Clearly not as much fun as running on the field stoned. . .
Today is the feast day of St. Telemachus (d. circa 404). According to some sources, it was Telemachus who inspired the Roman emperor, Honorius, to put an end to the gladiatorial games. As Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus in Syria (393-457) recounts in his Ecclesiastical History:
Honorius, who inherited the empire of Europe, put a stop to the gladitorial combats which had long been held at Rome. The occasion of his doing so arose from the following circumstance. A certain man of the name of Telemachus had embraced the ascetic life.He had set out from the East and for this reason had repaired to Rome.There, when the abominable spectacle was being exhibited, he went himself into the stadium, and stepping down into the arena, endeavoured to stop the men who were wielding their weapons against one another. The spectators of the slaughter were indignant, and inspired by the triad fury of the demon who delights in those bloody deeds, stoned the peacemaker to death.
When the admirable emperor was informed of this he numbered Telemachus in the number of victorious martyrs, and put an end to that impious spectacle.
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