For1 the Greeks seizing the slaves of Christian Catechumens, then torturing them that so they might learn from them some secret thing respecting the Christians, these slaves, not being able to speak what should please those who were torturing them, except as far as they had heard from their masters, that the Divine Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ: they supposing that it was really flesh and blood, told this to those who inquired. But they immediately on learning that this was a sacred rite of the Christians, both sent word of this to the other Greeks, and tried to compel by torture the martyrs Sanctus and Blandina to confess it. To whom Blandina well and courageously answered, How (said she) could they endure such things who for religious discipline abstain even from lawful meats?
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e This translation is from Dr. Pusey’s book on The Real Presence the Doctrine of the Early Church, p. 324. The extract is given in Oecumenius’ Catena, on 1 S. Peter 2:12. (p. 149. ed. Verona 1532). Oecumenius introduces it with the words: And if any one would learn this, he will have it exactly out of what was written by Irenæus Bishop of Lyons in Celtica about Sanctus and Blandina, they are briefly . ↩