CHAPTER XV

MARTYRS AT MERUS IN PHRYGIA, UNDER THE REIGN OF JULIAN

AMACHIUS governor of Phrygia ordered that the temple at Merus, a city of that province, should be opened, and cleared of the filth which had accumulated there by lapse of time: also that the statues it contained should be fresh polished. This revival of superstition was so obnoxious to the Christians, that three of their number, Macedonius, Theodulus and Tatian, unable to endure the indignity thus put upon their religion, and impelled by a fervent zeal for virtue, rushed by night into the temple, and brake the images in pieces. The governor infuriated at what had been done, would have destroyed many in that city who were altogether innocent, had not the authors of the deed voluntarily surrendered themselves, choosing rather to die themselves in defence of the truth, than to see others put to death in their stead. Being seized, they were ordered to expiate the crime they had committed by sacrificing: on their refusal to do this, their judge menaced them with tortures; but they despising his threats, being endowed with great courage, declared their readiness to undergo any sufferings, rather than pollute themselves by sacrificing. After being racked with a variety of torments, they were at last laid on gridirons under which a fire was placed, and thus they were destroyed. But even in this last extremity they gave the most heroic proofs of fortitude, addressing the ruthless governor thus:—“If you wish to eat broiled flesh, Amachius, turn us on the other side also, lest we should appear but half-cooked to your taste.”