until thou arrive at the place whither they have sent him." Poemenia arose with great joy and did as the angel of the Lord had bidden her, and followed her son until she came to the city whither they had taken him. When she arrived, Alexander was undergoing an interrogation before Tiberianas. When the holy woman saw him, she cried out, "That Great God, the Good Shepherd, in Whom thou hast believed, help thee, O my soul" Tiberianus inquired who had spoken, but no one in all the crowd that stood around could tell whence the voice had come.
Tiberianus angrily ordered the prisoner to be removed. As the soldiers were leading him away, Poemenia asked them to let her speak to her son, who was glad to see her and bade her go with him to the place of his martyrdom. Some of the soldiers who guarded him said, "Blessed indeed art thou, Alexander, for great is thy faith, for behold thou hast sustained no injury from all the torments thou hast endured."
Alexander was taken to various different towns and many arguments and torments were vainly used to induce him to renounce his faith. Tiberianus and some of his attendants had very alarming visions concerning him. At Sardica the Christian inhabitants came out to meet the confessor and ask his prayers.
At Burtodexion, near Adrianople, St. Alexander again met his mother; he bade her not weep and told her he hoped that on the morrow he should finish his course. At Druzipera, on the river Ergina, Tiberianus ordered Alexander to be thrown into the water to be eaten by the fish. When, by the indulgence of his executioners, he had preached to the soldiers and prayed in their hearing, one of them named Celestinus said, "Oh, martyr of Christ, it is my office to put you to death, but pray for me that this sin be not laid to my charge." Alexander told him to obey without fear the orders he had received; then Celestinus bound Alexander's eyes with a handkerchief and drew his sword ; but when he was going to strike him, he saw an angel standing by, and his hand was stayed. "Courage, brother," said the saint, "strike as thou art commanded." Celestinus told him the reason of his hesitation. Alexander prayed that God would suffer his martyrdom to be accomplished, so the angel disappeared and Celestinus cut off his head.
Meantime, Poemenia arrived at a place called Zorolus and inquired where her son was. She was told he was that day condemned to die at Druzipera, about eighteen miles off. She hastened thither with tears and lamentations and when she got near Druzipera, she met the soldiers who had beheaded Alexander and thrown him into the river. Four dogs had found the body and drawn it out of the water and were keeping guard over it, and when the martyr's mother came within two miles of the place, two dogs came running to meet her and gently taking hold of her, one on each side, they led her to the body of her son, which she embalmed and buried in a noble tomb on the other side of the Ergina, looking towards the west. Many miraculous cures were wrought at the spot. Ever afterwards, by the help of the Holy Spirit, whatever she asked of God, she obtained, and many angels used to come and sing psalms with her. Alexander appeared to her in glory and directed her .to take her servants and return home and be of good cheer as Christ would soon bring her to His kingdom. She went back to Borne and is not again mentioned in the Acts of St. Alexander. She is called Saint by some writers, but the Bollandists do not consider it clear that she is to be worshipped. AA.SS, from Lipomauus and an old Greek manuscript.
St. Poemia, Jan. 8. AA.SS. Guérin.
St. Poenica, Jan. 3, M. in Africa. AA.SS,
St. Polentana, Polentaine, or Pollutana, July 15, M. at Carthage with St Catallinus, deacon, and several others ; all buried in the Basilica of Faustus. Migne, Die, Hag. AA.SS.
St. Pollena or Pollina, Oct. 8, V. at Trécaut in Yermandois, + c. 700. Migne, Dic. Hag. Saussaye.
St. Pollentia, Dec. 9, M. at Antioch with St. Gerontius and some others. Stadler from the Elcnchus of AA.SS.
