Une partie des ruines de Patara. On peut voir la porte
de la ville en bas et à gauche et le théâtre sur le flanc de la colline.
Saints Léon et Parégoire de Patare
Martyrs (IIIe siècle)
A Patare en Lycie, Parégoire venait d'être mis à mort
par fidélité au Christ. Léon qui était un vieillard, en fut témoin et il voulut
imiter son exemple. Il alla devant le temple du dieu Serapis et en détruisit
les cierges allumés. Aussitôt arrêté et soumis à la torture, il resta inflexible.
Son corps dénudé fut traîné sur les rochers jusqu'au torrent voisin. Si grande
en fut la cruauté qu'il mourut sur le parcours et fut jeté dans un gouffre. Des
chrétiens purent l'en retirer. Il avait le visage frais et souriant de la joie
éternelle.
Leo and Paregorius MM (AC)
Died c. 260. Saint Leo witnessed the martyrdom of Saint Paregorius at Patara,
Lycia, and found his heart divided between joy for his friend's glorious
victory, and sorrow to see himself deprived of the happiness of sharing in it.
In the absence of the proconsul of Asia, the governor of Lycia demonstrated his
piety to the gods by publishing an order obliging all citizens to offer
sacrifice to Serapis. Leo, sad to see both the pagans and some Christians going
to adore the idol, went to the tomb of Saint Paregorius and passed the temple
of Serapis en route.
The heathens that
saw him knew that his was a Christian because of his modesty. From his youth,
Leo had practiced austerity and the devotions of an ascetic life. Returning
home he fell asleep and dreamed that God was calling him to martyrdom, too.
The next time he
visited Paregorius's tomb he walked boldly through the market place and passed
the temple of Fortune, which he saw illumined by lanterns. He pitied their
blindness and, moved with zeal for the living God, broke many of the lanterns
and trampled on the tapers, saying, "Let your gods revenge the injury if
they are able to do it." The priest of the temple cried out, "Unless
this impiety be punished, the goddess Fortune will withdraw her protection from
the city."
An account of the
affair soon reached the governor's ears. He ordered the saint brought before
him, and said: "Wicked wretch, your sacrilegious action surely bespeaks
that you are either ignorant of the immortal gods, or downright mad, in flying
in the face of our most divine emperors, whom we justly regard as secondary
deities and saviors."
The martyr replied,
"You are under a great mistake, in supposing a plurality of gods; there is
but one, who is the God of heaven and earth, and who does not stand in need of
being worshipped after that gross manner that men worship idols. The most
acceptable sacrifice we can offer him is that of a contrite and humble
heart."
Offered the choice
of sacrificing or dying, Leo chose the narrow way rather than the broad,
commodious path offered by the governor. "When I called it narrow,"
said the martyr, "this was only because it is not entered without
difficulty, and that its beginnings are often attended with afflictions and
persecutions for justice' sake. But being once entered, it is not difficult to
keep in it by the practice of virtue, which helps to widen it and render it
easy to those that persevere in it, which has been done by many."
After continued
debate, the saint was mercilessly scourged. The governor relented because of
Leo's venerable age and told him he would only have to acknowledge the gods and
not sacrifice, but still Leo refused. He was then dragged by his feet to his
place of execution. After his death his executioners threw his body over a
precipice into a deep pit, but it received only a few bruises. The Christians
recovered Leo's body and found it of a lively color, and entire, and his face
appeared comely and smiling, and they buried it in the most honorable manner
they could (Benedictines, Husenbeth).
February 18
SS. Leo and Paregorius,
Martyrs
From their
ancient authentic acts in Ruinart, Bollandus, &c
Third Age.
ST. PAREGORIUS
having spilt his blood for the faith at Patara, in Lycia, St. Leo, who had been
a witness of his conflict, found his heart divided between joy for his friend’s
glorious victory and sorrow to see himself deprived of the happiness of sharing
in it. The proconsul of Asia being absent in order to wait on the emperors,
probably Valerian and Galien, the governor of Lycia, residing at Patara, to
show his zeal for the idols, published an order on the festival of Serapis, to
oblige all to offer sacrifice to that false god. Leo seeing the heathens out of
superstition, and some Christians out of fear, going in crowds to adore the
idol, sighed within himself, and went to offer up his prayers to the true God,
on the tomb of St. Paregorius, to which he passed before the temple of Serapis,
it lying in his way to the martyr’s tomb. The heathens that were sacrificing in
it knew him to be a Christian by his modesty. He had exercised himself from his
childhood in the austerities and devotions of an ascetic life, and possessed, in
an eminent degree, chastity, temperance, and all other virtues. His clothes
were of a coarse cloth made of camel’s hair. Not long after his return home
from the tomb of the martyr, with his mind full of the glorious exit of his
friend, he fell asleep, and from a dream he had on that occasion, understood,
when he awaked, that God called him to a conflict of the same kind with that of
St. Paregorius, which filled him with inexpressible joy and comfort.
Wherefore the
next time he visited the martyr’s tomb, instead of going to the place through
by-roads, he went boldly through the market-place, and by the Tychæum, or
temple of Fortune, which he saw illuminated with lanterns. He pitied their
blindness; and, being moved with zeal for the honour of the true God, he made
no scruple to break as many of the lanterns as were within reach, and trampled
on the tapers in open view, saying: “Let your gods revenge the injury if they
are able to do it.” The priest of the idol having raised the populace, cried out:
“Unless this impiety be punished, the goddess Fortune will withdraw her
protection from the city.” An account of this affair soon reached the ears of
the governor, who ordered the saint to be brought before him, and on his
appearance addressed him in this manner: “Wicked wretch, thy sacrilegious
action surely bespeaks thee either ignorant of the immortal gods, or downright
mad, in flying in the face of our most divine emperors, whom we justly regard
as secondary deities and saviours.” The martyr replied with great calmness:
“You are under a great mistake, in supposing a plurality of gods: there is but
one, who is the God of heaven and earth, and who does not stand in need of
being worshipped after that gross manner that men worship idols. The most acceptable
sacrifice we can offer him is that of a contrite and humble heart.” “Answer to
your indictment,” said the governor, “and don’t preach your Christianity. I
thank the gods, however, that they have riot suffered you to lie concealed
after such a sacrilegious attempt. Choose therefore either to sacrifice to
them, with those that are here present, or to suffer the punishment due to your
impiety.” The martyr said: “The fear of torments shall never draw me from my
duty. I am ready to suffer all you shall inflict. All your tortures cannot
reach beyond death. Eternal life is not to be attained but by the way of
tribulations; the scripture accordingly informs us, that narrow is the way
that leadeth to life.” Since you own the way you walk in is narrow,” said
the governor, “exchange it for ours, which is broad and commodious.” “When I
called it narrow,” said the martyr, “this was only because it is not entered
without difficulty, and that its beginnings are often, attended with
afflictions and persecutions for justice sake. But being once entered, it is
not difficult to keep in it by the practice of virtue, which helps to widen it
and render it easy to those that persevere in it, which has been done by many.”
The multitude
of Jews and Gentiles cried out to the judge to silence him. But he said, he
allowed him liberty of speech, and even offered him his friendship if he would
but sacrifice. The confessor answered: “You seem to have forgotten what I just
before told you, or you would not have urged me again to sacrifice. Would you
have me acknowledge for a deity that which has nothing divine in its nature?”
These last words put the governor in a rage, and he ordered the saint to be
scourged. Whilst the executioners were tearing his body unmercifully, the judge
said to him: “This is nothing to the torments I am preparing for you. If you
would have me stop here, you must sacrifice.” Leo said: “O judge, I will repeat
to you again what I have so often told you: I own not your gods, nor will I
ever sacrifice to them.” The judge said: “Only say the gods are great, and I
will discharge you. I really pity your old age.” Leo answered: “If I allow them
that title, it can only be with regard to their power of destroying their
worshippers.” The judge in a fury said: “I will cause you to be dragged over
rocks and stones, till you are torn to pieces.” Leo said: “Any kind of death is
welcome to me, that procures me the kingdom of heaven, and introduces me into
the company of the blessed.” The judge said: “Obey the edict, and say, the gods
are the preservers of the world, or you shall die.” The martyr answered: “You
do nothing but threaten: why don’t you proceed to effects?” The mob began to be
clamorous, and the governor, to appease them, was forced to pronounce sentence
on the saint, which was, that he should be tied by the feet, and dragged to the
torrent, and there executed; and his orders were immediately obeyed in a most
cruel manner. The martyr being upon the point of consummating his sacrifice,
and obtaining the accomplishment of all his desires, with his eyes lifted up to
heaven, prayed thus aloud: “I thank thee, O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, for not suffering me to be long separated from thy servant Paregorius.
I rejoice in what has befallen me as the means of expiating my past sins. I
commend my soul to the care of thy holy angels, to be placed by them where it
will have nothing to fear from the judgments of the wicked. But thou, O Lord,
who willest not the death of a sinner, but his repentance, grant them to know
thee, and to find pardon for their crimes, through the merits of thy only son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” He no sooner repeated the word Amen, together
with an act of thanksgiving, but he expired. His executioners then took the
body and cast it down a great precipice into a deep pit; and notwithstanding
the fall, it seemed only to have received a few slight bruises. The very place
which was before a frightful precipice, seemed to have changed its nature; and
the act says, no more dangers or accidents happened in it to travellers. The
Christians took up the martyr’s body, and found it of a lively colour, and
entire, and his face appeared comely and smiling; and they buried it in the
most honourable manner they could. The Greeks keep his festival on the 18th of
February.
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume II: February. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
Saint Leo of Patara
At
Patara, in Lycia, a great festival was once being celebrated in honor of a
certain idol, at which a great concourse assembled; some having gone willingly,
and many through fear, as an edict had been published to that effect. Saint
Leo, who was a good Christian, departed from the city, and went to perform his
devotions before the relics of Saint Paregorius, who had died for the faith
some short time previously. Upon his return home, Saint Paregorius appeared to
him in a vision, standing at the opposite side of a torrent, and inviting him
to pass over.
Saint
Leo hence conceived a great hope that he would be honored with martyrdom; and
going, some days after, to make a second visit to the tomb of Saint Paregorius,
he passed by the temple of Fortune, where many lanterns burned before the idol.
Impelled by a special impulse of the Holy Ghost, he entered the temple and
threw down the lights: but the idolaters, enraged at the insult offered to
their idol, raised such a clamor, that the governor heard of the affair, and
ordered that the saint should be brought before him.
When
Leo made his appearance, the governor rebuked him for the outrage he had
committed against the gods, in violation of the commands of the sovereign.
Saint
Leo, animated with holy zeal, replied: “Thou speakest to me of the gods, as if
there were many: there is but one God, and Jesus Christ is his only begotten
Son. Since statues of stone and wood are devoid of sense and feeling, of what
use can lanterns be to them? If thou hadst the knowledge of the true God, thou
wouldst not worship these false deities. Oh, do abandon this vain superstition,
and adore our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!”
The
governor said: “Thou dost then exhort me to become a Christian? Better it were
for thee to conform to the general practice, lest thy rashness be punished as
it deserves.”
Saint
Leo with increased ardor replied: “I see about me a multitude of those who,
blindly persevering in error, despise the true God; but I am a Christian
notwithstanding, and follow the instructions of the apostles. If this deserve
chastisement, award it; for I am determined to suffer every torture, rather
than become the slave of the devil. Others may do as they please, since they
are solicitous merely for the present, and are reckless of the future life,
which is to be obtained only by sufferings. The Scripture tells us that narrow
is the way which leadeth to life.”
The
governor observed: “Since, then, the way of the Christians is narrow; exchange
it for ours, which is wide and commodious.”
Saint
Leo answered: “I have said that the way is narrow, because it is one of
affliction, and of persecutions suffered for justice sake; but it is wide
enough for those who walk therein, because their faith, and the hope of an
eternal reward, make it so to them. The love of virtue maketh that easy which
to thee seemeth difficult. On the contrary, the road of vice is in reality
narrow, and leads to an eternal precipice.”
This
discourse was most unpalatable to the pagans, who accordingly exclaimed that
the impious man, who had spoken against their religion, should be silenced.
The
governor then asked Saint Leo whether he would sacrifice; and being answered
that his compliance was totally impossible, he ordered him to be scourged.
Although
this command was most cruelly executed, the saint suffered without a groan;
whereupon the governor threatened still greater torments, but the saint
answered:
“I know
not these gods, and will never sacrifice to them.”
“At
least,” said the governor, “say that our gods are great, and I will dismiss
thee, for I have compassion upon thy old age.”
Saint
Leo replied: “They are great for the destruction of those souls that believe in
them.”
The
governor, infuriated at this reply, said: “I will order thee to be dragged over
stones till thou art torn to pieces.” The saint replied: “I shall welcome any
kind of death that procures me the kingdom of heaven, and that blessed life
which I shall enjoy in company with the saints, upon my departure from this
world.”
The
tyrant continued to importune him to sacrifice, or at least to acknowledge that
the gods could save him from death.
The
saint replied: “Thou art very weak, since thou dost nothing but threaten,
without putting thy threats into execution.”
The
populace, being enraged at this reply, obliged the judge to condemn the saint
to be tied by the feet and dragged through a torrent.
Saint
Leo, finding himself about to obtain the accomplishment of his desire to die
for Jesus Christ, raised his eyes to heaven, and prayed after the following
manner: “I thank Thee, O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for granting
me the grace to follow Thy servant Paregorius. I praise Thee, because Thou hast
enabled me, by martyrdom, to cancel my past sins. I commend my soul to the care
of Thy holy angels, that it may be saved from the perdition prepared for the
wicked. I beseech Thee, by that which it is my blessed lot to suffer, to have
mercy on those who are the cause thereof; and since Thou desirest not the death
of the sinner, grant them the grace to recognize Thee as the Lord of the
universe. May all that which I suffer in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son
redound to Thy glory forever and ever. Amen.”
As soon
as he pronounced the word Amen, he rendered up his soul to God, and went to
enjoy the crown to which Saint Paregorius had invited him.
The
executioners cast the body into a deep pit, in order to break it to pieces; but
it was taken thence and found entire, with only a few slight bruises, and the
face appeared comely and smiling.
*from
Victories of the Martyrs, by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Profile
Martyred for
protesting a pagan festival
being held near the grave of Saint Paregorius.
260 at
Patara, Lycia
Additional Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
MLA Citation
“Saint Leo of Patera“. CatholicSaints.Info. 22
May 2020. Web. 3 March 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-leo-of-patera/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-leo-and-paregorius/
Profile
Martyr.
No other information has survived.
260 at
Patara, Lycia
Additional Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
MLA Citation
“Saint Paregorius of Patara“. CatholicSaints.Info.
22 May 2020. Web. 3 March 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-paregorius-of-patara/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-paregorius-of-patara/
