The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Victor of Vita, History of the Vandal Persecution, Book 3:

Summary:

Book 3, the final book of Victor's work, opens with a full transcription of Huneric's edict against the Nicene church, issued on 25 February 484 (3.3-14).

3.21. Huneric sent torturers out through the cities of Africa, sparing no-one. Some were beaten, some suspended by their arms, others burned; women were tortured, exposed naked against the laws of nature.

3.22-24. Victor then describes the suffering of some individuals. Dionysia, a married woman, was stripped and savagely beaten. She remained steadfast, encouraging her only son, Maioricus, to do the same. He died of his ill-treatment. Dionysia's example encouraged others to follow her: her sister Dativa, Leontia (daughter of a bishop), Emilius (a doctor), Tertius (a man renowned for his Trinitarian faith), and Bonifatius of Sibida.

3.25-26. Servus, a generous and noble man of Tuburbo was terribly tortured.

3.26. In the town of Culusi so many martyrs and confessors suffered, that they cannot be counted. Victor describes in detail the suffering of a married woman, Victoria, who refused to yield despite the entreaties of her husband and her children. Cut down (as dead) she revived, later saying that 'a virgin had stood by her and had touched each of her limbs, and thus she was cured' (quandam sibi uirginem astitisse atque tetigisse membra singula et ilico fuisse sanatam).

3.27. Victorianus of Hadrumentum, proconsul of Carthage, refused the blandishments of Huneric and was brutally punished and 'received a martyr's crown' (martyrialem coronam accepit).

3.28. In the town of Thambaia, two (unnamed) brothers were strung up, beaten and burned - one of them successfully encouraging the other when he seemed to waver.

3.29-30. In Tipasa in Mauretania, many fled to Spain; but the right hands and tongues of those that remained were cut off; these, through the Holy Spirit, were still able to speak, as anyone can learn who visits Constantinople and meets one of them, the subdeacon *Reparatus (S01481). [For a fuller account of these events, see E08296.]

3.31-32. The persecution was particularly savage in Carthage, as evidenced by the many people still bearing the deformities that were inflicted on them.

3.33. Dagila, the wife of one of the king's storemen (uxor cuiusdam cellaritae regis) was badly hurt by whips and cudgels and exiled to a desolate place. All this she bore with joy.

3.34-37. All some 500 of the clergy of Carthage were exiled with Bishop Eugenius. The deacon Muritta, tortured after the archdeacon Salutaris, confronted his tormentor, Elpidoforus, reminding him that he (Muritta) had taken him up from the font of baptism.

3.38-40. During the harsh journey, twelve young singers behaved particularly steadfastly.

3.41. Two merchants, both called Frumentius, were martyred, and so were *Seven monastic brothers (S02936). [For the full text of this chapter, see E08290.]

3.42-44. Bishop Eugenius of Carthage (S00334) was exiled under the charge of a particularly cruel Arian bishop, Antonius, who attempted to cause Eugenius' death (but Christ ensures his health).

3.45-46. Antonius also tormented, and attempted (in vain) to convert Bishop Habetdeum of Thamalluma.

3.47-48. The Arians forcibly baptised people into their faith.

3.49. Victor describes how he himself saw the young son of a noble Carthaginian forcibly baptised, although the boy declared himself to be Christian and invoked *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030). [For the full text of this chapter, see E01981.]

3.50-51. The Arians attempted to convert Liberatus, a doctor, and his wife (who is not named) - first by separating them from their children. When Liberatus appeared to weaken at this, his wife reminded him that the loss of his soul would be much worse than the loss of his children. The Arians then tried to deceive Liberatus' wife into believing that Liberatus had given in.

3.52. Many sought to escape by hiding in remote places, where many of them died for lack of food and the harshness of the conditions. Amongst these was Cresconius, a priest of the town of Mizeita, whose dead body was found in a cave.

3.53-54. Bishop Habetdeum, mentioned above, travelled to Carthage and reproved Huneric for his actions.

3.55-61. A terrible drought and famine smote Africa, the horrors of which Victor describes in detail. (60) Those who had accepted Arian rebaptism were particularly hard hit.

3.62-70. Victor closes his book, with a diatribe against the barbarians and the Arians, and seeks the prayers of the living and of the saints in heaven on behalf of persecuted Africa. In 3.69 he invokes the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Apostles, and specifically *Peter and *Paul - see E08298.


Text: Lancel 2002.
Summary: Bryan Ward-Perkins.

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