Saint Asterius of Caesarea

This entry concerns Asterius (Astyrius), a Roman senator martyred at Caesarea in Palestine under Valerian. He is distinct from Saint Asterius of Amasea.

From the Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology (English translation, Baltimore, 1916), 3 March:

At Caesarea, in Palestine, during the persecution of Valerian, the holy martyrs Marinus, soldier, and Asterius, senator. The former was examined by the judge on the charge laid against him by his fellow-soldiers of being a Christian, and as he admitted the accusation in no uncertain tone, he was beheaded and thus received the crown of martyrdom. His mutilated body was taken up by Asterius on his shoulders, and wrapped in the garment which he himself wore. This service gained for Asterius immediately the palm of martyrdom as a reward for the honors which he had given to a matryr [sic].

From Eusebius, Church History, Book VII

Chapter 16, "Story in Regard to Astyrius" (tr. A. C. McGiffert, 1890):

Astyrius also is commemorated on account of his pious boldness in connection with this affair. He was a Roman of senatorial rank, and in favor with the emperors, and well known to all on account of his noble birth and wealth. Being present at the martyr's death, he took his body away on his shoulder, and arraying him in a splendid and costly garment, prepared him for the grave in a magnificent manner, and gave him fitting burial. The friends of this man, that remain to our day, relate many other facts concerning him.

Chapter 17, "The Signs at Paneas of the Great Might of our Saviour" (tr. A. C. McGiffert, 1890):

Among these is also the following wonder. At Cæsarea Philippi, which the Phœnicians call Paneas, springs are shown at the foot of the Mountain Panius, out of which the Jordan flows. They say that on a certain feast day, a victim was thrown in, and that through the power of the demon it marvelously disappeared and that which happened was a famous wonder to those who were present. Astyrius was once there when these things were done, and seeing the multitude astonished at the affair, he pitied their delusion; and looking up to heaven he supplicated the God over all through Christ, that he would rebuke the demon who deceived the people, and bring the men's delusion to an end. And they say that when he had prayed thus, immediately the sacrifice floated on the surface of the fountain. And thus the miracle departed; and no wonder was ever afterward performed at the place.

Sources

• The Roman Martyrology, published by order of Gregory XIII, revised by Urban VIII and Clement X, augmented and corrected by Benedict XIV; translated from the Latin (Rome, 1914 edition) under the Archbishop of Baltimore. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. Public domain. Entry for 3 March. https://archive.org/details/romanmartyrology00cathuoft (Transcribed from the archive.org scan text of the 1916 Baltimore edition; obvious OCR misreadings corrected, original misprints kept and marked [sic].)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History, Book VII, chapters 16-17. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 1, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1890. Public domain. Online text: New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250107.htm