The earliest Latin
document of the Western Church is the Acts
of the Scillitan Martyrs. It describes the trail of a number of Christians,
which took place at Cartage on July 17, AD 180. For an overview see this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scillitan_Martyrs
Martyrdom was something
which some Christians desired, as it was considered a special grace of God. For
us this is something strange, but the world of Late Antiquity was a world of harsh
conditions and death was everywhere. Religions promising salvation – so-called mystery
religions - were popular and Christianity can also be considered as such a
religion. What sets Christianity apart was their refusal to pay homage to the
emperor and to partake in state-organized religious festivities. Its outlook
was at that time very much directed towards the afterlife and the suffering in
this life stood in no comparison with reward gained in heaven.
Martyrs had a special
status and their date of execution - or from the perspective of Christians, the
day they were received in heaven – was celebrated with a mass in their
remembrance in which their acts were read.
Apart from genuine
religious convictions, it is not impossible that such a special status, be it
after their death, was also a reason for seeking martyrdom.
There are a number of
problems which are not mentioned in the link above, such as the question to
what extend this text is a verbatim report and how it came into the hands of
Christians. Of course these questions can’t be answered, but the first question
must be kept in mind when reading martyr acts.
Acta Martyrum Scillitanorum.
Praesente bis et Claudiano
consulibus, XVI Kalendas Augustas, Karthagine in secretario inpositis Sperato,
Nartzalo et Cittino, Donata, Secunda, Vestia, Saturninus proconsul dixit:
Potestis indulgentiam domini nostri imperatoris promereri, si ad bonam mentem
redeatis. 2. Speratus dixit: Numquam malefecimus, iniquitati nullam operam
praebuimus; numquam malediximus, sed male accepti gratias egimus, propter quod
imperatorem nostrum observamus. 3. Saturninus proconsul dixit: Et nos religiosi sumus, et
simplex est religio nostra, et iuramus per genium domini nostri imperatoris et
pro salute eius supplicamus, quod et vos quoque facere debetis. 4. Speratus
dixit: Si tranquillas praebueris aures tuas, dico mysterium simplicitatis. 5.
Saturninus dixit: Initianti tibi mala de sacris nostris aures non praebebo; sed
potius iura per genium domini nostri imperatoris. 6. Speratus dixit: Ego
imperium huius saeculi non cognosco: sed magis illi Deo servio, quem nemo
hominum vidit nec videre his oculis potest. Furtum non feci; sed si quid emero,
teloneum reddo: quia cognosco dominum meum, regem regum et imperatorem omnium
gentium. 7. Saturninus proconsul dixit ceteris: Desinite huius esse
persuasionis. 8. Speratus dixit: Mala est persuasio homicidium facere, falsum
testimonium dicere. 9. Saturninus proconsul dixit: Nolite huius dementiae esse
participes. 10. Cittinus dixit: Nos non habemus alium quem timeamus, nisi
dominum Deum nostrum qui est in caelis. 11.
Donata dixit: Honorem Caesari quasi Caesari; timorem autem Deo. 12. Vestia
dixit: Christiana sum. 13. Secunda dixit: Quod sum, ipsud volo esse. 14.
Saturninus proconsul Sperato dixit: Perseveras Christianus? 15. Speratus dixit:
Christianus sum; et cum eo omnes consenserunt. 16. Saturninus proconsul dixit:
Numquid ad deliberandum spatium vultis? 17. Speratus dixit: In re tam iusta
nulla est deliberatio. 18. Saturninus proconsul dixit: Quae sunt res in capsa
vestra? 19. Speratus dixit: Libri et epistulae Pauli viri iusti. 20. Saturninus proconsul
dixit: Moram XXX dierum habere et recordemini. 21. Speratus iterum dixit:
Christianus sum; et cum eo omnes consenserunt. 22. Saturninus proconsul
decretum ex tabella recitavit: Speratum, Nartzalum, Cittinum, Donatam, Vestiam,
Secundam et ceteros ritu Christiano se vivere confessos, quoniam oblata sibi
facultate ad Romanorum morem redeundi obstinanter perseveraverunt, gladio
animadverti placet. 23. Speratus dixit: Deo gratias agimus. 24. Nartzalus
dixit: Hodie martyres in caelis sumus: Deo gratias. 25. Saturninus proconsul
per praeconem dici iussit: Speratum, Nartzalum, Cittinum, Veturium, Felicem,
Aquilinum, Laetantium, Ianuarium, Generosam, Vestiam, Donatam, Secundam duci
iussi. 26. Universi dixerunt: Deo gratias. 27. Et ita omnes simul martyrio
coronati sunt, et regnant cum Patre et Filio et Spiritu Sancto per omnia
saecula saeculorum. Amen.
bis: for the
second time
in secretario inpositis: put before court (a secretarium was a closed courtroom)
proconsul –is
(m.): governor of a province
indulgentia:
indulgence, mildness
promereo –ui:
to deserve or in a juridical sense `to be entitled to’
iniquitas –atis
(f.): injustkice
operam praebeo
= operam dare `to give attention to’
male accepti:
ill treated
gratias egimus:
suffering was seen as a special favour of God and something to be thankful for
imperatorem nostrum: God
observo: to
honour
simplex:
simple iuro: to swear
genius:
titular deity, the divine part of a person, especially the emperor
supplico: to
pray
praebuo aures: to listen (Si
tranquillas praebueris aures tuas: if you listen quietly)
mysterium simplicitatis: Speratus refers back to the earlier simplex.
initianti tibi mala: to you revealing negative
things
saeculum: world
furtum:
theft
emo emi emptum:
to buy
teloneum: (an
unpopular) tax on the purchase of goods
persuasio –onis (f.): conviction
mala est persuasio homicidium facere: again Speratus uses a word earlier used by
Saturninus. Of course Christians considered their persecution and trail not as
legal, but as murder.
dementia:
madness
honorem (da)
quod sum, ipsud
(= ipsum)
volo esse: what I am, that very thing I want to be (namely a Christian)
numquid ad deliberandum spatium: some time for consideration
capsa:
bookcase
libri: the gospels.
Probably some version of the Vetus Latina, the latin translation in use before
the Vulgate translation. There was not a fixed canon at that moment, but the
gospels and the letters of Paul belonged to the core of the biblical writings
used by Christian communities.
moram XXX dierum habere: i.e. period of thirty days to reconsider their
stubborn attitude
recordor recordatus: to think over
decretum: decision
(of the court)
tabula:
writing tablet covered with wax
oblata sibi facultate ad Romanorum morem redeundi: though the possibility has been given for them to
return to the way of life of the Romans
gladio animadverti placet: it behoves (the proconsul) (them) to be punished
with the sword
praeco –onis
(m.): herald
duci: to be
led away (to the place of their execution)
martyrium:
martyrdom
Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol.
IX, The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs
Various, translated by
Philip Schaff et al.
When Praesens, for the
second time, and Claudianus were the consuls, on the seventeenth day of July,
at Carthage, there were set in the judgment-hall Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus,
Donata, Secunda and Vestia. Saturninus the proconsul said: Ye can win the
indulgence of our lord the Emperor, if ye return to a sound mind. 2. Speratus
said: We have never done ill, we have not lent ourselves to wrong, we have
never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks; because we pay
heed to our Emperor. 3. Saturninus the proconsul said: We too are religious,
and our religion is simple, and we swear by the genius of our lord the Emperor,
and pray for his welfare, as ye also ought to do. 4. Speratus said: If thou
wilt peaceably lend me thine ears, I can tell thee the mystery of simplicity.
5. Saturninus said: I will not lend mine ears to thee, when thou beginnest to
speak evil things of our sacred rites; but rather swear thou by the genius of
our lord the Emperor. 6. Speratus said: The empire of this world I know not;
but rather I serve that God, whom no man hath seen, nor with these eyes can
see. I have committed no theft; but if I have bought anything I pay the tax;
because I know my Lord, the King of kings and Emperor of all nations. 7.
Saturninus the proconsul said to the rest: Cease to be of this persuasion. 8.
Speratus said: It is an ill persuasion to do murder, to speak false witness. 9.
Saturninus the proconsul said: Be not partakers of this folly. 10. Cittinus
said: We have none other to fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven. 11.
Donata said: Honour to Caesar as Caesar: but fear to God. 12. Vestia said: I am
a Christian. 13. Secunda said: What I am, that I wish to be. 14. Saturninus the
proconsul said to Speratus: Dost thou persist in being a Christian? 15.
Speratus said: I am a Christian. And with him they all agreed. 16. Saturninus
the proconsul said: Will ye have a space to consider? 17. Speratus said: In a
matter so straightforward there is no considering. 18. Saturninus the proconsul
said: What are the things in your chest? 19. Speratus said: Books and epistles
of Paul, a just man. 20. Saturninus the proconsul said: Have a delay of thirty
days and bethink yourselves. 21. Speratus said a second time: I am a Christian.
And with him they all agreed. 22. Saturninus the proconsul read out the decree
from the tablet: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda and the
rest having confessed that they live according to the Christian rite, since
after opportunity offered them of returning to the custom of the Romans they
have obstinately persisted, it is determined that they be put to the sword. 23.
Speratus said: We give thanks to God. 24. Nartzalus said: To-day we are martyrs
in heaven; thanks be to God. 25. Saturninus the proconsul ordered it to be
declared by the herald: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix,
Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata and Secunda, I have
ordered to be executed. 26. They all said: Thanks be to God. 27. And so they
all together were crowned with martyrdom; and they reign with the Father and
the Son and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen.
