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When the berbers rose up against the city, Decius went out to fight them, but when he saw how many they were, he became terrified. St. Mercurius assured him saying, "Do not be afraid, because God will destroy our enemies and will bring us victory." When he left the Emperor, an angel appeared to him in the shape of a human being, dressed in white apparel. The angel gave him a sword saying, "When you overcome your enemies, remember the Lord your God." (That is why he is called, 'of the two swords', ''Abu-Saifain'', one is the military sword and the other is the sword of the Divine power.)
When Emperor Decius conquered his enemies and Mercurius came back victorious, Mercurius was given the title 'Supreme Commander Of of all the Roman Armies' (in 250 A.D., at the age of 25), and the angel appeared to him and reminded him of what he told him previously, that is, to remember the Lord his God.
Decius, and his soldiers with him, wanted to offer up incense to his idols, but St. Mercurius tarried behind. When they informed the Emperor of what had happened, he called St. Mercurius and expressed his amazement at his abandoning of his loyalty to him. The Emperor reprimanded him for refusing to come and offer incense to the idols. The Saint cast his girdle and his military attire down before the Emperor and said to him, "I do not worship anyone except my Lord and my God Jesus Christ." The Emperor became angry and ordered him to be beaten with whips and stalks.
