Martyrium Theodori, Iuliani, Eubuli, Malcamonis, Mocimi et Salamanis

The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs Theodore, Julian, Eubulus, Malcamo, Mocimus, and Salamanes In the reign of Diocletian, a persecution arose against the Church of the Christians; and he sent an edict to every city. He desired the subjugation of the Christian people to that impious law; and the sword compelled all, so that by the construction of those idols they might be saved; and those churches of God were shut up; and the most impious of those days of miracles were being celebrated. But the whole land was turned to mourning, for the edict of that king was bitterly prevailing. And many who were Christians in the city of Petra did not wish to submit to the command of that king; they brought no small reproach upon the rulers of that place. But the court of Maximus was full of the counsel of lawlessness. When he heard of that confession of the Christians, he immediately ordered them to be brought before him.

spread throughout the land, so that on the second day they were found before his tribunal. But when the emperor Diocletian heard of the harshness of his own heart, which had manifested itself in wickedness toward the Christians, and of all reverence toward the gods, he sent him a decree, in which was written thus: "The day-and-night and all-world-ruler Diocletian Maximus to Caranus, the friend of the gods, inquires: Much has reached us of your zeal, how with great wisdom you have entrusted yourself to the service of glorifying the gods, and have shown their honor to be inviolable. And we have appointed you ruler from Botron to Palestine and to Petra. And let every one who deviates from this our command and dishonors that diligence of yours fall into an inescapable punishment, into a pit, who does not sacrifice a breathing juniper to the gods.