# Symphorian, A Pious Christian, Beheaded For The Name Of The Lord Jesus, At Augustodunum, Now Called Autum, About A. D. 275. [Previous page: MAMAS, A SHEPHERD, THRUST THROUGH WITH A THREE-PRONGED SPEAR, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT CESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA, ABOUT A. D. 274.](/en/stories/mm-mamas-a-shepherd-thrust-through-with-a-three-pronged-spear-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-at-cesarea-in-cappadocia-ab/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF THE PRECEDING MARTYRS, A. D. 284, DIOCLETIAN ATTAINED TO THE REIGN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS ISSUED HIS FIRST EDICT AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A SECOND IN 302, CALLED THE Tenth Persecution of the Christians.](/en/stories/mm-several-years-after-the-death-of-the-preceding-martyrs-a-d-284-diocletian-attained-to-the-reign-of-the-roman-empire-and/) It is stated that at this time, as the heathen at Augustodunum, now called Autum, in Burgundy, on a feast-day of the goddess Cybele, whom they called the mother of the gods, carried around her image on a wagon, in procession, a certain pious Christian, called Symphorianus, met this image, and refused to worship it; in consequence of which he was apprehended as an impious person, or despiser of the gods, and brought before Heraclius, the Proconsul, who, in that city, exercised the strictest vigilance over the Christians. When he stood before the judgment-seat, the Proconsul asked him for his name. Symphorian replied that he was a Christian by religion, was born of Christian parents, and had received the name Symphorian. 139 The Judge said: “Why didst thou not honor the mother of the gods, or worship her image?” Symphorian answered: “Because I am a Christian, and call only upon the living God, who reigns in heaven. But as to the image of Satan I not only do not worship it, but, if you will let me, I will break it in pieces with a hammer.” The Judge said: “This man is not only sacrilegious at heart, but also obstinate and a rebel; but perhaps he knows nothing of the ordinances or decrees of the Emperor. Let the officer, therefore, read to him the decrees of the Emperors.” The decrees having been read to him, Symphorian said: “I shall notwithstanding never confess that this image is anything but a worthless idol of Satan, by which he persuades men that he is a god; while it is an evident demonstration of their eternal destruction for all those who put their trust in it.” Upon this confession, the Judge caused him to be scourged and cast into prison, to keep him for some other day. Some time after, he had him brought again before his judgment-seat, and addressed him with kind words, saying: “Symphorian, sacrifice to the gods, that thou mayest be promoted to the highest honor and state at court. If not, I call the gods to witness that I am compelled this day, after various tortures, to sentence thee to death.” Symphorian answered: “What matters it, if we deliver up this life to Christ, since, by reason of debt, in any event we must pay it to him? Your gifts and presents are mingled with the sweetness of the adulterated honey, with which you poison the minds of the unbelieving. But our treasures and riches are ever in Christ, our Lord, alone; and do not perish through age or length of time; whereas your desire is insatiable, and you possess nothing, even though you have everything in abundance. The joy and mirth which you enjoy in this world, is like fine glass, which, if placed in the radiance and heat of the sun, cracks and breaks in two; but God alone is our supreme happiness.” After Symphorian had said these and like things before the Judge, Heraclius, the Proconsul, pronounced sentence of death upon him, saying: “Symphorian, having openly been found guilty of death, because he hath blasphemed against the holy altars, shall be executed with the sword.” When this godly confessor was led to death, to be offered up to Christ, his mother called down to him from the wall of the city this comforting admonition: “Symphorian, my son! my son! remember the living God; let thy heart be steadfast and valiant. We can surely not fear death, which beyond doubt leads us into the true life. Lift up thy heart to heaven, my son, and behold him who reigns in heaven! To-day thy life will not be taken from thee, but be changed into a better one. If thou remainest steadfast to-day, thou shalt make a happy exchange: leaving this earthly house, thou shalt go to dwell in the tabernacle not made with hands.” Symphorian, having been thus strengthened by his mother, was taken out of the city, and beheaded there, having commended his soul into the hands of God, in the time of Emperor Aurelian, and Heraclius, the Proconsul, at Autum in Burgundy. His dead body was buried by certain Christians. Compare A. Mell., 1st book, fol. 19, col. 4, and fol. 90, col. 1, ex Actis Proconsul. Greg. Turan. Degl. Confess., cap. 77, and Hist., lib. 2, cap. 15, with different other authors concerning Symphorian. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_139) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: MAMAS, A SHEPHERD, THRUST THROUGH WITH A THREE-PRONGED SPEAR, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT CESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA, ABOUT A. D. 274.](/en/stories/mm-mamas-a-shepherd-thrust-through-with-a-three-pronged-spear-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-at-cesarea-in-cappadocia-ab/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF THE PRECEDING MARTYRS, A. D. 284, DIOCLETIAN ATTAINED TO THE REIGN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS ISSUED HIS FIRST EDICT AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A SECOND IN 302, CALLED THE Tenth Persecution of the Christians.](/en/stories/mm-several-years-after-the-death-of-the-preceding-martyrs-a-d-284-diocletian-attained-to-the-reign-of-the-roman-empire-and/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-symphorian-a-pious-christian-beheaded-for-the-name-of-the-lord-jesus-at-augustodunum-now-called-autum-about-a-d-275/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Symphorian%2C+A+Pious+Christian%2C+Beheaded+For+The+Name+Of+The+Lord+Jesus%2C+At+Augustodunum%2C+Now+Called+Autum%2C+About+A.+D.+275.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0ASymphorian%2C+A+Pious+Christian%2C+Beheaded+For+The+Name+Of+The+Lord+Jesus%2C+At+Augustodunum%2C+Now+Called+Autum%2C+About+A.+D.+275.%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-symphorian-a-pious-christian-beheaded-for-the-name-of-the-lord-jesus-at-augustodunum-now-called-autum-about-a-d-275%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-symphorian-a-pious-christian-beheaded-for-the-name-of-the-lord-jesus-at-augustodunum-now-called-autum-about-a-d-275%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+c.+275%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)