CHAPTER XII

THE MARTYRS AT CÆSAREA OF PALESTINE

IN the persecution of Valerian, mentioned above, three men of Cæsarea in Palestine, who shone gloriously in their confession of Christ, were honoured with divine martyrdom by becoming the food of wild beasts. Of these, one was called Priscus, another Malchus, the third was named Alexander. These, it is said, living in the country, blamed themselves for being careless and indolent, because when the occasion presented illustrious rewards to those who were panting with the desire of heaven, they were negligent, and did not seize the martyr’s crown. But revolving these things in their mind, they afterwards hasted to Cæsarea, and advanced to the judge, and obtained the sentence we have mentioned. It is also said, that a certain female endured a similar conflict in the same persecution and city, who is said to have been of the sect of Marcion.