flock renounced
Christ by sacrificing to idols during the persecution of Decius, a
weakness which several of the Marcionite heretics had betrayed. Our
saint himself made a glorious confession of his faith; of which the
following relation, transcribed from the public register, is a voucher.

Martian, a man of consular dignity, arriving at Antioch, a small town of
his government, ordered the bishop to be brought before him. His name
was Acacius, and he was styled the buckler and refuge of that country
for his universal charity and episcopal zeal. Martian said to him: "As
you have the happiness to live under the Roman laws, you are bound to
love and honor our princes, who are our protectors." Acacius answered:
"Of all the subjects of the empire, none love and honor the emperor more
than the Christians. We pray without intermission for his person, and
that it may please God to grant him long life, prosperity, success, and
all benedictions; that he may be endowed by him with the spirit of
justice and wisdom to govern his people; that his reign be auspicious,
and prosperous, blessed with joy, peace, and plenty, throughout all the
provinces that obey him." MARTIAN.-"All this I commend; but that the
emperor may be the better convinced of your submission and fidelity,
come now and offer him a sacrifice with me." ACACIUS.-"I have already
told you that I pray to the great and true God for the emperor; but he
ought not to require a sacrifice from us, nor is there any due to him or
to any man whatsoever." MARTIAN.-"Tell us what God you adore, that we
may also pay him our offerings and homages." ACACIUS.-"I wish from my
heart you did but know him to your advantage." MARTIAN.-"Tell me his
name." ACACIUS.-"He is called the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of
Jacob." MARTIAN.-"Are these the names of gods?" ACACIUS.-"By no means,
but of men to whom the true God spoke; he is the only God, and he alone
is to be adored, feared, and loved." MARTIAN.-"What is this God?"
ACACIUS.-"He is the most high Adonia, who is seated above the cherubims
and seraphims." MARTIAN.-"What is a seraph?" ACACIUS.-"A ministering
spirit of the most high God, and one of the principal lords of the
heavenly court." MARTIAN.-"What chimeras are these? Lay aside these
whims of invisible beings, and adore such gods as you can see."
ACACIUS.-"Tell me who are those gods to whom you would have me
sacrifice?" MARTIAN.-"Apollo, the saviour of men, who preserves us from
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