Almachus, Saint, Martyr

ALMACHO, saint, martyr. — The fuller codices of the Hieronymian Martyrology have preserved under 1 January the following notice concerning A.: «Natalis of A., who, having said: Today is the octave of the Lord; cease from the superstitions of idols and from unclean sacrifices, was put to death by the gladiators on the orders of Alipius, prefect of the city». Here we have, in brief, the summary of a Passio of the martyr A., now lost. An event bearing points of resemblance to the preceding notice is related to us by the historian Theodoret (Hist. eccl., V, 26), who attributes it to an Eastern ascetic named Telemachus. «Honorius, Theodoret relates, having assumed the empire of the West, abolished the gladiatorial combats that had been held in Rome ab antiquo, taking the following occasion. A certain Telemachus, who had embraced the ascetic life, having departed from the East, came to Rome with this purpose; and while that horrible spectacle was taking place, he too entered the stadium and, going down into the arena, sought to make those who were using weapons against one another cease.

But the spectators of that slaughter, indignant and stirred by the fury of the demon who fed upon that blood, stoned the spokesman for peace. When this became known, the admirable emperor enrolled Telemachus among the victorious martyrs and put an end to that wicked spectacle.” Such spectacles did in fact cease shortly after 410. The Hieronymian Martyrology and Theodoret report two versions of the same event, which cannot be doubted. The question of the two names remains; it seems that preference should be given to that of A., preserved in the Hieronymian Martyrology.