E06222: The ’epic’ Greek Martyrdom of *Thyrsos, Leukios and Kallinikos (martyrs of Bithynia, S00612) tells of the trials and execution of three Christian converts over the course of a voyage that spans the neighbouring cities of Caesarea, Apameia, Apollonia and Miletopolis in Bithynia south of the gulf of Nicomedia. Probably written in Bithynia (north-west Asia Minor), possibly in the 5th century or later.

Martyrdom of Thyrsos, Leukios and Kallinikos (BHG 1844z-1845)

Summary:

§ 1: In the 24th year of the emperor Dekios [sic], a persecuting governor called Kou(m)brikios arrives from Nicomedia via Nicaea/Nikaia and Apameia to Caesarea/Kaisareia. A man called Leukios comes forward and declares his Christian faith. He is tortured and executed by the governor.

§ 2: Another would-be martyr, Thyrsos, comes forward and speaks against the pagan religion. He is tortured in multiple ways, including beatings and by pouring molten lead on him, which miraculously rebounds on the torturers, killing several of them, and afterwards imprisoned. The prison opens miraculously, allowing Thyrsos to seek out the local bishop, Phileas, and obtain the grace of baptism.

§ 3: A comes Silvanos, a Persian by birth, now arrives in Nicaea with royal authorisation to conduct persecutions, but comes to Caesarea upon hearing of Thyrsos’ feats to join forces with Koumbrikios against the martyr. He tries to persuade Thyrsos to sacrifice to Apollon, but Thyrsos destroys the cult statue. Torture with twisting instruments and boiling water ensues, and afterwards the saint is again imprisoned.

§ 4: Silvanos and Koumbrikios travel to Apameia, dragging Thyrsos along with them. Both perish suddenly of paralysis and fever respectively, their deaths having been foretold by the saint. A new governor, Baudos, an African by birth, arrives in Apameia and takes over the case, initially questioning Thyrsos. He then tries to drown Thyrsos in the sea in a sack but angels rescue the saint.

§ 5: Baudos takes Thyrsos with him back to Caesarea. He builds a wooden fortification in a place called “of Phileas”, inside which the saint is to be placed together with wild beasts. Thyrsos promises to sacrifice, but destroys the statue of Zeus. The saint is thrown to the beasts, but they do not molest him.

§ 6: Baudos takes Thyrsos to nearby Apollonia and at the temple of Apollon has him beaten with sticks, but the governor is suddenly seized by pain and the beaters’ right hands are paralysed, while the pagan statues come crashing down.

§ 7: A local Apollonian and devout pagan priest, Kallinikos [sometimes also called Asklepiades in Paris. gr. 1491], is inspired by Thyrsos’ contest and converts to Christianity, cutting off his hair and exchanging his clothes. After pretending to sacrifice and destroying a statue of Asklepios, he is executed by Baudos. A Christian called Acholios recovers Kallinikos’ body.

§ 8: Baudos takes Thyrsos to Miletopolis and goes hunting. He ends up in a place called Daphne, five miles away, where, as he rests in the shade, Satan comes to him and urges him to kill the martyr. Thyrsos is placed in a wooden casket and two men attempt to saw it in two, but the saw accomplishes nothing and the men grow tired. Thyrsos prays and a voice from the heavens announces his victory; the martyr then expires peacefully. Baudos, still in pain and tormented by angels, despairs as he finally recognises Thyrsos as a servant of God.

§ 9: Epilogue, given here in full save the final doxology (from Paris. gr. 1491 ff. 4v-5r):

τὸ τέλος τῆς ἀθλήσεως αὐτοῦ γένηται· μηνὶ ἐνδεκεμβρη ω τεσαρις κ(αὶ) δεκάτην· ἡμέρα τετράδι· οὗ τὸ σεμνὸν καὶ ἅγιον σῶμα· Φίλιππος Ἕλλην ᾐτήσατο προσελθὼν τῶ ἡγεμόνι· καὶ λαβὼν ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ γλωσσοκόμῳ ἔθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν τόπῳ σεμνῷ καὶ παρέμεινεν αὐτῷ [corr. αὐτοῦ?] ἡμέρας ἑπτά· ἕως ἦλθεν Καισάριος ὁ ἐπίσκοπος· καὶ Λαδίκιος πρεσβύτερος ἀσκητής· καὶ ἄλλοι πλείονες κατ’ ἐπιτροπὴν τοῦ ἡγεμόνος καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν ἀνελθόντας· τοῦ δικαίου Θύρσου ἐν πολλῇ παρακλήσει ποιῆσαι ἱκετηρίαν, ἵνα συγχωρήσῃ †τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης ὥραν τυχεῖν τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι τὴν ψυχήν· ἀνελθόντες δὲ οἱ περὶ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἐποίησαν σπήλαιον σεμνὸν ἅμα τῷ Φιλίππῳ· καὶ ἔθηκαν ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ σωφροσύνῃ· ὡς τελειώσαντα τὸν τῆς ἀθλήσεως αὐτοῦ δρόμον· ἐν χάριτι τοῦ κ(υρίο)υ ἡμῶν Ἰ(ησο)ῦ Χ(ριστο)ῦ· τοῦ στέψαντος τὸν μακάριον Θύρσον σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς ἁγίοις...

'The end of his contest took place in the month of December on the 14th, on a Wednesday. Philippos, a Hellene, came to the governor and requested his holy and venerable body. Upon receiving it he placed the martyr in the very same casket [i.e. in which they had tried to saw him in half] and remained close to it [more probably: it remained there] for seven days, until the bishop Kaisarios came, and Ladikios the presbyter, an ascetic, and many more, with the permission of the governor, and requested of him [Philippos?] that they should go and supplicate the righteous Thyrsos with much entreaty to allow him [the governor?] to give up his soul in peace. And going up [uphill?], the bishop and his entourage, together with Philippos, made a venerable cave and deposited there the martyr in peace and decorum, as having completed the journey of his contest, in the grace of our lord Jesus Christ who crowned Thyrsos and all the saints ...'

Text: Patrologia Graeca 116, 508-537, and mss. Vatic. gr. 1991 f. 170, Vatic. gr. 2123 ff. 103-112, and Paris. gr. 1491 ff. 1-5r.
Summary and translation: N. Kälviäinen.