NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Saints Perpetua and Felicitas

Perpetua and Felicitas are two 3rd century Christian martyrs venerated as saints. Perpetua was a 22-year old married woman, while her co-martyr Felicitas or Felicity was her slave; they suffered together at Carthage, traditionally on March 7, 203, though the association of the martyrdom with a birthday festival of the Emperor Geta would seem to place it after 209, when Geta was made caesar though before 211, when he was assassinated. The year of the martyrdom is not explicitly given in the Acta, but it was the year when Minucius Timinianus (not otherwise attested) was proconsul in the Roman province of Africa. // Overview Events 212: Constitutio Antoniniana grants citizenship to all free Roman men 212-216: Baths of Caracalla 230-232: Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east 235-284: Crisis of the Third Century shakes Roman Empire 250-538: Kofun era, the first... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as the Christ. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... Bold text Carthage Ruins of Roman-era Carthage For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in leap years). ... Events Roman Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilds Byzantium. ... Publius Septimius Geta Publius Septimius Geta (March 7, 189â€“December 211), was a Roman Emperor co-ruling with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 to his death. ... Acts of the Martyrs are accounts of the suffering and death of a martyr or group of martyrs. ... Categories: Historical stubs | Ancient Roman provinces ...

Martyrdom

Perpetua and Felicitas suffered martyrdom together with three companions, Revocatus and Saturninus, and Saturus, their teacher. The details of the martyrdom of these five and their visions while in prison survive in both Latin and Greek texts (see below). Saint Perpetua's account is apparently historical; it is the earliest surviving text written by a Christian woman. After a brief introduction (chapters i–ii), the narrative and the visions of Perpetua (iii–1x) are followed by the vision of Saturus (xi–xiii); the account of their deaths, written by an eyewitness, are appended (xiv–xxi). Roman emperor Iulius Saturninus (died 280) was a Gaul by birth (others have him as a Moor) and was a friend of the emperor Probus. ...

By order of Septimius Severus (193–211), all imperial subjects were forbidden under severe penalties to become Christians or Jews. Only recent converts were affected. In consequence of this decree, these five catechumens at Carthage were seized and cast into prison. After their arrest, and before they were led away to prison, the five catechumens were baptized. Their sufferings in prison, the angry and then despairing attempts of Perpetua's father to induce her to renounce Christianity, the vicissitudes of the martyrs before their execution, the visions of Saturus and Perpetua in their dungeons, were all committed to writing by the last two, in a genre of text that is technically called a "Passion." Lucius Septimius Severus (b. ... This article is about the religous people known as Christians. ... In ecclesiology, a catechumen (from Latin catechumenus, Greek ÎºÎ±Ï„Î·Ï‡Î¿Ï…Î¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Ï‚, instructed) is one receiving instruction in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism. ... Bold text Carthage Ruins of Roman-era Carthage For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... This article is becoming very long. ... The Passion is the technical term for the suffering and Agony of Jesus that led directly to the Crucifixion, a central Christian event. ...

According to her "Acts," terrors of their imprisonment were increased for Perpetua by anxiety for her young child, not yet weaned. Two deacons succeeded in gaining admittance by bribing the jailer, and Perpetua's mother brought in her arms the little son, whom Perpetua was permitted to nurse and retain in prison with her, "and straightway I became well and was lightened of my labour and care for the child; and suddenly the prison was made a palace for me." A vision, in which she saw herself ascending a ladder leading to green meadows, where a flock of sheep was browsing, assured her of her approaching martyrdom. According to the "Acta," a few days later Perpetua's father, hearing that the trial of the imprisoned Christians would soon take place, again visited their dungeon and besought her not to put this disgrace on their name; but Perpetua remained steadfast. The next day the trial of the six confessors took place, before the Procurator Hilarianus. All six resolutely confessed their Christian faith. Perpetua's father, carrying her child in his arms, approached her again and attempted, for the last time, to induce her to apostatize; the procurator also remonstrated with her, but in vain. She refused to sacrifice to the gods for the safety of the emperor. The procurator thereupon had the father removed by force; in the process he was struck with a whip. The diaconate is one of three ordained offices in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches. ... A procurator is the incumbent of any of several current and historical political or legal offices. ... Apostasy (from Greek Î±Ï€Î¿ÏƒÏ„Î±ÏƒÎ¯Î±, a defection or revolt from a military commander, from Î±Ï€Î¿, apo, away, apart, ÏƒÏ„Î±ÏƒÎ¹Ï‚, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ...

The Christians were then condemned to be torn to pieces by wild beasts, for which they gave thanks to God. This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ...

In a vision Perpetua saw her brother Dinocrates, who had died unbaptized at the early age of seven, in a place of darkness and distress (similar to the Eastern Orthodox concept of suffering in Hades). She prayed for him and later had a vision of him happy and healthy. (See prayer for the dead). Another apparition, in which she saw herself fighting with a savage Ethiopian, whom she conquered, made it clear to her that she would have to do battle not merely with wild beasts but with the Devil himself. Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... Hades, Greek god of the underworld, enthroned, with his bird-headed staff, on a red-figure Apulian vase made in the 4th century BC. For other uses, see Hades (disambiguation). ... Wherever there is a belief in the continued existence of mans personality through and after death, religion naturally concerns itself with the relations between the living and the dead. ... The Devil is a title given to a supernatural entity, who, in most interpretations of the Abrahamic faiths, is the central embodiment of evil. ...

Saturus, who also wrote down his visions, saw himself and Perpetua transported by four angels, towards the East to a beautiful garden, where they met four other North African Christians who had suffered martyrdom during the same persecution, viz. Jocundus, Saturninus, Artaius, and Quintus. The Annunciation - the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus (El Greco, 1575) An angel is an ethereal being found in many religions, whose duties are to assist and serve God. ... Roman emperor Iulius Saturninus (died 280) was a Gaul by birth (others have him as a Moor) and was a friend of the emperor Probus. ... Quintus (the fifth, see Quintus (name)) may refer to: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (I) Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (II) Quintus Antistius Adventus Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (c. ...

He also saw in this vision Bishop Optatus of Carthage and the priest Aspasius, who besought the martyrs to arrange a reconciliation between them. In the meanwhile the birthday festival of the Emperor Geta approached, on which occasion the condemned Christians were to fight with wild beasts in the military games; they were therefore transferred to the prison in the camp. Saint Optatus, sometimes anglicized as St. ... Aspasius (c. ... Publius Septimius Geta Publius Septimius Geta (March 7, 189â€“December 211), was a Roman Emperor co-ruling with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 to his death. ...

The jailer Pudens had learnt to respect the confessors, and he permitted other Christians to visit them. Perpetua's father was also admitted and made another fruitless attempt to dissuade her.

Secundulus, one of the confessors, died in prison. Felicitas, who at the time of her incarceration was with child (in the eighth month), was apprehensive that she would not be permitted to suffer martyrdom with the others, since the law forbade the execution of pregnant women, but two days before the games she gave birth to a daughter, who was adopted by a Christian woman. On the day of the games, the five confessors were led into the amphitheatre. At the demand of the pagan mob they were first scourged; then a boar, a bear, and a leopard, were set at the men, and a wild cow at the women. Wounded by the wild animals, they gave each other the kiss of peace and were then put to the sword. Their bodies were interred at Carthage. For the band, see The Holy Kiss The holy kiss is a traditional Christian greeting. ...

Their feast day, March 7, was celebrated even outside Africa, entered in the Philocalian calendar, the 4th century calendar of martyrs venerated publicly at Rome. At Carthage a magnificent basilica was afterwards erected over their tomb, the Basilica Majorum, where an ancient inscription bearing the names of the martyrs has been found. The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more saints, and referring to the day as that saints day. ... Categories: Historical stubs | Ancient Roman provinces ... St. ...

In 2004 Amy Peterson wrote a historical fiction novel from the point of view of Perpetua, called "Perpetua: A Bride, A Martyr, A Passion." A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, where the time the action takes place in predates the time of the first publication -- distinguish and contrast the genre of alternate history. ... A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative in prose. ...

Bibliography

External links

Categories: Articles with invalid ISBNs | 1st century births | 203 deaths | African saints | Carthaginians | Christian martyrs | Roman multiple people The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ... Bold text Carthage Ruins of Roman-era Carthage For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... Adherbal or Ad Herbal (died 230 BC) was Commander (Admiral) of the Carthaginian fleet who battled for domination of the Mediterranean Sea for Carthage in the First Punic War against Rome, 264 BC-241 BC. It is known that he was in command until at least 249 BC, during the... Aurelius is the name of a Christian saint who died around 430. ... Carthalo (? â€“ c. ... Aeneid, Book I, Death of Dido. ... Hamilcar was a general who succeeded to the command of the Carthaginians in the First Punic War, and after successes at Therma and the Battle of Drepanum was defeated at Ecnomus (256 BC). ... Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (~270 â€“ 228 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal. ... Hannibal Barca (247 BC â€“ c. ... Hannibal Gisco (circa 300-290 - 260 BCE) was a Carthaginian military commander in charge of both land armies and naval fleets during the First Punic War against Rome. ... Hannibal Monomachus, a friend and staff officier of the great Carthaginian general Hannibal. ... Hannibal the Rhodian was a Carthaginian sailor in the First Punic War. ... Hanno the Elder was a Carthaginian general who served under Hannibal during the Second Punic War. ... Hanno the Great was a wealthy Carthaginian aristocrat in the 3rd century BC. Hannos wealth was based on the land he owned in Africa and Spain, and during the First Punic War he led the faction in Carthage that was opposed to continuing the war against Rome. ... Hanno the Navigator was a Carthaginian explorer, sent out with a fleet and many thousands of colonists, who founded or repopulated seven Carthaginian cities on the Atlantic shore of Morocco and explored the Atlantic coast of Africa, apparently deep into the Gulf of Guinea. ... Hanno, son of Bomilcar was a Carthaginian officer in the Second Punic War. ... Hasdrubal Barca (d. ... Hasdrubal Gisco was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War. ... Hasdrubal the Fair (d. ... Hasdrubal, commander of the Service Corps was a Carthaginian officer in the Second Punic War. ... Himilco (Phoenician Chimilkât), Carthaginian navigator and explorer lived in 6th century BC. Himilco is the first known sailor from the Mediterranean Sea to reach the northwestern shores of Europe. ... Mago was a Carthaginian writer, author of an agricultural manual in Punic which was a record of the farming knowledge of Carthage. ... Mago Barca (also spelled Magon) (243 BC - 203 BC), brother of the Carthaginian General Hannibal, he played a major role in the Second Punic War against Rome. ... Maharbal was Hannibals cavalry commander during the Second Punic War. ... For the Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola (ca. ...