But since we said that Phileas became also a man worthy of much account for the sake of his external learning, let him come forward as his own witness, at once to show forth who he was, and at the same time to relate the martyrdoms that befell in his case at Alexandria more accurately than we could, in these words:
Since all these examples and patterns and noble tokens are set before us in the divine and sacred Scriptures, the blessed martyrs who were with us, without hesitation, purely directing the eye of the soul toward the God who is over all, and taking into mind death for the sake of godliness, clung fast to their calling, having found our Lord Jesus Christ become man for our sakes, that He might cut off all sin and lay up for us provisions for the entrance into eternal life. For He counted it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore also, having earnestly desired the greater gifts, the Christ-bearing martyrs endured every toil and all manner of contrivances of maltreatment, not once only, but some even a second time; and though the guards vied against them with all threats not only in words but also in deeds, they did not give up their resolve, because perfect love casts out fear.
To recount their virtue and the courage shown under each torture—what word could suffice? For, since there was liberty for all who wished to insult them, some beat them with staves, others with rods, others with scourges, others again with thongs, and others with cords.
And the spectacle of the maltreatments was varied, and held much wickedness in it. For some, with their two hands bound behind, were hung up about the wood, and by certain devices every limb was stretched out; then thus, throughout the whole body, the torturers, at command, plied them not, as in the case of murderers, only on the ribs, but punished them on the belly and shins and cheeks with the instruments of torment. Others were hung from a portico by one hand, suspended, having the stretching from the joints and limbs more dreadful than any pain. Others were bound facing the pillars, not with their feet resting, but with the weight of the body forcing them down as the bonds were drawn up with the stretching.
And this they endured, not only for as long as the governor was conversing with them and giving them his attention, but well-nigh through the whole day. For when he passed on to others, he left behind, to keep watch over the former, those who served under his authority, in case anyone, overcome by the tortures, should seem to give in, commanding them unsparingly both to apply the bonds and afterward, when they were breathing out their souls, to lay them on the ground and drag them off.
For, said he, there was not even a part of a thought among them concerning us, but they both thought and acted as though we no longer existed—the adversaries having devised this as a second torment in addition to the blows.
And there were some who, even after the maltreatments, lay upon the wood with both feet stretched apart through the four holes, so that of necessity they were upon the wood face-upward, being unable, because of the fresh wounds from the blows over the whole body, to be otherwise. And others, flung upon the ground, lay there from the violent and concentrated assault of the tortures, presenting to the beholders a sight more dreadful than the actual operation, bearing on their bodies the varied and divers contrivances of the tortures.
These things being so, some died under the tortures, shaming the adversary by their endurance; others, half-dead, were shut up in the prison, and after not many days, being held fast by their pains, were perfected; while the rest, obtaining recovery through tending, by the lapse of time and the prolonged stay in custody became more courageous.
Thus, accordingly, when the choice was set before them, that either, by touching the accursed sacrifice, one should be left unmolested, obtaining from them that cursed liberty, or, by not sacrificing, should receive the sentence of death—without any hesitation they gladly went to their death; for they knew the things foretold to us by the sacred Scriptures. For He says, He that sacrifices to other gods shall be utterly destroyed; and, There shall be no other gods to you beside Me.
Such were the utterances of this martyr, truly at once a lover of wisdom and a lover of God, which, before the final sentence, while he was still under the prison order, he had sent to the brethren throughout his own parish, at once setting before them the things in which he stood, and at the same time exhorting them to cling fast, even after him, to the godliness in Christ that was very soon to be perfected.
But what need is there to say many things, and to set forth newer upon newer contests of the godly martyrs throughout the world, and especially of those who were beset no longer by common law, but in the manner of war?