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Acts of the Martyrs
c. 165–304 AD
Name for the early accounts of martyrs' trials and deaths that the churches kept and read aloud: court records, letters, and stories told by friends who saw them die. The ones here run from Justin and six companions at Rome, about 165, to Irenaeus, bishop of Sirmium, in 304. They come from Rome, Gaul, North Africa, Asia Minor and the Balkans.
- Works here
- 9 to read straight through
Start hereThe Passion of Marian and JamesA friend who shared their road tells how Marian, a reader, and James, a deacon, were arrested near Cirta in Numidia, tortured, strengthened by… · 13 sections · with audio
Treatises and other works8
- Acts of Cyprian 7 sectionslistenThe official record of Cyprian, bishop of Carthage: his questioning by the governor Paternus and exile to Curubis, then his arrest, sentence by Galerius Maximus, and…
- Disputation of Achatius 7 sectionslistenMartianus, consular prefect under Decius, has Achatius brought before him to require sacrifice with him to the emperor's gods.
- Passion of Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium 4 sectionslistenThe trial of Irenaeus, bishop of Sirmium, before Probus, governor of Pannonia, in 304: he refuses to sacrifice though his family begs him, and he is put to the sword and…
- The Martyrdom of Conon the Gardener 6 sectionslistenConon, an old gardener at Magydus who says he is from Nazareth and of Christ's family, will not sacrifice and dies after being made to run before the governor's chariot.
- The Martyrdom of Justin and His Companions 5 sectionslistenHow Justin and six companions were questioned by the prefect Rusticus in Rome, condemned, and beheaded for their faith.
- The Martyrdom of Maximus 3 sectionslistenThe short record of Maximus, a man of Asia who gave himself up in the persecution of Decius, was questioned by the proconsul Optimus, refused to sacrifice, and was…
- The Passion of Marian and James 13 sectionslistenA friend who shared their road tells how Marian, a reader, and James, a deacon, were arrested near Cirta in Numidia, tortured, strengthened by visions in prison at…
- The Passion of Montanus and Lucius 10 sectionslistenLucius, Montanus, Flavian and their companions write from prison at Carthage of their arrest, hunger and visions.
Letters1