Menologion
of Basil II, 985
Saint Pollion
(+ 304)
Il fut martyrisé dans la
région du Danube. A son juge qui l'interrogeait sur sa religion, il parla des
devoirs "d'humanité envers les hôtes, de miséricorde envers les pauvres et
de charité pour tous."
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/6720/Saint-Pollion.html
Saint Pollion
Fête le 28 avril
† 304
Lecteur de l’église de
Cybalæ en Basse-Pannonie (auj. Mikanovici, en Yougoslavie), il fut brûlé vif
pour avoir refusé de sacrifier aux dieux.
SOURCE : http://www.martyretsaint.com/pollion/
SAINT POLLION, LECTEUR ET
MARTYR (304)
Par Abbe
V.B.
Publié le 27 avril 2020
Après la parution des
édits de persécution de Dioclétien et de Maximien, le préfet Probus, gouverneur
de Sirmium, se hâta de les exécuter. Il fit arrêter Montanus, prêtre de
l’Eglise de Singidon en Pannonie et ordonna de le mettre à mort. Par une
semblable sentence, il envoya au ciel Irénée, prêtre de l’Eglise de Sirmium qui
combattait généreusement pour la défense de la foi. Sa cruauté n’étant pas
encore satisfaite, il se mit à parcourir les villes voisines. Il arriva à
Cybales, ville de Pannonie. Déjà dans une précédente persécution, Eusèbe,
vénérable évêque de cette ville, avait été mis à mort. Là, précisément au jour
anniversaire de la mort d’Eusèbe, Pollion, le premier des lecteurs, bien connu
pour son zèle, fut dénoncé comme coupable de blasphémer les dieux et les
empereurs. Condamné à être brûlé, il fut immédiatement saisi par les ministres
du démon, qui le conduisirent à un mille de la cité. C’est là que le martyr
consomma son sacrifice, louant, bénissant et glorifiant le Seigneur qui
l’appelait ainsi à la céleste Patrie. •
SOURCE : https://present.fr/2020/04/27/saint-pollion-lecteur-et-martyr-304/
LE
MARTYRE DE SAINT POLLION ET DE PLUSIEURS AUTRES. A CIBALIS, LE 28 AVRIL 304.
Le martyre de saint
Pollion, postérieur d'un mois à peine à celui de l'évêque de Sirmium,
appartient à la même tournée administrative du gouverneur de la Pannonie
Inférieure.
BOLL., 28/IV, Apr. III,
565. — Rummel., Acta sinc., 435 et suiv. — P. ALLARD, Hist. des
perséc., t. IV, p. 289.
Dioclétien et Maximien
avaient ordonné que tous les chrétiens fussent mis à mort ou qu'ils reniassent
leur foi. Dès que cet édit fut arrivé à Sirmium, le gouverneur Probus entreprit
de le mettre à exécution en commençant par les clercs. Il fit arrêter et mettre
à mort le prêtre de l'Eglise de Singidunum, Montan, qui avait longtemps vécu
dans la pratique des vertus chrétiennes. Une pareille sentence donna la palme
céleste à l'évêque de l'Église de Sirmium, Irénée, qui combattit généreusement
pour défendre la foi et fortifier le peuple confié à sa sollicitude. Ayant
entendu le glorieux athlète détester les idoles et rejeter avec mépris ses
volontés sacrilèges, il le fit torturer; après quoi il l'introduisit par une
mort d'un instant dans l'éternelle vie.
Cela ne suffisait pas à
sa cruauté, il crut qu'il devait parcourir les villes voisines. Il prit donc
prétexte du service de l'Empereur pour venir à Cibalis, ville natale du très
chrétien empereur Valentinien. Dans une précédente persécution, l'évêque de Cibalis,
Eusèbe, avait, en mourant pour la gloire de Jésus-Christ, triomphé de la mort
et du diable.
Le jour même de l'arrivée
du gouverneur, le premier des lecteurs, Pollion, dont tout le monde connaissait
la foi ardente, fut, par la miséricordieuse providence de Dieu, arrêté et
traduit en justice. Il était dénoncé comme coupable de blasphème envers les
dieux et les Empereurs.
Probus lui dit : Ton nom?
— Pollion.
— Es-tu chrétien?
— Oui.
— Ton emploi?
— Premier des lecteurs.
— Quels lecteurs?
— Ceux qui ont coutume de
lire au peuple les paroles divines.
— Ceux qui inspirent à
l'esprit léger et capricieux des femmes l'horreur du mariage et l'amour d'une
vaine chasteté ?
— Tu pourras connaître
aujourd'hui si nous sommes vains et légers.
— Comment ?
— Ils sont vains et
légers, ceux qui abandonnent leur Créateur pour acquiescer à vos superstitions.
Mais ceux qui s'efforcent d'accomplir, malgré les tourments, les commandements
du Roi éternel montrent leur foi et leur constance ; qui, ayant lu les édits du
prince, savent garder les commandements même au milieu des tourments.
— Quels commandements? Et
de quel roi?
— Les pieux et saints
commandements du Christ Roi.
— Quels sont-ils?
— Qu'il y a un seul Dieu
dans le ciel, où il fait gronder son tonnerre, que ni le bois ni la pierre
ne peuvent être appelés dieux; que les fautes doivent être expiées et
corrigées, qu'il faut persévérer dans l'innocence, que les vierges doivent
atteindre la perfection de la chasteté, et les époux doivent garder la chasteté
dans le mariage; que les maîtres doivent gouverner leurs esclaves par la bonté
plus que par la crainte, en considérant que la condition humaine est la même
pour tous ; que les esclaves doivent s'acquitter de leur tâche plutôt par amour
que par crainte, qu'il faut obéir aux justes volontés des rois quand ce qu'ils
commandent est juste, et se soumettre aux puissances quand elles nous dirigent
dans le bien ; qu'on doit aux parents le respect, aux amis l'affection, aux
ennemis le pardon, le dévouement aux concitoyens, l'humanité aux hôtes, la
miséricorde aux pauvres, la charité à tous et le mal à personne ; qu'il faut
supporter patiemment l'injure et ne la faire jamais, plutôt abandonner ses
biens que de convoiter ceux d'autrui ; et enfin, que celui-là vivra
éternellement, qui pour la foi aura méprisé cette mort, qui ne dure qu'un
instant, que vous pouvez infliger. Si ces maximes te déplaisent, tu ne peux
t'en prendre qu'à ton propre jugement. »
Probus : « Et quel
avantage aura celui qui par sa mort est privé de la lumière et de toutes les
jouissances corporelles ? »
Pollion : « La lumière
éternelle est supérieure aux clartés passagères et les biens assurés plus doux
que les biens périssables, il n'est pas sage de préférer ce qui est caduc à ce
qui est éternel.
— Qu'est-ce que tout cela
veut dire ? Obéis donc aux ordres des Empereurs.
— Quels ordres ?
— L'ordre de sacrifier.
— Fais ton métier. Je ne
puis obéir, car il est écrit : Celui qui sacrifie sera anéanti.
— Si tu ne sacrifies pas,
tu seras décapité.
— Fais ton métier. Je
dois suivre les pas des évêques, des prêtres, de tous les Pères dont j'ai reçu
les doctrines, et j'accepte avec plaisir les châtiments que tu m'infligeras. »
Probus lut la sentence
qui condamnait Pollion à être brûlé.
Aussitôt les gardes
l'emmenèrent jusqu'à un mille de la ville, et Pollion y consomma son sacrifice
en louant Dieu, qui daignait l'appeler au ciel le jour anniversaire du martyre
de l'évêque Eusèbe. Nous célébrons avec joie la mémoire de ces deux athlètes et
supplions le Tout-Puissant de nous rendre participants de leurs mérites.
Le martyre eut lieu le 27
avril, à Cibalis, sous le règne de Dioclétien et Maximien. Jésus-Christ règne
dans tous les siècles. Amen.
LES MARTYRS. Recueil
de pièces authentiques sur les martyrs depuis les origines du Christianisme
jusqu'au XXe siècle, traduites et publiées Par le R. P. Dom H. LECLERCQ, Moine
bénédictin de Saint-Michel de Farnborough TOME II. LE TROISIÈME SIÈCLE,
DIOCLÉTIEN Précédé d'une introduction. Quatrième édition. Imprimi potest. FR.
Ferdinandus Cabrol, Prior Sancti Michaelis Farnborough. Die 4 Maii
1903. Imprimatur. Turonibus, die 18 Octobris 1920. P. Bataille, vic.
gén. ANIMULAE NECTAREAE EORGINAE FRANCISCAE STUART
SOURCE : http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/martyrs/martyrs0002.htm
Also
known as
Pollio of Cibala
Pollio of Cibali
Pollio of Cibalis
Pollio of Vinkovci
Pollione…
28 April (Hieronymian
Martyrology; Synaxary of Constantinople)
Profile
Lector of
the church of Cybalae in Pannonia. Martyred in
the persecutions of Diocletian for
refusing to sacrifice to idols.
burned alive c.304 in
Cybalae, Pannonia (modern Vinkovci, Croatia)
Additional
Information
Book of
Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Roman
Martyrology, 1914 edition
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
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 Pollio of
Cybalae“. CatholicSaints.Info. 5 December 2021. Web. 8 April 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pollio/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pollio/
Article
(Saint) Martyr (April 28)
(4th
century) A Martyr in
Pannonia (Hungary), burned
alive during the persecution under Diocletian (A.D. 304).
He seems to have been a Lector or
Reader (one of the minor clergy).
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Pollio”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
9 November 2016. Web. 8 April 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-pollio/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-pollio/
St. Pollio
Feastday: April 28
Death: 3rd Century
Martyr. Pollio was a
member of the Christian community
of Cybalae, Pannonia, a province on the Danube, serving as a lector. He was put
to death during the persecution launched
by Emperor Diocletian.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5529
Pollio of Pannonia &
Companions MM (RM)
Died April 27, c. 304. We
have the passio of Saint Pollio, a lector of the Church of Cybalae in Pannonia
(Hungary), who was burnt alive under Diocletian. Governor Probus had already
killed the priest Saint Montanus at Singidon, Bishop Saint Irenaeus at Sirmium,
and others. On the day the governor arrived at the town of Cibales, Pollio was
arrested. The lector Pollio, a man of great virtue and a lively faith, was
presented to Probus as he alighted from his chariot and accused of irreligious
speech and action. Probus asked his name. "I am Pollio, the chief of the
readers. Probus: "Of what readers?"
Pollio: "Why, of
those who read the word of God to the people."
Probus: "I suppose
you mean by that name a set of men who find ways and means to impose on the credulity
of fickle and silly women, and persuade them to observe chastity, and refrain
from marriage."
Pollio: "Those are
the fickle and foolish who abandon their Creator to follow your superstitions;
while our hearers are so steady in the profession of the truths they have
imbibed from our lectures, that no torments prevail with them to transgress the
precepts of the eternal King."
Probus: "Of what
king, and of what precepts do you speak?"
Pollio: "I mean the
holy precepts of the eternal King, Jesus Christ."
Probus: "What do
those precepts teach?"
Pollio: "They
inculcate the belief and adoration of one only God, who causes thunder in the
heavens; and they teach that what is made of wood or stone, deserves not to be
called God. They correct sinners, animate and strengthen the good in virtue:
teach virgins to attain to the perfection of their state, and the married to
live up to the rules of conjugal chastity: they teach masters to command with
mildness and moderation slaves to submit with love and affection, subjects to
obey all in power in ail things that are just; in a word, they teach us to
honor parents, requite our friends, forgive our enemies, exercise hospitality
to strangers, assist the poor, to be just, kind, and charitable to all men; to believe
a happy immortality prepared for those who despise the momentary death which
you have power to inflict."
Probus: "Of what
felicity is a man capable after death?"
Pollio: "There is no
comparison between the happiness of this and the next life. The fleeting
comforts of this mortal suite deserve not the name of goods, when compared with
the permanent joys of eternity."
Probus: "This is
foreign to our purpose; let us come to the point of the edict."
Pollio: "What is the
purport of it?"
Probus: "That you
must sacrifice to the gods."
Pollio: "Sacrifice I
will not, let what will be the consequence; for it is written: He that shall
sacrifice to devils, and not to God, shall be exterminated."
Probus: "Then you
must resolve to die."
Pollio: "My
resolution is fixed: do what you are commanded."
Probus then condemned him
to be burnt alive; and the sentence was immediately executed a
mile outside town (Attwater2, Benedictines, Husenbeth).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0428.shtml
April 28
St. Pollio, Lector, and
His Companions, Martyrs in Pannonia
From his genuine acts,
probably extracted from the court register, though collected under the Emperor
Valentinian: extant in Ruinart
A.D. 304.
PROBUS, governor of
Pannonia, under Dioclesian, in 304, having put to death St. Montanus, priest,
at Singidon, St. Irenæus, bishop of Sirmium, and others, arrived at Cibales, a
great town between the rivers Save and Drave, afterwards the birthplace of the emperor
Valentinian, but now destroyed. The very same day on which he arrived, Pollio,
the first of the readers of that church, was apprehended; a person of great
virtue and of a lively faith, of which he had already given signal proofs. He
was presented to the governor as he was coming out of his chariot, and accused
as the most impious of the Christians, and one who spoke disrespectfully of the
gods. Probus having asked his name, and if he were a Christian, inquired of him
what office he bore. “I am,” said Pollio, “the chief of the readers.”
Probus.—“Of what readers?” Pollio.—“Why, of those who read the word of God to
the people.” Probus.—“I suppose you mean by that name a set of men who find
ways and means to impose on the credulity of fickle and silly women, and
persuade them to observe chastity, and refrain from marriage.” Pollio.—“Those
are the fickle and foolish who abandon their Creator to follow your
superstitions; whilst our hearers are so steady in the profession of the truths
they have imbibed from our lectures, that no torments prevail with them to
transgress the precepts of the eternal King.” Probus.—“Of what king, and of
what precepts do you speak?” Pollio.—“I mean the holy precepts of the eternal
King, Jesus Christ.” Probus.—“What do those precepts teach?” Pollio.—“They
inculcate the belief and adoration of one only God, who causeth thunder in the
heavens; and they teach that what is made of wood or stone, deserves not to be
called God. They correct sinners; animate and strengthen the good in virtue;
teach virgins to attain to the perfection of their state, and the married to
live up to the rules of conjugal chastity; they teach masters to command with
mildness and moderation, slaves to submit with love and affection, subjects to
obey all in power in all things that are just: in a word, they teach us to
honour parents, requite our friends, forgive our enemies, exercise hospitality
to strangers, assist the poor, to be just, kind, and charitable to all men; to
believe a happy immortality prepared for those who despise the momentary death
which you have power to inflict.” Probus—“Of what felicity is a man capable
after death?” Pollio.—“There is no comparison between the happiness of this and
the next life. The fleeting comforts of this mortal state deserve not the name
of goods, when compared with the permanent joys of eternity.” Probus.—“This is
foreign to our purpose; let us come to the point of the edict.” Pollio.—“What
is the purport of it?” Probus.—“That you must sacrifice to the gods.” Pollio.—“Sacrifice
I will not, let what will be the consequence; for it is written: He that shall
sacrifice to devils, and not to God, shall be exterminated.” Probus.—“Then you
must resolve to die.” Pollio.—“My resolution is fixed: do what you are
commanded.” Probus thereupon condemned him to be burnt alive; and the sentence
was immediately executed, at the distance of a mile from the town. Thus the
acts. He suffered on the 27th of April, in 304, the same day on which,
according to the acts of Pollio, St. Eusebius, bishop of the same city, had
suffered several years before, perhaps under Valerian.
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume IV: April. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/4/283.html
Saint Pollio, Lector
Cardinal Orsi relates
that in the city of Cibales, Saint Pollio was presented to the governor,
Probus, who asked him whether he was a Christian. Pollio answered that he was
indeed a Christian, and the chief of the Lectors. Probus asked:
“Of what Lectors?”
The saint replied:
“Of those who read the
Word of God to the people.”
“Of those, perhaps,”
added Probus, “who are in the habit of seducing silly women, persuading them to
refrain from marriage, and to observe a foolish continency?”
Pollio rejoined, “Those,
instead, are foolish who abandon their Creator, to follow thy superstitions; on
the contrary, they are wise who, notwithstanding their tortures, persevere in
the observance of the commandments.”
“Of whose commandments
speakest thou?” Saint Probus asked.
“Of those that teach us
to adore one only God, and not gods made of stone or wood: that teach sinners
to be converted, and the virtuous to persevere – that teach virgins their
exalted dignity, and married persons the observance of modesty – that teach
subjects to obey, and legislators to command just things; finally, I speak of
those commandments that teach us to aspire to eternal life, and to despise the
death that thou canst inflict upon us.”
“But what happiness,”
Probus asked, “can a man hope for, who, with life, has lost the enjoyment of
light, and all the pleasures of the world?”
The saint answered,
“There is an eternal light incalculably better than this! Happiness which never
ends is, beyond comparison, preferable to that which shortly terminates; and
isn't it prudent to prefer eternal enjoyments to those that quickly fail?”
Probus interrupted the
saint’s discourse, saying, “What do these words avail? Do that which the
emperor hath commanded – sacrifice to the gods.”
“Do thou that which hath
been commanded thee,” Pollio said, “I will not sacrifice, for it is written,
‘He that sacrifices to devils, and not to God, shall be exterminated.’”
“Then,” Probus said,
“Thou shalt be decapitated.”
“Execute thy orders,”
Pollio said placidly. “I am obliged to follow the doctrine which my fathers and
bishops have taught me; I shall suffer with joy whatever thou mayest inflict.”
Probus was so enraged
that, instead of ordering his decapitation, he condemned Saint Pollis to be
burned alive.
When the saint was led to
the place of execution, he offered himself as a sacrifice to god, and blessed
his holy name for making him die a martyr for His glory. He suffered
courageously on the 27th or 28th of April, in the year 304.
*St. Alphonsus de Ligouri
SOURCE : http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/saint-pollio.html
San Pollione di Cibali Martire
Martirologio Romano: A
Vinkoveze in Pannonia, nell’odierna Croazia, san Pollione, lettore e martire,
che, arrestato durante la persecuzione dell’imperatore Diocleziano e
interrogato dal prefetto Probo, per aver confessato con grande costanza la fede
in Cristo ed essersi rifiutato di sacrificare agli idoli, fu messo al rogo
fuori delle mura della città. Appena scoppiata la persecuzione di Diocleziano e
Massimiano, il prefetto Probo, governatore di Sirmio, s’affrettò a metterne in
esecuzione i decreti, cominciando dai chierici. A Singiduno fece uccidere il
prete Montano, a Sirmio il vescovo Ireneo e il Diacono Demetrio; a Cibali,
proprio nell’anniversario del martirio, in una precedente persecuzione, del
vescovo Eusebio, gli fu condotto innanzi Pollione, primo lettore di quella
Chiesa, ben noto per l’ardore della sua fede.
Dichiarati con franchezza il suo nome, la sua fede e l’ufficio che esercitava
nella Chiesa, al prefetto che l’accusava d’essere di quelli che ispirano a
volubili donne l’orrore al matrimonio e una vana castità, Pollione rispose
fieramente: «Se siamo volubili e leggeri, oggi lo potrai verificare». «In che
modo?», chiese il prefetto. «Volubili e leggeri sono coloro che trascurano il
loro Creatore per seguire le vostre superstizioni; al contrario si mostrano
devoti e costanti nella fede del Re del cielo quelli che ne osservano i comandi
anche sotto i tormenti». «Quali comandi? Di quale re?». «I santi e pii comandi
di Cristo re», rispose Pollione. «In che consistono?». «Che vi è un solo Dio i
cielo; che il legno e la pietra non possono essere chiamati dei; che bisogna
emendarci dalle colpe; che i buoni devono perseverare nell’osservanza del loro
proposito; che le vergini devono raggiungere la perfezione del loro stato e gli
sposi conservare la castità coniugale; che i padroni si convincano a governare
gli schiavi con dolcezza più che con la violenza, tenendo conto che la
condizione umana è la stessa per tutti; che i servi devono fare il loro dovere
più per amore che per timore; che ai re si deve obbedire quando comandano cose
giuste e si deve accondiscendere nel bene alle autorità; che si deve rispetto
ai genitori, ricambio agli amici, perdono ai nemici, amore ai cittadini,
umanità verso gli ospiti, misericordia ai poveri, carità a tutti e a nessuno
fare del male; che bisogna sopportare pazientemente le ingiurie e non farne
assolutamente ad alcuno, cedere i propri beni e non desiderare quelli degli
altri; che vivrà eternamente colui che disprezzerà per la fede la morte
momentanea, che voi potete infliggergli. Se queste cose ti dispiacciono devi
prendertela con il tuo giudizio». «Ma che vantaggio c’è a perdere con la morte
questa luce e tutte le gioie del corpo?». «La luce eterna è ben superiore a
quella terrena e i beni duraturi sono più dolci di quelli passeggeri. Non è
prudenza posporre i beni eterni ai caduchi». Il prefetto troncò la discussione
intimandogli di obbedire ai decreti imperiali e sacrificare agli dei, pena la
morte di spada. «Fa’ quel che t’è comandato - gli rispose Pollione - io pur di
seguire gli insegnamenti dei miei maestri accetto con gioia i castighi che mi
infliggerai». Probo lo condannò ad essere bruciato vivo. La sentenza fu
eseguita immediatamente ad un miglio dalla città.
Così narra la passio sancti Pollioni, che i Bollandisti giudicano degna di
fede, anche se il suo testo deve essere in qualche caso rettificato. Secondo
questa passio, composta in base al protocollo del processo una sessantina
d’anni dopo gli inizi dell’impero di Valentiniano I, il martirio di Pollione
avvenne il 27 aprile (die quinto kalendarum maiarum). Pollione è invece
commemorato al 28 nel Martirologio Romano, nel Sinassario Costantinopolitano e
nel Martirologio Geronimiano. In questo ultimo ricompare con una lezione più
corretta il 29 maggio, ma per una svista degli amanuensi. Gli Itinerari del
sec. VII nominano un martire Pollione nel cimitero di Ponziano sulla via di
Porto. Bosio non crede sia il martire della Pannonia, ma un martire romano.
Anche a Ravenna c’era un oratorio monasteriale intitolato a questo santo.
Autore: Ireneo Daniele
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/51010
Pollion (l’an 304 à
Cibalis en Pannonie) : https://www.nd-chretiente.com/dossiers/pdf/articles/1989_martyrs%20des%20premiers%20siecles_pollion.pdf
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