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E00365: The Greek Martyrdom of *Dasios (soldier and martyr of Durostorum, Lower Danube, S00187) recounts the arrest and death of the saint. The text probably derives from an early martyrdom account, and contains a polemical introduction against the survival of pagan customs. Probably compiled after the mid-5th c.
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posted on 2015-04-06, 00:00 authored by pnowakowskiMartyrdom of Dasios (BHG 491)
Summary:
(§ 1) In the times of Maximian and Diocletian, there is a custom in the army to celebrate a yearly festival of Kronos (Saturn), during which a man is dressed like a king and allowed to satisfy all his shameless desires for thirty days, after which he is sacrificed to the gods.
(§ 2) Dasios was called to celebrate the festival.
(§ 3) This despicable tradition survives into the author’s days and is celebrated by people who call themselves Christians, but persist in keeping the pagan custom. On 1 January, they dress in goatskins and participate in processions.
(§ 4) Dasios knows that this is a foolish custom and resists the devil. He is resolved to suffer martyrdom for his Christian faith, rather than let himself be sacrificed to the demons.
(§ 5) Soldiers call him celebrate the festival of Kronos, but he states that he prefers to immolate himself to Christ rather than to Kronos. They imprison him and next day they take him to the praetorium of the legatus Bassos.
(§§ 6-7) Bassos asks Dasios about his office and name, and asks him to pray before the images of the emperors. Dasios replies that he only serves the heavenly king, Christ.
(§ 8) Bassos repeats his order for Dasios to pray to the images of the emperors, but Dasios confesses being a Christian , and obeying only the heavenly God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(§ 9) Bassos warns him that everyone has to obey the imperial order, but Dasios persists in his confession.
(§ 10) The legate gives Dasios one day to reconsider, but Dasios states that there is no need for it, since he has taken his decision.
(§ 11) Bassos has him tortured and orders him to be beheaded. While being taken away, he is coerced to offer sacrifice, but he scatters away the frankincense and throws down the pagan images, while he makes the sign of the cross on his forehead.
(§ 12) Dasios is beheaded on 20 November, a Friday, at the fourth hour, on the twenty-fourth day of the moon. He is beheaded by the speculator Aniketos Ioannes at the city of Dorostolon (Durostorum) under Diocletian and Maximian, and under the legate Bassos.
Text: Musurillo 1972
Summary: Efthymios Rizos
Summary:
(§ 1) In the times of Maximian and Diocletian, there is a custom in the army to celebrate a yearly festival of Kronos (Saturn), during which a man is dressed like a king and allowed to satisfy all his shameless desires for thirty days, after which he is sacrificed to the gods.
(§ 2) Dasios was called to celebrate the festival.
(§ 3) This despicable tradition survives into the author’s days and is celebrated by people who call themselves Christians, but persist in keeping the pagan custom. On 1 January, they dress in goatskins and participate in processions.
(§ 4) Dasios knows that this is a foolish custom and resists the devil. He is resolved to suffer martyrdom for his Christian faith, rather than let himself be sacrificed to the demons.
(§ 5) Soldiers call him celebrate the festival of Kronos, but he states that he prefers to immolate himself to Christ rather than to Kronos. They imprison him and next day they take him to the praetorium of the legatus Bassos.
(§§ 6-7) Bassos asks Dasios about his office and name, and asks him to pray before the images of the emperors. Dasios replies that he only serves the heavenly king, Christ.
(§ 8) Bassos repeats his order for Dasios to pray to the images of the emperors, but Dasios confesses being a Christian , and obeying only the heavenly God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(§ 9) Bassos warns him that everyone has to obey the imperial order, but Dasios persists in his confession.
(§ 10) The legate gives Dasios one day to reconsider, but Dasios states that there is no need for it, since he has taken his decision.
(§ 11) Bassos has him tortured and orders him to be beheaded. While being taken away, he is coerced to offer sacrifice, but he scatters away the frankincense and throws down the pagan images, while he makes the sign of the cross on his forehead.
(§ 12) Dasios is beheaded on 20 November, a Friday, at the fourth hour, on the twenty-fourth day of the moon. He is beheaded by the speculator Aniketos Ioannes at the city of Dorostolon (Durostorum) under Diocletian and Maximian, and under the legate Bassos.
Text: Musurillo 1972
Summary: Efthymios Rizos
History
Evidence ID
E00365Saint Name
Dasios, soldier martyr in Durostorum : S00187Saint Name in Source
ΔάσιοςRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Accounts of martyrdomLanguage
- Greek
