Saint Publia of Antioch

“The city of Antioch,” says this historian, “counted then, among the models of virtue and charity that the faith of Christ had produced within its bosom, a noble widow by the name of Pub lia. Coming from an illustrious family, she had lost her husband in the flower of his age . A son, John, remained to her from this union broken prematurely by death. But the son was worthy of his mother. He dedicated himself to the service of God, became a priest, and during a long career of devotion and holy works, was like the prince of the clergy of Antioch, although his modesty had led him to refuse on various occasions to ascend to the episcopal seat, to which the votes of the people had called him. Publia gathered in her home a community of virgins who committed themselves, by a perpetual vow, to live in chastity and obedience. Under the direction of the noble widow, the holy maidens occupied themselves with prayer and assiduously sang the praises of the Lo rd. One day, the a postate emperor happened to pass by this pious house. He heard the voices of the holy maidens who were chanting, alternating the choir. He lent an ear to their songs and caught these words of David: *Similes sibi fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidunt in eis*: 'The idols of the nations are silver and gold; they are the perishable work of a mortal hand.' Then the other choir replied: *Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidant in eis*: 'May those who make idols and all who worship them become like them!' Julian, irritated, gave the order to the virgins to be silent and to no longer repeat their seditious songs in the future. Publia, without taking account of the injunction, had all the voices sing Psalm 67: *Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus*: 'Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered!' The fury of the apostate was a remedy. He sent to seize the mistress of the choir. The venerable mistress appeared before him. Without respect for her white hair and for the holiness that breathed from her face, he had her slapped by the soldiers of his escort. The heroic Christian endured this outrage while blessing the Lord, and returned to her retreat, where she continued the pious songs that once calmed the furies of Saul, while they then overexcited those of an apostate emperor.

Excerpt from the General History of the Church, by Abbé Darras. — Cf. Theodoret, Ecclesiastical History, book II, chap. 14.

“The city of Antioch,” says this historian, “counted then, among the models of virtue and charity that the faith of Christ had produced within its bosom, a noble widow by the name of Publia. Descended from an illustrious family, she had lost her husband in the flower of his youth. A son, John, remained to her from this union broken prematurely by death. But the son was worthy of his mother. He dedicated himself to the service of God, became a priest, and during a long career of devotion and holy works, was like the prince of the clergy of Antioch, although his modesty had caused him to refuse on various occasions to ascend the episcopal seat, to which the numismatic suffrages had called him. Publia gathered in her home a community of virgins who committed themselves, by a perpetual vow, to live in chastity and obedience. Under the direction of the noble widow, the holy maidens occupied themselves with prayer and assiduously sang the praises of the Lord. One day, the apostate emperor happened to pass before this pious house. He heard the voices of the holy maidens who were psalmodizing, alternating the choir. He lent an ear to their chants and caught these words of David: *Similes sibi fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidunt in eis*: 'The idols of the nations are silver and gold; they are the perishable work of a mortal hand.' Then the other choir took up: *Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidant in eis*: 'May they become like them, the makers of idols and all who adore them!' Julian, irritated, gave the order for the virgins to be silent and to no longer repeat their seditious chants in the future. Publia, without taking account of the injunction, had all the voices sing Psalm LXVII: *Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus*: 'Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered!' The fury of the apostate was a remedy. He sent to seize the mistress of the choir. The venerable mistress appeared before him. Without respect for her white hair and for the holiness that breathed upon her face, he had her slapped by the soldiers of his escort. The heroic Christian suffered this outrage while blessing the Lord, and returned to her retreat, where she continued the pious chants that once calmed the furies of Saul, while they then overexcited those of an apostate emperor.

“The city of Antioch,” says this historian, “counted then, among the models of virtue and charity that the faith of Christ had produced within its bosom, a noble widow by the name of Publia. Descended from an illustrious family, she had lost her husband in the flower of his youth. A son, John, remained to her from this union prematurely broken by death. But the son was worthy of his mother. He dedicated himself to the service of God, became a priest, and during a long career of devotion and holy works, was like the prince of the clergy of Antioch, although his modesty had caused him to refuse on various occasions to ascend to the episcopal seat, to which the votes of the people had called him. Publia gathered in her home a community of virgins who committed themselves, by a perpetual vow, to live in chastity and obedience. Under the direction of the noble widow, the holy maidens occupied themselves with prayer and assiduously sang the praises of the Lord. One day, the apostate emperor happened to pass before this pious house. He heard the voices of the holy maidens who were chanting, alternating the choir. He lent an ear to their songs and caught these words of David: Similes sibi fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidunt in eis: “The idols of the nations are of silver and gold; they are the perishable work of a mortal hand.” Then the other choir took up: Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidant in eis: “May they become like them, the makers of idols and all who adore them!” Julian, irritated, gave the order to the virgins to be silent and to no longer repeat their seditious chants in the future. Publia, without taking account of the injunction, had all the voices sing Psalm LXVII: Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus: “Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered!” The fury of the apostate was a remedy. He sent to seize the mistress of the choir. The venerable mistress appeared before him. Without respect for her white hair and for the holiness that breathed upon her face, he had her slapped by the soldiers of his escort. The heroic Christian underwent this outrage while blessing the Lord, and returned to her retreat, where she continued the pious chants that once calmed the furies of Saul, while they then overexcited those of an apostate emperor.”

Excerpt from the General History of the Church, by Abbé Darras. — Cf. Theodoret, Ecclesiastical History, book II, chap. 14.