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E05663: Bede, in his Martyrology, records the feast on 1 November in Dijon (eastern Gaul) of *Benignus (martyr of Dijon, S00320), who was sent to Gaul by *Polycarp (bishop and martyr of Smyrna, S00004) with *Andochius and Thyrsus (martyrs of Autun, S02094). Written in Latin at Wearmouth-Jarrow (north-east Britain), 725/731.
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posted on 2018-06-07, 00:00 authored by bsavillBede, Martyrology
Kl Nov. In castro Divion, natale sancti Benigni presbyteri, qui cum Andochio compresbytero et Thyrso diacono missus est a sancto episcopo Polycarpo ab Oriente Galliam, tempore Aureliani. Qui, praedictatione eius comperta, vinctum eum et caesum ad se adduci praecepit: et rursum, audita sermonum eius constantia, nervis durissimis eum caedi fecit, et Terentio comiti superandum tradidit. A quo ad trochleas extensus et caesus ac rursum carceri mancipatus, mane idola orando destruxit, et reductus est in carcerem. Cui subulas decem calentes in manibus fixerunt, et cum plumbo remisso pedes in lapide perforato fixerunt, et canes feroces duodecim cum eo incluserunt per sex dies. Et attulit ei Angelus panem caelestem, subulas abstulit et eum de plumbo ac ferro eripuit. Post hoc collum eius vecte ferreo tundi et corpus lancea forari iubetur. Quo facto, columba nivea de carcere, christianis aspicientibus, ad caelos ascendit, et odor suavissimus quasi paradisi secutus est. Discedente Aureliano a loco, supervenit beata Leonilla, et conditum aromatibus corpus non longe ab ipso carcere sepelevit.
'31 October. In the stronghold of Dijon, the feast of Saint Benignus, priest, who was sent from the East to Gaul by Saint Polycarp, bishop, along with Andochius, a fellow priest, and Thyrsus, deacon, in the time of Aurelian who, once [Benignus'] preaching had been found out, instructed that he be brought to him, bound and beaten: and, once the constancy of his speeches was heard, had him beaten again with very rough cords, and gave him over to the comes Terentius to be vanquished. By [Terentius], Benignus was stretched out on hoisting pulleys and beaten again and transferred to prison, in the morning destroyed idols by praying, and was brought back to prison. They drove ten glowing-hot awls into his hands, and fixed his feet in a perforated stone with melted lead, and shut him in for six days with twelve savage dogs. And an angel took heavenly bread to him, took out the awls, and snatched him from the lead and iron. And after this his neck was ordered to be buffeted with an iron pole and his body bored with a lance. When that was done, as the Christians were looking on, a snow-white dove ascended to heaven from out of the prison, and the most delightful fragrance, as if of paradise, followed. As Aurelian was leaving that place, the blessed Leonilla arrived, and buried the body, preserved with spices, not far from the prison itself.'
Text: Quentin 1908, 61-2. Translation: Lifshitz 2000, 193-4, modified.
Kl Nov. In castro Divion, natale sancti Benigni presbyteri, qui cum Andochio compresbytero et Thyrso diacono missus est a sancto episcopo Polycarpo ab Oriente Galliam, tempore Aureliani. Qui, praedictatione eius comperta, vinctum eum et caesum ad se adduci praecepit: et rursum, audita sermonum eius constantia, nervis durissimis eum caedi fecit, et Terentio comiti superandum tradidit. A quo ad trochleas extensus et caesus ac rursum carceri mancipatus, mane idola orando destruxit, et reductus est in carcerem. Cui subulas decem calentes in manibus fixerunt, et cum plumbo remisso pedes in lapide perforato fixerunt, et canes feroces duodecim cum eo incluserunt per sex dies. Et attulit ei Angelus panem caelestem, subulas abstulit et eum de plumbo ac ferro eripuit. Post hoc collum eius vecte ferreo tundi et corpus lancea forari iubetur. Quo facto, columba nivea de carcere, christianis aspicientibus, ad caelos ascendit, et odor suavissimus quasi paradisi secutus est. Discedente Aureliano a loco, supervenit beata Leonilla, et conditum aromatibus corpus non longe ab ipso carcere sepelevit.
'31 October. In the stronghold of Dijon, the feast of Saint Benignus, priest, who was sent from the East to Gaul by Saint Polycarp, bishop, along with Andochius, a fellow priest, and Thyrsus, deacon, in the time of Aurelian who, once [Benignus'] preaching had been found out, instructed that he be brought to him, bound and beaten: and, once the constancy of his speeches was heard, had him beaten again with very rough cords, and gave him over to the comes Terentius to be vanquished. By [Terentius], Benignus was stretched out on hoisting pulleys and beaten again and transferred to prison, in the morning destroyed idols by praying, and was brought back to prison. They drove ten glowing-hot awls into his hands, and fixed his feet in a perforated stone with melted lead, and shut him in for six days with twelve savage dogs. And an angel took heavenly bread to him, took out the awls, and snatched him from the lead and iron. And after this his neck was ordered to be buffeted with an iron pole and his body bored with a lance. When that was done, as the Christians were looking on, a snow-white dove ascended to heaven from out of the prison, and the most delightful fragrance, as if of paradise, followed. As Aurelian was leaving that place, the blessed Leonilla arrived, and buried the body, preserved with spices, not far from the prison itself.'
Text: Quentin 1908, 61-2. Translation: Lifshitz 2000, 193-4, modified.
History
Evidence ID
E05663Saint Name
Benignus, martyr of Dijon (Gaul) : S00320 Andochius, priest, Thyrsus, deacon, and Felix, martyrs of Autun : S02094 Polycarp/Polykarpos, bishop and martyr of Smyrna, and his companion martyrs : S00004Saint Name in Source
Benignus Andochius, Thyrsus PolycarpusRelated Saint Records
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Andochius_priest_Thyrsus_deacon_and_Felix_martyrs_of_Autun_eastern_Gaul_/13734910
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Polykarpos_Polycarp_bishop_and_martyr_of_Smyrna_and_his_companion_martyrs/13729126
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Benignus_martyr_of_Dijon_Gaul_/13729996
Type of Evidence
Liturgical texts - Calendars and martyrologies Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related textsLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
725Evidence not after
731Activity not before
161Activity not after
731Place of Evidence - Region
Britain and IrelandPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
Wearmouth and JarrowPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Wearmouth and Jarrow St Albans St Albans VerulamiumMajor author/Major anonymous work
BedeCult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast