# Epipodius Of Lyons, And Alexander, The Greek, Martyred For The Testimony Of The Evangelical Truth, At Lyons In France; The One Beheaded, And The Other Crucified, About The Year 179.

c. 179 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: EPIPODIUS OF LYONS, AND ALEXANDER, THE GREEK, MARTYRED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF THE EVANGELICAL TRUTH, AT LYONS IN FRANCE; THE ONE BEHEADED, AND THE OTHER CRUCIFIED, ABOUT THE YEAR 179.

Source heading; not independently verified

In the seventeenth year of the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius, there were slain, among other pious
martyrs at Lyons in France, Epipodius, a citizen
of Lyons, and Alexander, a Greek by birth; whose
imprisonment, suffering, and death occurred in this
wise: When the heathen thought that the Christian
name was entirely extirpated at Lyons and Vienne,
and that no person who confessed it was remaining,
these two, as the remainder of the Christians there,
were betrayed, accused, and, three days afterwards,
placed before the tribunal of the Governor. There
they were interrogated in regard to their name and
confession of faith, to which questions they candidly
replied. Their answers enraged the judge beyond
measure, and he commanded that Epipodius, who
was the principal speaker, should be smitten on the
cheek, which was done in such a manner that he
bled from his nose and mouth. But this made this
champion of Christ, though he was still young, only
the bolder and firmer, and he said: “I confess that
Christ, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, is the
only true God; and I deem it right, that I should
pour out my soul (that is, my life) for him who is
my Creator and Redeemer; for thus, my life will
not be taken from me, but changed into a better
one. Besides, it matters but little, how and in what
manner this weak body is released and separated
from the soul, only so that the soul be returned to
God, its Creator.”

When Epipodius had, in steadfastness, finished
this confession, he was suspended, at the command
of the Judge, on a stake, on both sides of which the
executioners stood, drawing deep gashes with cutting
hooks or claws into his sides. In the meantime
the raging multitude cried, that he should be stoned
to death, or torn limb from limb; for the Judge was
much too slow in pronouncing his sentence of death.
Then the Judge had him brought out with great
haste, and beheaded, and thus this pious witness of
the Son of God attained to a blessed end.

Alexander, the abovementioned Greek, was
brought out of prison, two days after the death
of his beloved brother Epipodius, and placed before
the tribunal, where he defended himself most cheerfully,
manifesting, at the same time, his great desire
to be counted among the number of his slain brethren
and sisters. The Judge immediately commanded
that Alexander should be stripped, and beaten by
three executioners, with sticks, cudgels, etc.; but in
all these torments he steadfastly called upon God
for help and succor. In short, the sentence of death
was pronounced upon him, namely, that he should
die on the cross. The executioners then tied him
on the cross; but having previously been wounded,
by many stripes, to such a degree that his bones or
bare ribs were visible, as well as the vital parts of
his viscera, namely, the lungs, the liver, the heart,
etc., which could be observed moving, he gave
up the ghost, before the executioners could inflict
further tortures upon him; and thus, in steadfastness
he died a blessed death. When this had taken place,
he was buried with his friend Epipodius, who had
been beheaded, on the 24th of April 179. Abr. Mell.,
1st book, fol. 48, col. 1–4. ex act. Proconsular.
Homil. Eucherii Episc. Lugd. sub nomine Eus.,
Emisseni de Blandina and aliis. Ado Vienn.,
Mart. 22 April.





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