E05327: Maximus of Turin composes three Latin sermons in Turin, northern Italy, between c. 390 and 408/423 in honour of the feast day of the *Anaunian martyrs (Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander, ob. c. 397, S00605).

Maximus of Turin, Sermons 105, 106 and 107

Sermon 105
Cum omnes beatos martyres, quos nobis tradit antiquitas, honorificentia digna miremur, praecipue tamen sanctos Alexandrum Martyrium et Sisinium, qui temporibus nostris passi sunt, debemus tota ueneratione suspicere. Nescio quo enim pacto maiorem circa hos habemus affectum, quos conscientia nouit propria, quam quos docet historia.

‘Although we admire with due reverence all the blessed martyrs that antiquity gives us, yet we ought especially to receive Saints Alexander, Martyrius and Sisinius, who suffered in our time with a wholehearted veneration. For in some way we have a greater affection for those with whom we have been personally acquainted than those about whom history teaches us.’

Maximus states that this is because seeing the suffering of martyrs is more impactful than simply reading or hearing about it. Devotion is owed to these martyrs for three reasons. Firstly, in shedding their blood they bring glory to the current age. Secondly, because they reveal the faith of Christians of the current time. Thirdly, because they were martyred in a time of peace. They were not persecuted, but instead were made confessors through their Christian devotion.

The men – one deacon and two clerics – were building a church in the region of Anaunia. Some local people wished to conduct a lustrum, and the saints pointed out the error of their ways. They were attacked as a result, they died, and their bodies were burned in the ruins of the church. In this burning, their bodies were ‘not cremated, but consecrated’ (consecrata sunt ... non cremata). Their death encourages many others to be like them.

‘Thus where Christ once suffered persecution in three martyrs, now he rejoices in the many Christian people of that place.’

Sermon 106
Maximus refers to the feast day (natalis) celebrated in honour of Alexander, Martyrius and Sisinius just a few days earlier. He again emphasises that they were martyred in a time of peace. They died not at the hands of a vengeful ruler, but because they rebuked the sacrilegious. In particular, they condemned a practice called lustrum. Maximus exhorts his congregation to imitate the saints in rebuking the impious.

Sermon 107
No mention is made of Alexander, Martyrius and Sisinius, but Maximus refers to a sermon he made a few days ago (Sermon 106). He exhorts his congregation to remove idols from their possession and delivers a sermon on the evils of idolatry.


Text: Mutzenbacher 1962. Translation: Ramsey 1989.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.