E02491: The Martyrdom of *Eusebius, Pontianus, Vincentius and Peregrinus, and Companion Martyrs (martyrs of Rome, 01472) is written in Latin, presumably in Rome, at an uncertain date, in the 9th c. at the latest. It narrates the conversion and martyrdom of the senator Iulius and the executioner Antonius, and their burial in the cemetery of Calepodius, the tortures endured by the main protagonists, other conversions triggered and miraculous healing effected by them, their martyrdom, and their burial between the via Aurelia and the via Triumphalis.

Martyrdom of Eusebius, Pontianus, Vincentius and Peregrinus (BHL 2742)

Summary:

§ 1: The emperor Commodus, on his birthday, convenes all the people for a contest where they are to acclaim the gods Hercules and Jupiter. Commodus appears clothed in a lion’s skin before a golden statue of Jupiter, and is acclaimed 75 times by the people as Hercules, protector of the state.

§ 2: At that time there are Christians in the vicus Lannarius, among them Eusebius, Vincentius, Peregrinus and Pontianus, religious men (religiosi viri), who have given away their possessions to the poor and serve the Lord. Hearing what Commodus did, they preach to the people, encouraging them to abandon the pagan gods, believe in God and Jesus Christ, repent and be baptised.

§ 3: A senator (senator) named Iulius, hearing the Christians preach, invites them to his home, believes, gives away his possessions to the poor, calls a priest named Rufinus and asks to be baptised with all his household. He starts to preach the name of the Lord and gives his income (reditus) to the poor. Commodus hears of this and orders him to be arrested. He questions him about his reasons for abandoning the gods Jupiter and Hercules, but Iulius rejects the gods.

§ 4: Iulius is entrusted to a certain Vitellius, exmagister peditum, who receives the order to seize his possessions, force him to sacrifice, and kill him if he refuses. Vitellius sends Iulius to prison and after three days, orders him to be brought before him. As Iulius refuses to sacrifice but professes his faith in Jesus Christ, he is beaten to death. His body is thrown before the amphitheatre and collected at night by Eusebius, Pontianus, Peregrinus and Vincentius and buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the 14th day before the Calends of September [= 19 August].

§ 5: Eusebius, Pontianus, Peregrinus and Vincentius are arrested and brought before Vitellius, who accuses them of having seized Iulius’ wealth and asks them to give it back and offer sacrifice to avoid death. Eusebius and Vincentius reject the gods.

§§ 6-7: They are tortured on a rack, then asked to sacrifice to the gods, however they persevere. Vitellius thinks that they use magic. As their sides are burnt, one of the torturers sees a young man wiping their sides, proclaims that it is an angel and believes in Christ. Vitellius replies that it is magic. The executioner, named Antonius, believes, flees to the priest Rufinus and is baptised.

§ 8: The saints are taken down from the rack and interrogated; as Eusebius tells Vitellius that he will suffer forever in hell, he orders Eusebius’ tongue to be cut out; Antonius protests, and Vitellius starts vomiting blood. Eusebius glorifies the Lord without a tongue but with a loud voice. A Christian named Faustus collects Eusebius’ tongue, puts it in his tunic and flees. Vitelius orders Antonius to be beheaded. He is brought to the via Aurelia next to the forum of Trajan, and beheaded on the 11th day before the Calends of September [= 22 August].

§ 9: Eusebius, Vincentius Peregrinus and Pontianus are sent to prison. They thank God night and day with hymns; many Christians come to them and are comforted. After three days, Iulius appear to them, asking them to save the guardian of the prison. The infirm and the blind are brought to them and healed through their prayers. A blind pagan priest of the Capitol named Lupulus comes asking for baptism. They ask him to believe to be enlightened. He states his belief.

§ 10: They summon the priest Rufinus who comes and interrogates Lupulus about his belief. As he proclaims his faith in Jesus Christ, he is initiated (catechizare) and baptised, with a threefold interrogation about his belief in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As Lupulus shouts that he believes in Jesus Christ and asks to be enlightened, the guardian of the prison comes and sees that Lupulus is enlightened. He comes to the saints’ feet and asks for baptism. He, whose name is Simplicius, is baptised by Rufinus, and reveals where Antonius’ body is buried. After six days, the intact body of Antonius is found by Rufinus, and buried in the cemetery of Calepodius in a crypt on the eighth day.

§11: Vitellius tells what has happened to the emperor Commodus, who orders the saints to be killed. Vitellius orders a tribunal to be prepared in Tellure and summons Eusebius, Vincentius, Peregrinus, and Pontianus. He requires them to sacrifice before a tripod (tripoda) but they spit at it. They are sentenced to die by being beaten with leaden scourges (plumbatae) before the amphitheatre. They are brought to the place called petra scelerata where they are killed. Rufinus collects the bodies of the martyrs and buries them not far from the city at the sixth milestone from Rome, in a sand quarry between the via Aurelia and the via Triumphalis on the 8th day before the Calends of September [=25 August]. They are brought there by a certain matrona in her two-wheeled vehicle (birotum). Their prayers flourish there up to this day.

Text: Acta Sanctorum, Aug., V, 115-116. Summary: M. Pignot.