Caesarea
maritima, roman theatre
La cavea du
théâtre romain de Césarée , construit sous Hérode Ier le
Grand,, province romaine de Syrie-Palestine (135-390)
Saints Prisque, Malchus
et Alexandre
Martyrs de Césarée de
Palestine (+ 260)
Commémoraison des saints
martyrs de Césarée de Palestine: Prisque, Malchus et Alexandre. En 260, durant
la persécution de Valérien, ces trois chrétiens, qui demeuraient dans une
métairie des faubourgs de la ville, voyant que l’on décernait dans la ville les
glorieuses couronnes du martyre, embrasés du zèle divin de la foi, allèrent de
leur plein gré se présenter au juge et lui reprochèrent tant de cruauté à
répandre le sang des fidèles; celui-ci, sans tarder, à cause du nom du Christ,
les livra aux bêtes pour être dévorés.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/11545/Saints-Prisque--Malchus-et-Alexandre.html
Book
of Saints – Priscus, Malchus and Alexander
Article
(Saints) Martyrs (March
28) (3rd
century) Palestinian Martyrs under
the Emperor Valerian (A.D. 260).
Eusebius mentions them by name in his Ecclesiastical History. They were thrown
to the wild beasts during the Public Games at Caesarea.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Priscus, Malchus and Alexander”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
1 February 2017. Web. 8 April 2023.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-priscus-malchus-and-alexander/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-priscus-malchus-and-alexander/
Priscus, Malchus &
Alexander MM (RM)
Died 260. This trio of
martyrs was thrown to the wild beasts during the public games at Caesarea,
Palestine, under Valerian. During the height of the persecution they had
secretly reproached themselves for their cowardice in hiding. Unable to
suppress the emotions they felt, they said to one another, "While the
secure gate of heaven is open, shall we shut it against ourselves? Shall we be
so faint-hearted as not to suffer for the name of Christ, who died for us? Our
brethren invite us by their example: their blood is a loud voice, which presses
us to tread in their steps. Shall we be deaf to a cry calling us to the combat,
and to a glorious victory?" Full of the Holy Spirit, they returned to
Caesarea and presented themselves to the governor as Christians. Some were
struck with admiration at this act of courage, but it incite the judge. They
were tried, tortured, and exposed to wild beasts in the
arena. (Benedictines).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0328.shtml
March 28
SS. Priscus, Malchus, and
Alexander, Martyrs
From Eus. Hist. b. 7. c.
12. p. 262.
A.D. 260
THESE eminent Christians,
Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander, led a retired holy life in the country near
Cæsarea, in Palestine. During the fury of the persecution under Valerian, they
often called to mind the triumphs of the martyrs; secretly reproached
themselves with cowardice, as living like soldiers who passed their time in
softness and ease, whilst their brethren and fellow-warriors bore all the heat
of the battle. They could not long smother these warm sentiments in their
breast; but expressed them to one another. “What,” said they, “whilst the
secure gate of heaven is open, shall we shut it against ourselves? Shall we be
so faint-hearted as not to suffer for the name of Christ, who died for us? Our
brethren invite us by their example: their blood is a loud voice, which presses
us to tread in their steps. Shall we be deaf to a cry calling us to the combat,
and to a glorious victory?” Full of this holy ardour, they all, with one mind,
repaired to Cæsarea, and of their own accord, by a particular instinct of
grace, presented themselves before the governor, declaring themselves
Christians. Whilst all others were struck with admiration at the sight of their
generous courage, the barbarous judge appeared not able to contain his rage.
After having tried on them all the tortures which he employed on other martyrs,
he condemned them to be exposed to wild beasts. They are honoured on this day
in the Roman Martyrology.
In
consecrating ourselves to the service of God, and to his pure love, the first
and most essential condition is, that we do it without reserve, with an earnest
desire of attaining to the perfection of our state, and a firm resolution of
sparing nothing, and being deterred by no difficulties from pursuing this end
with our whole strength; and it must be our chief care constantly to maintain,
and always increase this desire in our souls. Upon this condition depends all
our spiritual progress. This is more essential in a religious state than the
vows themselves; and it is this which makes the difference between the fervent
and the luke-warm Christian. Many deceive themselves in this particular, and flatter
themselves their resolution of aspiring after perfection, with all their
strength, is sincere, whereas it is very imperfect. Of this we can best judge
by their earnestness to advance in a spirit of prayer, and in becoming truly
spiritual; in crucifying self-love, overcoming their failings, and cutting off
all occasions of dissipation, and all impediments of their spiritual
advancement. Mortification and prayer, which are the principal means, present
usually the greatest difficulties: but these, as St. Teresa observes, are
better than half vanquished and removed by a firm resolution of not being
discouraged by any obstacles, but of gathering from them fresh vigour and
strength. Patience and fortitude crown in the saints what this fervent
resolution began.
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume III: March. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/3/281.html
Profile
Hermit in
the area of Caesarea in Palestine.
During a period of persecution in
the region, he went into the city and publicly proclaimed himself a Christian. Tortured and executed for
his faith and
for showing courage in the face of anti-Christian government.
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
MLA
Citation
“Saint Priscus of
Caesarea“. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 March 2017. Web. 8 April 2023.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-priscus-of-caesarea/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-priscus-of-caesarea/
Profile
Hermit in
the area of Caesarea in Palestine.
During a period of persecution in
the region, he went into the city and publicly proclaimed himself a Christian. Tortured and executed for
his faith and
for showing courage in the face of anti-Christian government.
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
MLA
Citation
“Saint Malchus of
Caesarea“. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 March 2017. Web. 8 April 2023.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-malchus-of-caesarea/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-malchus-of-caesarea/
St. Alexander
Feastday: March 28
Death: 260
Martyr and companion of
Sts. Malchus and
Priscus. The men, devout Christians in Caesarea, Palestine, were caught up in
the persecutions conducted by Emperor Valerian. The martyrs were killed by wild
beasts in an arena.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1231
Santi Prisco, Malco
e Alessandro Martiri di Cesarea di Palestina
† 257-258 o 260
Martirologio
Romano: Commemorazione dei santi martiri Prisco, Malco e Alessandro: al
tempo della persecuzione dell’imperatore Valeriano, essi abitavano in un podere
alla periferia di Cesarea in Palestina, città in cui si offrivano allo sguardo
numerose corone di celeste martirio; mossi da divino ardore, si presentarono
spontaneamente davanti al giudice e, avendolo biasimato perché infieriva
soltanto contro il sangue dei pii, furono da lui immediatamente dati in pasto
alle fiere in quanto cristiani.
Eusebio di Cesarea nella sua Storia Ecclesiastica riporta il martirio di questi tre cristiani, avvenuto durante la persecuzione di Valeriano, quindi negli anni 257-258.
«... Dopo che a Cesarea in Palestina in modo splendido avevano confessato Cristo, ebbero l’onore del santo martirio, divenendo preda delle bestie. Erano Prisco e Malco, e il terzo portava il nome di Alessandro. Abitavano essi nella campagna e dapprima si rimproverarono a vicenda di essere ignari e negligenti, perché mentre l’occasione distribuiva agli infiammati di amore divino i premi del combattimento, essi si ritiravano e non andavano a rapire la corona del martirio. Presa da loro una comune deliberazione, partirono per Cesarea, si presentarono dal giudice e trovarono quella fine di cui già si è parlato (cioè furono dati in pasto alle belve)».
Su Prisco, Malco e Alessandro, dunque, non si conosce se non il fatto che andarono essi stessi a confessare al giudice la loro fede per poter morire martiri. Non si trovano neanche tracce del loro culto negli antichi calendari. Floro per primo introdusse questo gruppo di martiri di Cesarea nel suo Martirologio, dedicando loro un lungo elogio preso dalla traduzione di Eusebio fatta da Rufino. Lo stesso Floro scelse la data del 28 marzo per aver trovato nel Martirologio Geronimiano, a questo giorno, la menzione di un Alessandro a Cesarea che, secondo H. Delehaye, sarebbe invece uno dei martiri di questa città già commemorati nello stesso Martirologio al 24 marzo nel gruppo degli otto aventi a capo Timolao, di cui parla lo stesso Eusebio nel suo libro sui martiri della Palestina. Sempre Alessandro ritorna ancora nello stesso Martirologio, da solo, il 25 e il 27. In effetti, non si vede la ragione per cui, se si trattasse dell’Alessandro compagno di Prisco e Malco, sarebbe entrato senza di loro negli elenchi del Geronimiano.
Dopo Floro la stessa notizia passò nel Martirologio di Adone; Usuardo la riprese abbreviandola nella parte centrale e C. Baronio tornò al testo lungo che inserì, con qualche modifica, nel Romano allo stesso 28 marzo.
Autore: Joseph-Marie Sauget
