E02483: The Martyrdom of *Anthimus and Companions (martyrs of the via Salaria near Rome, and of Auximum (Osimo) in central Italy, S01226) is written in Latin, in its present form probably at the abbey of Farfa, north-east of Rome on the via Salaria, probably in the 8th c. It narrates Pinianus’ healing performed by the priest Anthimus and the deacon Sisinnius; Pinianus’ and his wife Lucina’s conversions and baptisms; Pinianus’ decision to free Christians and grant them properties in Picenum; the martyrdom and burial of Sisinnius, Diocletianus and Florentius in Auximum (Osimo); further conversions achieved by Anthimus, and his martyrdom and burial in the place where he used to pray on the via Salaria; the martyrdom and burial of Anthimus’ companion Maximus at the thirtieth milestone on the via Salaria; Bassus and Fabius’ martyrdom and burial on the via Salaria.

Martyrdom of Anthimus and Companions (BHL 561)

Summary:

§ 1: Sergius Terentianus, senator (inlustris vir), a subordinate of the urban prefect, marries Pluitina [Acta Sanctorum: Protina], granddaughter of the emperor Gallienus; to them are born the children Claudius, Pompeianus and Lucina. Lucina is married to Faltonius Pinianus, who goes with his wife to take up the proconsulship of Asia, appointed by Diocletian and Maximian. Their advisor (consiliarius), Chaeremon, being of a perverted mind, kills Christians with many tortures; he, however, is himself possessed by the devil, and invoking the name of the holy ones (sancti) whom he has killed, he dies. Seeing these things, Pinianus is filled with fear and becomes quite unwell.

§ 2: Seeing all this, Lucina, a most prudent woman, understands that Pinianus is unwell because of the killing of Christians; she seeks the confessors of Christ who are in prison and orders them to be secretly brought to her. Among those incarcerated is the priest (presbiter) Anthimus, with the deacon Sisinnius and other religious men (religiosi viri) called Maximus, Bassus, Fabius, Diocletianus and Florentius. She asks them for help to free her husband from his sickness, and promises riches and freedom in return. Anthimus recommends to her that her husband become a Christian: this will cause immediate recovery. Lucina rushes to her husband, and tells him not to concern himself with the various doctors (medici et arciatri et diasophiste), but to take heed of the recommendation of men who do not ask for anything in return, but state that if he converts to Christianity he will be instantly cured. Pinianus says that one has to be stupid not to believe that this is the true God, the one who heals and gives life back to those who are about to die. She introduces him to Anthimus and Sisinnius.

§ 3: Anthimus and Sisinnius enter Pinianus’ bedchamber and find him dying. They ask Pinianus to abandon any other treatment, since only Christ’s power will assist him. Pinianus asks to be cured in order to believe that He only is the almighty God. Anthimus asks Pinianus to be ready to believe what he will tell him, Pinianus replies that he would not have called them if he had not believed. Then Anthimus gives a long Christian instruction to Pinianus: he is instructed, in the form of a creed summarising the history of salvation, about the creation, the Trinity, original sin, the Incarnation, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Christ’s apparitions to his disciples for forty days, when he gave the power to them to heal the sick and expel demons, and finally Christ’s Ascension into Heaven. Anthimus and Sisinnius lay their hands over Pinianus in Christ’s name to heal him.

§ 4: Pinianus raises his hands and professes his faith in Christ. Anthimus and Sisinnius prostrate themselves and begin to pray. Suddenly there an apparition of a most bright light lasting for half an hour, then Anthimus and Sisinnius, rising from their attitude of prayer, say to Pinianus: 'Rise up, for Christ, the Son of God, in whom you have believed, has visited you' (exsurge quia visitavit te Christus filius dei cui credidisti). Immediately, Pinianus rises from his bed, gets to his feet and walks, fully healed. He proclaims that Christ is the true God, and they call the other Christians from prison, Maximus, Bassus, Fabianus [Acta Sanctorum: Fabius], Diocletianus and Florentius. They instruct Pinianus and Lucina in the truth and Christian mysteries for seven days, and the couple, together with their entire household and family (familia et hereditas), are baptised.

§ 5: For a year after his recovery, Pinianus releases Christians from mines (metalla), workhouses (ergastula) and prisons (custodia), and, following the teaching of Anthimus and Sisinnius, he washes their feet, kisses their hands, and gives them money and the means of transportation to reach their homes. Afterwards, Pinianus and the Christians go to the city [Rome?]. Since there are so many of them, they are divided up amongst the dwellings (mansiones) on Pinianus’ vast property (predia) in the province of Picenum [roughly equivalent to present-day Marche]. He gives a property (predium) near the town of Auximantium (Osimo) [manuscript variants: Auximium, Auximaciam] to Sisinnius, Diocletianus, and Florentius, who are accompanied by many others and live there praising Christ without trouble for three years before receiving the palm of martyrdom.

§ 6: There was a meeting of people who used to sacrifice every three years and say that they received oracles (responsa). They receive an oracle that Sisinnius, Diocletianus and Florentius need to offer sacrifice; otherwise they will not receive the customary oracles. When the Christians refuse to sacrifice, they are stoned to death by the people and left buried under a mass of stones. Later, Christians clear the place and bury there the holy martyrs of God (sancti dei martyres).

In quo loco orationes eorum exuberant beneficiis suis usque in presentem diem in civitate Auximum. Ad laudem domini nostri Iesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in aeterna saecula saeculorum.

'In that place, in the town of Auximum, through their prayers, favours abound up to this day. To the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.'

§ 7: Meanwhile, the priest Anthimus hides not far from the city, on the via Salaria, near property (predia) belonging to Pinianus [the addition: 'at the 22nd milestone' is not found in the oldest manuscripts, see Mara 1964a, 47 and 70]. As rustics are sacrificing to their god Silvanus, the one who offers sacrifice is possessed by the Devil, becomes enraged and hits all those around him with a sword. All flee, Anthimus hears that many have been killed. He prays and, committing himself to God for protection, he meets the man, invokes Jesus Christ and successfully stops him. Then he brings him home and, praying and fasting for three days, he restores him to reason. The man becomes a Christian, he believes, together with his wife and children, and brings many others to believe, so much so that he cuts down the sacred wood of Silvanus and overthrows the altars, thus giving back his due to the god who had abandoned him to the demon and led him to kill innocent people.

§ 8: As the proconsul Priscus is passing by, unbelieving people tell him that by Anthimus’ work all the idols have been overturned, and the sacred groves have been burned. Priscus orders that Anthimus be seized by the people and compelled to offer sacrifice. As he refuses, they tie a stone to Anthimus’ neck and throw him in the Tiber. However, an angel of the Lord appears, breaks his chains and brings him to the cell (cella) where he used to pray. In the morning, the pagans see the Christians coming as usual to meet Anthimus and tell them to seek him at the bottom of the river. The Christians reply, however, that they have seen him in good health. The pagans protest that they had beaten Anthimus and thrown him into the river with a weight around his neck: how can what the Christians say be true? But then they enter and see Anthimus in good health, preaching to the people. Overcome by this, almost all of those who had thrown him in the Tiber fall on their knees, do penance (penitentia) and are baptised.

§ 9: Priscus comes back and hears that Anthimus has not been killed and all those who had been dispatched to kill him have converted to the faith of the Lord. So Priscus orders that Anthimus be led before him, and for three days he undergoes tortures, yet on no account can he be forced to sacrifice to idols. So his execution by beheading is ordered. His body is recovered by those he had converted, and buried in his oratory (oratorium), where he used to pray.

In quo loco prestantur beneficia eius ad laudem domini nostri Iesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

‘In that place, his favours are bestowed to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.’

§ 10a: People start venerating Maximus, Anthimus’ inseparable friend. The enemies of the Christian faith tell Priscus that Anthimus’ death is useless since an even greater crowd now gathers around Maximus. As orders are given to arrest him, people try to prevent it, but Maximus tells them not to. Then Priscus asks Maximus if it is he who has subverted the emperors’ orders and turned the inhabitants of the province (provinciales) against the cults of the gods; Maximus replies in the affirmative. Priscus is outraged, and orders that Maximus be beaten with sticks and compelled to sacrifice. Maximus stands firm in his Christian beliefs and is beheaded.

A christianis autem ereptum corpus eius positum est in via Salaria, miliario ab urbe Roma tricesimo, in eodem loco ubi orare consueverat et dies natalis eius quarto decimo kalendas novembres. Regnante domino nostro Iesu Christo in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

‘His body is taken away by Christians and buried on the via Salaria at the thirtieth milestone from Rome in the same place where he used to pray, and his feast day is on the 14th day of the Calends of November [= 19 October]. Our Lord Jesus Christ reigning for ever and ever. Amen.’

§ 10b: Bassus remains at the same place where the martyr Maximus is buried, exhorting the believers to have joy in the saint’s passion, rather than sorrow. People meet in the market (mercatus) at the place called Forum Novum, where they sacrifice to Liber Pater and Ceres. Bassus is seized and enjoined to sacrifice to these gods, who give bountiful vines and good harvests. Bassus responds that it is the God who is in Heaven who gives rains which nourish the earth and hence provide for all the necessities of life; by contrast, these idols are dead, speechless and soulless, and cannot grant anything. As he says this,