AND THE THEBAN LEGION, MARTYRS

(THIRD CENTURY)

St. Eucher, bishop of Lyons, who died in 494, narrated the Theban Legion story. That legion was stationed in Upper Egypt, from where it got the name ‘Theban’.

St. Maurice was a Coptic officer of the legion, which was composed of about six thousand soldiers, entirely Christians, in the Roman army. Under ‘Maximian’ the emperor, an uprising in Gaul forced him to move against it. He ordered that legion among an army unit to suppress it. They left for Gaul.

After the revolt was quelled, the emperor issued his edict, ordering the army to offer thanks, and sacrifices to the Roman gods and statutes, for the success of their mission. The Theban Legion, lead by Maurice refused to comply with the order, withdrew, and camped nearby at Aguanum. Maurice and his companions did not bend to threats and continued declaring their faith, and allegiance to Christ. Maximian, who was watching, got furious and ordered the legion ‘decimated’ (every tenth man was put to death) in rounds. Encouraged by the strong faith of Maurice, Exuperius, and Candidus, the holy men were all slain by the sword.

Not all the slaying took place at Aguanum, but along the way linking Switzerland with Germany. During the massacre, numerous miracles occurred, which contributed to many conversions in the regions to Christianity. Here were the locations of martyrdom:

In Switzerland: At Aguanum: St. Maurice, St. Exuperius, St. Innocent, and St. Vitalis

At Solothurn: St. Ursus, and St.Victor

In Zurich: St. Felix, St. Regula, and St. Exuperantius.

In Zurich also: St. Verena

In Italy and Germany: The martyrdom of other saints from the legion, also took place in many cities.

After their bodies discovered, and where legendry miracles occurred, churches and cathedrals were built in their honor. Devotions, and commemorations have been performed daily and on feasts in many concerned churches and monasteries. Thebans’ saints became patrons to many cities in Europe.

SAINT VERENA

Virgin, Martyr

St. Verena was a native of a town near Thebes. She was either a nurse within the Theban Legion, or came after the massacre to visit the tombs of her relatives. She was a Christian preaching when the martyrdom occurred, and martyred at Aguanum. It is said that she settled at Solothurn where St. Victor was martyred, and her cave in which she lived still there. She is portrayed holding a jug in one hand and a comb in the other. Her relics are preserved in Zurich; Verena became the matron saint of the housewives in Switzerland.

V

فيرينا القديسة

St. Verena

كانت هذه العذراء من مدينة كركوز بمركز قوص محافظة قنا، والتحقت كممرضة بالكتيبة الطيبية في إرساليتها إلى أوروبا، كما أنها كانت قريبة للقديس فيكتور أحد أفراد هذه الكتيبة.

بعد استشهاد أفراد الكتيبة بأمر الإمبراطور مكسيميانوس أتت فيرينا إلى أجونَم Agaunum للتبارك من أجساد الشهداء وتبحث عن رفات القديس فيكتور. استقرت في سولوثورن Solothurn في سويسرا حاليًا، وسكنت في كهف يقال أنه مازال موجود حتى الآن. وكانت تخرج من هذا الكهف إلى القرى المحيطة لتقدم أعمال الرحمة والمحبة للفلاحين والفقراء، وكانت تهتم اهتمامًا خاصًا بتعليمهم أصول النظافة الشخصية. ويقال أنها قضت بقية حياتها في مغارة بُنِيت لها في زُرزاخ Zurzach، وكان لقداستها أبعد الأثر في النفوس فلما تنيحت بسلام بنى أهالي زُرزاخ كنيسة فوق قبرها، حيث رُسِم على قبرها صورة لها وهي تحمل مشطًا وابريق ماء للدلالة على عملها.

وقد تهدّمت الكنيسة مع البلدة كلها حين اجتاحتها القبائل الجرمانية، وفي القرن التاسع شُيد دير للبنديكتين مكانها.

ما تزال القديسة فيرينا تنال كل الاحترام والتقدير في جميع أنحاء سويسرا.

Butler, September 1.

قصة الكنيسة القبطية، الكتاب الأول صفحة 140.

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Page Written By  H. G. H.    ãCopyright  2001