of the persecution.'
Text: Schwartz et al. 1999. Summary and translation: E. Rizos.
8.5-8.6
When the imperial decree against the Christians is published in Nicomedia, and while both Diocletian and Galerius are resident in the city, an unnamed notable Christian publicly seizes and tears apart a copy of the edict, for which he is arrested and executed (8.5). The most famous of all the martyrs of Nicomedia is a group of young members of the imperial household, vaguely described as βασιλικοὶ παῖδες (basilikoi paides, probably imperial slaves), around a certain Dōrotheos and Gorgonios, who are tortured and hanged (8.6.1 and 8.6.5). A certain Petros refuses to sacrifice and is therefore tortured to death. (8.6.2-4). The bishop of the local church, Anthimos, is beheaded, while several others are beheaded, burnt or drowned in the sea, after a fire in the palace is falsely ascribed to arson by Christians (8.6.6).
8.6.7
(7.) τοὺς δέ γε βασιλικοὺς μετὰ θάνατον παῖδας, γῇ μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης κηδείας παραδοθέντας, αὖθις ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς ἀνορύξαντες ἐναπορρῖψαι θαλάττῃ καὶ αὐτοὺς ᾤοντο δεῖν οἱ νενομισμένοι δεσπόται, ὡς ἂν μὴ ἐν μνήμασιν ἀποκειμένους προσκυνοῖέν τινες, θεοὺς δὴ αὐτούς, ὥς γε ᾤοντο, λογιζόμενοι. καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς Νικομηδείας κατὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀποτελεσθέντα τοῦ διωγμοῦ τοιαῦτα·
'(7.) After their death, the royal servants [probably Dorotheos, Gorgonios and their companions] were commended to the earth with proper funeral, but immediately the so-called rulers thought that they had to dig them up afresh, and throw also them into the sea, lest some people might worship them as gods – as they believed – if they were to lie in the graves. Such were the events in Nicomedia at the beginning of the persecution.'
Text: Schwartz et al. 1999. Summary and translation: E. Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E00316Saint Name
Anthimos, bishop and martyr in Nicomedia, ob. 303/311 : S00124 Dōrotheos and Gorgonios, martyrs in Nicomedia, ob. 304 : S00242 Gorgonios, martyr at Nicomedia : S00978 Petros, martyr at Nicomedia, ob. 303 : S01119Saint Name in Source
Ἄνθιμος Δωρόθεος Γοργόνιος ΠέτροςRelated Saint Records
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Anthimos_bishop_and_martyr_of_Nicomedia/13729453
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/D_rotheos_martyr_of_Nicomedia/13729777
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Gorgonios_martyr_of_Nicomedia_ob_303/13731703
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Petros_martyr_at_Nicomedia_ob_303/13732135
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)Language
- Greek