CHAPTER XI

PUSICIUS, SUPERINTENDANT OF THE ARTIZANS OF SAPOR

PUSICIUS, the superintendant of the king’s artizans, was present at the execution; perceiving that Ananias trembled as the necessary preparations for his death were being made, he said to him,—“Oh, old man, close your eyes and be of good courage, for you will soon behold the light of Christ.” No sooner had he uttered these words, than he was arrested and conducted before the king; and as he frankly avowed himself a Christian, and spoke with great boldness concerning the truth of his religion and the innocence of the martyrs, he was condemned to a most extraordinary and cruel death. The executioners pierced the muscles of his neck in such a manner as to extract his tongue. At the same time his daughter, who had devoted herself to a life of holy virginity, was arraigned and executed. The following year, on the day on which the Passion of Christ was commemorated, and when preparations were being made for the celebration of the festival commemorative of His Resurrection from the dead, Sapor issued a most cruel edict throughout Persia, condemning to death all those who should confess themselves to be Christians; and it is said that an immense number of Christians suffered by the sword. The Magi sought diligently in the cities and villages for those who had concealed themselves; and many voluntarily surrendered themselves, lest they should appear, by their silence, to deny Christ. Of the Christians who were thus unsparingly sacrificed, many who were attached to the palace were slain, and amongst these was Azadas, a eunuch, who was especially beloved by the king. On hearing of his death, Sapor was overwhelmed with grief, and put a stop to the indiscriminate slaughter of the Christians; and he directed that the teachers of religion should alone be slain.