07 works, Today, November 2nd, is Holy Martyrs Africanus' day, their story illustrated #304

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Martyrs Saint Terence, Saint Africanus, Saint Maximus, Saint Pompeius, Saint Theodore and those with them
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The Holy Martyrs Africanus, Pompeius and Terence suffered during the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251), after he issued a decree ordering all of his subject to sacrifice to the idols.

Emperor Decius (249-251)

A photorealistic reconstruction of what the Roman emperor Decius (r. 249-251 CE) may have looked like. Based on contemporary and near contemporary descriptions, as well as archaeological evidence. Pictured alongside the reconstruction is the bust of Decius from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum. Made using Photoshop and Artbreeder, a neural net tool. More on this work

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Persecution of early Christians

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When the decree was received by the ruler of Carthage, Fortunianus, he had all the people gather in the square, showed them terrible instruments of torture, and declared that all without exception should sacrifice to the idols. Many who called themselves Christians, frightened by the prospect of torture, agreed to sacrifice, but forty Christians led by Saint Terence declared their loyalty to their Savior, Jesus Christ. Fortunianus had Terence and his three closest companions, Africanus, Pompeius and Maximus, imprisoned.

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Martyrs Africanus, Maximus and Pompeius of Carthage
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Meanwhile, the other thirty-six Martyrs, including Zenon, Alexander and Theodore, were given over to be tortured, then brought to the temple to sacrifice to the idols. 

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The holy martyrs Terenty and Neonilla and their children: Sarvil, Phot, Theodulus, Ierax, Nit, Vil and Eunicia

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By their prayers, however, the idols fell and the temple was destroyed in miraculous manner. For this reason, they were executed by being beheaded, and in this way they received crowns of martyrdom.

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Saints Erastus, Olympus, Rhodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius

Menologion of Basil II, Vatican Library

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After this, Terence, Africanus, Pompeius and Maximus were shown the decapitated bodies of their fellow Christians, and were offered the opportunity to escape with their lives if they only sacrificed. They refused. For this they were bound and thrown back in prison, where they were forced to starve. That night an Angel of the Lord appeared and removed their fetters. When this was seen the next morning, snakes and scorpion were put in their prison cell through a hole in the roof, but by their prayers the snakes crawled at their feet and did not harm them. Instead, when the executioners opened the prison doors, the reptiles stung and bit them. 

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Martyrs Terenty and Neonila and their children

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Fortunianus therefore ordered them to be beheaded, and their bodies were taken by Christians and buried them outside the city. More on The Martyrs Africanus

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