The Passion of Saints Ursus and Victor of Solothurn

These two saints were in the Theban Legion led by Maurice, but they escaped the killings of the Legion and fled to Solothurn in Gaul (now in Switzerland). The Emperor Maximian ordered his ministers to capture them there. When found, they did not deny they were Christians, so the ministers said they were to be killed. Here are a few excerpts from documents in the Acta Sanctorum (September vol. 8) that tell of the passion of these two saints.

• From a Passion cited on p. 262-3: The servants of God Victor and Ursus replied, "It would be better for us to die than to worship demons." The ministers took them away to be tortured. But as they walked they sang psalms and said, "Lord Jesus Christ, do not suffer us to go with these people who deny that you are true God." And when they were being tortured, they shouted, "Lord Jesus Christ, give your servants fortitude, for we gladly suffer these things for you. And send your angel, who will free us from the hands of our enemies." Then there appeared over them as it were rays from the sun, and those who were administering the tortures fell down and became as dead, and the saints of God were freed from the chains that had bound them. The crowd saw this and glorified the God of Israel. Then one of the ministers, Hyrtacus, who was famous for persecuting Christians, said to his henchmen, "This is just a phantasm, go quickly, run them down and catch these malefactors who disrespect the orders of Emperor Maximian and seduce the people to Christianity." [Here is a lacuna in the text. The saints are put to the sword.] When the crowd saw what had been done to the servants of God, some pagans seized by demons rejoiced, but the Christians wept. Then they all saw Victor kneel for two hours as if he were alive, and as the people watched in awe his body rested and shone like the sun. Afterwards the Christians buried the bodies.
• Now from another source printed on p. 263: Hyrtacus ordered the holy martyrs to be presented to him at the bridge over the river [Aare], there to be beheaded. The blessed martyrs died and fell into the river, but they did not float far from the bridge. For the mercy of God, through which all things are possible, showed the power of his mercy. Not far from the bridge they left the river, holding their heads in their hands, and they walked to the place where now the basilica has been built in their honor. Then, miracle of miracles, the holy martyrs kneeled on the ground for about an hour's time in the sight of all, and prayed endlessly. Then they left their bodies as if to say, "Here is our eternal resting place."