Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 6) - XV - Peter of Alexander commenced

Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 6) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence the work of Peter of Alexandria by reading the 'Genuine Acts of Peter'.

My summary
Today we begin the work of Peter of Alexandria by reading 'The genuine acts of Peter'.

We learn about:
(i) Alexandria itself;
(ii) Meletius;
(iii) Arius;
(iv) the persecution of Christians under Diocletian;
(v) the imprisonment of Peter;
(vi) the teaching of Peter (from one speech in particular);
(vii) the execution of Peter;
(viii) the burial of Peter.

What grabbed me
As usual, I don't like prayer to saints: 'Moreover, the blessed martyr entreated them to allow him to go to the tomb of St. Mark, for he desired to commend himself to his patronage. But they from confusion, looking down on the ground, said, "Do as you wish, but make haste." Therefore approaching the burial-place of the evangelist, he embraced it, and speaking to him as if he were yet alive in the flesh, and able to hear him, he prayed after this manner: "O father most honourable, thou evangelist of the only-begotten Saviour, thou witness of His passion, thee did Christ choose, who is the Deliverer of us all, to be the first pontiff and pillar of this See; to thee did He commit the task of proclaiming the faith throughout the whole of Egypt and its boundaries. Thou, I say, hast watchfully fulfilled that ministry of our human salvation which was intrusted to thee; as the reward of this labour thou hast doubtless obtained the martyr's palm. Hence, not without justice, art thou counted worthy to be saluted evangelist and bishop. Thy successor was Anianus, and the rest in descending series down to the most blessed Theonas, who disciplined my infancy, and deigned to educate my heart. To whom I, a sinner and unworthy, have been beyond my deservings appointed as successor by an hereditary descent. And, what is best of all, lo! the largeness of the divine bounty has granted me to become a martyr of His precious cross and joyful resurrection, giving to my devotion the sweet and pleasant odour of His passion, that I should be made meet to pour out unto Him the offering of my blood. And because the time of making this offering is now instant, pray for me that, the divine power assisting me, I may be meet to reach the goal of this agony with a stout heart and ready faith. I commend also to thy glorious patronage the flock of Christ's worshippers which was committed to my pastoral care; to thee, I say, I with prayers commend it, who are approved as the author and guardian of all preceding and subsequent occupiers of this pontifical chair, and who, holding its first honours, art the successor not of man, but of the God-man, Christ Jesus."'

Better to do what Peter did next: 'Saying these words, he went back to a little distance from the sacred tomb, and, raising his hands to heaven, prayed with a loud voice, saying: "O thou Only-begotten, Jesus Christ, Word of the Eternal Father, hear me invoking Thy clemency. Speak peace, I beseech Thee, to the tempest that shakes Thy Church, and with the effusion of my blood, who am Thy servant, make an end to the persecution of Thy people."'

Next week's reading
Conclude the work of Peter of Alexandria by reading the 'Canonical epistle' and 'Fragments'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.