Telemachus
Telemachus In 429 A.D., church historian Theodoret writes of an incident that occurred in his own lifetime. In his book "Ecclesiastical History," Theodoret writes of a monk named Telemachus. On January 1, 404 Telemachus from modern day Turkey was led to go to Rome. He left his home and made the long journey to Italy. When he arrived, Telemachus followed the crowds to the Roman Coliseum. There he saw two gladiators in a battle for their lives before a roaring crowd. Telemachus, astounded and repulsed by the brutality, jumped into the pit and got in between the two gladiators, imploring them to stop. The crowd, indignant that someone would dare interfere with their morbid entertainment, stoned Telemachus to death. Theoeoret writes. “The sanguinary spectators, possessed by the demon who delights in the effusion of blood, were irritated at the interruption of their cruel sports, and stoned him who had occasioned the cessation.” However, the violent death of Telemachus was not in...