THE SCENE: Rasputin has nothing on the Sicilian Saint Vitus, whose refusal to die proved frustrating to both the Saxon king and the Roman emperor.
THE TEXT: One time while [King] Hylas was there watching certain secret rites, he was struck blind. Moved by this incident he renounced the idols and confessed Christ. But upon the restoration of his sigh through the merits of his son Vitus, he renounced Christ and sough to put his son to death. But warned and led by an angel, [his tutor] Modestus took the boy and went across the sea to the river Selse. Resting there under a certain tree they gave themselves up to prayer, while eagles brough them their daily food. The boy preached Christ to the people who came to visit him, converted many, and prepared many for the reception of baptism.
After a while he was summoned by the Emperor Diocletian, and set out for Rome. There he was commanded to offer sacrifice to the gods, even though by his prayers he had driven a demon out from the body of the son of the Emperor. He replied to the Emperor somewhat sternly, and was cast to the beasts but was unhurt by them. Then he was cast into the midst of a fiery oven, but the flames were put out by an angel and he emerged unhurt. Then he was thrown into prison, weighted down with iron bonds, and there he was visited by the Lord and by a host of angels. As a final torment he was fixed upon a pillory, together with Modestus, and by the breaking of all the joints in their bodies, they received the consolation of Christ. For their torturers were struck by lighting from heaven, and terrified by fearful thunder, fled from that place. Then suddenly Vitus was carried back to the place where he had first given himself up to prayer, an angel of the Lord conveying him there; and when their last prayer had been said, they gave up their souls to heaven.
– The Deeds of the Saxons, Widukind of Corvey, 10th Century AD
