Early Christian Martyrs

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I'm reading some stories about early Christian martyrs and want to make you aware of some of these stories. I'll post some links and notes here.

Letter from the Martyrs of Lyons. Text

Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs (Roberts-Donaldson)

Potamiaena

 

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This one is short enough just to quote from Eusebius 6.5.1:

CHURCH FATHERS: Church History, Book VI (Eusebius)

1. Basilides may be counted the seventh of these. He led to martyrdom the celebrated Potamiæna, who is still famous among the people of the country for the many things which she endured for the preservation of her chastity and virginity. For she was blooming in the perfection of her mind and her physical graces. Having suffered much for the faith of Christ, finally after tortures dreadful and terrible to speak of, she with her mother, Marcella, was put to death by fire.


2. They say that the judge, Aquila by name, having inflicted severe tortures upon her entire body, at last threatened to hand her over to the gladiators for bodily abuse. After a little consideration, being asked for her decision, she made a reply which was regarded as impious.


3. Thereupon she received sentence immediately, and Basilides, one of the officers of the army, led her to death. But as the people attempted to annoy and insult her with abusive words, he drove back her insulters, showing her much pity and kindness. And perceiving the man's sympathy for her, she exhorted him to be of good courage, for she would supplicate her Lord for him after her departure, and he would soon receive a reward for the kindness he had shown her.


4. Having said this, she nobly sustained the issue, burning pitch being poured little by little, over various parts of her body, from the sole of her feet to the crown of her head. Such was the conflict endured by this famous maiden.


5. Not long after this Basilides, being asked by his fellow-soldiers to swear for a certain reason, declared that it was not lawful for him to swear at all, for he was a Christian, and he confessed this openly. At first they thought that he was jesting, but when he continued to affirm it, he was led to the judge, and, acknowledging his conviction before him, he was imprisoned. But the brethren in God coming to him and inquiring the reason of this sudden and remarkable resolution, he is reported to have said that Potamiæna, for three days after her martyrdom, stood beside him by night and placed a crown on his head and said that she had besought the Lord for him and had obtained what she asked, and that soon she would take him with her.


6. Thereupon the brethren gave him the seal of the Lord; and on the next day, after giving glorious testimony for the Lord, he was beheaded. And many others in Alexandria are recorded to have accepted speedily the word of Christ in those times.


7. For Potamiæna appeared to them in their dreams and exhorted them. But let this suffice in regard to this matter.

 

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Here's my notes (which are copyright protected by the way... if you want to use them, contact me first):

Martyrs of Lyons
The attempt to give the account from the martyrs is made in the Acts of Perpetua (1.2) and the Letter from the Martyrs of Lyons (1.2). Need to look up the word translated “abortion” in 1.11 of Lyons. Great quote from Lyons (1.18-19):

“Blandina was filled with such power as to be delivered and raised above those who were torturing her by turns from morning till evening in every manner, so that they acknowledged that they were conquered, and could do nothing more to her. And they were astonished at her endurance, as her entire body was mangled and broken; and they testified that one of these forms of torture was sufficient to destroy life, not to speak of so many and so great sufferings.
19 But the blessed woman, like a noble athlete, renewed her strength in her confession; and her comfort and recreation and relief from the pain of her sufferings was in exclaiming, `I am a Christian, and there is nothing vile done by us.”

The epistle of Lyons and Acts of Perpetua seems to follow the basic outline of Pliny: confession (people and judges find out about Christians), persistent investigation and torture (to which imprisonment is usually added), then judgment and execution. Perhaps verse 33 replaces the actual public decree for death. But then we have a stay for Roman citizens until Ceasar approves (cf. 44) of their execution unless they recant (like Trajan):

“47 For Caesar commanded that they should be put to death, but that any who might deny should be set free. Therefore, at the beginning of the public festival which took place there, and which was attended by crowds of men from all nations, the governor brought the blessed ones to the judgment seat, to make of them a show and spectacle for the multitude. Wherefore also he examined them again, and beheaded those who appeared to possess Roman citizenship, but he sent the others to the wild beasts.”
Interesting also:

41 "But Blandina was suspended on a stake, and exposed to be devoured by the wild beasts who should attack her. And because she appeared as if hanging on a cross, and because of her earnest prayers, she inspired the combatants with great zeal. For they looked on her in her conflict, and beheld with their outward eyes, in the form of their sister, him who was crucified for them, that he might persuade those who believe on him, that every one who suffers for the glory of Christ has fellowship always with the living God.

42 As none of the wild beasts at that time touched her, she was taken down from the stake, and cast again into prison. She was preserved thus for another contest, that, being victorious in more conflicts, she might make the punishment of the crooked serpent irrevocable;38 and, though small and weak and despised, yet clothed with Christ the mighty and conquering Athlete, she might arouse the zeal of the brethren, and, having overcome the adversary many times might receive, through her conflict, the crown incorruptible.
As inn the Acts of Perpetua, they are preserved for more suffering.
Very intriguing is the lack of Christology in the following statement:

“52 But when Attalus was placed in the iron seat, and the fumes arose from his burning body, he said to the people in the Roman language: `Lo! this which ye do is devouring men; but we do not devour men; nor do any other wicked thing.' And being asked, what name God has, he replied, `God has not a name as man has.'”
Blandina is lead out and tortured again, and finally killed. They were continually asked to deny Christ and worship idols (53-56). The governor and people are said to lack manly wisdom and act like animals, a common tenant in Greco-Roman philosophy.

Acts of the Sicilian martyrs
Torture is not in the investigation of the Sicilian martyrs, but the judge asks them repeatedly to denounce Christ and return to Roman ways - the imperial cult was the center of attention.

Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs (Roberts-Donaldson)
“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.”

The Acts of the Sicilian martyrs reads more like a liturgical confession than a martyrdom story. It seems like a congregational response to be used in worship, but instead of a priest reading a confession that the congregation affirms, the judge is a prosecutor and the congregation affirms their confession.

 

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