The Passion of St. Concordia
During the reign of Emperor Antoninus, a man named Concordia, who was from a noble family, lived in Rome. There was a great persecution of Christians in that city, so that no one was allowed to buy or sell anything unless he offered sacrifices to the gods.
Concordia's father, Gordianus, was a priest and had a son, Concordia, whom he taught to understand the Scriptures and the faith of Christ. Therefore, by the bishop of Rome, Pius, who suffered martyrdom for Christ during the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, Concordia was made a hippodiacon.
This blessed man, with his father, exercised himself day and night in fasting and prayer, and besides they gave alms with generous hands to the poor and needy, and in turn they asked the Lord to grant them the opportunity to escape the cruelty of the persecution against Christians.
"My lord, if you have no objection to my intention, grant me the blessing to go to St. Eutychius and stay with him for a short time, until the cruelty of our enemy, the Emperor Antoninus, ceases".
"I can receive the crown of martyrdom wherever Christ God is pleased", he said, "so let me fulfill my purpose". And when he had said this, Father dismissed him, and Concordius withdrew to his relative Eutychus, who was then in his estate on the Salarian road near the city of Trebula.
Because of what is said hereafter about how St. Concordia called to himself the Tuscan eparch who dwelt at Spoleto, in the province of Umbria, it must be thought that the city here designated as Trebula was in the northern part of the Sabine land, not far from Umbria, a province situated to the north-east of Rome.]
The name of the Lord Jesus Christ was invoked on many who were suffering from various diseases, and they were healed. The news about them spread far and wide.
Torkvat, the bishop of Tuscany, who lived in the city of Spoleto, in ancient Umbria, on the border with Etruria, was told about them. Probably Umbria and Etruria were under the rule of one ruler.
"I ask you your name", said the bishop again, "not your Christ". "I have already told you", said St. Concordia, "that I am a Christian and confess Christ".
"Bring a sacrifice to the immortal gods", said the bishop, "and you will be our friend, "I will consider you my father's and ask the emperor Antoninus, my lord, to appoint you priest of the gods". "May your gods be better with you", said St. Concordia. "Listen to me and offer a sacrifice to the immortal gods", continued his bishop.
And he said unto him, If thou wilt hearken unto me, and sacrifice unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and escape from eternal torment; for if thou wilt not do this, thou shalt be punished with everlasting life, and shall suffer the torment of everlasting fire. And the bishop commanded him to be beaten with rods, and to be cast into the common prison.
And it came to pass in the night, that Eutychius the blessed came to Concordia with Annaim the bishop, who was a friend of Torquatus, and asked him to let the prisoner go to him for a short time. And it came to pass, that Concordia was let out of the dungeon by night, and dwelt with Anfimus not a little while.
"My life is Christ, to whom I daily offer a sacrifice of praise, and you will burn in hell", said Bishop Concordia. Then Torquat ordered the saint to be nailed to a shameful stake.
"Bring a sacrifice to the great Zeus [Zeus, Jupiter in Roman, was the chief deity, the father of gods and men; he was the ruler of heaven and earth, thunder and lightning, winds and rains]", insisted the bishop. "I will not sacrifice to a deaf and dumb stone", answered the blessed Concordia, "for with me is my Lord Jesus Christ, Whom my soul serves!"
The bishop was enraged, and sent Concordia into a narrow dungeon, and ordered him to be put in irons on his hands and neck, and forbade anyone to enter it, for he wished to starve the saint.
But in the middle of the night an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Be strong".
"I don't know", replied the saint. "Bring a sacrifice to Zeus", continued the armor-bearers, "or else you will be beheaded". Then blessed Concordia, thanking God, said, "Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ". And spitting in Zeus' face, one of the soldiers drew his sword and cut off the holy head, and thus blessed Concordia, confessing to the Lord, gave up the spirit [It was about 175 A.D.]
Then two clergymen and some godly men came to the prison and took the body of the saint and laid it in a place near the city of Spoleto, in a place watered by abundant running springs, where by the tomb of the martyr, those possessed by demons and suffering from various diseases were being healed by the prayers of St. Concordia, our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
I 'm going to have to get back to you .