J. Quasten writes (Patrology, vol. 1, p. 180): "The Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia, which gives a moving account of the sufferings of the martyrs who died in the sever persecution of the Church of Lyons in 177, or 178, and which is preserved by Eusebius (Hist. eccl. 5,1,1-2,8), is one of the most interesting documents of the persecutions. It does not conceal the apostasy of some members of the community. Among the courageous martyrs we see Bishop Photinus 'being over ninety years of age and very sick in body, scarcely breathing from the sickness, but strengthened by zeal of the spirit from his vehement desire for martyrdom'; the admirable Blandina, a frail and delicate female slave, who upheld the courage of her companions by her example and words; Maturus, a neophyte of amazing fortitude; Sanctus, a deacon of Vienne; Alexander, the physician; and Ponticus, a boy of fifteen years of age."
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