Pionius

Pionius, Greek form Pionios ( Πιόνιος ) ( † March 12 250) is venerated as a saint in many Christian denominations or considered as memorable witness to the faith. He was martyred in Smyrna during the reign of the Emperor Decius.

Legend

Pionius was arrested along with Sabina, Asclepiades, Macedonia and Lemnos on 23 February, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Polycarp of Smyrna.

They had spent the previous night in fasting and prayer. Aware of his impending arrest Pionius put ropes around his neck and his companions, to indicate that they were already condemned. Who would have seen unbound, would have assumed that they know how to sacrifice many other Christians in Smyrna, including the bishop, were ready.

In Smyrna were two manifestations of Nemesis, more related to Aphrodite as the Artemis worshiped. It is believed that they represented two aspects of the Goddess, the friendly and the relentless, or the goddesses of the Old and New Town, which was re-founded by Alexander the Great. The Pioniusakten, relating to the prosecution of Decische 250, mention a fallen Smyrnischen Christians, who intended to sacrifice on the altar of these two Nemesis '.

Early in the morning, after taking the holy bread and water to be Pionios and his companions were taken to the forum. The place was crowded with Greeks and Jews, as a high Jewish and general holiday in the city was - an indication of the strong influence of the Jews in Smyrna. Pionius preached the crowd. He reminded the Greeks in mind that Homer had said that the corpse of an enemy should not be ridiculed. He wanted to stop them from mocking the Christians who had fallen away. Then he turned to the Jews and quoted Moses and Solomon with the same objective.

He ended his speech with the rigorous refusal to offer a sacrifice. Then followed the usual interrogation and threats, according to which Pionius and his companions were taken to prison to await the arrival of the proconsul. Here they found more adherents, including a Montanist.

Many nations they visited, and Christians who had sacrificed repented their apostasy. The latter exhorted Pionius to repentance. Before the arrival of the proconsul, another attempt was started to seduce Pionius and his companions into an act of apostasy. They were taken to a temple, where all efforts were made to induce them to be a victim.

On March 12, Pionius was brought before the proconsul, who at first and then tried it with persuasion with torture. Both failed, and Pionius was convicted for burning alive. He suffered together with Metrodorus, a Marcionite priest.

The 12th of March as the date of his martyrdom is confirmed by the record. Eusebius of Caesarea ( Church History, IV, xv, . Chronicle, p 17 ed, Schoene ) can martyrdom during the reign of Antoninus Pius to take place. This could be due to the fact that he had found the martyrdom of Pionius in a manuscript of the Acts of the Martyrs, in which lacked the chronological attribution of the current issue.

Remembrance

• Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox: March 11
• Armenian: March 12 ( celebrated on the Monday after the first Vorfastensonntag )