DURING the persecution by the tyrant Maximian, which began in the army, Maurice and seventy soldiers, amongst whom was his son Photinus, boldly confessed Christ, and refused to sacrifice to the gods. They were deprived of their military belts, a humiliation similar to the striking off the spurs of a knight in the Middle Ages, and were consigned to prison. The head of Photinus, who was only a lad, was struck off; the others were tormented with iron hooks and fire; and then, with cruel malice, they were conducted to a low, marshy spot, near Apamea, were smeared with honey, and tied to stakes, that they might be tormented by wasps, hornets, and musquitos. The brave soldiers of Christ lingered without food for many days, but by the tenth day all were dead; their heads were then cut off, and they were buried.

S. VITALINA, V.
(ABOUT A.D. 390.)

[Commemorated as Patron at Antonne, between Riome and Gannat, in Auvergne. Commemorated also at Metz. Nothing is known concerning her except a strange story of her having spoken to S. Martin out of her tomb, and told him she was still mourning for having washed her head on a Friday,—a story related by Gregory of Tours. De gloria Confessorum, c. v.]

S. ZACHARIAS, PATR. OF JERUSALEM.
(A.D. 631.)

[Greek MenÆa, Authorities:—The Chronicon Alexandrinum, Theophanes, the Annals of Eutychius, Anastasius Bibliothecarius, Paulus Diaconus, Cedrenus, &c.]

Zacharias was made Patriarch of Jerusalem in the year 609, having been previously warden of the sacred vessels at Constantinople. During his reign, in the year 614, the holy city was taken by the Persians, and as many as 90,000 Christians are said, by Theophanes, to have perished in the massacre which ensued, the Jews taking the opportunity to revenge themselves on the worshippers of the Crucified: Chosroes having swelled his army with twenty-six thousand Jews, who fought with fury, in the hopes of recovering Jerusalem for themselves. The sepulchre of Christ, and the stately churches of Helena and Constantine, were consumed, or at least damaged, by the flames; the devout offerings of three hundred years were rifled in one sacrilegious day; the patriarch Zacharias, and the true Cross, were transported into Persia. The fugitives of Palestine were entertained at Alexandria, by the charity of John, the Patriarch, who is distinguished by the epithet of the Alms-giver, (Jan.23rd), and Modestus, abbot of S. Theodosius, was appointed vicar of the scattered and bleeding flock in the Holy Land, during the captivity of their pastor. In 628 Chosroes was deposed and assassinated by his son Siroes, who concluded peace with the Emperor Heraclius, restored to him all that had been taken by his father, the wood of the true Cross, and the captives, amongst whom was Zacharias, who returned to Jerusalem, the following year.

The seals of the case in which the venerable relic had been enclosed before it was carried into Persia, were found unbroken, and it was easy for the patriarch, who had been its fellow-captive, to verify it. Zacharias died in the year 631, two years after his restoration.

B. PEPIN OF LANDEN, C.
(A.D. 646.)

[Of local veneration only, at Nivelles; mentioned in some of the later Martyrologies, and called, sometimes Saint, sometimes the Blessed. Authorities:—A Life contained in the Acts of his daughter, S. Gertrude, (March 17th), Fredegar, and other early French historians.]

The Blessed Pepin of Landen[60] died on February 21st, in 640, or 647, at Landen, where he had also been born, in all probability. He was buried at Landen, but afterwards, at what date is unknown, his body was translated to Nivelles, where he reposes beside the altar of his daughter, S. Gertrude, and where one tomb enshrines his body and that of his wife, S. Itta, and that of his nurse. On the day of his translation, a great procession of people bearing candles accompanied his relics from Landen to Nivelles, and during the long course, the wind, though very violent, did not extinguish one of the tapers, says the story. This prince has always been venerated at Nivelles and Landen as a saint, though he has never been canonized, and every year, in the Rogation processions, his reliquary is borne, together with those of S. Itta or Iduberga, his wife, and S. Gertrude, his daughter. To Pepin is attributed the foundation of the Church of S. Mary, which subsists to this day at Landen.

SS. GERMAN, AB., AND RANDOALD, PRIOR, MM.
(END OF 7TH CENT.)

[Commemorated as a double in the diocese of Basle. Not noticed in any other Kalendar. Authority:—A Life by a contemporary, Bobolen, Priest, at the request of the Monks of MÜnsterthal, who asked him to put in record what had taken place under their eyes.]

S. German was a native of TrÈves, son of a man of senatorial rank, named Optardus. His brother Opthomar became a favourite courtier of king Dagobert, and afterwards with the saintly Sigebert, King of Austrasia, (February 1st.) When German was quite young he was given to S. Modoald, bishop of TrÈves,[61] that he might be educated in all the knowledge of the times. At the age of seventeen the boy longed to devote himself wholly to God, in the monastic life, and as his parents were dead, he asked permission of his preceptor, but Modoald answered that he dare not give him the requisite permission, without the consent of the king. The boy then evidenced his sincerity by at once disposing of all his possessions. With three other boys similarly disposed, he went to the blessed Arnulf, a holy bishop living as a hermit at Herenberg, and grew to man's estate, disciplining himself after the example, and by the advice, of his new preceptor. Then he sent two of his companions to TrÈves to bring to him his little brother, Numerian, who was still quite a child;[62] and migrated first to Remiremont, and thence, followed by numerous monks who had placed themselves under his direction, to the famous abbey of Luxeuil, which was then ruled by S. Waldebert, (May 2nd), who had him ordained priest, and sent him to found a house in the valley of MÜnsterthal, or Val Moutier, in the Jura, which was given to him by a nobleman of great piety named Gundoin, the father of S. Salaberga, (September 22nd.) The MÜnsterthal is a grand and romantic defile, traversed by the Birs. The huge cleft through which the stream passes testifies to the mighty convulsion which has forced the horizontal strata to assume their present almost perpendicular position, resembling gigantic walls on either side of the old Roman road which passed through it, and served as the line of communication between Aventiacum (Avenches), the most important town of Helvetia, and Augusta Rauracorum (Rheinfelden.) German found the old road blocked up with fallen rocks, so as to be impassable. He cleared these away, and enlarged the entrance to the gorge, and settled with his monks at the present Moutier. On the death of his protector Gundoin, Duke Boniface Kattemund succeeded to the government of the land, and crushed the poor people with his taxes. He also traversed the country exacting large sums from all who could pay, and wasting the lands of those who refused. On his appearance in the valley, the abbot German and the prior Randoald went to meet him, to implore him to deal less harshly with the people; but Kattemund repulsed them with insolence, and allowed some ruffians of his suite to fall on the helpless monks, strike off the head of the prior, and transfix the abbot with a lance, whilst they were kneeling in prayer in the church of S. Maurice.

S. GEORGE OF AMASTRIS, B. C.
(BEGINNING OF 9TH CENT.)

[Mentioned in no late Martyrologies; but commemorated by the Greeks on this day. Authority:—A Life written towards the end of the 9th cent.]

S. George was born of parents who had long been childless, at Cromna, near Amastris, in Paphlagonia. When three years old he fell into the fire, and burnt his hands and foot, but though disfigured by the scars, he was not thereby deprived of the use of these members. When a youth, he secretly fled his home, and retired into a mountain, followed only by one servant, and lived among the rocks the life of an anchorite, with an old hermit whom he there discovered. When this hermit was on the point of death, he bade George go to the monastery of Bonyssa, and serve God there. George obeyed, and among the monks he distinguished himself by the perfection of his self-control. On the death of the bishop of Amastris, the citizens elected George, whose fame had reached them, and sent a deputation to announce to him their choice; but George steadfastly refused the proffered dignity; whereupon the deputation forcibly carried him off to Constantinople, where the patriarch, S. Tarasius, who had known him as a boy, gladly agreed to consecrate him. But the Emperor interfered, and nominated some one else. The patriarch, however, would not yield, as George had been canonically elected. He nevertheless, brought forward the two candidates, and bade the clergy and people proceed to a new election, and decide which was to be chosen. As the lot fell again upon George, the patriarch resolutely rejected the imperial nominee, and ordained George. He was received at Amastris with demonstrations of the holiest joy. During his episcopate Asia Minor was overrun by the Saracens. George, foreseeing an incursion, and finding that the farmers and peasants could not be induced by others to take warning, and flee in time, went round the country, cross in hand, and urged all to escape within the walls. The threatened incursion took place, and the Saracens, not being in sufficient force to take the city, retired without having done serious damage.

[60] See further, S. Sigebert, (February 1st.)

[61] He was Bishop of TrÈves about 622, and is honoured as a saint on May 22nd.

[62] He became afterwards Bishop of TrÈves, and is venerated on July 5th.