Scillitan Martyrs
Scillitan Martyrs | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2nd-century, near Scillium, Roman Africa Province |
| Died | 17 July 180, Carthage, Africa Province; in modern Kasserine Governorate, Tunisia |
| Martyred by | Publius Vigellius Saturninus, a proconsul of the Roman Empire under Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) |
| Means of martyrdom | Beheading |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | Pre-congregation |
| Feast | 17 July |
The Scillitan Martyrs were a group of early Christians of North Africa executed by the Roman Empire in Carthage, modern Tunisia, on 17 July 180 AD. The group takes its name from the nearby town of Scillium. They are venerated as martyrs in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Their executions occurred at the end of a wave of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in 161–180.
An early textual account of the executions was produced [when?][by whom?] titled the Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs. According to scholar Herbert Musurillo, this text is "the earliest dated document from the Latin Church and the first to mention a Latin Bible”. The account is also one of the earliest documents of Christianity in Africa,[1] and among the earliest specimens of the Acts of the Apostles genre from the Roman province of Africa.[2]
Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs
[edit]According to the Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs, the trial and execution by beheading occurred in Carthage under the authority of the proconsul of the Roman province, Publius Vigellius Saturninus, whom Tertullian names as the first persecutor of Christians in Africa. The trial is notable as the accused were not subjected to torture.[2]
The Scillitans were twelve in all—seven men and five women. Their names were Speratus, Nartzalus, Cintinus (Cittinus), Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus,[3] Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda.[4] Two of these bear Punic names (Nartzalus, Cintinus); the others are Latin names. Six had already been tried.
Speratus was their spokesman. He stated that he and his companions had led quiet and moral lives, paying their taxes and doing no wrong to their neighbors. When called upon to swear by the name of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, Speratus replied "I recognize not the empire of this world; but rather do I serve that God whom no man hath seen, nor with these eyes can see,"[1] a reference to the First Epistle to Timothy.
Veneration and legacy
[edit]A basilica dedicated to the Scillitan martyrs was built [by whom?][when?] in Carthage.[5]
Agobard, the archbishop of Lyon from c. 779–840, stated that the relics of Speratus and Cyprian were translated on Charlemagne's orders from Carthage to Lyon.[1]
Bishop Joseph Barber Lightfoot discussed the Scillitan martyrs in his Epistles of Ignatius and Polycarp of 1885.[6]
See also
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Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 Smith, Clyde Curry (2004). "Speratus". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- 1 2 Hassett, Maurice. "Martyrs of Scillium." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 12 March 2021
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - ↑ Smith, Clyde Curry (2004). "Aquilinus". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ↑ "Church Fathers: The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs". Newadvent.org. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "Scillitan Martyrs, in North Africa", Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
- ↑ An English translation with bibliography can be found in Stevenson, J. (1987). W.H. Frend (ed.). A New Eusebius: Documents illustrating the history of the Church to AD 337. London: SPCK. pp. 44–45. ISBN 9780281042685.
References
[edit]- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Scillitan Martyrs". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 404.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Martyrs of Scillium". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Further reading
[edit]- Stokes, G.T., "Scillitan Martyrs", Dictionary of Christian Biography, (Henry Wace ed.), John Murray, London, 1911
- H. Musurillo, trans., "The Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs" in The Acts of the Christian Martyrs (Oxford: University Press, 1972).
External links
[edit]- , translated by Schaff, Philip, T. & T. Clark, 1897 [180CE].
- The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs at Early Christian Writings
- Parallel Latin and English texts of Act
Videography
[edit]- Lost Legacy Reclaimed, Season 1: Episode 1. The Scillitan Martyrs (2019) documentary. "Lost Legacy Reclaimed – Season One | Prime Video". Amazon.
