E01095: The Latin Martyrdom of *Pullio of Ciballae, of the late 4th c., recounts the martyrdom of Pullio (S00694), a chief lector (primicerius lectorum) from Cibalae in Pannonia (now Vinkovci, Croatia). It also mentions the martyrdoms of presbyter *Montanus of Singidunum (S00695), bishop *Irenaeus of Sirmium (S00696), deacon *Demetrius of Sirmium (S00697), and bishop Eusebius of *Cibalae (S00698). Composed in Pannonia (on the middle Danube).

Martyrdom of Pullio of Ciballae (BHL 6869)

I. Diocletianus et Maximianus regnantes decreuerunt ut, immissa persecutione, omnes christianos aut delerent aut a fide facerent deuiare. 2. Quo tempore haec praeceptio cum uenisset ad Sirmiensium ciuitatem, Probus praeses imperatae sibi persecutionis a clericis sumpsit exordium; et comprehensum sanctum Montanum, presbyterum ecclesiae Singidunensis diuque christianae fidei uiribus conluctantem, misit in fluuium. 3. Episcopum quoque Irenaeum Sirmiensis ecclesiae pro fide et commissae sibi plebis constantia fortiter dimicantem ad caelestem palmam simili sententia cognitor prouexit immitis. 4. Etiam sanctum Demetrium, eiusdem ecclesiae diaconum, renuntiantem idolis et impia praecepta contempnentem, uario tormentorum genere confectum temporali morti tradidit in aeternitate uicturum.

II. Sed, cum in his eius satiata crudelitas non fuisset, uicinas peragrandas esse credidit ciuitates. 2. Et cum sub specie publicae necessitatis ad urbem Cibalitanam peruenisset, de qua Valentinianus, christianissimus imperator, oriundus esse cognoscitur et in qua superiori persecutione Eusebius, eiusdem ecclesiae uenerandus antistes, moriendo pro Christi nomine de morte et de diabolo noscitur triumphasse, 3. contigit Domini misericordia prouidente ut eodem die comprehensus Pullio, primicerius lectorum, fidei ardore notissimus, a ministris crudelitatis ipsius offerretur examini dicentibus:“Hic in tantam prorupit superbiam ut non cesset deos et principes blasphemare”

‘During their reign, Diocletian and Maximian ordered that a persecution be started and that they should either kill all Christians or make them depart from the faith. In that time, when this decree reached the city of Sirmium, Probus the governor began the persecution ordered to him from the clerics. And he arrested Montanus, presbyter of the church of Singidunum, who had fought for a long time by the power of the Christian faith, and threw him into the river. Also bishop Irenaeus of the Church of Sirmium, who struggled strongly for the faith and for the sake of the people entrusted to him, the bitter man sent him to heavenly victory by a similar sentence. Also Saint Demetrius, deacon of the same church, who renounced the idols and contempted the impious decrees, he treated him with various kinds of torments, and delivered him to a temporary death, so that he may gain victory in eternity.

But, as his cruelty was not satisfied by these things, he thought that he should search the neighbouring cities as well. And, when he reached the city of Cibalae on the occasion of some state business (the most Christian emperor Valentinian is known to have hailed from that city, and also Eusebius, the venerable prelate of the same church, is known to have triumphed over death and devil by his death for the name of Christ during an earlier persecution there), it happened by the providence of the mercy of the Lord, that Pullio, a chief lector (primicerius lectorum), famous for the ardour of his faith, was arrested and brought to trial on the same day by ministers of the same cruelty, who said: ‘This man has reached such a level of arrogance that he does not respect the gods and offends the rulers.’

Probus asks Pullio about his name, his faith and office. Pullio confesses being a chief reader of the Christians. Probus mokes the Christian faith as foolishness, while Pullio replies that foolishness is the observance of pagan superstitions, and gives a brief explanation of the Christian faith in one God in Heaven, and of the moral teachings of Christianity. Probus threatens to kill him, but Pullio declares that eternal life is preferable to the temporary one. He refuses to sacrifice and invites Probus to do what he has been ordered to do. He is condemned to be burned alive.

V. Mox quoque raptus a ministris diaboli et ductus quasi miliario longe a ciuitate, agonem suum laudans et benedicens et glorificans Deum impleuit martyrium intrepidus. 2. Cuius uenerabilem passionem, sed et sancti episcopi eiusdem ciuitatis Eusebii qui ante plurimos annos eodem die uitam martyrii caelestem promouit ad gloriam, hodie cum gaudio celebrantes deprecemur diuinam potentiam ut nos eorum meritis participes esse dignetur. 3. Haec autem acta sunt in ciuitate Cibalitana die quinto kalendarum maiarum, sub Diocletiano et Maximiano imperatoribus, regnante Domino nostro Iesu Christo cui est honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum, amen.

'And immediately, he was seized by the servants of the Devil and taken about one mile away from the city, and he consummated without trembling his contest, the martyrdom, praising and blessing and glorifying God. As we happily celebrate today his venerable suffering, but also that of Eusebius, the holy bishop of the same city, who many years earlier, on the same day, raised his life to the heavenly glory of martyrdom, let us beseech the divine power to make us worthy of partaking in their merits. These things took place in the city of Cibalae, five days before the calends of May (26 April), under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and during the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.'

Text: Tamas 2012. Translation: Efthymios Rizos