Martyrdom of Pionius and Companions

Contents

Reading pages: 0–20 · 21–23

1. 0Title of the account (incomplete).
2. 1Introduction: the reason for remembering Pionius.
3. 2Forewarned in a vision, Pionius and his companions put on chains and are arrested on Polycarp's day.
4. 3Polemon the temple-warden leads them in chains to the crowded marketplace of Smyrna.
5. 4Pionius's speech to the Greeks and Jews of Smyrna on mockery, apostasy, and the coming judgment by fire.
6. 5The crowd urges Pionius to live; he answers that a better life and light await.
7. 6Pionius explains the chains to Alexander.
8. 7Sabina laughs at the threats; Pionius warns of fire after death.
9. 8Pionius refuses to sacrifice to the gods or to the emperor.
10. 9The formal interrogation of Pionius, Sabina (as Theodote), and Asclepiades.
11. 10On the way to prison Pionius answers the jeers of the crowd.
12. 11In prison they refuse gifts and are moved to the inner cell, which they welcome.
13. 12Pionius laments over the Christians who have lapsed.
14. 13Pionius warns the lapsed against Jewish invitations and answers the charge that Christ was a mere man who died a violent death.
15. 14From Saul and the medium of Endor Pionius argues that demons, not the dead, appear at necromancy, and urges the lapsed to repent.
16. 15After Euctemon lapses, the officials drag Pionius by force toward the temple.
17. 16At the altar Pionius confesses Christ, sent for the world's salvation.
18. 17Pionius silences the rhetor Rufinus by appeal to Socrates.
19. 18The garlands are torn off; they return to prison; Euctemon's apostasy is described.
20. 19The proconsul Quintilian examines Pionius at Smyrna (12 March 250).
21. 20Pionius is tortured and sentenced to be burned alive.
22. 21Pionius is nailed to the stake and dies in the fire beside a Marcionite presbyter.
23. 22Pionius's body is found unharmed by the fire, a sign of his crown.
24. 23Date of the martyrdom: 12 March 250.