Passages /
Book 7 /
Section 15
7.15.1
XV. Κατὰ τούτους εἰρήνης ἁπανταχοῦ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν οὔσης, ἐν Καισαρείᾳ τῆς τετιμημένω, Μαρῖνος τῶν ἐν στρατείαις ἀξιώμασι τετιμημένων γένει τε καὶ πλούτῳ περιφανὴς ἀνήρ, διὰ τὴν Χριστοῦ μαρτυρίαν τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται, τοιᾶσδε ἕνεκεν αἰτίας. τιμή τίς ἐστι παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις τὸ κλῆμα, οὗ τοὺς τυχόντας φασὶν ἑκατοντάρχους γίνεσθαι. τόπου σχοΛάζοντος, ἐπὶ τοῦτο προκοπῆς τὸν Μαρῖνον ἡ τοῦ βαθμοῦ τάξις ἐκάλει, ἤδη τε μέλλοντα τῆς τιμῆς ἔχεσθαι παρελθὼν ἄλλος πρὸ τοῦ βήματος, μὴ ἐξεῖναι μὲν ἐκείνῳ τῆς Ῥωμαίων μετέχειν ἀξίας κατὰ τοὺς νόμους, χριστιανῷ γε ὄντι καὶ τοῖς βασιλεῦσι μὴ θύοντι, κατηγόρει, αὐτῷ δ’ ἐπιβάλλειν τὸν κλῆρον· ἐφ’ ᾧ κινηθέντα τὸν δικαστὴν Ἀχαιὸς οὗτος ἦν) πρῶτον μὲν ἐρέσθαι ποίας ὁ Μαρῖνος εἴη γνώμης, ὡς δ’ ὁμολογοῦντα χριστιανὸν ἐπιμόνως ἑώρα, τριῶν ὡρῶν ἐπιδοῦναι αὐτῷ εἰς ἐπίσκεψιν διάστημα.
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XV. In the time of those persons, when the churches everywhere were at peace, a man at Caesarea in Palestine called Marinus, honoured by high rank in the army and distinguished besides by birth and wealth, was beheaded for his testimony to Christ, on the following account. There is a certain mark of honour among the Romans, the vine-switch, and those that obtain it become, it is said, centurions. A post was vacant, and according to the order of promotion Marinus was being called to this advancement. Indeed he was on the point of receiving the honour, when another stepped forward before the tribunal, and stated that in accordance with the ancient laws Marinus could not share in the rank that belonged to Romans, since he was a Christian and did not sacrifice to the emperors; but that the office fell to himself. And [it is said] that the judge (his name was Achaeus) was moved thereat, and first of all asked what views Marinus held; and then, when he saw that he was steadfast in confessing himself a Christian, gave him a space of three hours for consideration.
7.15.2
Ἐκτὸς δῆτα γενόμενον αὐτὸν τοῦ δικαστηρίου Θεότεκνος ὁ τῇδε ἐπίσκοπος ἀφέλκει, προσελθὼν δι’ ὁμιλίας, καὶ τῆς χειρὸς λαβὼν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν προάγει, εἴσω τε πρὸς αὐτῷ στήσας τῷ ἁγιάσματι, μικρόν τι παραναστείλας αὐτοῦ τῆς χλαμύδος καὶ τὸ προσηρτημένον αὐτῷ ξίφος ἐπιδείξας ἅμα τε ἀντιπαρατίθησιν προσαγαγὼν αὐτῷ τὴν τῶν θείων εὐαγγελίων γραφήν, κελεύσας τῶν δυεῖν ἑλέσθαι τὸ κατὰ γνώμην.
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When he came outside the court, Theotecnus, the bishop there, approached and drew him aside in conversation, and, taking him by the hand, led him forward to the church. Once inside, he placed him close to the altar itself, and, raising his cloak a little, pointed to the sword with which he was girded; at the same time he brought and placed before him the book of the divine Gospels, and bade him choose which of the two he wished.
7.15.3
Ὡς δ’ ἀμελλητὶ τὴν δεξιὰν προτείνας τὴν θείαν γραφήν, “ἔχου τοίνυν, ἔχου,” πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Θεότεκνος, “τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ τύχοις ὧν εἵλου, πρὸς αὐτοῦ δυναμούμενος, καὶ βάδιζε μετ’ εἰρήνης.” εὐθὺς ἐκεῖθεν ἐπανελθόντα αὐτὸν κῆρυξ ἐβόα καλῶν πρὸ τοῦ δικαστηρίου· καὶ γὰρ ἤδη τὰ τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ χρόνου πεπλήρωτο· καὶ δὴ παραστὰς τῷ δικαστῇ καὶ μείζονα τῆς πίστεως τὴν προθυμίαν ἐπιδείξας, εὐθὺς ὡς εἶχεν, ἀπαχθεὶς τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ, τελειοῦται.
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Without hesitation he stretched forth his right hand and took the divine book. “Hold fast then,” said Theotecnus to him, “hold fast to God; and, strengthened by Him, mayest thou obtain that thou hast chosen. Go in peace.” As he was thence immediately, a herald cried aloud, summoning him before the court of justice. For the appointed time was now over; and, standing before the judge, he displayed still greater zeal for the faith; and straightway, even as he was, he was led away to death, and so was perfected.