17 July 180 A.D. 12 Carthage Christians Martyred & Beheaded
Before proceeding, again, we
review “For All the Saints, Who From Their Labors Rest.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_UvXe-of-s
Mr.
Graves tells it his way.
Graves,
Dan. “12 Carthage Christians Martyred.” Christianity.com.
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/12-carthage-christians-martyred-11629609.html. Accessed 10 May 2014.
Vigellius Saturninus, the proconsul (Roman administrator)
of North Africa in 180 A.D., spoke generously. "You can have the
forgiveness of our Lord the Emperor if only you return to your senses," he
said.
Speratus, one of twelve Christians who faced him, replied for the
rest. "We have never done evil; we have not lent ourselves to wrong; we
have never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks, for we pay
heed to our Emperor."
Evidently Saturninus was stung by that reply.
"We too are religious, and our religion is simple," he said
defensively. "We swear by the genius of our Lord the Emperor, and pray for
his welfare, as you also ought to do."
Speratus offered to instruct Saturninus in true
simplicity of worship, but the proconsul brushed him off and turned to the
other offenders. "Abandon this way of thinking," he commanded.
Speratus reminded Saturninus that to murder and to
lie were the real evils, not the Christian faith. Saturninus ignored him and addressed
the other Christians. "Don't share his folly!" he urged them. But the
others (five were women) responded as firmly as Speratus.
Cittinus said, "We have no other to fear, save
only our Lord God, who is in heaven." Donata added, "Honor Caesar as
Caesar; but it is God we fear." Vestia declared, "I am a
Christian." Secunda assured the proconsul, "What I am, that I wish to
be."
Saturninus turned back to Speratus. "Do you
persist in being a Christian?" he asked.
Speratus never wavered. "I am a
Christian," he replied, and all the others agreed with him.
Saturninus offered them time to reconsider. To that
dangerous bait Speratus answered, "In a matter so plain, we don't need to
consider."
Saturninus changed the direction of his inquiry.
What were the documents he had found in Speratus lock box? he asked curiously.
"Books and letters of Paul," answered
Speratus.
The proconsul made one last effort to change the
minds of the Christians. When he saw that they would not bend, he read his
decision from a tablet. Heralds then announced his decree: "Speratus,
Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria,
Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda, I have ordered to be executed."
The Christians responded with joy. "Thanks be
to God," they exclaimed. This was their chance to show their love for
Jesus! On this day, July 17, 180,
they were beheaded for the sake of Christ, at Scilli, near Carthage, North
Africa.
Bibliography:
1. Aland, Kurt. Saints and Sinners;
men and ideas in the early church. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1970.
2. Chadwick, Henry. The Early
Church. Pelican History of the Church, Volume 1. Hammondsworth, Middlesex,
England: Penguin, 1967, p.31.
3. Hassett, Maurice M. "Martyrs
of Scillium." The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton, 1914
[note: this article claims there were only six].
4. "Persecution in the Early
Church." Christian History, Issue 27.
5. Rutherford, Andrew; translated by
J. A. Robinson. "The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs."
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/scillitan.html
6. Scilli, Martyrs of. New
Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 1954.
7. "Scillitan Martyrs."
The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Edited by F. L. Cross and E. A.
Livingstone. Oxford, 1997.
8. Various internet articles,
including one at North Park University.
Last updated June, 2007
No comments:
Post a Comment