Hymn to St. Antimus
Lokrantz calls the meter acataleptic iambic
This Antimus may have been the Bishop of Nicomedia who was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian. He was particularly venerated in Umbria, especially in the Tiber valley, Sabina and Piceno, places geographically close to the hermitage of Fonte Avellana.
Antimus converted many to the Christian faith and countless miracles were attributed to him. He converted a priest of the god Silvanus and the pagan priest’s entire family. Accused of having destroyed the simulacrum of Silvanus, he was thrown into the Tiber with a stone around his neck. His legend states that he was miraculously rescued by an angel, later recaptured, and then beheaded.
When the Roman governor of Bithynia, Pinianus, fell ill, his Christian wife, well known for her charity to imprisoned Christians and niece of the Emperor Gallienus, found Antimus in prison. Antimus converted Pinianus, and the governor was cured.
Valerius Pinianus (~ 381 – 420 or 432) was a member of a branch of the gens Valeria Severa and among the richest men of his time. He was the son of a Roman praefectus urbi. His life is closely coupled with that of his paternal cousin and wife, whom he married. They lived for a time in Africa where Augustine, bishop of Hippo, convinced them to dedicate a large part of their wealth to his church. In 417, the couple moved to Palestine.
1.
Insigne decus martyrum
Laus nostra promat Antimum,
Cuius testantur omnia
Elementa victoriam.
The splendid glory of a martyr,
May our praise extol Antimus,
To whose victory all the
Elements bear witness.
2.
Furores calcat principum,
Manus ridet carnificum;
Fundatae robur fidei
Non quassat vis supplicii.
He scorns the madness of princes,
He laughs at the band of executioners;
The force of torture does not shake
The oak of established faith.
3.
Post carcerum custodias,
Post verberum victorias
Saxum vincto suspenditur.
After being held in prison,
After victories over beatings
A stone is hung on him bound tightly,
And he is drowned in the river.
4.
Sed o felicem naufragum!
Mox clarum cernit angelum,
Deponit praesto vinculum,
Liber redit hospitium.
But O the fortunate shipwrecked soul!
Soon sees the bright angel,
At once he puts aside his chains,
And free returns to safety.
5.
Caput caesus interiit
Sed victor astra petiit;
Dum mortis fert atrociam,
Vitae mercatur gloriam.
Decapitated he perished
But as victor pursued the stars;
While he endures the cruelty of death,
He is purchasing the glory of life.
6.
Magnis votorum laudibus
Dignus est martyr Antimus,
Qui signis et mirificis
Tot claruit prodigiis.
The martyr Antimus,
Who shone forth
With many signs and portents
Is worthy of great praises, vows, and offerings,
7.
Hic Piniani languidam
Carnem simul et animam
Cunctis morborum nexibus
Sacris absoluit precibus.
While he cured the ill body
From all snares of illness
He also saved his Pinanius’ soul
With sacred prayers.
8.
Vesana daemon furia
Quendam vexat in vulnera;
Pacis hostis expellitur,
Sic mens pacata redditur.
A demon, an Insane fury
Disturbs someone with wounds;
The enemy of peace is driven out,
In this way the mind is returned to peace.
9.
Te, martyr alme, poscimus
Cordis orisque vocibus,
Ut nos tremendo iudici
Commendes prece supplici.
Nourishing martyr, we ask you
With the voice of our hearts and of our mouths,
Recommend us with a suppliant prayer,
To the terrible judge.
10.
Sit patri laus ingenito…
Let there be praise to the unborn Father…
