SAINT PAUL AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF EGYPT - 18 JANUARY

 

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Saints celebrated on the 18th of January

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SAINT PAUL AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF EGYPT

⬅️ More information about Saint Paul and Companions

S. S. Paulus et 36 Soc. M. M.

Saints Paul (Paulus), Pansius, Denis (Dionysius), Thonius, Herpresius, Horus, another Denis (Dionysius), Ammon (Ammonius), Bessammon (Bessamonius), Agathus, Recumbus, Bastamus, Sarmatas, Proteas, Orion, Calluthus, Didymus, Plesius, Aratus, Theonas, Hippeas, Roman (Romanus), Saturnin (Saturninus), Pinutus, Serapion, Bastammon (Bastammonius), Papas, Pantheros, Papias, Dioscorus, Heron (Cron), Potamon, Pethecus, Oecomenus, Boticus, Cyriacus and another Ammon (Ammonius) suffered martyrdom in Egypt. As the legend goes (which the Bollandists* were unable to verify beyond doubt) these 37 men, belonging to all respected classes, set out in four different groups to all parts of Egypt to preach the gospel. Eventually, all of them were reported to the secular authorities, imprisoned, and taken to court. When they were urged to deny Christ and sacrifice to idols, one of them said: 

"We know that sacrifice to idols is a shameful thing; rather go ahead and kill us, for we shall never sacrifice to the demons." 

When the judge heard this, he commanded those who had preached in the east of Egypt, viz. Paul, Pansius, Denis, Thonius, Horpresius, Horus, the other Denis and Ammon, together with Bessammon and Agathus to death by fire; those who had spread the faith in the northern part, namely Recumbus, Bastanus, Sarmatas, Proteas, Orion, Collotus, Didymus, Plesius, and Aratus to be decapitated; those who had worked in the south, namely Theonas, Hippeas, Roman, Saturnin, Pinutius, Serapion, Bastammon, Papas, and Pantherus to be burned in a slow fire; finally those who had tried to spread the kingdom of Christ in the West, viz., Papias, Dioscorus, Heron, Potamon, Pethacus, Oecomenus, Boticus, Cyriacus, and Ammon were to be crucified. 

Please see also: Saint Julius and Saint Hippias (II. 188 and 189).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, p. 719)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Paul and Companions may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org