2
Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne in the South of France to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia.
The Servants of Christ, that sojourn at Vienne and Lyons in Gaul, to the Brethren in Asia and Phrygia, who have the same faith and hope of redemption with us, peace, and grace, and glory, from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. * * * * The greatness of the sufferings in this country, and the wonderful rage of the heathen against the Saints, and how much the blessed Martyrs endured, we are neither able accurately to declare, nor is it possible to be comprehended in writing. For the Adversary rushed down upon us with all his might, as already anticipating his future coming without controul[1]; and went through all possible means in preparing, and exercising his own beforehand, against the Servants of God. So that we were not only excluded from the houses, the baths, and the market; but it was even forbidden for any of us to shew himself, in any place whatever.
But the Grace of God took the lead in opposition to him; and, protecting the weak, set Firm Pillars in battle array against him, whose fortitude rendered them first to draw on themselves the whole violence of the Evil One; men who went forth to meet him, supporting patiently every kind of insult and torture, and counting the most he could do as little, were in haste to be with Christ; shewing, of a truth, that "the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."
And, in the first place, they nobly endured all the injuries heaped on them by the assembled populace, who hooted, beat, dragged about, plundered, stoned, and confined them; and did all such things, as are wont to be done by a furious mob to those, whom it hates and counts its enemies. And, lastly, when brought into the market-place by the commander of the troops and the authorities of the city, and questioned before the whole multitude, they confessed, and were shut up in prison till the arrival of the Governor.
And when afterwards they were brought before the Governor, and he shewed the utmost cruelty towards us, Vettius Epagathus, one of the brethren, (full of love toward God and his neighbour, and of so exact and perfect a life, that, though a young man, he
