ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS,
TERENTIUS, AFRICANUS, MAXIMUS, POMPEIUS, ZENO, ALEXANDER, THEODORUS, AND 33 OR 36 COMPANIONS,
UNDER DECIUS
PrefaceTerentius, African Martyr (St.)
Africanus, African Martyr (St.)
Maximus, African Martyr (St.)
Pompeius, African Martyr (St.)
Zeno, African Martyr (St.)
Alexander, African Martyr (St.)
Theodorus, African Martyr (St.)
The other 33 or 36 African Martyrs (Sts.)
G. H.
Theodorus Lector is one of the Greek writers of Ecclesiastical history, edited together by John Christophorson, who at the end of book 2 of his Collectanea indicates various Relics of Saints transferred to Constantinople under the preceding Emperors: where he has these things relevant here. [Relics of Sts. Terentius and Africanus brought to Constantinople in the 4th century.] "Theodosius the Great reigned sixteen years, in which Arcadius his son reigned together with him twelve years. Under the empire of the same Theodosius the Great the Relics of the holy Martyrs Terentius and Africanus were deposited in the martyrium of St. Euphemia in Petra, on the 10th day before the Kalends of October." There were at Constantinople several churches dedicated to St. Euphemia: of which, that St. Euphemia surnamed Petraea was built by Anastasius Dicorus and his wife Ariadne, is testified by George Codinus, On the Origins of Constantinople, chapter 100. The Constantinopolitans seem, with the sacred relics of Terentius and Africanus, also to have received the Acts of the martyrdom of these Saints and their companions: The Acts of martyrdom written in Greek: and these, or at least their illustrious compendium, we judge to be those which
Peter Francis Zinus, having drawn them from the library of the Venetian Dominion, rendered into Latin, and Aloysius Lipomanus published in volume VII of the Lives of the Holy Fathers, and Surius from him: which likewise we here give illustrated in our manner; more to be illustrated and perhaps to be given in new Latinity, if we should at some time obtain the Greek text itself, which by no services or prayers have we been able to obtain, by I know not what wickedness of the librarians, constantly standing in the way for fourteen years.
[2] Solemn worship among the Greeks, The Greeks, in all their ritual books, printed and manuscript Menaea, recite magnificent odes and hymns on this tenth of April, in praise of these Martyrs: among whom Terentius stands out, and is often addressed as Great and Pious toward God: as Africanus is called most divine, Maximus shining with glory, Pompeius and Theodorus renowned: there is added, who is absent in the Acts, divine Macarius; but in the elogium soon to be given, Zeno is called Macarius or Blessed. Also added in the Odes are thirty-three contending Martyrs, and thus together with the Menology of the Emperor Basil they were altogether forty. Meanwhile in the Acts there are thirty-six. For the odes this acrostic verse is prefixed.
Πληθύς με σῶζε καλλινίκων Μαρτὺρων. Ἰωσήφ.
"Victorious throng of Martyrs, aid us. Joseph."
This is St. Joseph the Hymnographer, brother of St. Theodore the Studite, who praises the generous constancy of the Martyrs in the greatest tortures, and at the same time recalls the miracles which were done at their Relics; where among other things he hands down these: "The casket of the relics pours forth medicine to the sick, miracles at the Relics, and cleanses evil affections: it washes away filth, even of souls, and drives away and submerges the hosts of demons, and waters the hearts of all the pious with grace." Thus there, at the second iota of the word καλλινίκων: and similar things are often repeated. But because some things concerning the tortures inflicted are explained a little more clearly in the elogium, inserted among the Odes in the Menaea themselves, as also in the Manuscript Synaxarium of the Parisian College of Clermont and in Maximus Bishop of Cythera; we exhibit it here together, and it is of this sort.
[3] Epitome of the Acts from the Menaea. "On the tenth day of the same month April, the Contest of the holy Martyrs, Terentius, Africanus, Maximus, Pompeius and the remaining thirty-six: likewise of Blessed Zeno, Alexander and Theodorus. Under the reign of Decius, with Fortunatian as President, these men, originating from Africa, flourished. When the edict was promulgated everywhere concerning abjuring Christ and denying the faith, and those who did otherwise were to be tortured with every kind of torment; then these forty Martyrs, seeing many who had fallen back willingly to the pristine impiety of the Pagans, error and vomit, bound themselves together by oath that they would die constantly in the faith and religion of Christ, and would generously expose body and soul for Christ, and would act bravely; and they mutually confirmed one another with the words of Christ, with which, believing, he exhorted them to bravely undergo martyrdom, saying: 'Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul.' Matt. 10 Led therefore before Fortunatianus, they disputed excellently concerning the virtue and power of Christ and concerning the sculpted idols and the weakness of the Gods whom the Pagans worshipped, whom the President commanded to be given into custody. But Blessed Zeno, Alexander, and Theodorus, being summoned, who had already before been vexed with questions, he admonished that, forsaking the faith of Christ, they should approach the worship of the idols. But since they very constantly persevered in those things which they had said and suffered; they were so atrociously beaten with thorny and rough rods and bull-sinews, by lictors succeeding one another, that their intestines appeared. Then needles heated in fire were driven through their back, and they were drenched with vinegar mixed with salt, and rubbed with hairshirt cloths. The President then despairing of being able to turn them from their faith, when by their prayers the idols had also been thrown down to the earth, commanded them to be struck with the capital sentence. Terentius therefore and companions were led out, and since, as before, they defended the Christian religion for their freedom, they were led back into prison, and fettered on the neck with manacles and shackles, bound with chains, thrown onto thorns and iron caltrops, and afflicted many days with hunger; since it had been commanded to the prison guards that they not allow any food to be brought in by anyone. But not even in these greatest straits were they abandoned by God; but refreshed by Angels with food, and loosed from all chains. They were brought back again to the President, safe, whole, and entirely unharmed: by whom, again torn and thrown to beasts, they escaped unharmed, no beast daring to touch the Saints. Then the President, cast into despair, ordered all their necks to be cut. Thus there, which most contracted are read in the Anthology of the Greeks, and the Menology of Emperor Basil.
[4] Whether some are venerated on 5 April, The same Greeks, in the Manuscript Synaxarium of the Parisian College of Clermont, and of the Turin one of the Duke of Savoy, have these things for the 5th day of April: "Likewise the contest of the holy martyrs Terentius, Pompeius the Great, Zeno": and they are in the Greek Menaea distinguished into three titles, where in the first place Pompeius is reported, from whose severed neck milk flowed. Then Zeno is placed, and it is handed down that, smeared with pitch and thrown into fire, and wounded with a spear in the middle of the pyre, he consummated his martyrdom. Last are had Maximus and Terentius, and they are said to be partakers of the same departure from life and glory, by the cutting of the head. What however is said of these last two can plainly be applied to these Saints. But what is said of Zeno is different from those which are here recorded, so that he may rather be considered another. Also concerning the milk flowing from the neck of St. Pompeius, nothing is had in these Acts, so that for that reason we might doubt whether he is to be assigned to these martyrs.
[5] The Latins, following the Greeks, also on this 10th day, celebrate these Holy Martyrs. Molanus expresses Terentius, Pompeius, and companions, Memorial in the Latin Fasti. between which two is interposed Africanus in the Roman Martyrology. But Galesinius enumerates Terentius, Africanus, Maximus, Pompeius and thirty companions, and adds, with the Roman Martyrology and the Greek Acts, that they were crowned under the Emperor Decius and the Prefect or President Fortunatianus. The arena of their martyrdom is nowhere expressed, and they are only said to have originated from Africa. Perhaps elsewhere under the Eastern Empire they might seem to have suffered, so that even for that reason their sacred Relics could more easily have been transferred to Constantinople; unless that they were slain under the President of Africa is indicated by the Menology of the Emperor Basil. Their leader Terentius alone is indicated today in the Tables of the Muscovite Kalendar, and in the Ruthenian Kalendar in Possevinus's Apparatus.
[6] Masinus in Bologna Surveyed reports on the 10th of April that the arm of St. Terentius Martyr is preserved in the church of St. Mary of the Servites, An arm of some St. Terentius at Bologna. obtained by Marcius Ginetto, Cardinal and Vicar of Pope Alexander VII, and that this is established from the Acts drawn up by Anthony Francis Maria Simio, Notary at Rome on the 9th of January 1662, and at Bologna, after the recognition of Dom Antonio Ridolphi, Vicar General of the Archbishopric, by Carolus Vanotti on the 25th of January of the same year. But from this it does not follow that the relics are of Terentius the African Martyr, once translated to Constantinople under Theodosius the Great, and not rather of another Terentius crowned at Rome: whose sacred memorial also the Servites wished to celebrate on this day; from the custom of many, when they receive Relics from Rome, having recourse to the Roman Martyrology: which custom, would that it could be as easily abolished as can be indicated the daily and grave inconveniences that arise from it.
ACTS OF MARTYRDOM
Published from an ancient Venetian Greek Manuscript
Translated by Peter Francis Zinus.
Terentius, African Martyr (St.)
Africanus, African Martyr (St.)
Maximus, African Martyr (St.)
Pompeius, African Martyr (St.)
Zeno, African Martyr (St.)
Alexander, African Martyr (St.)
Theodorus, African Martyr (St.)
The other 33 or 36 African Martyrs (Sts.)
[1] On account of the edict of Decius, Decius the Emperor of the Romans, through zeal for the idols, desiring to drag all into the abyss of destruction (for he was the son of the devil), sent an edict into all provinces subject to the Empire, that all Christians should be compelled to sacrifice and to eat the things which had been sacrificed to the idols; and that if any refused, they should be called to judgment and punished. When this decree had been brought into Africa to the Prefect Fortunatianus, he, sitting on his tribunal, called the people together, with various falling away from the faith, and thus addressed them: "Sacrifice to the gods, otherwise you will be afflicted with tortures"; and, having said this, he ordered the instruments of torture to be brought into the midst. At the sight of which, many, terrified, obeyed the Prefect, and fell away from the religion of Christ. Certain ones of them, however, to the number of forty, forty remain steadfast. had determined to die bravely in the faith of Christ, and thus exhorted one another: "See, brothers, that we do not deny our Lord Jesus Christ, lest he himself deny us. Remember that the Lord once said: 'Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Matt. 10:28 Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.'"
[2] Fortunatianus said to them: "I see," he said, "that you are men, both of mature age and endowed with wisdom: before the President they profess the faith: wherefore I marvel why you have given yourselves over to such madness, as to say that one is God and King, whom the Jews, as a criminal, crucified." The holy Martyr Terentius replied in the name of all: "If you knew, Prefect, the power of the Crucified, you would forsake the errors of the idols and worship and adore him. For he is the Son of God, benign, rich, clement, and merciful; who by the nod and will of the Father descended to earth, and joined his divinity to human nature, and for our salvation willed to undergo the Cross." Fortunatianus, having heard this, said to them: "Sacrifice: otherwise, burning your limbs, I will destroy you." "Do you think," said Terentius, "that we, moved by error, will change our mind? We are not so cowardly, that, forsaking the giver of life, we should adore strange gods. Do therefore swiftly what you please against us, since we are strenuous and constant worshippers of Christ." Led out into the temple they mock the false gods: The Prefect indignant ordered them, with their garments removed, to be dragged to the temple of the idols: but the idols were adorned with gold and silver and precious garments. Entering, Fortunatianus said to them: "Sacrifice to the great god Hercules: for you see his glory and power." "You err," said Terentius, "and are ignorant of what is useful to you. For those gods of yours are stones and wood, and bronze and iron: they are adorned with gold, that they may deceive people and lead them away from eternal life. For they themselves neither see, nor speak, nor hear, nor walk: inasmuch as they have been sculpted and cast by humans, and fashioned into a human likeness, that they might turn to this impious thinking those who obey them: for like them are those who make them, and all who trust in them. Tell, I pray, those whom you assert to be gods, can they help themselves, and avenge themselves on those by whom they are harmed? But if they cannot be of aid to themselves, how shall they help us?"
[3] Four are shut up in prison, The Prefect, hearing these things, ordered Terentius, and Africanus, and Maximus, and Pompeius to be thrust into the inner prison, and to be guarded with all diligence, saying, "Tomorrow I will hear them." And to Blessed Zeno, and Alexander, and Theodorus with the remaining companions, who were in number thirty-six in all, when they had been led to the tribunal, he thus addressed them: "Since from your previous contention you have received no benefit, obey me and sacrifice to the great god Hercules." But they: "Many times already," they said, "we have said that we are Christians, which you could understand from the earlier questionings: the rest are vainly assailed: nor will you ever persuade us to worship and adore impure idols: for we can easily refute whatever you shall say on that point." "Do you not wish," said the Prefect, "to hear my exhortations? But you will be compelled to do the commands of the unconquered Emperors." And he ordered them to be beaten with rough rods and sinews. But they, with hands raised to heaven, all together and with a clear voice said: "Look, Lord, and help your servants, and free us from the adversary." Having heard which, he commanded them to be beaten with rods even more, until many of the soldiers, one after another, became exhausted from flogging them, severely flogged and beaten with clubs they rejoice: and the thongs and rods gave out. Again he ordered them to be beaten with clubs: but though all their inner parts were crushed, yet so cheerful and joyful were the faces of the brave Martyrs, that all admired the patience and constancy of the Saints.
[4] They are burned. After therefore they had been beaten, the Prefect said to them: "Sacrifice and I will free you." But the Saints were silent. But the Prefect enraged ordered pyres to be kindled, and their backs to be burned, after they had been first sprinkled with vinegar and salt. Then the holy Martyrs of God, looking up to heaven, said: "Lord our God, who freed the three youths, Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, from the furnace of fire, and did not permit them to be harmed; who snatched Daniel from the mouth of lions, and saved Moses from the hand of Pharaoh; and defended holy Thecla from fire and the theater and wild beasts and sea monsters; who bestowed the perfect kingdom on your friends; who raised your Son our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead; who gave us many and various gifts; who created light, and stretched out heaven like a skin, who number the stars, and call them by their names; who sent truth to the ends of the earth; hear us suppliants, and free us from calamities: for yours is the glory forever and ever, Amen." When they had finished praying, they are cruelly torn. the Prefect raging with anger, ordered them to be hung up and torn. While this was being done, rivers of blood flowed from their bodies: nor yet were they moved by the sharpness of the torments: for God confirmed them, and supplied strength and fortitude. But the Prefect to them: "Have the tortures persuaded you to retreat from your madness? Or do you yet remain in your impiety?" They answered nothing. "To you," said the Prefect again, "I speak these things." But the holy Martyrs of God, looking up to heaven, spoke thus: "Omnipotent God, who burned the city of Sodom with fire because of its wickedness, and reduced it to a wilderness, now also overthrow this dwelling of the impious on account of your justice." [By the sign of the Cross they break the idols, cast down the temple, and are beheaded.] And when they had impressed the sign of Christ on their foreheads, they breathed against the idols, and immediately shattered them into dust. Then the holy Martyrs to the Prefect: "Do you see," they said, "your gods? Where is their strength? Could they help themselves?" And not much afterward the temple also collapsed. At whose destruction the Prefect, indignant, ordered that the holy Martyrs be struck with the capital sentence. At which sentence they, joyful, praised God: and rejoicing they came to the appointed place, and with knees bent and necks offered, were immediately slain. But religious men came up, and having taken up their bodies, buried them in a sacred place.
[5] The other 4 led out from prison remain steadfast. Then he orders Blessed Terentius, and Africanus, and Maximus, and Pompeius to be brought, and says to them: "Sacrifice to the gods, otherwise you are to perish evilly: and no one will be able to snatch you from our hands." "We are Christians, as we have already said most often," the Martyrs replied, "and our hopes are placed and established in Christ. We do not adore demons, nor do we worship your gods, and we scorn your torments. Therefore apply whatever tortures you will. For with God aiding us, we trust that you will be conquered by us, just as also the devil was overcome by Christ, They are bound more tightly and shut up. who strengthens us to conquer your desires." Having heard these things, he ordered them to be led off into custody, and their necks bound with chains, and their hands and feet with shackles. The ministers therefore, as they had been ordered, threw them into prison. He further commanded that they throw iron caltrops on the ground, on which they might be pierced; and that they permit none of the Christians to approach them, lest they bring food. But around midnight a light shone in the prison, They are confirmed by an Angel. and an Angel of God stood in their sight, and said to them: "Terentius, and Africanus, and Pompeius, and Maximus, servants of God Most High, arise, and care for your bodies." And the Angel, approaching, touched their chains, and they fell off: and behold, a table well furnished before them. And the Angel said to them: "Rest, and take the food which Christ has sent you." The Saints, having praised Christ, ate. But the guards, seeing the brightness, entered, to see what it was: they found them rejoicing, and reported the matter to the Prefect. Who on the next day ordered them to be led to the tribunal: and, "Not yet," he said, "have you been taught by the tortures, to depart from your madness and sacrifice to the gods?" Terentius answered: "This will be folly to us and to all who love God. For what is foolish with God is wiser than men: for the wisdom of men is folly with God. They are torn with claws, Foolish and mad we would be, if, forsaking God, we adored demons, as you do." At which words the Prefect enraged, ordered them to be torn with claws. While this was being done, they prayed to God, saying: "Jesus Christ, Son of the living God forever, light of Christians, our most certain hope, be present to us, and bring aid, and do not confound us for the sake of your holy name." Sustained therefore by the help of Christ, they did not feel the torments.
[6] They are not harmed by beasts and serpents: So the Prefect ordered them to be thrust back into prison. And summoning all the enchanters of beasts, he commanded that they bring all the fierce and cruel beasts which they had, asps and vipers, and enclose them with them. These beasts, approaching their feet, in no way harmed them: but the Saints, sitting, sang psalms and praised God. And when they had remained shut up with the Saints for three days and three nights, on the fourth day toward night the Prefect sent to see whether they had been consumed by the beasts. But those who had been sent, approaching the doors of the prison, heard them singing psalms and praising God. And when they wished to look more carefully at what was going on, climbing onto the roof of the prison, they saw the Saints sitting, and an Angel of God standing before the face of the beasts, and forbidding them to approach them: and quickly reported to the Prefect what they had seen. Therefore at earliest morning he sat on his tribunal, and commanded that the enchanters take their beasts, and that the saints be brought to the tribunal. The enchanters, therefore, when at the prison door they were calling out the beasts with their incantations, they did not listen: but when the door of the prison had been opened by them, all of them, rushing out in one onslaught, killed whatever people they came upon, and departed into the wilderness. Then the guards brought the Saints to the Prefect: who, seeing that they were in no way harmed, stirred with fury, condemned them to capital punishment. But the saints went out rejoicing, They are beheaded. and singing said: "You have freed us, Lord, from those who afflicted us, and confounded those who hated us." The ministers, with drawn swords, did as they were ordered. And thus the Saints in the confession of Christ received the palm of martyrdom. But religious men, properly composing their bodies, buried them in a place which lay two miles from the city, to the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever, Amen.