Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ... III. Religion. In the reign of Diocletian, Clement of Ancyra was sent bound from Rome to Nicomedeia, and on his way he came to Rhodes. It was the Lord's day, and the few Christians that dwelt in the island were gathered together in their church: and when Photeinos their bishop heard of the coming of Clement and of Agathangelos who went with him and of all that they had suffered for their faith, he straightway went down with many of the Christians to where the ship lay and persuaded the guard to loosen the bonds of their prisoners and suffer them to come to the church; and they all went up thither chanting hymns as they went. Then was the gospel read bidding them fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; and this ended, Clement began to perform the mystic oblation, and as he prayed a miracle was seen by many of them there present, to wit, by such of them as were worthy to behold these things; for upon the holy table was seen a glowing ember of fire, and in the air above a multitude of angels. Afterward they ate together in the church; but the fame of the miracle spread throughout the city so that the people brought the sick to Clement, and many were healed in body and many were baptized. But the guard, seeing the favour of the people toward Clement and fearing they would release him, bound him again and brought him to the ship1. 1 Acta Sanctorum, 33 January, 464, 476. The Severian heresy, which belongs to the Second Century, is said to have appeared first at Rhodes, and several of the arguments used against it by Euphranon, bishop of Rhodes, have been recorded: when these failed, he excommunicated his opponents. The Pelagian heresy prevailed there in 415. And about that time the heresiarch Sabbatios died there...