telemachus
Hello! This is Backyard Conversations, the blog format of 100 Fold Ministries. I’m Dave Scherrer and this ministry is devoted to expanding the Kingdom of God by celebrating and furthering the Gospel of that Kingdom!
We are going to start a brief series on people who have made a difference for the Kingdom of God. People that, most likely, you have never heard of. Men and women of antiquity whose stories have been largely forgotten by the 21st Century church.
For instance, have you heard of a fellow by the name of Telemachus?
Not much is known about him. He lived a long time ago, largely in the 5th century, which would be only about 400 years after Christ lived. That’s a long time ago, so I can understand if you have never heard of him! There is only one account of his life that is still in existence, the rest that we know about him is in church lore. The story can be found in the writings of Theodoret, the once Bishop of Cyrus (393-457 A.D.).
Theodoret’s Ecclesiastical History covers the period of time up until 429 A.D. and he offers this account of the fellow Telemachus:
Here is the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom – my faithful prayers and actions, however small, done in the name of Christ, are seen, remembered, and celebrated in Heaven. Do not lose hope!
That’s it for now! I hope to see you here in a couple weeks where we will have a conversation about another inspiring story of faithfulness on behalf of the kingdom of God! This is Dave Scherrer, president of 100 fold ministries (100foldministries.org). Peace to you!
We are going to start a brief series on people who have made a difference for the Kingdom of God. People that, most likely, you have never heard of. Men and women of antiquity whose stories have been largely forgotten by the 21st Century church.
For instance, have you heard of a fellow by the name of Telemachus?
Not much is known about him. He lived a long time ago, largely in the 5th century, which would be only about 400 years after Christ lived. That’s a long time ago, so I can understand if you have never heard of him! There is only one account of his life that is still in existence, the rest that we know about him is in church lore. The story can be found in the writings of Theodoret, the once Bishop of Cyrus (393-457 A.D.).
Theodoret’s Ecclesiastical History covers the period of time up until 429 A.D. and he offers this account of the fellow Telemachus:
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, legend has it, saying to the combatants three times: “In the name of Christ Forbear!”
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 victorius martyrs, and put an end to that impious spectacle.
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Theodoret of Cyrus, The Ecclesiastical History
Book V, Chapter XXVI: Of Honorius the Emperor and Telemachus the monk.
One day, Telemachus thought he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome. And believing that he had heard God speak to him, he set out. Traveling on foot for weeks on end, he finally arrived in Rome. As he approached the city, he began hearing the sounds of people cheering in the distance. As he approached the Coliseum, he heard people screaming, “Kill them…”
As he entered the Coliseum, he saw the gladiators come forth and stand before Caesar. One by one they saluted the Emperor saying, “We who are about to die salute you.” Telemachus, now in complete shock, realizes that these gladiators were going to fight to the death to entertain the crowds. In utter disbelief, he watched as the killing began. Overcome with compassion and grief he made his way down through the crowd and climbed over the wall, dropping to the floor of the arena in the midst of the lions and gladiators.
Looking at the crowds, he yelled, “In the name of Christ, stop!” Even before the crowds were able to quiet down to hear what he was crying, a gladiator came over to him, raised his sword and thrust it into his body. Telemachus fell limp to the dirt. As this little humble monk lay motionless on the dirt floor of the stadium… silence came over the crowd. Then, someone in the top row got up and silently walked out… One by one the stadium emptied as people left in dismay at this humble man’s martyrdom. And never again did a gladiator enter the Coliseum to fight for Caesar. The games came to an end, that day.
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– from
The Power of Telemachus by Ashley
Here is the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom – my faithful prayers and actions, however small, done in the name of Christ, are seen, remembered, and celebrated in Heaven. Do not lose hope!
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1 Corinthians 1:27-28
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not.
That’s it for now! I hope to see you here in a couple weeks where we will have a conversation about another inspiring story of faithfulness on behalf of the kingdom of God! This is Dave Scherrer, president of 100 fold ministries (100foldministries.org). Peace to you!