Section 383
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352 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. CHAPTER III. Timotheus, Agapius, Thecla, and eight others. IN the course of the second year, when the war was hlazing more violently against us, when Urbanus had the government of the province, imperial edicts were first issued to him, in which it was ordered by a general command, that all persons of every people and city should sacrifice and make libations to the idols. Timotheus, at Gaza, a city of Palestine, endured a multitude of tortures, and after the rest was condemned to be consumed by a slow and gentle fire, exhibiting in all his sufferings a most indubit able proof of his sincere devotedness to God, and thus bore away the crown of those holy wrestlers who triumphed in the cause of piety. At the same time with him were condemned to be cast to the wild beasts, Agapius, who displayed the noblest firmness in his confession, and Thecla, our contemporary.* But who could help being struck with admiration and astonishment at the sight, or even at the very recital of those things that then occurred ? For, as the heathen in every place were on the point of celebrating their accustomed games and festivals, it was much noised abroad, that besides the other exhibitions with which they were so greatly captivated, those that were just condemned to the wild beasts would exhibit a combat. This report being in creased, and spreading among all, there were six young men, who, first binding their hands, hastened with all speed to Urba nus, to prove their great alacrity to endure martyrdom, who was then going to the amphitheatre, and declared themselves Chris tians. The names of these were Timolaus, a native of Pontus, Dionysius of Tripolis in Phoenice, Romulus a subdeacon of the church at Diospolis, Paesis and Alexander, both Egyptians ; another Alexander from Gaza. These, by their great prompt ness in the face of all terrors, proved that they gloried in the * Eusebius seems to add " our contemporary," to distinguish this Thecla from the companion of St. Paul, mentioned by the Greek and Latin fathers.