ength." After
this, the skin was torn off the martyr's head, his tongue was cut out,
and he was thrown into a vessel of boiling pitch; but the pitch by a
sudden ebullition running over, the servant of God was not hurt by it.
The judges next ordered him to be squeezed in a wooden press till his
veins, sinews, and fibres burst. Lastly, his body was sawn with an iron
saw, and, by pieces, thrown into a dry cistern. Guards were appointed to
watch the sacred relics, lest Christians should steal them away. The
judges then called upon Barachisius to spare his own body. To whom he
said: "This body I did not frame, neither will I destroy it. God its
maker will again restore it and will judge you and your king."
Hormisdatscirus, turning to Maharnarsces, said: "By our delays we
affront the king. These men regard neither words nor torments." They
therefore agreed that he should be beaten with sharp-pointed rushes;
then that splinters of reeds should be applied to his body, and by cords
strait drawn and pulled, should be pressed deep into his flesh, and that
in this condition his body, pierced all over with sharp spikes, armed
like a porcupine, should be rolled on the ground. After these tortures,
he was put into the screw or press, and boiling pitch and brimstone were
poured into his mouth. By this last torment he obtained a crown equal to
that of his brother. Under their most exquisite tortures they thought
they bought heaven too cheap. Upon the news of their death, Abtusciatus,
an old friend, came and purchased their bodies for five hundred drachms
and three silk garments, binding himself also by oath never to divulge
the sale. The acts are closed by these words: "This book was written
from the mouths of witnesses, and contains the acts of the saints,
Jonas, Barachisius, and others, martyrs of Christ, who by his succor
fought, triumphed, and were crowned, in whose prayers we beg place may
be found, by Esaias, son of Adabus of Arzun, in Armenia, of the troop of
royal horsemen, who was present at their interrogatories and tortures,
and who wrote the history of their conflicts." They were crowned on the
29th of the moon of December. This was the 24th of that month, in the
year of Christ 327, of Sopar II. the 18th. The Roman Martyrology
mentions them on the 29th of March.

* * * * *

Those powerful motives which supported the martyrs under the sharpest
{674} torments, ought to inspire us with patience,