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Commemorated on April 28
The Martyrs Dadus,
Maximus and Quintilian suffered under the emperor Diocletian (284-305),
when there came out a decree to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods on the solemn
feastdays, and to put Christians to death.
The representatives
of the emperor in the city of Dorostolum, – Tarquinius and Gabinius, made a
sumptuous festivity, to which came not only the inhabitants of the city, but
also from the surrounding villages.
When the festivity
finished, someone reported to the emperor, that three brothers ‑‑
Dadus, Maximus and Quintilian, did not obey the decree of the emperor and
withdrew themselves into the Ozovia forest. Soldiers were sent after them, who
caught the holy brothers at prayer and led them forth for trial.
The governors
interrogated the brothers, who confessed themselves Christians. But Tarquinius
offered to Saint Maximus to become a pagan-priest of the god Zeus. But that one
called Zeus a foul adulterer and again confessed the True God.
Tarquinius attempted
to reason with Saints Dadus and Quintilian. They said, that their brother well
knew the Holy Scripture and they would follow him in everything. They
dispatched the martyrs to prison, but there also they pondered only about the
salvation of their souls. At midnight when the saints were asleep, the devil
appeared to them, up in arms against them. But when the martyrs woke, they
beheld an Angel, which said: "Fear not, for God your hope bringeth you to
Himself. He is not far from you and wilt sustain you". In the morning
Tarquinius said to the brothers that the gods had declared their will to him in
a dream: give them death if they would not offer sacrifice. The martyrs
answered, that the Lord had commanded them to endure torments for His Holy Name.
The tortures and
interrogations continued constantly from morning to evening for several days.
Finally, they brought out a death sentence against the martyrs, led them out
under guard to their forest and there beheaded them with a sword (+ 286).
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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