Eusebius of Caesarea
Historia Ecclesiastica
BOOK 8

Introduction

Τάδε καὶ ἡ ὀγδόη περιέχει βίβλος τῆς Ἐκκλησιαστικῆς ἱστορίας

The Eighth Book of the Ecclesiastical History contains the following:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 περὶ τῶν πρὸ τοῦ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς διωγμοῦ .
On the events before the persecution in our day.
Chapter 2 περὶ τῆς τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν καθαιρέσεως .
On the destruction of the churches.
Chapter 3 περὶ τοῦ τρόπου τῶν κατὰ τὸν διωγμὸν ἠγωνισμένων .
On the nature of the conflicts endured in the persecution.
Chapter 4 περὶ τῶν ἀοιδίμων τοῦ Θεοῦ μαρτύρων , ὡς πάντα τόπον ἔπλησαν τῆς ἑαυτῶν μνήμης , ποικίλους τοὺς ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ἀναδησάμενοι στεφάνους .
On the famed martyrs of god, how they filled every place with their memory, being wreathed with varied crowns for piety.
Chapter 5 περὶ τῶν κατὰ ΝικομήδειανNicomedia .
On those in Nicomedia.
Chapter 6 περὶ τῶν κατὰ τοὺς βασιλικοὺς οἴκους .
On those in the imperial palaces.
Chapter 7 περὶ τῶν κατὰ ΦοινίκηνPhoenicia ΑἰγυπτίωνEgyptians .
On the Egyptians in Phoenicia.
Chapter 8 περὶ τῶν κατὰ τὴν‎ ΑἴγυπτονEgypt .
On those in Εgypt.
Chapter 9 περὶ τῶν κατὰ ΘηβαΐδαThebais .
On those in the Thebais.
Chapter 10 ΦιλέουPhileas μάρτυρος περὶ τῶν κατ᾽ ἈλεξάνδρειανAlexandria πεπραγμένων ἔγγραφοι διδασκαλίαι .
Accounts in writing of Ρhileas the martyr concerning what had taken place at Alexandria.
Chapter 11 περὶ τῶν κατὰ ΦρυγίανPhrygia, Phrygian .
On the martyrs in Ρhrygia.
Chapter 12 περὶ πλείστων ἑτέρων ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν διαφόρως ἠγωνισμένων .
On very many others, both men and women, who endured various conflicts.
Chapter 13 περὶ τῶν τῆς ἐκκλησίας προέδρων τῶν τὸ γνήσιον ἧς ἐπρέσβευον εὐσεβείας διὰ τοῦ σφῶν αἵματος ἐπιδεδειγμένων .
On the presidents of the church who displayed in their own blood the genuineness of the piety of which they were ambassadors.
Chapter 14 περὶ τοῦ τρόπου τῶν τῆς εὐσεβείας ἐχθρῶν .
On the character of the enemies of piety.
Chapter 15 περὶ τῶν τοῖς ἐκτὸς συμβεβηκότων .
On the events which happened to the heathen.
Chapter 16 περὶ τῆς ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖττον τῶν πραγμάτων μεταβολῆς .
On the change of affairs for the better.
Chapter 17 περὶ τῆς τῶν κρατούντων παλινῳδίας .
On the recantation of the rulers.

Preliminary Introduction

τὴν‎ τῶν ἀποστόλων διαδοχὴν ἐν ὅλοις ἑπτὰ περιγράψαντες βιβλίοις , ἐν ὀγδόῳ τούτῳ συγγράμματι τὰ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς αὐτούς , οὐ τῆς τυχούσης ἄξια ὄντα γραφῆς , ἕν τι τῶν ἀναγκαιοτάτων ἡγούμεθα δεῖν εἰς γνῶσιν καὶ τῶν μετ᾽ ἡμᾶς παραδοῦναι , καὶ ἄρξεταί γε ὁ λόγος ἡμῖν ἐντεῦθεν .

As we have described in seven books the events from the time of the apostles, we think it proper in this eighth book to record for the information of posterity a few of the most important occurrences of our own times, which are worthy of permanent record. Our account will begin at this point.

Chapter 1

1-1 Ὅσης μὲν καὶ ὁποίας πρὸ τοῦ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς διωγμοῦ δόξης ὁμοῦ καὶ παρρησίας ὁ διὰ ΧριστοῦChrist τῷ βίῳ κατηγγελμένος τῆς εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεὸν εὐσεβείας λόγος παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις , ἝλλησίGreeks τε καὶ βαρβάροις , ἠξίωτο , μεῖζον ἢ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐπαξίως διηγήσασθαι ·	It is beyond our ability to describe in a suitable manner the extent and nature of the glory and freedom with which the word of piety toward the God of the universe, proclaimed to the world through Christ, was honoured among all men, both Greeks and barbarians, before the persecution in our day.
1-2 τεκμήρια δ᾽ ἂν γένοιτο τῶν κρατούντων αἱ περὶ τοὺς ἡμετέρους δεξιώσεις , οἷς καὶ τὰς τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐνεχείριζον ἡγεμονίας , τῆς περὶ τὸ θύειν ἀγωνίας κατὰ πολλὴν ἣν ἀπέσῳζον περὶ τὸ δόγμα φιλίαν αὐτοὺς ἀπαλλάττοντες .	The favor shown our people by the rulers might be adduced as evidence; as they committed to them the government of provinces, and on account of the great friendship which they entertained toward their doctrine, released them from anxiety concerning sacrificing.
1-3 τί δεῖ περὶ τῶν κατὰ τοὺς βασιλικοὺς λέγειν οἴκους καὶ τῶν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἀρχόντων ; οἳ τοῖς οἰκείοις εἰς πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τῷ θείῳ παρρησιαζομένοις λόγῳ τε καὶ βίῳ συνεχώρουν , γαμεταῖς καὶ παισὶ καὶ οἰκέταις , μόνον οὐχὶ καὶ ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι ἐπὶ τῇ παρρησίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ἐπιτρέποντες ·	Why need I speak of those in the royal palaces, and of the rulers over all, who allowed the members of their households, wives and children and servants, to speak openly before them for the Divine word and life, and suffered them almost to boast of the freedom of their faith?
1-4 οὓς ἐξόχως καὶ μᾶλλον τῶν συνθεραπόντων ἀποδεκτοὺς ἡγοῦντο οἷος ἐκεῖνος ἦν ΔωρόθεοςDorotheus , πάντων αὐτοῖς εὐνούστατός τε καὶ πιστότατος καὶ τούτων ἕνεκα διαφερόντως παρὰ τοὺς ἐν ἀρχαῖς καὶ ἡγεμονίαις ἐντιμότατος , ὅ τε σὺν αὐτῷ περιβόητος ΓοργόνιοςGorgonius καὶ ὅσοι τῆς αὐτῆς ὁμοίως τούτοις ἠξίωντο διὰ τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγον τιμῆς ·	Indeed they esteemed them highly, and preferred them to their fellow-servants. Such an one was that Dorotheus, the most devoted and faithful to them of all, and on this account especially honoured by them among those who held the most honourable offices and governments. With him was the celebrated Gorgonius, and as many as had been esteemed worthy of the same distinction on account of the word of God.
1-5 οἵας τε καὶ τοὺς καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἐκκλησίαν ἄρχοντας παρὰ πᾶσιν ἐπιτρόποις καὶ ἡγεμόσιν ἀποδοχῆς ἦν ὁρᾶν ἀξιουμένους .	And one could see the rulers in every church accorded the greatest favor by all officers and governors.
1-6 πῶς δ᾽ ἂν τις διαγράψειεν τὰς μυριάνδρους ἐκείνας ἐπισυναγωγὰς καὶ τὰ πλήθη τῶν κατὰ πᾶσαν πόλιν ἀθροισμάτων τάς τε ἐπισήμους ἐν τοῖς προσευκτηρίοις συνδρομάς ; ὧν δὴ ἕνεκα μηδαμῶς ἔτι τοῖς πάλαι οἰκοδομήμασιν ἀρκούμενοι , εὐρείας εἰς πλάτος ἀνὰ πάσας τὰς πόλεις ἐκ θεμελίων ἀνίστων ἐκκλησίας .	But how can any one describe those vast assemblies, and the multitude that crowded together in every city, and the famous gatherings in the houses of prayer; on whose account not being satisfied with the ancient buildings they erected from the foundation large churches in all the cities?
1-7 ταῦτα δὲ τοῖς χρόνοις προϊόντα ὁσημέραι τε εἰς αὔξην καὶ μέγεθος ἐπιδιδόντα οὐδεὶς ἀνεῖργεν φθόνος οὐδέ τις δαίμων πονηρὸς οἷός τε ἦν βασκαίνειν οὐδ᾽ ἀνθρώπων ἐπιβουλαῖς κωλύειν , ἐς ὅσον ἡ θεία καὶ οὐράνιος Χεὶρ ἔσκεπέν τε καὶ ἐφρούρει , οἷα δὴ ἄξιον ὄντα , τὸν ἑαυτῆς λαόν .	No envy hindered the progress of these affairs which advanced gradually, and grew and increased day by day. Nor could any evil demon slander them or hinder them through human counsels, so long as the divine and heavenly hand watched over and guarded his own people as worthy.
1-8 Ὡς δ᾽ ἐκ τῆς ἐπὶ πλέον ἐλευθερίας ἐπὶ χαυνότητα καὶ νωθρίαν τὰ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς μετηλλάττετο , ἄλλων ἄλλοις διαφθονουμένων καὶ διαλοιδορουμένων καὶ μόνον οὐχὶ ἡμῶν αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῖς προσπολεμούντων ὅπλοις , εἰ οὕτω τύχοι , καὶ δόρασιν τοῖς διὰ λόγων ἀρχόντων τε ἄρχουσι προσρηγνύντων καὶ λαῶν ἐπὶ λαοὺς καταστασιαζόντων τῆς τε ὑποκρίσεως ἀφάτου καὶ τῆς εἰρωνείας ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ὅσον κακίας προϊούσης , ἡ μὲν δὴ θεία κρίσις , οἷα φίλον αὐτῇ , πεφεισμένως , τῶν ἀθροισμάτων ἔτι συγκροτουμένων , ἠρέμα καὶ μετρίως τὴν‎ αὐτῆς ἐπισκοπὴν ἀνεκίνειto sway , ἐκ τῶν ἐν στρατείαις ἀδελφῶν καταρχομένου τοῦ διωγμοῦ ·	But when on account of the abundant freedom, we fell into laxity and sloth, and envied and reviled each other, and were almost, as it were, taking up arms against one another, rulers assailing rulers with words like spears, and people forming parties against people, and monstrous hypocrisy and dissimulation rising to the greatest height of wickedness, the divine judgment with forbearance, as is its pleasure, while the multitudes yet continued to assemble, gently and moderately harassed the episcopacy.
1-9 ὡς δ᾽ ἀνεπαισθήτως ἔχοντες οὐχ ὅπως εὐμενὲς καὶ ἵλεω καταστήσεσθαι τὸ θεῖον προυθυμούμεθα , οἷα δέ τινες ἄθεοι ἀφρόντιστα καὶ ἀνεπίσκοπα τὰ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἡγούμενοι ἄλλας ἐπ᾽ ἄλλαις προσετίθεμεν κακίας οἵ τε δοκοῦντες ἡμῶν ποιμένες τὸν τῆς θεοσεβείας θεσμὸν παρωσάμενοι ταῖς πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀνεφλέγοντο φιλονεικίαις , αὐτὰ δὴ ταῦτα μόνα , τὰς ἔριδας καὶ τὰς ἀπειλὰς τόν τε ζῆλον καὶ τὸ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔχθος τε καὶ μῖσος ἐπαύξοντες οἷά τε τυραννίδας τὰς φιλαρχίας ἐκθύμως διεκδικοῦντες ,	This persecution began with the brothers in the army. But as if without sensibility, we were not eager to make the Deity favorable and propitious; and some, like atheists, thought that our affairs were unheeded and ungoverned; and thus we added one wickedness to another. And those esteemed our shepherds, casting aside the bond of piety, were excited to conflicts with one another, and did nothing else than heap up strifes and threats and jealousy and enmity and hatred toward each other, like tyrants eagerly endeavoring to assert their power.
1-10 τότε δή , τότε κατὰ τὴν‎ φάσκουσαν τοῦ ἹερεμίουJeremiah φωνὴν ἐγνόφωσεν ἐν ὀργῇ αὐτοῦ‎ κύριος τὴν‎ θυγατέρα ΣιὼνZion καὶ κατέρριψεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ δόξασμα ἸσραὴλIsraēl οὐκ ἐμνήσθη τε ὑποποδίου ποδῶν αὐτοῦ‎ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ ·	Then, truly, according to the word of Jeremiah, the Lord in his wrath darkened the daughter of Zion, and cast down the glory of Israel from heaven to earth, and remembered not his foot-stool in the day of his anger.1

1-11 ἀλλὰ καὶ κατεπόντισεν κύριος πάντα τὰ ὡραῖα ἸσραὴλIsraēl καὶ καθεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς φραγμοὺς αὐτοῦ‎ ,	The Lord also overwhelmed all the beautiful things of Israel, and threw down all his strongholds.
1-12 κατά τε τὰ ἐν Ψαλμοῖς προθεσπισθέντα κατέστρεψεν τὴν‎ διαθήκην τοῦ δούλου αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ ἐβεβήλωσεν εἰς γῆν διὰ τῆς τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν καθαιρέσεως τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ καθεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς φραγμοὺς αὐτοῦ‎ , ἔθετο τὰ ὀχυρώματα αὐτοῦ‎ δειλίαν ·	And according to what was foretold in the Psalms: He has made void the covenant of his servant, and profaned his sanctuary to the earth — in the destruction of the churches — and has thrown down all his strongholds, and has made his fortresses cowardice.
1-13 διήρπασάν τε τὰ πλήθη τοῦ λαοῦ πάντες οἱ διοδεύοντες ὁδόν , καὶ δὴ ἐπὶ τούτοις ὄνειδος ἐγενήθη τοῖς γείτοσιν αὐτοῦ‎ .	All that pass by have plundered the multitude of the people; and he has become besides a reproach to his neighbours.
1-14 ὕψωσεν γὰρ τὴν‎ δεξιὰν τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν τὴν‎ βοήθειαν τῆς ῥομφαίας αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ οὐκ ἀντελάβετο αὐτοῦ‎ ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ ·	For he has exalted the right hand of his enemies, and has turned back the help of his sword, and has not taken his part in the war.
1-15 ἀλλὰ καὶ κατέλυσεν ἀπὸ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτὸν καὶ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ‎ εἰς τὴν‎ γῆν κατέρραξεν	But he has deprived him of purification, and has cast his throne to the ground.
1-16 ἐσμίκρυνέν τε τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ χρόνου αὐτοῦ‎ , καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν κατέχεεν αὐτοῦ‎ αἰσχύνην .	He has shortened the days of his time, and besides all, has poured out shame upon him.

Chapter 2

2-1 Συντετέλεσται δῆτα καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἅπαντα , ὁπηνίκα τῶν μὲν προσευκτηρίων τοὺς οἴκους ἐξ ὕψους εἰς ἔδαφος αὐτοῖς θεμελίοις καταρριπτουμένους , τὰς δ᾽ ἐνθέους καὶ ἱερὰς γραφὰς κατὰ μέσας ἀγορὰς πυρὶ παραδιδομένας αὐτοῖς ἐπείδομεν ὀφθαλμοῖς τούς τε τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ποιμένας αἰσχρῶς ὧδε κἀκεῖσε κρυπταζομένους , τοὺς δὲ ἀσχημόνως ἁλισκομένους καὶ πρὸς τῶν ἐχθρῶν καταπαιζομένους ,	All these things were fulfilled in us, when we saw with our own eyes the houses of prayer thrown down to the very foundations, and the Divine and Sacred Scriptures committed to the flames in the midst of the market-places, and the shepherds of the churches basely hidden here and there, and some of them captured ignominiously, and mocked by their enemies.
2-2 ὅτε καὶ κατ᾽ ἄλλον προφητικὸν λόγον ἐξεχύθη ἐξουδένωσις ἐπ᾽ ἄρχοντας , καὶ ἐπλάνησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἀβάτῳ καὶ οὐχ ὁδῷ .	When also, according to another prophetic word, Contempt was poured out upon rulers, and he caused them to wander in an untrodden and pathless way.
2-3 ἀλλὰ τούτων μὲν οὐχ ἡμέτερον διαγράφειν τὰς ἐπὶ τέλει σκυθρωπὰς συμφοράς , ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰς πρόσθεν τοῦ διωγμοῦ διαστάσεις τε αὐτῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους καὶ ἀτοπίας οὐχ ἡμῖν οἰκεῖον μνήμῃ παραδιδόναι ·	But it is not our place to describe the sad misfortunes which finally came upon them, as we do not think it proper, moreover, to record their divisions and unnatural conduct to each other before the persecution.
2-4 δι᾽ ὃ καὶ πλέον οὐδὲν ἱστορῆσαι περὶ αὐτῶν διέγνωμεν ἢ δι᾽ ὧν ἂν τὴν‎ θείαν δικαιώσαιμεν κρίσιν .	Wherefore we have decided to relate nothing concerning them except the things in which we can vindicate the Divine judgment.
2-5 οὐκοῦν οὐδὲ τῶν πρὸς τοῦ διωγμοῦ πεπειραμένων ἢ τῶν εἰς ἅπαν τῆς σωτηρίας νεναυαγηκότων αὐτῇ τε γνώμῃ τοῖς τοῦ κλύδωνος ἐναπορριφέντων βυθοῖς μνήμην ποιήσασθαι προήχθημεν ,	Hence we shall not mention those who were shaken by the persecution, nor those who in everything pertaining to salvation were shipwrecked, and by their own will were sunk in the depths of the flood.
2-6 μόνα δ᾽ ἐκεῖνα τῇ καθόλου προσθήσομεν ἱστορίᾳ , ἃ πρώτοις μὲν ἡμῖν αὐτοῖς , ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τοῖς μετ᾽ ἡμᾶς γένοιτ᾽ ἂν πρὸς ὠφελείας .	But we shall introduce into this history in general only those events which may be usefull first to ourselves and afterward to posterity.
2-7 ἴωμεν οὖν ἐντεῦθεν ἤδη τοὺς ἱεροὺς ἀγῶνας τῶν τοῦ θείου λόγου μαρτύρων ἐν ἐπιτομῇ διαγράψοντες .	Let us therefore proceed to describe briefly the sacred conflicts of the witnesses of the Divine Word.
2-8 ] Ἔτος τοῦτο ἦν ἐννεακαιδέκατον τῆς ΔιοκλητιανοῦDiocletian βασιλείας , ΔύστροςDystrus μήν , λέγοιτο δ᾽ ἂν οὗτος ΜάρτιοςMarch κατὰ ῬωμαίουςRomans , ἐν ᾧ τῆς τοῦ σωτηρίου πάθους ἑορτῆς ἐπελαυνούσης ἥπλωτο πανταχόσε βασιλικὰ γράμματα , τὰς μὲν ἐκκλησίας εἰς ἔδαφος φέρειν , τὰς δὲ γραφὰς ἀφανεῖς πυρὶ γενέσθαι προστάττοντα , καὶ τοὺς μὲν τιμῆς ἐπειλημμένους ἀτίμους , τοὺς δ᾽ ἐν οἰκετίαις , εἰ ἐπιμένοιεν τῇ τοῦ Χριστιανισμοῦ προθέσει , ἐλευθερίας στερεῖσθαι προαγορεύοντα .	It was in the nineteenth year1of the reign of Diocletian, in the month Dystrus,2called March by the Romans, when the feast of the Saviour’s passion3was near at hand, that royal edicts were published everywhere, commanding that the churches be leveled to the ground and the Scriptures be destroyed by fire, and ordering that those who held places of honour be degraded, and that the household servants, if they persisted in the profession of Christianity, be deprived of freedom.

2-9 καὶ ἡ μὲν πρώτη καθ᾽ ἡμῶν γραφὴ τοιαύτη τις ἦν ·	Such was the first edict against us.
2-10 μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺ δὲ ἑτέρων ἐπιφοιτησάντων γραμμάτων , προσετάττετο τοὺς τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν προέδρους πάντας τοὺς κατὰ πάντα τόπον πρῶτα μὲν δεσμοῖς παραδίδοσθαι , εἶθ᾽ ὕστερον πάσῃ μηχανῇ θύειν ἐξαναγκάζεσθαι .	But not long after, other decrees were issued, commanding that all the rulers of the churches in every place be first thrown into prison, and afterward by every artifice be compelled to sacrifice.

Chapter 3

3-1 τότε δὴ οὖν , τότε πλεῖστοι μὲν ὅσοι τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ἄρχοντες , δειναῖς αἰκίαις προθύμως ἐναθλήσαντες , μεγάλων ἀγώνων ἱστορίας ἐπεδείξαντο ,	Then truly a great many rulers of the churches eagerly endured terrible sufferings, and furnished examples of noble conflicts.
3-2 μυρίας δ᾽ ἄλλοι τὴν‎ ψυχὴν ὑπὸ δειλίας προναρκήσαντες προχείρως οὕτως ἀπὸ πρώτης ἐξησθένησαν προσβολῆς ,	But a multitude of others, benumbed in spirit by fear, were easily weakened at the first onset.
3-3 τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ἕκαστος εἴδη διάφορα βασάνων ἐνήλλαττεν ,	Of the rest each one endured different forms of torture.
3-4 ὃ μὲν μάστιξιν αἰκιζόμενος τὸ σῶμα ,	The body of one was scourged with rods.
3-5 ὃ δὲ στρεβλώσεσιν καὶ ξεσμοῖς ἀνυπομονήτοις τιμωρούμενος , ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἤδη τινὲς οὐκ αἴσιον ἀπηνέγκαντο τοῦ βίου τέλος .	Another was punished with insupportable rackings and scrapings, in which some suffered a miserable death.
3-6 ἄλλοι δ᾽ αὖ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἄλλως τὸν ἀγῶνα διεξῄεσαν ·	Others passed through different conflicts.
3-7 ὃ μὲν γάρ τις ἑτέρων βίᾳ συνωθούντων καὶ ταῖς παμμιάροις καὶ ἀνάγνοις προσαγόντων θυσίαις ὡς τεθυκὼς ἀπηλλάττετο , καὶ εἰ μὴ τεθυκὼς ἦν ,	Thus one, while those around pressed him on by force and dragged him to the abominable and impure sacrifices, was dismissed as if he had sacrificed, though he had not.
3-8 ὃ δὲ μηδ᾽ ὅλως προσπελάσας μηδέ τινος ἐναγοῦς ἐφαψάμενος , εἰρηκότων δ᾽ ἑτέρων ὅτι τεθύκοι , σιωπῇ φέρων τὴν‎ συκοφαντίαν ἀπῄει · ἄλλος ἡμιθνὴς αἰρόμενος ὡς ἂν ἤδη νεκρὸς ἐρρίπτετο ,	Another, though he had not approached at all, nor touched any polluted thing, when others said that he had sacrificed, went away, bearing the accusation in silence.
3-9 καί τις αὖ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἐπ᾽ ἐδάφους κείμενος μακρὰν ἐσύρετο τοῖν ποδοῖν , ἐν τεθυκόσιν αὐτοῖς λελογισμένος .	Another being taken up half dead, was cast aside as if already dead, and again a certain one lying upon the ground was dragged a long distance by his feet and counted among those who had sacrificed.
3-10 ὁ δέ τις ἐβόα καὶ μεγάλῃ διεμαρτύρετο φωνῇ τῆς θυσίας τὴν‎ ἄρνησιν , καὶ ἄλλος ΧριστιανὸςChristian εἶναι ἐκεκράγειto croak , τῇ τοῦ σωτηρίου προσρήματος ὁμολογίᾳ λαμπρυνόμενος ·	One cried out and with a loud voice testified his rejection of the sacrifice; another shouted that he was a Christian, being resplendent in the confession of the saving Name.
3-11 ἕτερος τὸ μὴ τεθυκέναι μηδὲ θύσειν ποτὲ διετείνετο .	Another protested that he had not sacrificed and never would.
3-12 ὅμως δ᾽ οὖν καὶ οἵδε πολυχειρίᾳ τῆς ἐπὶ τοῦτο τεταγμένης στρατιωτικῆς παρατάξεως κατὰ στόματος παιόμενοι καὶ κατασιγαζόμενοι κατά τε προσώπου καὶ παρειῶν τυπτόμενοι μετὰ βίας ἐξωθοῦντο · οὕτως ἐξ ἅπαντος οἱ τῆς θεοσεβείας ἐχθροὶ τὸ δοκεῖν ἠνυκέναι περὶ πολλοῦ ἐτίθεντο .	But they were struck in the mouth and silenced by a large band of soldiers who were drawn up for this purpose; and they were smitten on the face and cheeks and driven away by force; so important did the enemies of piety regard it, by any means, to seem to have accomplished their purpose.
3-13 Ἀλλ᾽ οὐ καὶ κατὰ τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῖς μαρτύρων ταῦτα προυχώρει · ὧν εἰς ἀκριβῆ διήγησιν τίς ἂν ἡμῖν ἐξαρκέσειεν λόγος ;	But these things did not avail them against the holy martyrs; for an accurate description of whom, what word of ours could suffice?

Chapter 4

4-1 μυρίους μὲν γὰρ ἱστορήσαι ἄν τις θαυμαστὴν ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας τοῦ Θεοῦ τῶν ὅλων ἐνδεδειγμένους προθυμίαν , οὐκ ἐξ ὅτουπερ μόνον ὁ κατὰ πάντων ἀνεκινήθη διωγμός , πολὺ πρότερον δὲ καθ᾽ ὃν ἔτι τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης συνεκροτεῖτο .	For we might tell of many who showed admirable zeal for the religion of the God of the universe, not only from the beginning of the general persecution, but long before that time, while yet peace prevailed.
4-2 ἄρτι γὰρ ἄρτι πρῶτον ὥσπερ ἀπὸ κάρου βαθέος ὑποκινουμένου τοῦ τὴν‎ ἐξουσίαν 1 εἰληφότος κρύβδην τε ἔτι καὶ ἀφανῶς μετὰ τὸν ἀπὸ ΔεκίουDecius καὶ ΟὐαλεριανοῦValerian μεταξὺ χρόνον ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις ἐπιχειροῦντος οὐκ ἀθρόως τε τῷ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἐπαποδυομένου πολέμῳ , ἀλλ᾽ ἔτι τῶν κατὰ τὰ στρατόπεδα μόνων ἀποπειρωμένου	For though he who had received authority1was seemingly aroused now as from a deep sleep, yet from the time after Decius and Valerian, he had been plotting secretly and without notice against the churches. He did not wage war against all of us at once, but made trial at first only of those in the army.

4-3 (ταύτῃ γὰρ καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἁλῶναι ῥᾳδίως ᾤετο , εἰ πρότερον ἐκείνων καταγωνισάμενος περιγένοιτο ),	(For he supposed that the others could be taken easily if he should first attack and subdue these.)
4-4 πλείστου παρῆν τῶν ἐν στρατείαις ὁρᾶν ἀσμενέστατα τὸν ἰδιωτικὸν προασπαζομένους βίον , ὡς ἂν μὴ ἔξαρνοι γένοιντο τῆς περὶ τὸν τῶν ὅλων δημιουργὸν εὐσεβείας .	Thereupon many of the soldiers were seen most cheerfully embracing private life, so that they might not deny their piety toward the Creator of the universe.
4-5 ὡς γὰρ ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης , ὅστις ποτὲ ἦν ἐκεῖνος , ἄρτι πρῶτον ἐνεχείρει τῷ κατὰ τῶν στρατευμάτων διωγμῷ , φυλοκρινῶν καὶ διακαθαίρων τοὺς ἐν τοῖς στρατοπέδοις ἀναφερομένους αἵρεσίν τε διδοὺς ἢ πειθαρχοῦσιν ἧς μετῆν αὐτοῖς ἀπολαύειν τιμῆς ἢ τοὐναντίον στέρεσθαι ταύτης , εἰ ἀντιτάττοιντο τῷ προστάγματι , πλεῖστοι ὅσοι τῆς ΧριστοῦChrist βασιλείας στρατιῶται τὴν‎ εἰς αὐτὸν ὁμολογίαν , μὴ μελλήσαντες , τῆς δοκούσης δόξης καὶ εὐπραγίας ἧς εἴχοντο , ἀναμφιλόγως προυτίμησαν .	For when the commander,1whoever he was, began to persecute the soldiers, separating into tribes and purging those who were enrolled in the army, giving them the choice either by obeying to receive the honour which belonged to them, or on the other hand to be deprived of it if they disobeyed the command, a great many soldiers of Christ’s kingdom, without hesitation, instantly preferred the confession of him to the seeming glory and prosperity which they were enjoying.

4-6 ἤδη δὲ σπανίως τούτων εἷς που καὶ δεύτερος οὐ μόνον τῆς ἀξίας τὴν‎ ἀποβολήν ,	And one and another of them occasionally received in exchange, for their pious constancy, not only the loss of position, but death.
4-7 ἀλλὰ καὶ θάνατον τῆς εὐσεβεῖς ἐνστάσεως ἀντικατηλλάττοντο , μετρίως πως ἤδη τότε τοῦ τὴν‎ ἐπιβουλὴν ἐνεργοῦντος καὶ μέχρις αἵματος ἐπ᾽ ἐνίων φθάνειν ἐπιτολμῶντος , τοῦ πλήθους , ὡς ἔοικεν , τῶν πιστῶν δεδιττομένου τε αὐτὸν ἔτι καὶ ἀποκναίοντος ἐπὶ τὸν κατὰ πάντων ἀθρόως ἐφορμῆσαι πόλεμον .	But as yet the instigator of this plot proceeded with moderation, and ventured so far as blood only in some instances; for the multitude of believers, as it is likely, made him afraid, and deterred him from waging war at once against all.
4-8 ὡς δὲ καὶ γυμνότερον ἐπαπεδύετο , οὐδ᾽ ἔστιν λόγῳ δυνατὸν ἀφηγήσασθαι ὅσους καὶ ὁποίους τοῦ Θεοῦ μάρτυρας ὀφθαλμοῖς παρῆν ὁρᾶν τοῖς ἀνὰ πάσας τάς τε πόλεις καὶ τὰς χώρας οἰκοῦσιν .	But when he made the attack more boldly, it is impossible to relate how many and what sort of martyrs of God could be seen, among the inhabitants of all the cities and countries.

Chapter 5

5-1 Αὐτίκα γοῦν τῶν οὐκ ἀσήμων τις , ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄγαν κατὰ τὰς ἐν τῷ βίῳ νενομισμένας ὑπεροχὰς ἐνδοξοτάτων , ἅμα τῷ τὴν‎ κατὰ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ἐν τῇ ΝικομηδείᾳNicomedia προτεθῆναι γραφήν , ζήλῳ τῷ κατὰ Θεὸν ὑποκινηθεὶς διαπύρῳ τε ἐφορμήσας τῇ πίστει , ἐν προφανεῖ καὶ δημοσίῳ κειμένην ὡς ἀνοσίαν καὶ ἀσεβεστάτην ἀνελὼν σπαράττει , δυεῖν ἐπινοῆσαι κατὰ τὴν‎ αὐτὴν πόλιν βασιλέων , τοῦ τε πρεσβυτάτου τῶν ἄλλων καὶ τοῦ τὸν τέταρτον ἀπὸ τούτου τῆς ἀρχῆς ἐπικρατοῦντος βαθμόν .

Immediately on the publication of the decree against the churches in Nicomedia, a certain man,1not obscure but very highly honoured with distinguished temporal dignities, moved with zeal toward God, and incited with ardent faith, seized the edict as it was posted openly and publicly, and tore it to pieces as a profane and impious thing; and this was done while two of the sovereigns were in the same city — the oldest of all,2and the one who held the fourth place in the government after him.3

5-2 ἀλλ᾽ οὗτος μὲν τῶν τηνικάδε πρῶτος τοῦτον διαπρέψας τὸν τρόπον ἅμα τε τοιαῦτα οἷα καὶ εἰκὸς ἦν ὑπομείνας ὡς ἂν ἐπὶ τοιούτων τολμήματι , τὸ ἄλυπον καὶ ἀτάραχον εἰς αὐτὴν τελευταίαν διετήρησεν ἀναπνοήν .

But this man, first in that place, after distinguishing himself in such a manner suffered those things which were likely to follow such daring, and kept his spirit cheerful and undisturbed till death.

Chapter 6

6-1 Πάντων δὲ ὅσοι τῶν πώποτε ἀνυμνοῦνται θαυμάσιοι καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρείᾳ βεβοημένοι εἴτε παρ᾽ ἝλλησινGreek εἴτε παρὰ βαρβάροις , θείους ἤνεγκεν ὁ καιρὸς καὶ διαπρεπεῖς μάρτυρας τοὺς ἀμφὶ τὸν ΔωρόθεονDōrotheus βασιλικοὺς παῖδας ,	This period produced divine and illustrious martyrs, above all whose praises have ever been sung and who have been celebrated for courage, whether among Greeks or barbarians, in the person of Dorotheus and the servants that were with him in the palace.
6-2 οἳ καὶ τῆς ἀνωτάτω παρὰ τοῖς δεσπόταις ἠξιωμένοι τιμῆς γνησίων τε αὐτοῖς διαθέσει τέκνων οὐ λειπόμενοι , μείζονα πλοῦτον ὡς ἀληθῶς ἥγηνται τῆς τοῦ βίου δόξης καὶ τρυφῆς τοὺς ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ὀνειδισμούς τε καὶ πόνους καὶ τοὺς κεκαινουργημένους ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς πολυτρόπους θανάτους ·	Although they received the highest honours from their masters, and were treated by them as their own children, they esteemed reproaches and trials for religion, and the many forms of death that were invented against them, as, in truth, greater riches than the glory and luxury of this life.
6-3 ὧν ἑνός τινος οἵῳ κέχρηται μνησθέντες τῷ τοῦ βίου τέλει , σκοπεῖν ἐξ αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ τὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις συμβεβηκότα τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν καταλείψομεν .	We will describe the manner in which one of them ended his life, and leave our readers to infer from his case the sufferings of the others.
6-4 Ἤγετό τις εἰς μέσον κατὰ τὴν‎ προειρημένην πόλιν ἐφ᾽ ὧν δεδηλώκαμεν ἀρχόντων . θύειν δὴ οὖν προσταχθείς , ὡς ἐνίστατο , γυμνὸς μετάρσιος ἀρθῆναι κελεύεται μάστιξίν τε τὸ πᾶν σῶμα καταξαίνεσθαι , εἰς ὅτε ἡττηθεὶς κἂν ἄκων τὸ προσταττόμενον ποιήσειεν .	A certain man was brought forward in the above-mentioned city, before the rulers of whom we have spoken. He was then commanded to sacrifice, but as he refused, he was ordered to be stripped and raised on high and beaten with rods over his entire body, until, being conquered, he should, even against his will, do what was commanded.
6-5 ὡς δὲ καὶ ταῦτα πάσχων ἀδιάτρεπτος ἦν , ὄξος λοιπὸν ἤδη τῶν ὀστέων ὑποφαινομένων αὐτοῦ‎ σὺν καὶ ἅλατι φύραντες κατὰ τῶν διασαπέντων τοῦ σώματος μερῶν ἐνέχεον ·	But as he was unmoved by these sufferings, and his bones were already appearing, they mixed vinegar with salt and poured it upon the mangled parts of his body.
6-6 ὡς δὲ καὶ ταύτας ἐπάτει τὰς ἀλγηδόνας , ἐσχάρα τοὐντεῦθεν καὶ πῦρ εἰς μέσον εἵλκετο ,	As he scorned these agonies, a gridiron and fire were brought forward.
6-7 καὶ κρεῶν ἐδωδίμων δίκην τὰ λείψανα αὐτῷ τοῦ σώματος ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς οὐκ εἰς ἄθρουν , ὡς ἂν μὴ συντόμως ἀπαλλαγείη , κατὰ βραχὺ δὲ ἀνηλίσκετο ,	And the remnants of his body, like flesh intended for eating, were placed on the fire, not at once, lest he should expire instantly, but a little at a time.
6-8 οὐ πρότερον ἀνεῖναι τῶν ἐπιτιθέντων αὐτὸν τῇ πυρᾷ συγχωρουμένων , πρὶν ἂν καὶ μετὰ τοσαῦτα τοῖς προσταττομένοις ἐπινεύσειεν .	And those who placed him on the pyre were not permitted to desist until, after such sufferings, he should assent to the things commanded.
6-9 ὁ δ᾽ ἀπρὶξtightly ἐχόμενος τῆς προθέσεως νικηφόρος ἐν αὐταῖς βασάνοις παρέδωκε τὴν‎ ψυχήν .	But he held his purpose firmly, and victoriously gave up his life while the tortures were still going on.
6-10 τοιοῦτον τῶν βασιλικῶν ἑνὸς τὸ μαρτύριον παίδων , ἄξιον ὡς ὄντως καὶ τῆς προσηγορίας · ΠέτροςPeter γὰρ ἐκαλεῖτο .	Such was the martyrdom of one of the servants of the palace, who was indeed well worthy of his name, for he was called Peter.
6-11 Οὐ χείρονα δὲ καὶ τὰ κατὰ τοὺς λοιποὺς ὄντα λόγου φειδόμενοι συμμετρίας παραλείψομεν , τοσοῦτον ἱστορήσαντες ὡς ὅ τε ΔωρόθεοςDorotheus καὶ ὁ ΓοργόνιοςGorgonius ἑτέροις ἅμα πλείοσιν τῆς βασιλικῆς οἰκετίας μετὰ τοὺς πολυτρόπους ἀγῶνας βρόχῳ τὴν‎ ζωὴν μεταλλάξαντες , τῆς ἐνθέου νίκης ἀπηνέγκαντο βραβεῖα .	The martyrdoms of the rest, though they were not inferior to his, we will pass by for the sake of brevity, recording only that Dorotheus and Gorgonius, with many others of the royal household, after varied sufferings, ended their lives by strangling, and bore away the trophies of God-given victory.
6-12 Ἐν τούτῳ τῆς κατὰ ΝικομήδειανNicomedia ἐκκλησίας ὁ τηνικαῦτα προεστὼς Ἄνθιμοςanthimus διὰ τὴν‎ εἰς ΧριστὸνChrist μαρτυρίαν τὴν‎ κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται ·	At this time Anthimus, who then presided over the church in Nicomedia, was beheaded for his testimony to Christ.
6-13 τούτῳ δὲ πλῆθος ἄθρουν μαρτύρων προστίθεται , οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅπως ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὴν‎ ΝικομήδειανNicomedia βασιλείοις πυρκαϊᾶς ἐν αὐταῖς δὴ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἁφθείσης , ἣν καθ᾽ ὑπόνοιαν ψευδῆ πρὸς τῶν ἡμετέρων ἐπιχειρηθῆναι λόγου διαδοθέντος ,	A great multitude of martyrs were added to him, a conflagration having broken out in those very days in the palace at Nicomedia, I know not how, which through a false suspicion was laid to our people.
6-14 παγγενεῖ σωρηδὸν βασιλικῷ νεύματι τῶν τῇδε θεοσεβῶν οἳ μὲν ξίφει κατεσφάττοντο ,	and by the imperial command the God-fearing persons there, whole families and in heaps, were in some cases butchered with the sword;
6-15 οἳ δὲ διὰ πυρὸς ἐτελειοῦντο ,	while others were perfected by fire,
6-16 ὅτε λόγος ἔχει προθυμίᾳ θείᾳ τινι καὶ ἀρρήτῳ ἄνδρας ἅμα γυναιξὶν ἐπὶ τὴν‎ πυρὰν καθαλέσθαι ·	It is reported that with a certain divine and indescribable eagerness men and women rushed into the fire.
6-17 δήσαντες δὲ οἱ δήμιοι ἄλλο τι πλῆθος ἐπὶ σκάφαις τοῖς θαλαττίοις ἐναπέρριπτον βυθοῖς .	And the executioners bound a large number of others and put them on boats and threw them into the depths of the sea.
6-18 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 .	As to the imperial servants, whose bodies after death had been committed to the ground with fitting honours, their reputed masters, starting afresh, deemed it necessary to exhume them and cast them also into the sea, lest any, regarding them as actually gods (so at least they imagined), should worship them as they lay in their tombs.
6-19 Καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς ΝικομηδείαςNicomedia κατὰ τὴν‎ ἀρχὴν ἀποτελεσθέντα τοῦ διωγμοῦ τοιαῦτα ·	Such things occurred in Nicomedia at the beginning of the persecution.
6-20 οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν δ᾽ ἑτέρων κατὰ τὴν‎ ΜελιτηνὴνMelitene 1 οὕτω καλουμένην χώραν καὶ αὖ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἄλλων ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ ΣυρίανSyria ἐπιφυῆναι τῇ βασιλείᾳ πεπειραμένων , τοὺς πανταχόσε τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν προεστῶτας εἱρκταῖς καὶ δεσμοῖς ἐνεῖραι πρόσταγμα ἐφοίτα βασιλικόν .	But not long after, as persons in the country called Melitene,1and others throughout Syria, attempted to usurp the government,2a royal edict directed that the rulers of the churches everywhere should be thrown into prison and bonds.

6-21 καὶ ἦν ἡ θέα τῶν ἐπὶ τούτοις γινομένων πᾶσαν διήγησιν ὑπεραίρουσα ,	What was to be seen after this exceeds all description.
6-22 μυρίου πλήθους ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ καθειργνυμένου καὶ τὰ πανταχῇ δεσμωτήρια , ἀνδροφόνοις καὶ τυμβωρύχοις πάλαι πρότερον ἐπεσκευασμένα , τότε πληρούντων ἐπισκόπων καὶ πρεσβυτέρων καὶ διακόνων ἀναγνωστῶν τε καὶ ἐπορκιστῶν , ὡς μηδὲ χώραν ἔτι τοῖς ἐπὶ κακουργίαις κατακρίτοις αὐτόθι λείπεσθαι .	A vast multitude were imprisoned in every place; and the prisons everywhere, which had long before been prepared for murderers and robbers of graves, were filled with bishops, presbyters and deacons, readers and exorcists, so that room was no longer left in them for those condemned for crimes.
6-23 Αὖθις δ᾽ ἑτέρων τὰ πρῶτα γράμματα ἐπικατειληφότων , ἐν οἷς τοὺς κατακλείστους θύσαντας μὲν ἐᾶν βαδίζειν ἐπ᾽ ἐλευθερίας , ἐνισταμένους δὲ μυρίαις καταξαίνειν προστέτακτο βασάνοις , πῶς ἂν πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἐνταῦθα τῶν καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἐπαρχίαν μαρτύρων ἀριθμήσειέν τις τὸ πλῆθος καὶ μάλιστα τῶν κατὰ τὴν‎ ἈφρικὴνAfrica καὶ τὸ ΜαύρωνMauretania 1 ἔθνος ΘηβαΐδαThebais τε καὶ κατ᾽ ΑἴγυπτονEgypt ; ἐξ ἧς καὶ εἰς ἑτέρας ἤδη προελθόντες πόλεις τε καὶ ἐπαρχίας διέπρεψαν τοῖς μαρτυρίοις .	And as other decrees followed the first, directing that those in prison if they would sacrifice should be permitted to depart in freedom, but that those who refused should be harassed with many tortures, how could any one, again, number the multitude of martyrs in every province, and especially of those in Africa, and Mauritania,1and Thebais, and Egypt? from this last country many went into other cities and provinces, and became illustrious through martyrdom.

Chapter 7

7-1 Ἴσμεν γοῦν τοὺς ἐξ αὐτῶν διαλάμψαντας ἐν ΠαλαιστίνῃPalestine , ἴσμεν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐν ΤύρῳTyre τῆς ΦοινίκηςPhoenicia ·	Those of them that were conspicuous in Palestine we know, as also those who were at Tyre in Phoenicia.
7-2 οὓς τίς ἰδὼν οὐ κατεπλάγη τὰς ἀναρίθμους μάστιγας καὶ τὰς ἐν τούτοις τῶν ὡς ἀληθῶς παραδόξων τῆς θεοσεβείας ἀθλητῶν ἐνστάσεις τόν τε παραχρῆμα μετὰ τὰς μάστιγας ἐν θηρσὶν ἀνθρωποβόροις ἀγῶνα καὶ τὰς ἐν τούτῳ παρδάλεων καὶ διαφόρων ἄρκτων συῶν τε ἀγρίων καὶ πυρὶ καὶ σιδήρῳ κεκαυτηριασμένων βοῶν προσβολὰς καὶ τὰς πρὸς ἕκαστον τῶν θηρίων θαυμασίους τῶν γενναίων ὑπομονάς ;	Who that saw them was not astonished at the numberless stripes, and at the firmness which these truly wonderful athletes of religion exhibited under them? and at their contest, immediately after the scourging, with bloodthirsty wild beasts, as they were cast before leopards and different kinds of bears and wild boars and bulls goaded with fire and red-hot iron? and at the marvelous endurance of these noble men in the face of all sorts of wild beasts?
7-3 οἷς γιγνομένοις καὶ αὐτοὶ παρῆμεν , ὁπηνίκα τοῦ μαρτυρουμένου σωτῆρος ἡμῶν , αὐτοῦ‎ δὴ ἸησοῦJesus, Joshua ΧριστοῦChrist , τὴν‎ θείαν δύναμιν ἐπιπαροῦσαν ἐναργῶς τε αὑτὴν τοῖς μάρτυσιν ἐπιδεικνῦσαν ἱστορήσαμεν ,	We were present ourselves when these things occurred, and have put on record the divine power of our martyred Saviour Jesus Christ, which was present and manifested itself mightily in the martyrs.
7-4 τῶν ἀνθρωποβόρων ἐπὶ πλείονα χρόνον μὴ προσψαύειν μηδὲ πλησιάζειν τοῖς τῶν θεοφιλῶν σώμασιν ἐπιτολμώντων , ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ μὲν τοὺς ἄλλους , ὅσοι δήπουθεν ἔξωθεν ἐρεθισμοῖς παρώρμων αὐτά ,	For a long time the man-devouring beasts did not dare to touch or draw near the bodies of those dear to God, but rushed upon the others who from the outside irritated and urged them on.
7-5 φερομένων , μόνων δὲ τῶν ἱερῶν ἀθλητῶν , γυμνῶν ἑστώτων καὶ ταῖς χερσὶν κατασειόντων ἐπί τε σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ἐπισπωμένων (τοῦτο γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἐκελεύετο πράττειν ), μηδ᾽ ὅλως ἐφαπτομένων ,	And they would not in the least touch the holy athletes, as they stood alone and naked and shook their hands at them to draw them toward themselves (for they were commanded to do this).
7-6 ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπῃ μὲν καὶ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ὁρμώντων , οἷα δὲ πρός τινος θειοτέρας δυνάμεως ἀνακρουομένων καὶ αὖ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας εἰς τοὐπίσω χωρούντων ·	But whenever they rushed at them, they were restrained as if by some divine power and retreated again.
7-7 ὃ καὶ εἰς μακρὸν γινόμενον Θαῦμα παρεῖχεν οὐ σμικρὸν τοῖς θεωμένοις ,	This continued for a long time, and occasioned no little wonder to the spectators.
7-8 ὥστε ἤδη διὰ τὸ ἄπρακτον τοῦ πρώτου Δεύτερον καὶ τρίτον προσαφίεσθαι ἑνὶ καὶ τῷ αὐτῷ μάρτυρι θηρίον .	And as the first wild beast did nothing, a second and a third were let loose against one and the same martyr.
7-9 Καταπλαγῆναι δ᾽ ἦν τὴν‎ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀπτόητον τῶν ἱερῶν ἐκείνων καρτερίαν καὶ τὴν‎ ἐν σώμασι νέοις βεβηκυῖαν καὶ ἀδιάτρεπτον ἔνστασιν .	One could not but be astonished at the invincible firmness of these holy men, and the enduring and immovable constancy of those whose bodies were young.
7-10 ἑώρας γοῦν ἡλικίαν οὐδ᾽ ὅλων ἐτῶν εἴκοσι δίχα δεσμῶν ἑστῶτος νέου καὶ τὰς μὲν χεῖρας ἐφαπλοῦντος εἰς σταυροῦ τύπον , ἀκαταπλήκτῳ δὲ καὶ ἀτρεμεῖ διανοίᾳ ταῖς πρὸς τὸ θεῖον σχολαίτατα τεταμένου λιταῖς μηδ᾽ ὅλως τε μεθισταμένου μηδ᾽ ἀποκλίνοντός ποι τοῦ ἔνθα εἱστήκει τόπου , ἄρκτων καὶ παρδάλεων θυμοῦ καὶ θανάτου πνεόντων σχεδὸν αὐτῆς καθαπτομένων αὐτοῦ‎ τῆς σαρκός ,	You could have seen a youth not twenty years of age standing unbound and stretching out his hands in the form of a cross, with unterrified and untrembling mind, engaged earnestly in prayer to God, and not in the least going back or retreating from the place where he stood, while bears and leopards, breathing rage and death, almost touched his flesh.
7-11 ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅπως θείᾳ καὶ ἀπορρήτῳ δυνάμει μόνον οὐχὶ φραττομένων τὸ στόμα καὶ αὖθις παλινδρομούντων εἰς τοὐπίσω .	And yet their mouths were restrained, I know not how, by a divine and incomprehensible power, and they ran back again to their place.
7-12 καὶ οὗτος μέν τις τοιοῦτος ἦν ·	Such a one was he.
7-13 πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας δ᾽ ἂν ἑτέρους εἶδες (πέντε γὰρ οἱ πάντες ἐτύγχανον ) ἠγριωμένῳ ταύρῳ παραβληθέντας , ὃς τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους τῶν ἔξωθεν προσιόντων τοῖς κέρασιν εἰς τὸν ἀέρα ῥίπτων διεσπάραττεν , ἡμιθνῆτας αἴρεσθαι καταλιπών , ἐπὶ μόνους δὲ θυμῷ καὶ ἀπειλῇ τοὺς ἱεροὺς ὁρμῶν μάρτυρας οὐδὲ πλησιάζειν αὐτοῖς οἷός τε ἦν , κυρίττων δὲ τοῖς ποσὶν καὶ τοῖς κέρασιν τῇδε κἀκεῖσε χρώμενος καὶ διὰ τοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν καυτήρων ἐρεθισμοὺς θυμοῦ καὶ ἀπειλῆς πνέων εἰς τοὐπίσω πρὸς τῆς ἱερᾶς ἀνθείλκετο προνοίας ,	Again you might have seen others, for they were five in all, cast before a wild bull, who tossed into the air with his horns those who approached from the outside, and mangled them, leaving them to be token up half dead; but when he rushed with rage and threatening upon the holy martyrs, who were standing alone, he was unable to come near them; but though he stamped with his feet, and pushed in all directions with his horns, and breathed rage and threatening on account of the irritation of the burning irons, he was, nevertheless, held back by the sacred Providence.
7-14 ὡς μηδὲ τούτου μηδὲν μηδαμῶς αὐτοὺς ἀδικήσαντος , ἕτερα ἄττα αὐτοῖς ἐπαφίεσθαι θηρία .	And as he in nowise harmed them, they let loose other wild beasts upon them.
7-15 τέλος δ᾽ οὖν μετὰ τὰς δεινὰς καὶ ποικίλας τούτων προσβολὰς ξίφει κατασφαγέντες οἱ πάντες ἀντὶ γῆς καὶ τάφων τοῖς θαλαττίοις παραδίδονται κύμασιν .	Finally, after these terrible and various attacks upon them, they were all slain with the sword; and instead of being buried in the earth they were committed to the waves of the sea.

Chapter 8

8-1 καὶ τοιοῦτος μὲν ὁ ἀγὼν τῶν κατὰ ΤύρονTyre τοὺς ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ἄθλους ἐνδειξαμένων ΑἰγυπτίωνEgyptians .	Such was the conflict of those Egyptians who contended nobly for religion in Tyre.
8-2 Θαυμάσειε δ᾽ ἄν τις αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκείας γῆς μαρτυρήσαντας , ἔνθα μυρίας τὸν ἀριθμόν , ἄνδρες ἅμα γυναιξὶν καὶ παισίν , ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν διδασκαλίας , τοῦ προσκαίρου ζῆν καταφρονήσαντες , διαφόρους ὑπέμειναν θανάτους ,	But we must admire those also who suffered martyrdom in their native land; where thousands of men, women, and children, despising the present life for the sake of the teaching of our Saviour, endured various deaths.
8-3 οἳ μὲν αὐτῶν μετὰ ξεσμοὺς καὶ στρεβλώσεις μάστιγάς τε χαλεπωτάτας καὶ μυρίας ἄλλας ποικίλας καὶ φρικτὰς ἀκοῦσαι βασάνους πυρὶ παραδοθέντες , οἳ δὲ πελάγει καταβροχθισθέντες , ἄλλοι δ᾽ εὐθαρσῶς τοῖς ἀποτέμνουσιν τὰς ἑαυτῶν προτείναντες κεφαλάς , οἳ δὲ καὶ ἐναποθανόντες ταῖς βασάνοις , ἕτεροι δὲ λιμῷ διαφθαρέντες ,	Some of them, after scrapings and rackings and severest scourgings, and numberless other kinds of tortures, terrible even to hear of, were committed to the flames; some were drowned in the sea; some offered their heads bravely to those who cut them off; some died under their tortures, and others perished with hunger.
8-4 καὶ ἄλλοι πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἀνασκολοπισθέντες , οἳ μὲν κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες τοῖς κακούργοις , οἳ δὲ καὶ χειρόνως ἀνάπαλιν κάτω κάρα προσηλωθέντες τηρούμενοί τε ζῶντες , εἰς ὅτε καὶ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἰκρίων λιμῷ διαφθαρεῖεν .	And yet others were crucified; some according to the method commonly employed for malefactors; others yet more cruelly, being nailed to the cross with their heads downward, and being kept alive until they perished on the cross with hunger.

Chapter 9

9-1 Πάντα δ᾽ ὑπεραίρει λόγον καὶ ἃς ὑπέμειναν αἰκίας καὶ ἀλγηδόνας οἱ κατὰ ΘηβαΐδαThebais μάρτυρες ,	It would be impossible to describe the outrages and tortures which the martyrs in Thebais endured.
9-2 ὀστράκοις ἀντὶ ὀνύχων ὅλον τὸ σῶμα καὶ μέχρις ἀπαλλαγῆς τοῦ βίου καταξαινόμενοι ,	They were scraped over the entire body with shells instead of hooks until they died.
9-3 γύναιά τε τοῖν ποδοῖν ἐξ ἑνὸς ἀποδεσμούμενα μετέωρά τε καὶ διαέρια κάτω κεφαλὴν μαγγάνοις τισὶν εἰς ὕψος ἀνελκόμενα γυμνοῖς τε παντελῶς καὶ μηδ᾽ ἐπικεκαλυμμένοις τοῖς σώμασιν θέαν ταύτην αἰσχίστην καὶ πάντων ὠμοτάτην καὶ ἀπανθρωποτάτην τοῖς ὁρῶσιν ἅπασιν παρεσχημένα ·	Women were bound by one foot and raised aloft in the air by machines, and with their bodies altogether bare and uncovered, presented to all beholders this most shameful, cruel, and inhuman spectacle.
9-4 ἄλλοι δ᾽ αὖ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας δένδρεσιν καὶ πρέμνοις ἐναπέθνῃσκον δεσμούμενοι ·	Others being bound to the branches and trunks of trees perished.
9-5 τοὺς γὰρ μάλιστα στερροτάτους τῶν κλάδων μηχαναῖς τισιν ἐπὶ ταὐτὸ συνέλκοντες εἰς ἑκάτερά τε τούτων τὰ τῶν μαρτύρων ἀποτείνοντες σκέλη , εἰς τὴν‎ ἑαυτῶν ἠφίεσαν τοὺς κλάδους φέρεσθαι φύσιν , ἄθρουν τῶν μελῶν διασπασμὸν καθ᾽ ὧν ταῦτ᾽ ἐνεχείρουνto master, subdue ἐπινοοῦντες .	For they drew the stoutest branches together with machines, and bound the limbs of the martyrs to them; and then, allowing the branches to assume their natural position, they tore asunder instantly the limbs of those for whom they contrived this.
9-6 καὶ ταῦτά γε πάντα ἐνηργεῖτο οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας ἢ χρόνον τινὰ βραχύν , ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ὅλων ἐτῶν διάστημα ,	All these things were done, not for a few days or a short time, but for a long series of years.
9-7 ὁτὲ μὲν πλειόνων ἢ δέκα , ὁτὲ δὲ ὑπὲρ τοὺς εἴκοσι τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἀναιρουμένων ,	Sometimes more than ten, at other times above twenty were put to death.
9-8 ἄλλοτε δὲ οὐχ ἧττον καὶ τριάκοντα , ἤδη δ᾽ ἐγγύς που ἑξήκοντα , καὶ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἄλλοτε ἑκατὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ἄνδρες ἅμα κομιδῇ νηπίοις καὶ γυναιξὶν ἐκτείνοντο , ποικίλαις καὶ ἐναλλαττούσαις τιμωρίαις καταδικαζόμενοι .	Again not less than thirty, then about sixty, and yet again a hundred men with young children and women, were slain in one day, being condemned to various and diverse torments.
9-9 ἱστορήσαμεν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐπὶ τῶν τόπων γενόμενοι πλείους ἀθρόως κατὰ μίαν ἡμέραν τοὺς μὲν τῆς κεφαλῆς ἀποτομὴν ὑπομείναντας , τοὺς δὲ τὴν‎ διὰ πυρὸς τιμωρίαν , ὡς ἀμβλύνεσθαι φονεύοντα τὸν σίδηρον ἀτονοῦντά τε διαθλᾶσθαι αὐτούς τε τοὺς ἀναιροῦντας ἀποκάμνοντας ἀμοιβαδὸν ἀλλήλους διαδέχεσθαι ·	We, also being on the spot ourselves, have observed large crowds in one day; some suffering decapitation, others torture by fire; so that the murderous sword was blunted, and becoming weak, was broken, and the very executioners grew weary and relieved each other.
9-10 ὅτε καὶ θαυμασιωτάτην ὁρμὴν θείαν τε ὡς ἀληθῶς δύναμιν καὶ προθυμίαν τῶν εἰς τὸν ΧριστὸνChrist τοῦ Θεοῦ πεπιστευκότων συνεωρῶμεν .	And we beheld the most wonderful ardor, and the truly divine energy and zeal of those who believed in the Christ of God.
9-11 ἅμα γοῦν τῇ κατὰ τῶν προτέρων ἀποφάσει ἐπεπήδων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοι τῷ πρὸ τοῦ δικαστοῦ βήματι ΧριστιανοὺςChristians σφᾶς ὁμολογοῦντες ,	For as soon as sentence was pronounced against the first, one after another rushed to the judgment seat, and confessed themselves Christians.
9-12 ἀφροντίστως μὲν πρὸς τὰ δεινὰ καὶ τοὺς τῶν πολυειδῶν βασάνων τρόπους διακείμενοι , ἀκαταπλήκτως δὲ παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ τῇ εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεὸν εὐσεβείᾳ μετά τε χαρᾶς καὶ γέλωτος καὶ εὐφροσύνης τὴν‎ ὑστάτην ἀπόφασιν τοῦ θανάτου καταδεχόμενοι , ὥστε ψάλλειν καὶ ὕμνους καὶ εὐχαριστίας εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεὸν μέχρις αὐτῆς ἐσχάτης ἀναπέμπειν ἀναπνοῆς .	And regarding with indifference the terrible things and the multiform tortures, they declared themselves boldly and undauntedly for the religion of the God of the universe. And they received the final sentence of death with joy and laughter and cheerfulness; so that they sang and offered up hymns and thanksgivings to the God of the universe till their very last breath.
9-13 θαυμάσιοι μὲν οὖν καὶ οὗτοι , ἐξαιρέτως δ᾽ ἐκεῖνοι θαυμασιώτεροι οἱ πλούτῳ μὲν καὶ εὐγενείᾳ καὶ δόξῃ λόγῳ τε καὶ φιλοσοφίᾳ διαπρέψαντες , πάντα γε μὴν δεύτερα θέμενοι τῆς ἀληθοῦς εὐσεβείας καὶ τῆς εἰς τὸν σωτῆρα καὶ κύριον ἡμῶν ἸησοῦνJesus, Joshua ΧριστὸνChrist πίστεως ,	These indeed were wonderful; but yet more wonderful were those who, being distinguished for wealth, noble birth, and honour, and for learning and philosophy, held everything secondary to the true religion and to faith in our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
9-14 οἷος ΦιλόρωμοςPhiloromus ἦν , ἀρχήν τινα οὐ τὴν‎ τυχοῦσαν τῆς κατ᾽ ἈλεξάνδρειανAlexandria βασιλικῆς διοικήσεως ἐγκεχειρισμένος , ὃς μετὰ τοῦ ἀξιώματος καὶ τῆς ῬωμαϊκῆςLatin, Roman τιμῆς , ὑπὸ στρατιώταις δορυφορούμενος ,	Such an one was Philoromus, who held a high office under the imperial government at Alexandria, and who administered justice every day, attended by a military guard corresponding to his rank and Roman dignity.
9-15 ἑκάστης ἀνεκρίνετο ἡμέρας , ΦιλέαςPhileas τε τῆς ΘμουϊτῶνThmuites 1 ἐκκλησίας ἐπίσκοπος , διαπρέψας ἀνὴρ ταῖς κατὰ τὴν‎ πατρίδα πολιτείαις τε καὶ λειτουργίαις ἔν τε τοῖς κατὰ φιλοσοφίαν λόγοις ·	Such also was Phileas, bishop of the church of Thmuis,1a man eminent on account of his patriotism and the services rendered by him to his country, and also on account of his philosophical learning.

9-16 οἳ καὶ μυρίων ὅσων πρὸς αἵματός τε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων φίλων ἀντιβολούντων , ἔτι μὴν τῶν ἐπ᾽ ἀξίας ἀρχόντων , πρὸς δὲ καὶ αὐτοῦ‎ τοῦ δικαστοῦ παρακαλοῦντος ὡς ἂν αὐτῶν οἶκτον λάβοιεν φειδώ τε παίδων καὶ γυναικῶν ποιήσοιντο , οὐδαμῶς πρὸς τῶν τοσούτων ἐπὶ τὸ φιλοζωῆσαι μὲν ἑλέσθαι , καταφρονῆσαι δὲ τῶν περὶ ὁμολογίας καὶ ἀρνήσεως τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν θεσμῶν ὑπήχθησαν ,	These persons, although a multitude of relatives and other friends besought them, and many in high position, and even the judge himself entreated them, that they would have compassion on themselves and show mercy to their children and wives, yet were not in the least induced by these things to choose the love of life, and to despise the ordinances of our Saviour concerning confession and denial.
9-17 ἀνδρείῳ δὲ λογισμῷ καὶ φιλοσόφῳ , μᾶλλον δὲ εὐσεβεῖ καὶ φιλοθέῳ ψυχῇ πρὸς ἁπάσας τοῦ δικαστοῦ τάς τε ἀπειλὰς καὶ τὰς ὕβρεις ἐνστάντες , ἄμφω τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀπετμήθησαν .	But with manly and philosophic minds, or rather with pious and God-loving souls, they persevered against all the threats and insults of the judge; and both of them were beheaded.

Chapter 10

10-1 Ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ τῶν ἔξωθεν μαθημάτων ἕνεκα πολλοῦ λόγου ἄξιον γενέσθαι τὸν ΦιλέανPhileas ἔφαμεν , αὐτὸς ἑαυτοῦ παρίτω μάρτυς , ἅμα μὲν ἑαυτὸν ὅστις ποτ᾽ ἦν , ἐπιδείξων , ἅμα δὲ καὶ τὰ κατ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἈλεξανδρείᾳAlexandria συμβεβηκότα μαρτύρια ἀκριβέστερον μᾶλλον ἢ ἡμεῖς ἱστορήσων διὰ τούτων τῶν λέξεων .	Since we have mentioned Phileas as having a high reputation for secular learning, let him be his own witness in the following extract, in which he shows us who he was, and at the same time describes more accurately than we can the martyrdoms which occurred in his time at Alexandria:
10-2 ἀπὸ τῶν ΦιλεουPhileas πρὸς ΘμουιταςThmuites γραμμάτων	From the writings of Phileas to the Thmuites

10-3 “Τούτων ἁπάντων ὑποδειγμάτων ἡμῖν καὶ ὑπογραμμῶν καὶ καλῶν γνωρισμάτων ἐν ταῖς θείαις καὶ ἱεραῖς γραφαῖς κειμένων , οὐδὲν μελλήσαντες οἱ μακάριοι σὺν ἡμῖν μάρτυρες , τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς ὄμμα πρὸς τὸν ἐπὶ πάντων Θεὸν καθαρῶς τείναντες καὶ τὸν ἐπ᾽ εὐσεβείᾳ θάνατον ἐν νῷ λαβόντες , ἀπρὶξtightly τῆς κλήσεως εἴχοντο ,	“Having before them all these examples and models and noble tokens which are given us in the Divine and Sacred Scriptures, the blessed martyrs who were with us did not hesitate, but directing the eye of the soul in sincerity toward the God over all, and having their mind set upon death for religion, they adhered firmly to their calling.
10-4 τὸν μὲν κύριον ἡμῶν ἸησοῦνJesus, Joshua ΧριστὸνChrist εὑρόντες ἐνανθρωπήσαντα δι᾽ ἡμᾶς , ἵνα πᾶσαν μὲν ἁμαρτίαν ἐκκόψῃ , ἐφόδια δὲ τῆς εἰς τὴν‎ αἰώνιον ζωὴν εἰσόδου ἡμῖν κατάθηται ·	For they understood that our Lord Jesus Christ had become man on our account, that he might cut off all sin and furnish us with the means of entrance into eternal life.
10-5 οὐ γὰρ ‘ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα Θεῷ , ἀλλ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν μορφὴν δούλου λαβών , καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος ἑαυτὸν ἐταπείνωσεν ἕως θανάτου , θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ ·’	For ‘he counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied himself taking the form of a servant; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross.’

10-6 δι᾽ ὃ καὶ ζηλώσαντες τὰ μείζονα χαρίσματα οἱ χριστοφόροι μάρτυρες πάντα μὲν πόνον καὶ παντοίας ἐπινοίας αἰκισμῶν οὐκ εἰς ἅπαξ , ἀλλ᾽ ἤδη καὶ δεύτερόν τινες ὑπέμειναν , πάσας δὲ ἀπειλὰς οὐ λόγοις μόνον ,	Wherefore also being zealous for the greater gifts, the Christ-bearing martyrs endured all trials and all kinds of contrivances for torture; not once only, but some also a second time.
10-7 ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔργοις τῶν δορυφόρων κατ᾽ αὐτῶν φιλοτιμουμένων , οὐκ ἐνεδίδουν τὴν‎ γνώμην διὰ τὸ τὴν‎ τελείαν ἀγάπην ἔξω βάλλειν τὸν φόβον ·	And although the guards vied with each other in threatening them in all sorts of ways, not in words only, but in actions, they did not give up their resolution; because ‘perfect love casts out fear.’1

10-8 ὧν καταλέγειν τὴν‎ ἀρετὴν καὶ τὴν‎ ἐφ᾽ ἑκάστῃ βασάνῳ ἀνδρείαν τίς ἂν ἀρκέσειεν λόγος ; ἀνέσεως γὰρ οὔσης ἅπασι τοῖς βουλομένοις ἐνυβρίζειν , οἳ μὲν ξύλοις ἔπαιον , ἕτεροι δὲ ῥάβδοις , ἄλλοι δὲ μάστιξιν , ἕτεροι δὲ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἱμᾶσιν , ἄλλοι δὲ σχοινίοις .	What words could describe their courage and manliness under every torture? for as liberty to abuse them was given to all that wished, some beat them with clubs, others with rods, others with scourges, yet others with thongs, and others with ropes.
10-9 καὶ ἦν ἡ θέα τῶν αἰκισμῶν ἐνηλλαγμένη καὶ πολλὴν τὴν‎ ἐν αὐτῇ κακίαν ἔχουσα .	And the spectacle of the outrages was varied and exhibited great malignity.
10-10 οἳ μὲν γὰρ ὀπίσω τὼ χεῖρε δεθέντες περὶ τὸ ξύλον ἐξηρτῶντο καὶ μαγγάνοις τισὶ διετείνοντο πᾶν μέλος ,	For some, with their hands bound behind them, were suspended on the stocks, and every member stretched by certain machines.
10-11 εἶθ᾽ οὕτως διὰ παντὸς τοῦ σώματος ἐπῆγον ἐκ κελεύσεως οἱ βασανισταί , οὐ καθάπερ τοῖς φονεῦσιν ἐπὶ τῶν πλευρῶν μόνον , ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς γαστρὸς καὶ κνημῶν καὶ παρειῶν τοῖς ἀμυντηρίοις ἐκόλαζον ·	Then the torturers, as commanded, lacerated with instruments their entire bodies; not only their sides, as in the case of murderers, but also their stomachs and knees and cheeks.
10-12 ἕτεροι δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς στοᾶς μιᾶς χειρὸς ἐξηρτημένοι αἰωροῦντο , πάσης ἀλγηδόνος δεινοτέραν τὴν‎ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄρθρων καὶ μελῶν τάσιν ἔχοντες ·	Others were raised aloft, suspended from the porch by one hand, and endured the most terrible suffering of all, through the distension of their joints and limbs.
10-13 ἄλλοι δὲ πρὸς τοῖς κίοσιν ἀντιπρόσωποι ἐδοῦντο , οὐ βεβηκόσιν τοῖς ποσίν , τῷ δὲ βάρει τοῦ σώματος βιαζομένων μετὰ τάσεως ἀνελκομένων τῶν δεσμῶν .	Others were bound face to face to pillars, not resting on their feet, but with the weight of their bodies bearing on their bonds and drawing them tightly.
10-14 καὶ ταῦθ᾽ ὑπέμενον , οὐκ ἐφ᾽ ὅσον προσδιελέγετο οὐδ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἐσχόλαζεν ὁ ἡγεμών , ἀλλὰ μόνον οὐχὶ δι᾽ ὅλης τῆς ἡμέρας .	And they endured this, not merely as long as the governor talked with them or was at leisure, but through almost the entire day.
10-15 ὅτε γὰρ καὶ ἐφ᾽ ἑτέρους μετέβαινεν , τοῖς προτέροις κατελίμπανεν ἐφεδρεύειν τοὺς τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ‎ ὑπηρετουμένους , εἴ πού τις ἡττηθεὶς τῶν βασάνων ἐνδιδόναι ἐδόκει ,	For when he passed on to others, he left officers under his authority to watch the first, and observe if any of them, overcome by the tortures, appeared to yield.
10-16 ἀφειδῶς δὲ κελεύων καὶ τοῖς δεσμοῖς προσιέναι καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ψυχορραγοῦντας αὐτοὺς κατατιθεμένους εἰς τὴν‎ γῆν ἕλκεσθαι ·	And he commanded to cast them into chains without mercy, and afterward when they were at the last gasp to throw them to the ground and drag them away.
10-17 οὐ γὰρ εἶναι κἂν μέρος φροντίδος αὐτοῖς περὶ ἡμῶν , ἀλλ᾽ οὕτω καὶ διανοεῖσθαι καὶ πράττειν , ὡς μηκέτ᾽ ὄντων , ταύτην δευτέραν βάσανον ἐπὶ ταῖς πληγαῖς τῶν ὑπεναντίων ἐφευρόντων .	For he said that they were not to have the least concern for us, but were to think and act as if we no longer existed, our enemies having invented this second mode of torture in addition to the stripes.
10-18 ἦσαν δὲ οἱ καὶ μετὰ τοὺς αἰκισμοὺς ἐπὶ τοῦ ξύλου κείμενοι , διὰ τῶν τεσσάρων ὀπῶν διατεταμένοι ἄμφω τὼ πόδε , ὡς καὶ κατὰ ἀνάγκην αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τοῦ ξύλου ὑπτίους εἶναι , μὴ δυναμένους διὰ τὸ ἔναυλα τὰ τραύματα ἀπὸ τῶν πληγῶν καθ᾽ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος ἔχειν ·	Some, also, after these outrages, were placed on the stocks, and had both their feet stretched over the four holes, so that they were compelled to lie on their backs on the stocks, being unable to keep themselves up on account of the fresh wounds with which their entire bodies were covered as a result of the scourging.
10-19 ἕτεροι δὲ εἰς τοὔδαφος ῥιφέντες ἔκειντο ὑπὸ τῆς τῶν βασάνων ἀθρόας προσβολῆς , δεινοτέραν τὴν‎ ὄψιν τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῖς ὁρῶσιν παρέχοντες , ποικίλας καὶ διαφόρους ἐν τοῖς σώμασιν φέροντες τῶν βασάνων τὰς ἐπινοίας .	Others were thrown on the ground and lay there under the accumulated infliction of tortures, exhibiting to the spectators a more terrible manifestation of severity, as they bore on their bodies the marks of the various and diverse punishments which had been invented.
10-20 τούτων οὕτως δυσμενῶς οἳ μὲν ἐναπέθνῃσκον ταῖς βασάνοις , τῇ καρτερίᾳ καταισχύναντες τὸν ἀντίπαλον ,	As this went on, some died under the tortures, shaming the adversary by their constancy.
10-21 οἳ δὲ ἡμιθνῆτες ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ συγκλειόμενοι , μετ᾽ οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας ταῖς ἀλγηδόσι συνεχόμενοι ἐτελειοῦντο , οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ τῆς ἀπὸ τῆς θεραπείας ἀνακτήσεως τυχόντες τῷ χρόνῳ καὶ τῇ τῆς φυλακῆς διατριβῇ θαρσαλεώτεροι ἐγίνοντο .	Others half dead were shut up in prison, and suffering with their agonies, they died in a few days; but the rest, recovering under the care which they received, gained confidence by time and their long detention in prison.
10-22 οὕτω γοῦν , ἡνίκα προσετέτακτο αἱρέσεως κειμένης ἢ ἐφαψάμενον τῆς ἐναγοῦς θυσίας ἀνενόχλητον εἶναι , τῆς ἐπαράτου ἐλευθερίας παρ᾽ αὐτῶν τυχόντα , ἢ μὴ θύοντα τὴν‎ ἐπὶ θανάτῳ δίκην ἐκδέχεσθαι , οὐδὲν μελλήσαντες ἀσμένως ἐπὶ τὸν θάνατον ἐχώρουν ·	When therefore they were ordered to choose whether they would be released from molestation by touching the polluted sacrifice, and would receive from them the accursed freedom, or refusing to sacrifice, should be condemned to death, they did not hesitate, but went to death cheerfully.
10-23 ᾔδεσαν γὰρ τὰ ὑπὸ τῶν ἱερῶν γραφῶν ἡμῖν προορισθέντα .	For they knew what had been declared before by the Sacred Scriptures.
10-24 ‘ὁ γὰρ θυσιάζων ,’ φησίν , ‘θεοῖς ἑτέροις ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ,’1 καὶ ὅτι ‘οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ .’	For it is said, ‘He who sacrifices to other gods shall be utterly destroyed,’1and, ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’2

10-25 Τοιαῦται τοῦ ὡς ἀληθῶς φιλοσόφου τε ὁμοῦ καὶ φιλοθέου μάρτυρος αἱ φωναὶ ἃς πρὸ τελευταίας ἀποφάσεως , ὑπὸ τὴν‎ δεσμωτικὴν ἔθ᾽ ” ὑπάρχων τάξιν , τοῖς κατὰ τὴν‎ αὐτοῦ‎ παροικίαν ἀδελφοῖς ἐπεστάλκει , ἅμα μὲν τὰ ἐν οἷς ἦν , ἀνατιθέμενος , ἅμα δὲ καὶ παρορμῶν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ ἀπρὶξtightly ἔχεσθαι καὶ μετ᾽ αὐτὸν ὅσον οὔπω τελειωθησόμενον τῆς ἐν ΧριστῷChrist θεοσεβείας .

Such are the words of the truly philosophical1and God-loving martyr, which, before the final sentence, while yet in prison, he addressed to the brothers in his parish, showing them his own circumstances, and at the same time exhorting them to hold fast, even after his approaching death, to the religion of Christ.

10-26 ἀλλὰ τί χρὴ πολλὰ λέγειν καὶ καινοτέρας ἐπὶ καινοτέραις τῶν ἀνὰ τὴν‎ οἰκουμένην θεοπρεπῶν μαρτύρων ἀθλήσεις παρατίθεσθαι , μάλιστα τῶν οὐκέτι μὲν κοινῷ νόμῳ , πολέμου δὲ τρόπῳ πεπολιορκημένων ;

But why need we dwell upon these things, and continue to add fresh instances of the conflicts of the divine martyrs throughout the world, especially since they were dealt with no longer by common law, but attacked like enemies of war?

Chapter 11

11-1 Ἤδη γοῦν ὅλην ΧριστιανῶνChristians πολίχνην αὔτανδρον ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ ΦρυγίανPhrygia, Phrygian ἐν κύκλῳ περιβαλόντες ὁπλῖται πῦρ τε ὑφάψαντες κατέφλεξαν αὐτοῖς ἅμα νηπίοις καὶ γυναιξὶ τὸν ἐπὶ πάντων Θεὸν ἐπιβοωμένοις ,	A small town of Phrygia, inhabited solely by Christians, was completely surrounded by soldiers while the men were in it. Throwing fire into it, they consumed them with the women and children while they were calling upon God who is over all.
11-2 ὅτι δὴ πανδημεὶ πάντες οἱ τὴν‎ πόλιν οἰκοῦντες λογιστής τε αὐτὸς καὶ στρατηγοὶ σὺν τοῖς ἐν τέλει πᾶσιν καὶ ὅλῳ δήμῳ ΧριστιανοὺςChristians σφᾶς ὁμολογοῦντες , οὐδ᾽ ὁπωστιοῦν τοῖς προστάττουσιν εἰδωλολατρεῖν ἐπειθάρχουν .	This they did because all the inhabitants of the city, and the curator himself, and the governor, with all who held office, and the entire populace, confessed themselves Christians, and would not in the least obey those who commanded them to worship idols.
11-3 Καί τις ἕτερος ῬωμαϊκῆςLatin, Roman ἀξίας ἐπειλημμένος , ἌδαυκτοςAdauctus τοὔνομα , γένος τῶν παρ᾽ ἸταλοῖςItalian ἐπισήμων , διὰ πάσης προελθὼν ἀνὴρ τῆς παρὰ βασιλεῦσι τιμῆς , ὡς καὶ τὰς καθόλου διοικήσεις τῆς παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς καλουμένης μαγιστρότητός τε καὶ καθολικότητος ἀμέμπτως διελθεῖν ,	There was another man of Roman dignity named Adauctus, of a noble Italian family, who had advanced through every honour under the emperors, so that he had blamelessly filled even the general offices of magistrate, as they call it, and of finance minister.
11-4 ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις διαπρέψας τοῖς ἐν θεοσεβείᾳ κατορθώμασιν καὶ ταῖς εἰς τὸν ΧριστὸνChrist τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁμολογίαις , τῷ τοῦ μαρτυρίου διαδήματι κατεκοσμήθη ,	Besides all this he excelled in deeds of piety and in the confession of the Christ of God, and was adorned with the diadem of martyrdom.
11-5 ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς τῆς τοῦ καθολικοῦ πράξεως τὸν ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ὑπομείνας ἀγῶνα .	He endured the conflict for religion while still holding the office of finance minister.

Chapter 12

12-1 Τί με χρὴ νῦν ἐπ᾽ ὀνόματος τῶν λοιπῶν μνημονεύειν ἢ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἀριθμεῖν ἢ τὰς πολυτρόπους αἰκίας ἀναζωγραφεῖν τῶν θαυμασίων μαρτύρων , τοτὲ μὲν πέλυξιν ἀναιρουμένων , οἷα γέγονεν τοῖς ἐπ᾽ ἈραβίαςArabia ,	Why need we mention the rest by name, or number the multitude of the men, or picture the various sufferings of the admirable martyrs of Christ? Some of them were slain with the axe, as in Arabia.
12-2 τοτὲ δὲ τὰ σκέλη κατεαγνυμένων , οἷα τοῖς ἐν ΚαππαδοκίᾳCappadocia συμβέβηκεν ,	The limbs of some were broken, as in Cappadocia.
12-3 καὶ ποτὲ μὲν κατὰ κεφαλῆς ἐκ τοῖν ποδοῖν εἰς ὕψος ἀναρτωμένων καὶ μαλθακοῦ πυρὸς ὑποκαιομένου τῷ παραπεμπομένῳ καπνῷ τῆς φλεγομένης ὕλης ἀποπνιγομένων , οἷα τοῖς ἐν ΜέσῃMeso(potamia) τῶν ποταμῶν ἐπήχθη ,	Some, raised on high by the feet, with their heads down, while a gentle fire burned beneath them, were suffocated by the smoke which arose from the burning wood, as was done in Mesopotamia.
12-4 ποτὲ δὲ ῥῖνας καὶ ὦτα καὶ χεῖρας ἀκρωτηριαζομένων τά τε λοιπὰ τοῦ σώματος μέλη τε καὶ μέρη κρεουργουμένων , οἷα τὰ ἐπ᾽ ἈλεξανδρείαςAlexandria ἦν ;	Others were mutilated by cutting off their noses and ears and hands, and cutting to pieces the other members and parts of their bodies, as in Alexandria.
12-5 Τί δεῖ τῶν ἐπ᾽ ἈντιοχείαςAntioch ἀναζωπυρεῖν τὴν‎ μνήμην , ἐσχάραις πυρὸς οὐκ εἰς θάνατον , ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ μακρᾷ τιμωρίᾳ κατοπτωμένων , ἑτέρων τε θᾶττον τὴν‎ δεξιὰν αὐτῷ πυρὶ καθιέντων ἢ τῆς ἐναγοῦς θυσίας ἐφαπτομένων ; ὧν τινες τὴν‎ πεῖραν φεύγοντες , πρὶν ἁλῶναι καὶ εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἐπιβούλων ἐλθεῖν , ἄνωθεν ἐξ ὑψηλῶν δωμάτων ἑαυτοὺς κατεκρήμνισαν , τὸν θάνατον ἅρπαγμα θέμενοι τῆς τῶν δυσσεβῶν μοχθηρίας .	Why need we revive the recollection of those in Antioch who were roasted on grates, not so as to kill them, but so as to subject them to a lingering punishment? Or of others who preferred to thrust their right hand into the fire rather than touch the impious sacrifice? Some, shrinking from the trial, rather than be taken and fall into the hands of their enemies, threw themselves from lofty houses, considering death preferable to the cruelty of the impious.
12-6 Καί τις ἱερὰ καὶ θαυμασία τὴν‎ τῆς ψυχῆς 1 ἀρετήν , τὸ δὲ σῶμα γυνὴ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα τῶν ἐπ᾽ ἈντιοχείαςAntioch πλούτῳ καὶ γένει καὶ εὐδοξίᾳ παρὰ πᾶσι βεβοημένη , παίδων ξυνωρίδα παρθένων τῇ τοῦ σώματος ὥρᾳ καὶ ἀκμῇ διαπρεπουσῶν θεσμοῖς εὐσεβείας ἀναθρεψαμένη ,	A certain holy person, — in soul admirable for virtue, in body a woman1— who was illustrious beyond all in Antioch for wealth and family and reputation, had brought up in the principles of religion her two daughters, who were now in the freshness and bloom of life.

12-7 ἐπειδὴ πολὺς ὁ περὶ αὐτὰς κινούμενος φθόνος πάντα τρόπον ἀνιχνεύων λανθανούσας περιειργάζετο, εἶτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλοδαπῆς αὐτὰς διατρίβειν μαθὼν πεφροντισμένως ἐπὶ τὴν‎ ἈντιόχειανAntioch ἐκάλει δικτύων τε ἤδη στρατιωτικῶν εἴσω περιβέβληντο ,	Since great envy was excited on their account, every means was used to find them in their concealment; and when it was ascertained that they were away, they were summoned deceitfully to Antioch. Thus they were caught in the nets of the soldiers.
12-8 ἐν ἀμηχάνοις ἑαυτὴν καὶ τὰς παῖδας θεασαμένη καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεινὰ τῷ λόγῳ παραθεῖσα τό τε πάντων δεινῶν καὶ ἀφορητότερον , πορνείας ἀπειλήν ,	When the woman saw herself and her daughters thus helpless, and knew the things terrible to speak of that men would do to them — and the most unbearable of all terrible things, the threatened violation of their chastity,
12-9 μηδὲ ἄκροις ὠσὶν ὑπομεῖναι δεῖν ἀκοῦσαι ἑαυτῇ τε καὶ ταῖς κόραις παρακελευσαμένη ,	she exhorted herself and the maidens that they ought not to submit even to hear of this.
12-10 ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ προδοῦναι τὰς ψυχὰς τῇ τῶν δαιμόνων δουλείᾳ πάντων ὑπάρχειν θανάτων καὶ πάσης χεῖρον ἀπωλείας φήσασα , μίαν τούτων ἁπάντων εἶναι λύσιν ὑπετίθετο τὴν‎ ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον καταφυγήν ,	For, she said, that to surrender their souls to the slavery of demons was worse than all deaths and destruction; and she set before them the only deliverance from all these things — escape to the Lord.
12-11 κἄπειτα ὁμοῦ τῇ γνώμῃ συνθέμεναι τά τε σώματα περιστείλασαι κοσμίως τοῖς περιβλήμασιν , ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς μέσης γενόμεναι τῆς ὁδοῦ , βραχύ τι τοὺς φύλακας εἰς ἀναχώρησιν ὑποπαραιτησάμεναι , ἐπὶ παραρρέοντα ποταμὸν ἑαυτὰς ἠκόντισαν .	They then listened to her advice. And after arranging their garments suitably, they went aside from the middle of the road, having requested of the guards a little time for retirement, and cast themselves into a river which was flowing by.
12-12 Αἵδε μὲν οὖν ἑαυτάς ·	Thus they destroyed themselves.
12-13 ἄλλην δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἈντιοχείαςAntioch ξυνωρίδα παρθένων τὰ πάντα θεοπρεπῶν καὶ ἀληθῶς ἀδελφῶν , ἐπιδόξων μὲν τὸ γένος , λαμπρῶν δὲ τὸν βίον , νέων τοὺς χρόνους , ὡραίων τὸ σῶμα , σεμνῶν τὴν‎ ψυχήν , εὐσεβῶν τὸν τρόπον , θαυμαστῶν τὴν‎ σπουδήν ,	But there were two other virgins in the same city of Antioch who served God in all things, and were true sisters, illustrious in family and distinguished in life, young and blooming, serious in mind, pious in deportment, and admirable for zeal.
12-14 ὡς ἂν μὴ φερούσης τῆς γῆς τὰ τοιαῦτα βαστάζειν , θαλάττῃ ῥίπτειν ἐκέλευον οἱ τῶν δαιμόνων θεραπευταί . Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν παρὰ τοῖσδε ·	As if the earth could not bear such excellence, the worshipers of demons commanded to cast them into the sea. And this was done to them.
12-15 τὰ φρικτὰ δὲ ἀκοαῖς κατὰ τὸν ΠόντονPontus ἔπασχον ἕτεροι , καλάμοις ὀξέσιν τοῖν χεροῖν ἐξ ἄκρων ὀνώχων τοὺς δακτύλους διαπειρόμενοι , καὶ ἄλλοι , πυρὶ μολίβδου διατακέντος , βρασσούσῃ καὶ πεπυρακτωμένῃ τῇ ὕλῃ τὰ νῶτα καταχεόμενοι καὶ τὰ μάλιστα ἀναγκαιότατα τοῦ σώματος κατοπτώμενοι ,	In Pontus, others endured sufferings horrible to hear. Their fingers were pierced with sharp reeds under their nails. Melted lead, bubbling and boiling with the heat, was poured down the backs of others, and they were roasted in the most sensitive parts of the body.
12-16 διά τε τῶν ἀπορρήτων ἕτεροι μελῶν τε καὶ σπλάγχνων αἰσχρὰς καὶ ἀσυμπαθεῖς καὶ οὐδὲ λόγῳ ῥητὰς ὑπέμενον πάθας , ἃς οἱ γενναῖοι καὶ νόμιμοι δικασταὶ τὴν‎ σφῶν ἐπιδεικνύμενοι δεινότητα , ὥσπερ τινὰ σοφίας ἀρετήν ,	Others endured on their bowels and privy members shameful and inhuman and unmentionable torments, which the noble and law-observing judges, to show their severity, devised, as more honourable manifestations of wisdom.
12-17 φιλοτιμότερον ἐπενόουν , αἰεὶ ταῖς καινότερον ἐφευρισκομέναις αἰκίαις , ὥσπερ ἐν ἀγῶνος βραβείοις , ἀλλήλους ὑπερεξάγειν ἁμιλλώμενοι .	And new tortures were continually invented, as if they were endeavoring, by surpassing one another, to gain prizes in a contest.
12-18 Τὰ δ᾽ οὖν τῶν συμφορῶν ἔσχατα , ὅτε δὴ λοιπὸν ἀπειρηκότες ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν κακῶν ὑπερβολῇ καὶ πρὸς τὸ κτείνειν ἀποκαμόντες πλησμονήν τε καὶ κόρον τῆς τῶν αἱμάτων ἐκχύσεως ἐσχηκότες , ἐπὶ τὸ νομιζόμενον αὐτοῖς χρηστὸν καὶ φιλάνθρωπον ἐτρέποντο , ὡς μηδὲν μὲν ἔτι δοκεῖν δεινὸν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν περιεργάζεσθαι ·	But at the close of these calamities, when finally they could contrive no greater cruelties, and were weary of putting to death, and were filled and satiated with the shedding of blood, they turned to what they considered merciful and humane treatment, so that they seemed to be no longer devising terrible things against us.
12-19 μὴ γὰρ καθήκειν φασὶν αἵμασιν ἐμφυλίοις μιαίνειν τὰς πόλεις μηδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ὠμότητι τὴν‎ ἀνωτάτω διαβάλλειν τῶν κρατούντων ἀρχήν , εὐμενῆ τοῖς πᾶσιν ὑπάρχουσαν καὶ πραεῖαν , δεῖν δὲ μᾶλλον τῆς φιλανθρώπου καὶ βασιλικῆς ἐξουσίας εἰς πάντας ἐκτείνεσθαι τὴν‎ εὐεργεσίαν , μηκέτι θανάτῳ κολαζομένους ·	For they said that it was not fitting that the cities should be polluted with the blood of their own people, or that the government of their rulers, which was kind and mild toward all, should be defamed through excessive cruelty; but that rather the beneficence of the humane and royal authority should be extended to all, and we should no longer be put to death.
12-20 λελύσθαι γὰρ αὐτῶν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ταύτην τὴν‎ τιμωρίαν διὰ τὴν‎ τῶν κρατούντων φιλανθρωπίαν .	For the infliction of this punishment upon us should be stopped in consequence of the humanity of the rulers.
12-21 τηνικαῦτα ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐξορύττεσθαι καὶ τοῖν σκελοῖν πηροῦσθαι θάτερον προσετάττετο .	Therefore it was commanded that our eyes should be put out, and that we should be maimed in one of our limbs.
12-22 ταῦτα γὰρ ἦν αὐτοῖς τὰ φιλάνθρωπα καὶ τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν τιμωριῶν τὰ κουφότατα ,	For such things were humane in their sight, and the lightest of punishments for us.
12-23 ὥστε ἤδη ταύτης ἕνεκα τῆς τῶν ἀσεβῶν φιλανθρωπίας οὐκέτ᾽ εἶναι δυνατὸν ἐξειπεῖν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ὑπὲρ πάντα λόγον τοὺς μὲν δεξιοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ξίφει πρότερον ἐκκοπτομένων κἄπειτα τούτους πυρὶ καυτηριαζομένων , τοὺς δὲ λαιοὺς πόδας κατὰ τῶν ἀγκυλῶν αὖθις καυτῆρσιν ἀχρειουμένων μετά τε ταῦτα τοῖς κατ᾽ ἐπαρχίαν χαλκοῦ μετάλλοις οὐχ ὑπηρεσίας τοσοῦτον ὅσον κακώσεως καὶ ταλαιπωρίας ἕνεκεν καταδικαζομένων πρὸς ἅπασί τε τούτοις ἄλλων ἄλλοις ἀγῶσιν , οὓς μηδὲ καταλέγειν δυνατόν (νικᾷ γὰρ πάντα λόγον τὰ κατ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἀνδραγαθήματα ), περιπεπτωκότων .	So that now on account of this kindly treatment accorded us by the impious, it was impossible to tell the incalculable number of those whose right eyes had first been cut out with the sword, and then had been cauterized with fire; or who had been disabled in the left foot by burning the joints, and afterward condemned to the provincial copper mines, not so much for service as for distress and hardship. Besides all these, others encountered other trials, which it is impossible to recount; for their manly endurance surpasses all description.
12-24 Ἐν δὴ τούτοις ἐφ᾽ ὅλης τῆς οἰκουμένης διαλάμψαντας οἱ μεγαλοπρεπεῖς τοῦ ΧριστοῦChrist μάρτυρες τοὺς μὲν ἁπανταχοῦ τῆς ἀνδρείας αὐτῶν ἐπόπτας εἰκότως κατεπλήξαντο , τῆς δὲ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν θείας ὡς ἀληθῶς καὶ ἀπορρήτου δυνάμεως ἐμφανῆ δι᾽ ἑαυτῶν τὰ τεκμήρια παρεστήσαντο .	In these conflicts the noble martyrs of Christ shone illustrious over the entire world, and everywhere astonished those who beheld their manliness; and the evidences of the truly divine and unspeakable power of our Saviour were made manifest through them.
12-25 ἑκάστου μὲν οὖν ἐπ᾽ ὀνόματος μνημονεύειν μακρὸν ἂν εἴη , μή τί γε τῶν ἀδυνάτων .	To mention each by name would be a long task, if not indeed impossible.

Chapter 13

13-1 Τῶν δὲ κατὰ τὰς ἐπισήμους πόλεις μαρτυρησάντων ἐκκλησιαστικῶν ἀρχόντων πρῶτος ἡμῖν ἐν εὐσεβῶν στήλαις τῆς ΧριστοῦChrist βασιλείας ἀνηγορεύσθω μάρτυς ἐπίσκοπος τῆς ΝικομηδέωνNicomedia πόλεως , τὴν‎ κεφαλὴν ἀποτμηθείς , Ἄνθιμοςanthimus ,	As for the rulers of the Church that suffered martyrdom in the principal cities, the first martyr of the kingdom of Christ whom we shall mention among the monuments of the pious is Anthimus, bishop of the city of Nicomedia, who was beheaded.
13-2 τῶν δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἈντιοχείαςAntioch μαρτύρων τὸν πάντα βίον ἄριστος πρεσβύτερος τῆς αὐτόθι παροικίας , ΛουκιανόςLucian ,	Among the martyrs at Antioch was Lucian, a presbyter of that parish, whose entire life was most excellent.
13-3 ἐν τῇ ΝικομηδείᾳNicomedia καὶ αὐτὸς βασιλέως ἐπιπαρόντος τὴν‎ οὐράνιον τοῦ ΧριστοῦChrist βασιλείαν λόγῳ πρότερον δι᾽ ἀπολογίας , εἶτα δὲ καὶ ἔργοις ἀνακηρύξας .	At Nicomedia, in the presence of the emperor, he proclaimed the heavenly kingdom of Christ, first in an oral defence, and afterward by deeds as well.
13-4 τῶν δ᾽ ἐπὶ ΦοινίκηςPhoenicia μαρτύρων γένοιντ᾽ ἂν ἐπισημότατοι τὰ πάντα θεοφιλεῖς τῶν λογικῶν ΧριστοῦChrist θρεμμάτων ποιμένες , ΤυραννίωνTyrannion ἐπίσκοπος τῆς κατὰ ΤύρονTyre ἐκκλησίας πρεσβύτερός τε τῆς κατὰ ΣιδῶναSidon ΖηνόβιοςZenobius καὶ ἔτι ΣιλβανὸςSilvanus τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ ἜμισανEmesa ἐκκλησιῶν ἐπίσκοπος .	Of the martyrs in Phoenicia the most distinguished were those devoted pastors of the spiritual flocks of Christ: Tyrannion, bishop of the church of Tyre; Zenobius, a presbyter of the church at Sidon; and Silvanus, bishop of the churches about Emesa.
13-5 ἀλλ᾽ οὗτος μὲν θηρίων βορὰ μετ᾽ ἑτέρων ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἘμίσηςEmesa γενόμενος χοροῖς ἀνελήφθη μαρτύρων ,	The last of these, with others, was made food for wild beasts at Emesa, and was thus received into the ranks of martyrs.
13-6 τὼ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἈντιοχείαςAntioch ἄμφω τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγον διὰ τῆς εἰς θάνατον ὑπομονῆς ἐδοξασάτην ,	The other two glorified the word of God at Antioch through patience unto death.
13-7 ὃ μὲν θαλαττίοις παραδοθεὶς βυθοῖς , ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ,	The bishop was thrown into the depths of the sea.
13-8 ὁ δὲ ἰατρῶν ἄριστος ΖηνόβιοςZenobius ταῖς κατὰ τῶν πλευρῶν ἐπιτεθείσαις αὐτῷ καρτερῶς ἐναποθανὼν βασάνοις .	But Zenobius, who was a very skillful physician, died through severe tortures which were applied to his sides.
13-9 τῶν δ᾽ ἐπὶ ΠαλαιστίνηςPalestine μαρτύρων ΣιλβανόςSilvanus , ἐπίσκοπος τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ ΓάζανAzzah, Gaza ἐκκλησιῶν , κατὰ τὰ ἐν ΦαινοῖPhaeno χαλκοῦ μέταλλα σὺν ἑτέροις ἑνὸς δέουσι τὸν ἀριθμὸν τεσσαράκοντα τὴν‎ κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται ,	Of the martyrs in Palestine, Silvanus, bishop of the churches about Gaza, was beheaded with thirty-nine others at the copper mines of Phaeno.
13-10 ΑἰγύπτιοίEgyptians τε αὐτόθι ΠηλεὺςPeleus καὶ ΝεῖλοςNilus ἐπίσκοποι μετ᾽ ἑτέρων τὴν‎ διὰ πυρὸς ὑπέμειναν τελευτήν .	There also the Egyptian bishops, Peleus and Nilus, with others, suffered death by fire.
13-11 καὶ τὸ μέγα δὲ κλέος τῆς ΚαισαρέωνCaesarea παροικίας ἐν τούτοις ἡμῖν μνημονευέσθω ΠάμφιλοςPamphilus πρεσβύτερος , τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς θαυμασιώτατος , οὗ τῶν ἀνδραγαθημάτων τὴν‎ ἀρετὴν κατὰ τὸν δέοντα καιρὸν ἀναγράψομεν .	Among these we must mention Pamphilus, a presbyter, who was the great glory of the parish of Caesarea, and among the men of our time most admirable.
13-12 τῶν δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἈλεξανδρείαςAlexandria καθ᾽ ὅλης τε ΑἰγύπτουEgypt καὶ ΘηβαΐδοςThebais διαπρεπῶς τελειωθέντων πρῶτος ΠέτροςPeter , αὐτῆς ἈλεξανδρείαςAlexandria ἐπίσκοπος , θεῖόν τι χρῆμα διδασκάλων τῆς ἐν ΧριστῷChrist θεοσεβείας , ἀναγεγράφθω , καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ πρεσβυτέρων ΦαῦστοςFaustus καὶ ΔῖοςDius καὶ ἈμμώνιοςAmmonius , τέλειοι ΧριστοῦChrist μάρτυρες , ΦιλέαςPhileas τε καὶ ἩσύχιοςHesychius καὶ ΠαχύμιοςPachymius καὶ ΘεόδωροςTheodore, Theodorus , τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ ΑἴγυπτονEgypt ἐκκλησιῶν ἐπίσκοποι , μυρίας τε ἐπὶ τούτοις ἄλλοι διαφανεῖς , οἳ πρὸς τῶν κατὰ χώραν καὶ τόπον παροικιῶν μνημονεύονται ·	The virtue of his manly deeds we have recorded in the proper place. Of those who suffered death illustriously at Alexandria and throughout Egypt and Thebais, Peter, bishop of Alexandria, one of the most excellent teachers of the religion of Christ, should first be mentioned; and of the presbyters with him Faustus, Dius and Ammonius, perfect martyrs of Christ; also Phileas, Hesychius, Pachymius and Theodorus, bishops of Egyptian churches, and besides them many other distinguished persons who are commemorated by the parishes of their country and region.
13-13 ὧν ἀνὰ τὴν‎ πᾶσαν οἰκουμένην ὑπὲρ τῆς εἰς τὸ θεῖον εὐσεβείας ἠγωνισμένων γραφῇ παραδιδόναι τοὺς ἄθλους ἐπ᾽ ἀκριβές τε ἕκαστα τῶν περὶ αὐτοὺς συμβεβηκότων ἱστορεῖν οὐχ ἡμέτερον , τῶν δ᾽ ὄψει τὰ πράγματα παρειληφότων ἴδιον ἂν γένοιτο · οἷς γε μὴν αὐτὸς παρεγενόμην , τούτους καὶ τοῖς μετ᾽ ἡμᾶς γνωρίμους δι᾽ ἑτέρας ποιήσομαι γραφῆς .	It is not for us to describe the conflicts of those who suffered for the divine religion throughout the entire world, and to relate accurately what happened to each of them. This would be the proper work of those who were eye-witnesses of the events. I will describe for posterity in another work those which I myself witnessed.
13-14 κατά γε μὴν τὸν παρόντα λόγον τὴν‎ παλινῳδίαν τῶν περὶ ἡμᾶς εἰργασμένων τοῖς εἰρημένοις ἐπισυνάψω τά τε ἐξ ἀρχῆς τοῦ διωγμοῦ συμβεβηκότα , χρησιμώτατα τυγχάνοντα τοῖς ἐντευξομένοις .	But in the present book I will add to what I have given the revocation issued by our persecutors, and those events that occurred at the beginning of the persecution, which will be most profitable to such as shall read them.
13-15 Τὰ μὲν οὖν πρὸ τοῦ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν πολέμου τῆς ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin ἡγεμονίας , ἐν ὅσοις δὴ χρόνοις τὰ τῶν ἀρχόντων φίλιά τε ἦν ἡμῖν καὶ εἰρηναῖα , ὁπόσης ἀγαθῶν εὐφορίας καὶ εὐετηρίας ἠξίωτο , τίς ἂν ἐξαρκέσειεν λόγος διηγήσασθαι ;	What words could sufficiently describe the greatness and abundance of the prosperity of the Roman government before the war against us, while the rulers were friendly and peaceable toward us?
13-16 ὅτε καὶ οἱ μάλιστα τῆς καθόλου κρατοῦντες ἀρχῆς δεκαετηρίδας καὶ εἰκοσαετηρίδας ἐκπλήσαντες , ἐν ἑορταῖς καὶ πανηγύρεσιν φαιδροτάταις τε θαλίαις καὶ εὐφροσύναις μετὰ πάσης εὐσταθοῦς διετέλουν εἰρήνης .	Then those who were highest in the government, and had held the position ten or twenty years,1passed their time in tranquil peace, in festivals and public games and most joyful pleasures and cheer.

13-17 Οὕτω δ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἀπαραποδίστως αὐξούσης καὶ ἐπὶ μέγα ὁσημέραι προϊούσης τῆς ἐξουσίας , ἀθρόως τῆς πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἰρήνης μεταθέμενοι , πόλεμον ἄσπονδον ἐγείρουσιν ·	While thus their authority was growing uninterruptedly, and increasing day by day, suddenly they changed their peaceful attitude toward us, and began an implacable war.
13-18 οὔπω δ᾽ αὐτοῖς τῆς τοιᾶσδε κινήσεως Δεύτερον ἔτος πεπλήρωτο , καί τι περὶ τὴν‎ ὅλην ἀρχὴν νεώτερον γεγονὸς τὰ πάντα πράγματα ἀνατρέπει .	But the second year1of this movement was not yet past, when a revolution took place in the entire government and overturned all things.

13-19 νόσου γὰρ οὐκ αἰσίας τῷ πρωτοστάτῃ τῶν εἰρημένων ἐπισκηψάσης , ὑφ᾽ ἧς ἤδη καὶ τὰ τῆς διανοίας εἰς ἔκστασιν αὐτῷ παρήγετο , σὺν τῷ μετ᾽ αὐτὸν δευτερείοις τετιμημένῳ τὸν δημώδη καὶ ἰδιωτικὸν ἀπολαμβάνει βίον ·

For a severe sickness came upon the chief of those of whom we have spoken,1by which his understanding was deranged; and with him who was honoured with the second rank,2he retired into private life.

13-20 οὔπω δὲ ταῦθ᾽ οὕτω πέπρακτο , καὶ διχῇ τὰ πάντα τῆς ἀρχῆς διαιρεῖται , πρᾶγμα μηδ᾽ ἄλλοτέ πω πάλαι γεγονὸς μνήμῃ παραδεδομένον .

Scarcely had he done this when the entire empire was divided; a thing which is not recorded as having ever occurred before.1

13-21 Χρόνου δ᾽ οὐ πλείστου μεταξὺ γενομένου βασιλεὺς ΚωνστάντιοςConstantius τὸν πάντα βίον πραότατα καὶ τοῖς ὑπηκόοις εὐνοϊκώτατα τῷ τε θείῳ λόγῳ προσφιλέστατα διαθέμενος , παῖδα γνήσιον ΚωνσταντῖνονConstantine αὐτοκράτορα . καὶ ΣεβαστὸνAugustus ἀνθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ καταλιπών , κοινῷ φύσεως νόμῳ τελευτᾷ τὸν βίον , πρῶτός 1 τε ἐν θεοῖς ἀνηγορεύετο παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς , ἁπάσης μετὰ θάνατον , ὅση βασιλεῖ τις ἂν ὠφείλετο , τιμῆς ἠξιωμένος , χρηστότατος καὶ ἠπιώτατος ·

Not long after, the Emperor Constantius, who through his entire life was most kindly and favorably disposed toward his subjects, and most friendly to the Divine Word, ended his life1in the common course of nature, and left his own son, Constantine, as emperor and Augustus in his stead. He was the first2that was ranked by them among the gods,3and received after death every honour which one could pay to an emperor.

13-22 ὃς δὴ καὶ μόνος τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐπαξίως τῆς ἡγεμονίας τὸν πάντα τῆς ἀρχῆς διατελέσας χρόνον καὶ τἄλλα τοῖς πᾶσι δεξιώτατον καὶ εὐεργετικώτατον παρασχὼν ἑαυτὸν τοῦ τε καθ᾽ ἡμῶν πολέμου μηδαμῶς ἐπικοινωνήσας , ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν θεοσεβεῖς ἀβλαβεῖς καὶ ἀνεπηρεάστους φυλάξας καὶ μήτε τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν τοὺς οἴκους καθελὼν μήθ᾽ ἕτερόν τι καθ᾽ ἡμῶν καινουργήσας , τέλος εὔδαιμον καὶ τρισμακάριον ἀπείληφεν τοῦ βίου , μόνος ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ‎ βασιλείας εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐπιδόξως ἐπὶ διαδόχῳ γνησίῳ παιδὶ πάντα σωφρονεστάτῳ τε καὶ εὐσεβεστάτῳ τελευτήσας .	He was the kindest and mildest of emperors, and the only one of those of our day that passed all the time of his government in a manner worthy of his office. Moreover, he conducted himself toward all most favorably and beneficently. He took not the smallest part in the war against us, but preserved the pious that were under him unharmed and unabused. He neither threw down the church buildings, nor did he devise anything else against us. The end of his life was honourable and thrice blessed. He alone at death left his empire happily and gloriously to his own son as his successor — one who was in all respects most prudent and pious.
13-23 Τούτου παῖς ΚωνσταντῖνοςConstantine εὐθὺς ἀρχόμενος βασιλεὺς τελεώτατος καὶ ΣεβαστὸςAugustus πρὸς τῶν στρατοπέδων καὶ ἔτι πολὺ τούτων πρότερον πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ τοῦ παμβασιλέως Θεοῦ ἀναγορευθείς ,	His son Constantine entered on the government at once, being proclaimed supreme emperor and Augustus by the soldiers, and long before by God himself, the King of all.
13-24 ζηλωτὴν ἑαυτὸν τῆς πατρικῆς περὶ τὸν ἡμέτερον λόγον εὐσεβείας κατεστήσατο .	He showed himself an emulator of his father’s piety toward our doctrine.
13-25 Καὶ οὗτος μὲν τοιοῦτος ·	Such an one was he.
13-26 ΛικίννιοςLicinius δ᾽ ἐπὶ τούτοις ὑπὸ κοινῆς ψήφου τῶν κρατούντων αὐτοκράτωρ καὶ ΣεβαστὸςAugustus ἀναπέφηνεν .	But after this, Licinius was declared emperor and Augustus by a common vote of the rulers.1

13-27 ταῦτα ΜαξιμῖνονMaximin, Maximinus δεινῶς ἐλύπει , μόνον ΚαίσαραCaesar παρὰ πάντας εἰς ἔτι τότε χρηματίζοντα ·	These things grieved Maximinus greatly, for until that time he had been entitled by all only Caesar.
13-28 ὃς δὴ οὖν τὰ μάλιστα τυραννικὸς ὤν , παραρπάσας ἑαυτῷ τὴν‎ ἀξίαν , ΣεβαστὸςAugustus ἦν , αὐτὸς ὑφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ γεγονώς .	He therefore, being exceedingly imperious, seized the dignity for himself, and became Augustus, being made such by himself.
13-29 ἐν τούτῳ δὲ ΚωνσταντίνῳConstantine μηχανὴν θανάτου συρράπτων ἁλοὺς ὁ μετὰ τὴν‎ ἀπόθεσιν ἐπανῃρῆσθαι δεδηλωμένος αἰσχίστῳ καταστρέφει θανάτῳ ·	In the mean time he whom we have mentioned as having resumed his dignity after his1abdication, being detected in conspiring against the life of Constantine, perished by a most shameful death.

13-30 πρώτου δὲ τούτου τὰς ἐπὶ τιμῇ γραφὰς ἀνδριάντας τε καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα ἐπ᾽ ἀναθέσει νενόμισται , ὡς ἀνοσίου καὶ δυσσεβεστάτου καθῄρουν .

He was the first whose decrees and statues and public monuments were destroyed because of his wickedness and impiety.

Chapter 14

14-1 Τούτου παῖς ΜαξέντιοςMaxentius , ὁ τὴν‎ ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome τυραννίδα συστησάμενος , ἀρχόμενος μὲν τὴν‎ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς πίστιν ἐπ᾽ ἀρεσκείᾳ καὶ κολακείᾳ τοῦ δήμου ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin καθυπεκρίνατο ταύτῃ τε τοῖς ὑπηκόοις τὸν κατὰ ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἀνεῖναι προστάττει διωγμόν , εὐσέβειαν ἐπιμορφάζων καὶ ὡς ἂν δεξιὸς καὶ πολὺ πρᾶος παρὰ τοὺς προτέρους φανείη ·	Maxentius his son, who obtained the government at Rome, at first feigned our faith, in complaisance and flattery toward the Roman people. On this account he commanded his subjects to cease persecuting the Christians, pretending to religion that he might appear merciful and mild beyond his predecessors.
14-2 οὐ μὴν οἷος ἔσεσθαι ἠλπίσθη , τοιοῦτος ἔργοις ἀναπέφηνεν , εἰς πάσας δ᾽ ἀνοσιουργίας ὀκείλας , οὐδὲν ὅ τι μιαρίας ἔργον καὶ ἀκολασίας παραλέλοιπεν , μοιχείας καὶ παντοίας ἐπιτελῶν φθοράς .	But he did not prove in his deeds to be such a person as was hoped, but ran into all wickedness and abstained from no impurity or licentiousness, committing adulteries and indulging in all kinds of corruption.
14-3 διαζευγνύς γέ τοι τῶν ἀνδρῶν τὰς κατὰ νόμον γαμετάς , ταύταις ἐνυβρίζων ἀτιμότατα , τοῖς ἀνδράσιν αὖθις ἀπέπεμπεν ,	For having separated wives from their lawful consorts, he abused them and sent them back most dishonourably to their husbands.
14-4 καὶ ταῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἀσήμοις οὐδ᾽ ἀφανέσιν ἐγχειρῶν ἐπετήδευεν , ἀλλ᾽ αὐτῶν δὴ μάλιστα τῶν τὰ πρῶτα τῆς ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin συγκλήτου βουλῆς ἀπενηνεγμένων ἐμπαροινῶν τοῖς ἐξοχωτάτοις .	And he not only practiced this against the obscure and unknown, but he insulted especially the most prominent and distinguished members of the Roman senate.
14-5 οἱ πάντες δ᾽ αὐτὸν ὑποπεπτηχότες , δῆμοι καὶ ἄρχοντες , ἔνδοξοί τε καὶ ἄδοξοι , δεινῇ κατετρύχοντο τυραννίδι ,	All his subjects, people and rulers, honoured and obscure, were worn out by grievous oppression.
14-6 καὶ οὐδ᾽ ἠρεμούντων καὶ τὴν‎ πικρὰν φερόντων δουλείαν ἀπαλλαγή τις ὅμως ἦν τῆς τοῦ τυράννου φονώσης ὠμότητος .	Neither, although they kept quiet, and bore the bitter servitude, was there any relief from the murderous cruelty of the tyrant.
14-7 ἐπὶ σμικρᾷ γοῦν ἤδη ποτὲ προφάσει τὸν δῆμον εἰς φόνον τοῖς ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν δορυφόροις ἐκδίδωσιν , καὶ ἐκτείνετο μυρία τοῦ δήμου ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin πλήθη , ἐπὶ μέσης τῆς πόλεως , οὐ ΣκυθῶνScythians οὐδὲ βαρβάρων ἀλλ᾽ αὐτῶν τῶν οἰκείων δόρασι καὶ πανοπλίαις ·	Once, on a small pretense, he gave the people to be slaughtered by his guards; and a great multitude of the Roman populace were slain in the midst of the city, with the spears and arms, not of Scythians and barbarians, but of their own fellow citizens.
14-8 συγκλητικῶν γε μὴν φόνος ὁπόσος δι᾽ ἐπιβουλὴν ἐνηργεῖτο τῆς οὐσίας , οὐδ᾽ ἐξαριθμήσασθαι δυνατόν , ἄλλοτε ἄλλαις πεπλασμέναις αἰτίαις μυρίων ἀναιρουμένων .	It would be impossible to recount the number of senators who were put to death for the sake of their wealth; multitudes being slain on various pretenses.
14-9 ἡ δὲ τῶν κακῶν τῷ τυράννῳ κορωνὶς ἐπὶ γοητείαν ἤλαυνεν , μαγικαῖς ἐπινοίαις τοτὲ μὲν γυναῖκας ἐγκύμονας ἀνασχίζοντος , τοτὲ δὲ νεογνῶν σπλάγχνα βρεφῶν διερευνωμένου	To crown all his wickedness, the tyrant resorted to magic. And in his divinations he cut open pregnant women, and again inspected the bowels of newborn infants.
14-10 λέοντάς τε κατασφάττοντος καί τινας ἀρρητοποιίας ἐπὶ δαιμόνων προκλήσεις καὶ ἀποτροπιασμὸν τοῦ πολέμου συνισταμένου ·	He slaughtered lions, and performed various execrable acts to invoke demons and avert war.
14-11 διὰ τούτων γὰρ αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς νίκης κατορθωθήσεσθαι ἡ πᾶσα ἐτύγχανεν ἐλπίς .	For his only hope was that, by these means, victory would be secured to him.
14-12 Οὗτος μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome τυραννῶν οὐδ᾽ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν οἷα δρῶν τοὺς ὑπηκόους κατεδουλοῦτο , ὡς ἤδη καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων τροφῶν ἐν ἐσχάτῃ σπάνει καὶ ἀπορίᾳ καταστῆναι , ὅσην ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome οὐδ᾽ ἄλλοτε οἱ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι μνημονεύουσιν .	It is impossible to tell the ways in which this tyrant at Rome oppressed his subjects, so that they were reduced to such an extreme dearth of the necessities of life as has never been known, according to our contemporaries, either at Rome or elsewhere.
14-13 Ὁ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀνατολῆς τύραννος ΜαξιμῖνοςMaximin, Maximinus , ὡς ἂν πρὸς ἀδελφὸν τὴν‎ κακίαν , πρὸς τὸν ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome φιλίαν κρύβδην σπενδόμενος , ἐπὶ πλεῖστον χρόνον λανθάνειν ἐφρόντιζεν ·	But Maximinus, the tyrant in the East, having secretly formed a friendly alliance with the Roman tyrant as with a brother in wickedness, sought to conceal it for a long time.
14-14 φωραθείς γέ τοι ὕστερον δίκην τίννυσι τὴν‎ ἀξίαν .	But being at last detected,1he suffered merited punishment.

14-15 ἦν δὲ θαυμάσαι ὅπως καὶ οὗτος τὰ συγγενῆ καὶ ἀδελφά , μᾶλλον δὲ κακίας τὰ πρῶτα καὶ τὰ νικητήρια τῆς τοῦ κατὰ ῬώμηνRome τυράννου κακοτροπίας ἀπενηνεγμένος ·	It was wonderful how akin he was in wickedness to the tyrant at Rome, or rather how far he surpassed him in it.
14-16 γοήτων τε γὰρ καὶ μάγων οἱ πρῶτοι τῆς ἀνωτάτω παρ᾽ αὐτῷ τιμῆς ἠξίωντο ,	For the chief of sorcerers and magicians were honoured by him with the highest rank.
14-17 ψοφοδεοῦς ἐς τὰ μάλιστα καὶ δεισιδαιμονεστάτου καθεστῶτος τὴν‎ τε περὶ τὰ εἴδωλα καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας περὶ πολλοῦ τιθεμένου πλάνην ·	Becoming exceedingly timid and superstitious, he valued greatly the error of idols and demons.
14-18 μαντειῶν γοῦν δίχα καὶ χρησμῶν οὐδὲ μέχρις ὄνυχος ὡς εἰπεῖν τολμᾶν τι κινεῖν οἷός τε ἦν ·	Indeed, without soothsayers and oracles he did not venture to move even a finger, so to speak.
14-19 οὗ χάριν καὶ τῷ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν σφοδρότερον ἢ οἱ πρόσθεν καὶ πυκνότερον ἐπετίθετο διωγμῷ ,	Therefore he persecuted us more violently and incessantly than his predecessors.
14-20 νεὼς κατὰ πᾶσαν πόλιν ἐγείρειν καὶ τὰ χρόνου μήκει καθῃρημένα τεμένη διὰ σπουδῆς ἀνανεοῦσθαι	He ordered temples to be erected in every city, and the sacred groves which had been destroyed through lapse of time to be speedily restored.
14-21 προστάττων ἱερέας τε εἰδώλων κατὰ πάντα τόπον καὶ πόλιν καὶ ἐπὶ τούτων ἑκάστης ἐπαρχίας ἀρχιερέα τῶν ἐν πολιτείαις ἕνα γέ τινα τῶν μάλιστα ἐμφανῶς διὰ πάσης ἐμπρέψαντα λειτουργίας μετὰ στρατιωτικοῦ στίφους καὶ δορυφορίας ἐκτάσσων ἀνέδην τε πᾶσιν γόησιν , ὡς ἂν εὐσεβέσιν καὶ θεῶν προσφιλέσιν , ἡγεμονίας καὶ τὰς μεγίστας προνομίας δωρούμενος .	He appointed idol priests in every place and city; and he set over them in every province, as high priest, some political official who had especially distinguished himself in every kind of service, giving him a band of soldiers and a bodyguard. And to all jugglers, as if they were pious and beloved of the gods, he granted governments and the greatest privileges.
14-22 ἐκ δὴ τούτων ὁρμώμενος , πόλιν μὲν οὐ μίαν οὐδὲ χώραν , ὅλας δὲ ἄρδην τὰς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐπαρχίας χρυσοῦ καὶ ἀργύρου καὶ χρημάτων ἀμυθήτων εἰσπράξεσιν ἐπισκήψεσίν τε βαρυτάταις καὶ ἄλλοτε ἄλλαις καταδίκαις ἠνία καὶ κατεπίεζεν .	From this time on he distressed and harassed, not one city or country, but all the provinces under his authority, by extreme exactions of gold and silver and goods, and most grievous prosecutions and various fines.
14-23 τῶν γε μὴν εὐπόρων τὰς ἐκ προγόνων περιποιηθείσας οὐσίας ἀφαιρούμενος , πλούτους ἀθρόως καὶ σωροὺς χρημάτων τοῖς ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν κόλαξιν ἐδωρεῖτο .	He took away from the wealthy the property which they had inherited from their ancestors, and bestowed vast riches and large sums of money on the flatterers about him.
14-24 παροινίας γε μὴν καὶ μέθης ἐς τοσαύτην ἠνέχθη φοράν , ὡς ἐν τοῖς πότοις παρακόπτειν καὶ τῶν φρενῶν παρεξίστασθαι τοιαῦτά τε μεθύοντα προστάττειν , οἷα ἀνανήψαντα αὐτὸν τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ εἰς μετάμελον ἄγειν ·	And he went to such an excess of folly and drunkenness that his mind was deranged and crazed in his carousals; and he gave commands when intoxicated of which he repented afterward when sober.
14-25 κραιπάλης δὲ καὶ ἀσωτίας μηδενὶ καταλιπὼν ὑπερβολήν , κακίας διδάσκαλον τοῖς ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄρχουσί τε καὶ ἀρχομένοις ἑαυτὸν καθίστη ,	He suffered no one to surpass him in debauchery and profligacy, but made himself an instructor in wickedness to those about him, both rulers and subjects.
14-26 θρύπτεσθαι μὲν τὸ στρατιωτικὸν διὰ πάσης τρυφῆς τε καὶ ἀκολασίας ἐνάγων , ἡγεμόνας δὲ καὶ στρατοπεδάρχας δι᾽ ἁρπαγῶν καὶ πλεονεξίας χωρεῖν κατὰ τῶν ὑπηκόων μόνον οὐχὶ συντυραννοῦντας αὐτῷ προκαλούμενος .	He urged on the army to live wantonly in every kind of revelry and intemperance, and encouraged the governors and generals to abuse their subjects with rapacity and covetousness, almost as if they were rulers with him.
14-27 τί δεῖ τὰς ἐμπαθεῖς τἀνδρὸς αἰσχρουργίας μνημονεύειν ἢ τῶν πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ μεμοιχευμένων ἀπαριθμεῖσθαιto count over τὴν‎ πληθύν ; οὐκ ἦν γέ τοι πόλιν αὐτὸν παρελθεῖν μὴ οὐχὶ ἐκ παντὸς φθορὰς γυναικῶν παρθένων τε ἁρπαγὰς εἰργασμένον .	Why need we relate the licentious, shameless deeds of the man, or enumerate the multitude with whom he committed adultery? for he could not pass through a city without continually corrupting women and ravishing virgins.
14-28 κατὰ πάντων γέ τοι αὐτῷ ταῦτα προυχώρει , μὴ ὅτι μόνων ΧριστιανῶνChristian ·	And in this he succeeded with all except the Christians.
14-29 οἳ θανάτου καταφρονήσαντες παρ᾽ οὐθὲν αὐτοῦ‎ τὴν‎ τοσαύτην ἔθεντο τυραννίδα .	Despising death, they cared nothing for his severe tyranny.
14-30 οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄνδρες ἀνατλάντες πῦρ καὶ σίδηρον καὶ προσηλώσεις θῆράς τε ἀγρίους καὶ θαλάττης βυθοὺς ἀποτομάς τε μελῶν καὶ καυτῆρας καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν κεντήσεις τε καὶ ἐξορύξεις καὶ τοῦ παντὸς σώματος ἀκρωτηριασμοὺς λιμόν τε ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ μέταλλα καὶ δεσμά ,	For the men endured fire and sword and crucifixion and wild beasts and the depths of the sea, and cutting off of limbs, and burnings, and pricking and digging out of eyes, and mutilations of the entire body, and besides these, hunger and mines and bonds.
14-31 ἐπὶ πάντων μᾶλλον ὑπομονὴν τὴν‎ ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ἐνεδείξαντο ἢ τὸ σέβας τὸ εἰς Θεὸν εἰδώλοις ἀντικατηλλάξαντο ·	In all they showed patience in behalf of religion rather than transfer to idols the reverence due to God.
14-32 αἱ δ᾽ αὖ γυναῖκες οὐχ ἧττον τῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ τῆς τοῦ θείου λόγου διδασκαλίας ἠρρενωμέναι , αἳ μὲν τοὺς αὐτοὺς τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἀγῶνας ὑποστᾶσαι ἴσα τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀπηνέγκαντο βραβεῖα ,	And the women were not less manly than the men in behalf of the teaching of the Divine Word, as they endured conflicts with the men, and bore away equal prizes of virtue.
14-33 αἳ δὲ ἐπὶ φθορὰν ἑλκόμεναι θᾶττον τὴν‎ ψυχὴν θανάτῳ ἢ τὸ σῶμα τῇ φθορᾷ παραδεδώκασιν .	And when they were dragged away for corrupt purposes, they surrendered their lives to death rather than their bodies to impurity.
14-34 μόνη γοῦν τῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ τυράννου μεμοιχευμένων ΧριστιανὴChristian τῶν ἐπ᾽ ἈλεξανδρείαςAlexandria ἐπισημοτάτη τε καὶ λαμπομένους τὴν‎ ἐμπαθῆ καὶ ἀκόλαστον ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus ψυχὴν δι᾽ ἀνδρειοτάτου παραστήματος ἐξενίκησεν ,	One only of those who were seized for adulterous purposes by the tyrant, a most distinguished and illustrious Christian woman1in Alexandria, conquered the passionate and intemperate soul of Maximinus by most heroic firmness.

14-35 ἔνδοξος μὲν τὰ ἄλλα πλούτῳ τε καὶ γένει καὶ παιδείᾳ ,	Honorable on account of wealth and family and education, she esteemed all of these inferior to chastity.
14-36 πάντα γε μὴν δεύτερα σωφροσύνης τεθειμένη · ἣν καὶ πολλὰ λιπαρήσας , κτεῖναι μὲν ἑτοίμως θνῄσκειν ἔχουσαν οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν , τῆς ἐπιθυμίας μᾶλλον τοῦ θυμοῦ κατακρατούσης αὐτοῦ‎ ,	He urged her many times, but although she was ready to die, he could not put her to death, for his desire was stronger than his anger.
14-37 φυγῇ δὲ ζημιώσας πάσης ἀφείλετο τῆς οὐσίας .	He therefore punished her with exile, and took away all her property.
14-38 μυρίαι δὲ ἄλλαι πρὸς τῶν κατ᾽ ἔθνος ἀρχόντων , πορνείας ἀπειλὴν μηδ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι δεδυνημέναι , πᾶν εἶδος βασάνων καὶ στρεβλώσεων καὶ θανατηφόρου κολάσεως ὑπέστησαν .	Many others, unable even to listen to the threats of violation from the heathen rulers, endured every form of tortures, and rackings, and deadly punishment.
14-39 Θαυμασταὶ μὲν οὖν καὶ αὗται , ὑπερφυῶς γε μὴν θαυμασιωτάτη ἡ ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome εὐγενεστάτη τῷ ὄντι καὶ σωφρονεστάτη γυνὴ πασῶν αἷς ἐμπαροινεῖν ὁ ἐκεῖσε τύραννος ΜαξέντιοςMaxentius , τὰ ὅμοια ΜαξιμίνῳMaximinus δρῶν , ἐπειρᾶτο .	These indeed should be admired. But far the most admirable was that woman1at Rome, who was truly the most noble and modest of all, whom the tyrant Maxentius, fully resembling Maximinus in his actions, endeavored to abuse.

14-40 ὡς γὰρ ἐπιστάντας τῷ οἴκῳ τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα τῷ τυράννῳ διακονουμένους ἐπύθετο (ΧριστιανὴChristian δὲ καὶ αὕτη ἦν ), τόν τε ἄνδρα τὸν αὐτῆς , καὶ ταῦτα ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin ὄντα ἔπαρχον , τοῦ δέους ἕνεκα λαβόντας ἄγειν αὐτὴν ἐπιτρέψαντα , ἐς βραχὺ ὑποπαραιτησαμένη , ὡς ἂν δὴ κατακοσμηθείη τὸ σῶμα , εἴσεισιν ἐπὶ τοῦ ταμιείου καὶ μονωθεῖσα ξίφος καθ᾽ ἑαυτῆς πήγνυσιν ,	For when she learned that those who served the tyrant in such matters were at the house (she also was a Christian), and that her husband, although a prefect of Rome, would suffer them to take and lead her away, having requested a little time for adorning her body, she entered her chamber, and being alone, stabbed herself with a sword.
14-41 θανοῦσά τε παραχρῆμα , τὸν μὲν νεκρὸν τοῖς προαγωγοῖς καταλιμπάνει ,	Dying immediately, she left her corpse to those who had come for her.
14-42 ἔργοις δ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἁπάσης φωνῆς γεγωνοτέροις , ὅτι μόνον χρημάτων ἀήττητόν τε καὶ ἀνώλεθρον ἡ παρὰ ΧριστιανοῖςChristians ἀρετὴ πέφυκεν , εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους τούς τε νῦν ὄντας καὶ τοὺς μετὰ ταῦτα γενησομένους ἐξέφηνεν .	And by her deeds, more powerfully than by any words, she has shown to all men now and hereafter that the virtue which prevails among Christians is the only invincible and indestructible possession.
14-43 τοσαύτη δῆτα κακίας φορὰ ὑφ᾽ ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν συνηνέχθη καιρὸν πρὸς τῶν δύο τυράννων ἀνατολὴν καὶ δύσιν διειληφότων κατεργασθεῖσα ·	Such was the career of wickedness which was carried forward at one and the same time by the two tyrants who held the East and the West.
14-44 τίς δ᾽ ἂν τὴν‎ τῶν τοσούτων διερευνώμενος αἰτίαν διστάξαι μὴ οὐχὶ τὸν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν διωγμὸν ἀποφήνασθαι ; ὅτε γε μάλιστα οὐ πρότερον τὰ τῆς τοσῆσδε πέπαυτο συγχύσεως ἢ ΧριστιανοὺςChristians τὰ τῆς παρρησίας ἀπολαβεῖν .	Who is there that would hesitate, after careful examination, to pronounce the persecution against us the cause of such evils? Especially since this extreme confusion of affairs did not cease until the Christians had obtained liberty.

Chapter 15

15-1 Διὰ παντός γέ τοι τοῦ κατὰ τὸν διωγμὸν δεκαέτους χρόνου τῶν εἰς ἐπιβουλὴν καὶ πόλεμον τὸν κατ᾽ ἀλλήλων οὐδὲν αὐτοὺς διαλέλοιπεν .	During the entire ten years of the persecution, they were constantly plotting and warring against one another.
15-2 ἄπλωτα μὲν τὰ κατὰ θάλατταν ἦν οὐδ᾽ ἐξῆν ποθεν καταπλεύσαντας μὴ οὐχὶ πάσαις αἰκίαις ὑπάγεσθαι στρεβλουμένους καὶ τὰς πλευρὰς καταξαινομένους βασάνοις τε παντοίαις , μὴ ἄρα παρὰ τῶν δι᾽ ἐναντίας ἐχθρῶν ἥκοιεν , ἀνακρινομένους καὶ τέλος σταυροῖς ἢ τῇ διὰ πυρὸς ὑπαγομένους κολάσει ·	For the sea could not be navigated, nor could men sail from any port without being exposed to all kinds of outrages; being stretched on the rack and lacerated in their sides, that it might be ascertained through various tortures, whether they came from the enemy; and finally being subjected to punishment by the cross or by fire.
15-3 ἀσπίδων ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ θωρήκων παρασκευαὶ βελῶν τε καὶ δοράτων καὶ τῆς ἄλλης πολεμικῆς παρατάξεως ἑτοιμασίαι τριήρων τε καὶ τῶν κατὰ ναυμαχίαν ὅπλων κατὰ πάντα συνεκροτοῦντο τόπον	And besides these things shields and breastplates were preparing, and darts and spears and other warlike accoutrements were making ready, and galleys and naval armor were collecting in every place.
15-4 οὐδ᾽ ἦν ἄλλο τι παντί τῳ προσδοκᾶν ἢ πολέμων κατὰ πᾶσαν ἔφοδον ἡμέραν .	And no one expected anything else than to be attacked by enemies any day.
15-5 τούτοις καὶ ὁ μετὰ ταῦτα λιμός τε καὶ λοιμὸς ἐγκατασκήπτει , περὶ ὧν κατὰ καιρὸν ἱστορήσομεν τὰ δέοντα .	In addition to this, famine and pestilence came upon them, concerning which we shall relate what is necessary in the proper place.

Chapter 16

16-1 Τοιαῦτ᾽ ” ἦν τὰ διὰ παντὸς τοῦ διωγμοῦ παρατετακότα ,	Such was the state of affairs during the entire persecution.
16-2 Δεκάτῳ μὲν ἔτει σὺν Θεοῦ χάριτι παντελῶς πεπαυμένου , λωφᾶν γε μὴν μετ᾽ ὄγδοον ἔτος ἐναρξαμένου .	But in the tenth year,1through the grace of God, it ceased altogether, having begun to decrease after the eighth year.

16-3 ὡς γὰρ τὴν‎ εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐπισκοπὴν εὐμενῆ καὶ ἵλεω ἡ θεία καὶ οὐράνιος χάρις ἐνεδείκνυτο , τότε δῆτα καὶ οἱ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἄρχοντες , αὐτοὶ δὴ ἐκεῖνοι δι᾽ ὧν πάλαι τὰ τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐνηργεῖτο πολέμων , παραδοξότατα μεταθέμενοι τὴν‎ γνώμην , παλινῳδίαν ᾖδον χρηστοῖς περὶ ἡμῶν προγράμμασιν καὶ διατάγμασιν ἡμερωτάτοις τὴν‎ ἐπὶ μέγα ἁφθεῖσαν τοῦ διωγμοῦ πυρκαϊὰν σβεννύντες .

For when the divine and heavenly grace showed us favorable and propitious oversight, then truly our rulers, and the very persons by whom the war against us had been earnestly prosecuted, most remarkably changed their minds, and issued a revocation, and quenched the great fire of persecution which had been kindled, by merciful proclamations and ordinances concerning us.

16-4 οὐκ ἀνθρώπινον δέ τι τούτου κατέστη αἴτιον οὐδ᾽ οἶκτος , ὡς ἂν φαίη τις , ἢ φιλανθρωπία τῶν ἀρχόντων · πολλοῦ δεῖ · πλείω γὰρ ὁσημέραι καὶ χαλεπώτερα ἀρχῆθεν καὶ εἰς ἐκεῖνο τοῦ καιροῦ τὰ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν αὐτοῖς ἐπενοεῖτο , ποικιλωτέραις μηχαναῖς ἄλλοτε ἄλλως τὰς καθ᾽ ἡμῶν αἰκίας ἐπικαινουργούντων · ἀλλ᾽ αὐτῆς γε τῆς θείας προνοίας ἐμφανὴς ἐπίσκεψις , τῷ μὲν αὐτῆς καταλλαττομένης λαῷ , τῷ δ᾽ αὐθέντῃ τῶν κακῶν ἐπεξιούσης καὶ πρωτοστάτῃ τῆς τοῦ παντὸς διωγμοῦ κακίας ἐπιχολουμένης .

But this was not due to any human agency; nor was it the result, as one might say, of the compassion or philanthropy of our rulers — far from it, for daily from the beginning until that time they were devising more and more severe measures against us, and continually inventing outrages by a greater variety of instruments — but it was manifestly due to the oversight of Divine Providence, on the one hand becoming reconciled to his people, and on the other, attacking him who instigated these evils,1and showing anger toward him as the author of the cruelties of the entire persecution.

16-5 καὶ γὰρ εἴ τι ταῦτ᾽ ἐχρῆν κατὰ θείαν γενέσθαι κρίσιν , ἀλλά “οὐαί ,” φησὶν ὁ λόγος , “δι᾽ οὗ δ᾽ ἂν τὸ σκάνδαλον ἔρχηται .”1

For though it was necessary that these things should take place, according to the divine judgment, yet the Word says, “Woe to him through whom the offence comes.”1

16-6 μέτεισιν δ᾽ οὖν αὐτὸν θεήλατος κόλασις , ἐξ αὐτῆς αὐτοῦ‎ καταρξαμένη σαρκὸς καὶ μέχρι τῆς ψυχῆς προελθοῦσα .	Therefore punishment from God came upon him, beginning with his flesh, and proceeding to his soul.
16-7 ἀθρόα μὲν γὰρ περὶ τὰ μέσα τῶν ἀπορρήτων τοῦ σώματος ἀπόστασις αὐτῷ γίνεται , εἶθ᾽ ἕλκος ἐν βάθει συριγγῶδες καὶ τούτων ἀνίατος νομὴ κατὰ τῶν ἐνδοτάτω σπλάγχνων ·	For an abscess suddenly appeared in the midst of the secret parts of his body, and from it a deeply perforated sore, which spread irresistibly into his inmost bowels.
16-8 Ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἄλεκτόν τι πλῆθος σκωλήκων βρύειν θανατώδη τε ὀδμὴν ἀποπνεῖν , τοῦ παντὸς ὄγκου τῶν σωμάτων ἐκ πολυτροφίας αὐτῷ καὶ πρὸ τῆς νόσου εἰς ὑπερβολὴν πλήθους πιμελῆς μεταβεβληκότος , ἣν τότε κατασαπεῖσαν ἀφόρητον καὶ φρικτοτάτην τοῖς πλησιάζουσιν παρέχειν τὴν‎ θέαν .	An indescribable multitude of worms sprang from them, and a deathly odor arose, as the entire bulk of his body had, through his gluttony, been changed, before his sickness, into an excessive mass of soft fat, which became putrid, and thus presented an awful and intolerable sight to those who came near.
16-9 ἰατρῶν δ᾽ οὖν οἳ μὲν οὐδ᾽ ὅλως ὑπομεῖναι τὴν‎ τοῦ δυσώδους ὑπερβάλλουσαν ἀτοπίαν οἷοί τε , κατεσφάττοντο , οἳ δὲ διῳδηκότος τοῦ παντὸς ὄγκου καὶ εἰς ἀνέλπιστον σωτηρίας ἀποπεπτωκότος μηδὲν ἐπικουρεῖν δυνάμενοι , ἀνηλεῶς ἐκτείνοντο .	Some of the physicians, being wholly unable to endure the exceeding offensiveness of the odor, were slain; others, as the entire mass had swollen and passed beyond hope of restoration, and they were unable to render any help, were put to death without mercy.

Chapter 17

17-1 Καὶ δὴ τοσούτοις παλαίων κακοῖς συναίσθησιν τῶν κατὰ τῶν θεοσεβῶν αὐτῷ τετολμημένων ἴσχει ,	Wrestling with so many evils, he thought of the cruelties which he had committed against the pious.
17-2 συναγαγὼν δ᾽ οὖν εἰς ἑαυτὸν τὴν‎ διάνοιαν , πρῶτα μὲν ἀνθομολογεῖται τῷ τῶν ὅλων Θεῷ , εἶτα τοὺς ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν ἀνακαλέσας , μηδὲν ὑπερθεμένους τὸν κατὰ ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἀποπαῦσαι διωγμὸν νόμῳ τε καὶ δόγματι βασιλικῷ τὰς ἐκκλησίας αὐτῶν οἰκοδομεῖν ἐπισπέρχειν καὶ τὰ συνήθη διαπράττεσθαι , εὐχὰς ὑπὲρ τοῦ βασιλείου ποιουμένους , προστάττει .	Turning, therefore, his thoughts toward himself, he first openly confessed to the God of the universe, and then summoning his attendants, he commanded that without delay they should stop the persecution of the Christians, and should by law and royal decree, urge them forward to build their churches and to perform their customary worship, offering prayers in behalf of the emperor.
17-3 αὐτίκα γοῦν ἔργου τῷ λόγῳ παρηκολουθηκότος ,	Immediately the deed followed the word.-
17-4 ἥπλωτο κατὰ πόλεις βασιλικὰ διατάγματα , τὴν‎ παλινῳδίαν τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς τοῦτον περιέχοντα τὸν τρόπον ·	The imperial decrees were published in the cities, containing the revocation of the acts against us in the following form:
17-5 “Αὐτοκράτωρ ΚαῖσαρCaesar ΓαλέριοςGalerius ΟὐαλέριοςValerius ΜαξιμιανὸςMaximinus ἀνίκητος ΣεβαστόςSebastus, Augustus , ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος , ΓερμανικὸςGermans μέγιστος , ΑἰγυπτιακὸςEgyptians μέγιστος , ΘηβαϊκὸςThebans μέγιστος , ΣαρματικὸςSarmatians μέγιστος πεντάκις , ΠερσῶνPersia, Persians μέγιστος δίς , ΚάρπωνCarpathians μέγιστος ἑξάκις , ἈρμενίωνAmenians μέγιστος , ΜήδωνMedes μέγιστος , ἈδιαβηνῶνAdiabeni μέγιστος , δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ εἰκοστόν , αὐτοκράτωρ τὸ ἐννεακαιδέκατον , ὕπατος τὸ ὄγδοον , πατὴρ πατρίδος , ἀνθύπατος ·	The Emperor Caesar Galerius Valerius Maximinus, Invictus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, conqueror of the Germans, conqueror of the Egyptians, conqueror of the Thebans, five times conqueror of the Sarmatians, conqueror of the Persians, twice conqueror of the Carpathians, six times conqueror of the Armenians, conqueror of the Medes, conqueror of the Adiabeni, Tribune of the people the twentieth time, Emperor the nineteenth time,1Consul the eighth time, Father of his country, Proconsul;2. . .

17-6 .] καὶ Αὐτοκράτωρ ΚαῖσαρCaesar ΦλαύιοςFlavius ΟὐαλέριοςValerius ΚωνσταντῖνοςConstantine εὐσεβὴς εὐτυχὴς ἀνίκητος ΣεβαστόςSebastus, Augustus , ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος , δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας , αὐτοκράτωρ τὸ πέμπτον , ὕπατος , πατὴρ πατρίδος , ἀνθύπατος .	and the Emperor Caesar Flavius Valerius Constantinus, Pius, Felix, Invictus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribune of the people, Emperor the fifth time, Consul, Father of his country, Proconsul;
17-7 ] [ καὶ Αὐτοκράτωρ ΚαῖσαρCaesar ΟὐαλέριοςValerius ΛικιννιανὸςLicinius ΛικίννιοςLicinius εὐσεβὴς εὐτυχὴς ἀνίκητος ΣεβαστόςSebastus, Augustus , ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος , δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ τέταρτον , αὐτοκράτωρ τὸ τρίτον , ὕπατος , πατὴρ πατρίδος , ἀνθύπατος , ἐπαρχιώταις ἰδίοις χαίρειν .]	[and the Emperor Caesar Valerius Licinius, Pius, Felix, Invictus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribune of the people the fourth time, Emperor the third time, Consul, Father of his country, Proconsul; to the people of their provinces, greeting.]
17-8 “ Μεταξὺ τῶν λοιπῶν , ἅπερ ὑπὲρ τοῦ χρησίμου καὶ λυσιτελοῦς τοῖς δημοσίοις διατυπούμεθα , ἡμεῖς μὲν βεβουλήμεθα πρότερον κατὰ τοὺς ἀρχαίους νόμους καὶ τὴν‎ δημοσίαν ἐπιστήμην 1 τὴν‎ τῶν ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin ἅπαντα ἐπανορθώσασθαι καὶ τούτου πρόνοιαν ποιήσασθαι ἵνα καὶ οἱ ΧριστιανοίChristians , οἵτινες τῶν γονέων τῶν ἑαυτῶν καταλελοίπασιν τὴν‎ αἵρεσιν , εἰς ἀγαθὴν πρόθεσιν ἐπανέλθοιεν ·	Among the other things which we have ordained for the public advantage and profit, we formerly wished to restore everything to conformity with the ancient laws and public order1of the Romans, and to provide that the Christians also, who have forsaken the religion of their ancestors, should return to a good disposition.

17-9 ἐπείπερ τινὶ λογισμῷ τοσαύτη αὐτοὺς πλεονεξία κατεσχήκει καὶ ἄνοια κατειλήφει ὡς μὴ ἕπεσθαι τοῖς ὑπὸ τῶν πάλαι καταδειχθεῖσιν , ἅπερ ἴσως πρότερον καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῶν ᾖσαν καταστήσαντες , ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὴν‎ αὐτῶν πρόθεσιν καὶ ὡς ἕκαστος ἐβούλετο , οὕτως ἑαυτοῖς καὶ νόμους ποιῆσαι καὶ τούτους παραφυλάσσειν καὶ ἐν διαφόροις διάφορα πλήθη συνάγειν .	For in some way such arrogance had seized them and such stupidity had overtaken them, that they did not follow the ancient institutions which possibly their own ancestors had formerly established, but made for themselves laws according to their own purpose, as each one desired, and observed them, and thus assembled as separate congregations in various places.
17-10 τοιγαροῦν τοιούτου ὑφ᾽ ἡμῶν προστάγματος παρακολουθήσαντος ὥστε ἐπὶ τὰ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρχαίων κατασταθέντα ἑαυτοὺς μεταστήσαιεν , πλεῖστοι μὲν κινδύνῳ ὑποβληθέντες , πλεῖστοι δὲ ταραχθέντες παντοίους θανάτους ὑπέφερον ·	When we had issued this decree that they should return to the institutions established by the ancients, a great many submitted under danger, but a great many being harassed endured all kinds of death.
17-11 καὶ ἐπειδὴ τῶν πολλῶν τῇ αὐτῇ ἀπονοίᾳ διαμενόντων ἑωρῶμεν μήτε τοῖς θεοῖς τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις τὴν‎ ὀφειλομένην θρῃσκείαν προσάγειν αὐτοὺς μήτε τῷ τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians προσέχειν , ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὴν‎ ἡμετέραν φιλανθρωπίαν καὶ τὴν‎ διηνεκῆ συνήθειαν δι᾽ ἧς εἰώθαμεν ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις συγγνώμην ἀπονέμειν , προθυμότατα καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τὴν‎ συγχώρησιν τὴν‎ ἡμετέραν ἐπεκτεῖναι δεῖν ἐνομίσαμεν , ἵνα αὖθις ὦσιν ΧριστιανοὶChristians καὶ τοὺς οἴκους ἐν οἷς συνήγοντο , συνθῶσιν οὕτως ὥστε μηδὲν ὑπεναντίον τῆς ἐπιστήμης αὐτοὺς πράττειν .	And since many continue in the same folly, and we perceive that they neither offer to the heavenly gods the worship which is due, nor pay regard to the God of the Christians, in consideration of our philanthropy and our invariable custom, by which we are wont to extend pardon to all, we have determined that we ought most cheerfully to extend our indulgence in this matter also; that they may again be Christians, and may rebuild the conventicles in which they were accustomed to assemble, on condition that nothing be done by them contrary to public order.1

17-12 δι᾽ ἑτέρας δὲ ἐπιστολῆς τοῖς δικασταῖς δηλώσομεν τί αὐτοὺς παραφυλάξασθαι δεήσει ·	In another letter we shall indicate to the magistrates what they have to observe.
17-13 ὅθεν κατὰ ταύτην τὴν‎ συγχώρησιν τὴν‎ ἡμετέραν ὀφείλουσιν τὸν ἑαυτῶν Θεὸν ἱκετεύειν περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας τῆς ἡμετέρας καὶ τῶν δημοσίων καὶ τῆς ἑαυτῶν , ἵνα κατὰ πάντα τρόπον καὶ τὰ δημόσια παρασχεθῇ ὑγιῆ καὶ ἀμέριμνοι ζῆν ἐν τῇ ἑαυτῶν ἑστίᾳ δυνηθῶσι . ”	Wherefore, on account of this indulgence of ours, they ought to supplicate their God for our safety, and that of the people, and their own, that the public welfare may be preserved in every place, and that they may live securely in their several homes.
17-14 Ταῦτα κατὰ τὴν‎ ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin φωνήν , ἐπὶ τὴν‎ ἙλλάδαGreece, Greek γλῶσσαν κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν μεταληφθέντα , τοῦτον εἶχεν τὸν τρόπον .	Such is the tenor of this edict, translated, as well as possible, from the Roman tongue into the Greek.
17-15 τί δὴ οὖν ἐπὶ τούτοις γίνεται , ἐπιθεωρῆσαι καιρός .	It is time to consider what took place after these events.

Chapter 18

18-1 Ἀλλ᾽ ὁ μὲν τῆς γραφῆς αἴτιος μετὰ τὴν‎ τοιάνδε ὁμολογίαν αὐτίκα καὶ οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν τῶν ἀλγηδόνων ἀπαλλαγεὶς μεταλλάττει τὸν βίον .	But the author of the edict, after sukch a confession, was immediately, though not for long, released from his pains, and so departed this life.
18-2 τοῦτον δὴ λόγος ἔχει πρῶτον αἴτιον τῆς τοῦ διωγμοῦ καταστῆναι συμφορᾶς , ἔτι πάλαι πρὸ τῆς τῶν λοιπῶν βασιλέων κινήσεως τοὺς ἐν στρατείαις ΧριστιανοὺςChristians καὶ πρώτους γε ἁπάντων τοὺς ἐπὶ τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου παρατρέπειν ἐκβεβιασμένον καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἐκ τῆς στρατιωτικῆς ἀξίας ἀποκινοῦντα , τοὺς δὲ ἀτιμότατα καθυβρίζοντα , ἤδη δὲ καὶ θάνατον ἑτέροις ἐπαρτῶντα καὶ τοὔσχατόν γε τοὺς τῆς βασιλείας κοινωνοὺς ἐπὶ τὸν κατὰ πάντων ἀνακεκινηκότα διωγμόν ·	He is reported to have been the original author of the misery of the persecution, having endeavored, long before the movement of the other emperors, to turn from the faith the Christians in the army, and first of all those in his own house, degrading some from the military rank, and abusing others most shamefully, and threatening still others with death, and finally inciting his partners in the empire to the general persecution.
18-3 ὧν καὶ αὐτῶν οὐκ ἄξιον τὸ τοῦ βίου τέλος παραδοῦναι σιωπῇ .	It is not proper to pass over the death of these emperors in silence.
18-4 τεττάρων οὖν τὴν‎ κατὰ πάντων διειληχότων ἀρχήν , οἳ μὲν χρόνῳ καὶ τιμῇ προηγούμενοι οὐδ᾽ ὅλοις δυεῖν ἔτεσιν ἐπιγενόμενοι τῷ διωγμῷ μεθίστανται τῆς βασιλείας , ᾗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἡμῖν δεδήλωται , καὶ δὴ τὸν ἐπίλοιπον τοῦ βίου χρόνον δημώδει καὶ ἰδιωτικῷ τρόπῳ διαγενόμενοι τέλος τοιόνδε τῆς ζωῆς εἰλήχασιν ,	As four of them held the supreme authority, those who were advanced in age and honour,1after the persecution had continued not quite two years, abdicated the government, as we have already stated, and passed the remainder of their lives in a common and private station. The end of their lives was as follows.

18-5 ὁ μὲν τιμῇ τε καὶ χρόνῳ τῶν πρωτείων ἠξιωμένος μακρᾷ καὶ ἐπιλυποτάτῃ τῇ τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενείᾳ διεργασθείς ,

He who was first in honour and age1perished through a long and most grievous physical infirmity.

18-6 ὁ δὲ τὰ δεύτερα αὐτοῦ‎ φέρων ἀγχόνῃ τὴν‎ ζωὴν ἀπορρήξας , κατά τινα δαιμονίαν προσημείωσιν τοῦτο παθὼν διὰ πλείστας αὐτῷ τετολμημένας ῥᾳδιουργίας .

He who held the second place1ended his life by strangling, suffering thus according to a certain demoniacal prediction, on account of his many daring crimes.

18-7 τῶν δὲ μετὰ τούτους ὁ μὲν ὕστατος , ὃν δὴ καὶ ἀρχηγὸν τοῦ παντὸς ἔφαμεν γεγονέναι διωγμοῦ , τοιαῦτα οἷα καὶ προδεδηλώκαμεν πέπονθεν ,	Of those after them, the last, of whom we have spoken as the originator of the entire persecution, suffered such things as we have related.
18-8 ὁ δὲ τοῦτον προάγων χρηστότατος καὶ ἠπιώτατος βασιλεὺς ΚωνστάντιοςConstantius , ἐπαξίως τῆς ἡγεμονίας τὸν ἅπαντα τῆς ἀρχῆς διατελέσας χρόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τἄλλα τοῖς πᾶσι δεξιώτατον καὶ εὐεργετικώτατον παρασχὼν ἑαυτόν ,	But he who preceded him, the most merciful and kindly emperor Constantius, passed all the time of his government in a manner worthy of his office. Moreover, he conducted himself toward all most favorably and beneficently.
18-9 ἀτὰρ καὶ τοῦ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν πολέμου ἔξω γενόμενος καὶ τοὺς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν θεοσεβεῖς ἀβλαβεῖς καὶ ἀνεπηρεάστους διαφυλάξας καὶ μήτε τοὺς οἴκους τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν καθελὼν μηθ᾽ ἕτερόν τι μηδ᾽ ὅλως καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἐπικαινουργήσας ,	He took not the smallest part in the war against us, and preserved the pious that were under him unharmed and unabused. Neither did he throw down the church buildings, nor devise anything else against us.
18-10 τέλος εὔδαιμον καὶ τρισμακάριον ὄντως ἀπείληφεν τοῦ βίου , μόνος ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ‎ βασιλείας εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐπιδόξως ἐπὶ διαδόχῳ τῆς βασιλείας γνησίῳ παιδὶ τὰ πάντα σωφρονεστάτῳ καὶ εὐσεβεστάτῳ τελευτήσας ·	The end of his life was happy and thrice blessed. He alone at death left his empire happily and gloriously to his own son as his successor, one who was in all respects most prudent and pious. He entered on the government at once, being proclaimed supreme emperor and Augustus by the soldiers;
18-11 ὃς εὐθὺς ἀρχόμενος βασιλεὺς τελεώτατος καὶ ΣεβαστὸςAugustus πρὸς τῶν στρατοπέδων ἀναγορευθείς ,	He entered on the government at once, being proclaimed supreme emperor and Augustus by the soldiers;
18-12 ζηλωτὴν ἑαυτὸν τῆς πατρικῆς περὶ τὸν ἡμέτερον λόγον εὐσεβείας κατεστήσατο .	and he showed himself an emulator of his father’s piety toward our doctrine.
18-13 τοιαύτη τῶν προαναγεγραμμένων τεττάρων ἡ τοῦ βίου ἔκβασις , κατὰ παρηλλαγμένους χρόνους γεγενημένη .	Such were the deaths of the four of whom we have written, which took place at different times.
18-14 τούτων δὴ μόνος ἔτι λιπὼν ὁ μικρῷ πρόσθεν ἡμῖν εἰρημένος σὺν τοῖς μετὰ ταῦτα εἰς τὴν‎ ἀρχὴν εἰσποιηθεῖσι τὴν‎ προδεδηλωμένην ἐξομολόγησιν διὰ τοῦ τεθέντος ἐγγράφου λόγου τοῖς πᾶσι φανερὰν κατεστήσαντο .	Of these, moreover, only the one referred to a little above by us, with those who afterward shared in the government, finally published openly to all the above-mentioned confession, in the written edict which he issued.