E02505: The Martyrdom of *Processus and Martinianus (martyrs of Rome, buried on the via Aurelia, S00556), is written in Latin, presumably in Rome, during Late Antiquity, perhaps in the first half of the 6th c. It narrates the imprisonment of the Apostles *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008) in Rome under Nero, where they perform miracles and convert many, including Processus and Martinianus, who then free the Apostles; the tortures endured and martyrdom of Processus and Martinianus, and burial by Lucina on her estate on the via Aurelia.

Martyrdom of Processus and Martinianus (BHL 6947)

Summary:

§ 1: Events occur at the time when Simon Magus died, and when Nero had given over the blessed apostles Peter and Paul to the magistrate Paulinus. Peter and Paul are incarcerated in the Mamertine prison (custodia Mamertini). Many Christians, who are lame or possessed by demons, come to them and are cured through prayers of the apostles. Among the soldiers watching over them are Processus and Martinianus, two magistriani melloprincipis [this term, from the Greek μαγιστριανοί means agentes in rebus, or agents placed under the jurisdiction of the magister militum]. They are amazed by the miracles and tell Peter and Paul that Nero must have forgotten them now that they have spent nine months in prison. They ask them therefore to be baptised. Peter and Paul tell them that if they believe with all their heart and soul in the Trinity, they can perform the same miracles. All prisoners hear this and want to be baptised. Peter asks all to believe in God the Father Almighty, Jesus Christ his unbegotten son and in the Holy Spirit.

§ 2: They all throw themselves at the apostles’ feet and ask for baptism. Peter and Paul pray to God, then Peter makes the sign of the cross on the Tarpeian rock (mons Tarpeius); whereupon water gushes from the rock, and Peter baptises Processus and Martinianus. Then a further 47 people, who are in the prison, are baptised. The Eucharist is then celebrated. Processus and Martinianus release the apostles from prison. They leave the prison and take the via Appia, reaching the porta Appia. On his way, Peter loses a small bandage (fasciola), that was put over his feet that had been chained, apud sepem on the via Nova. At the porta Appia Peter sees Jesus walking towards Rome. He asks Jesus where he is going (quo vadis), who replies that he is going to Rome and that Peter too should go back there. Peter returns and is captured by soldiers. Paulinus discovers that Processus and Martinianus have become Christians, and sends soldiers to arrest them and send them into prison. The next day they are led to him and he interrogates them, demanding that they venerate the ancestral gods and wondering how come they are ready to lose their military rank. They reply emphasising that they have now begun their heavenly military service. Paulinus insists, addressing them as fellow soldiers and promising them honours, but he fails to convince them, as they again state that they are Christian, servants of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

§ 3: Paulinus, vir clarissimus, repeats his plea for good sense, but Processus and Martinianus stay quiet. Paulinus, seeing that nothing else will work, orders them to be stoned. They both cry out in praise of God. Paulinus still seeks their submission, ordering a tripod to be brought so they can sacrifice. They reply that they have offered themselves as sacrifice to God Almighty. A golden statue of Jupiter is also brought, but the martyrs mock it and spit out at the statue in front of Paulinus. Paulinus orders them to be stretched and beaten on a rack. However, they gladly thank Jesus Christ. Paulinus orders their sides to be burnt, but they bless Jesus Christ and evoke Peter and Paul.

§ 4: A certain Christian matrona Lucina galvanises Processus and Martinianus in their faith. Paulinus, however, orders them to be tortured with scorpions (scorpiones), telling them not to despise the emperors’ orders. Then, however, he loses his left eyeball, and, exclaiming that they use magic, he orders that they be taken down from their torture racks and returned to the Mamertine prison, where, however, Lucina ministers to them. After three days, Paulinus is seized by a demon and dies. At this point, his son, Pompinius, makes for the palace (palatium), and demands that the government (moderatores et gubernatores reipublicae) stamp out this magic. On hearing this, Caesarius, the urban prefect, informs the emperor Nero, who orders that Processus and Martinianus be put to death. They are led outside the walls of Rome, on the via Aurelia, and beheaded near an aqueduct, where their bodies are left to the dogs. Lucina collects their bodies, embalms them with precious perfumes, and buries them in a sand-pit (in arenario) on her own property (praedium) near the place where they were beheaded, on the via Aurelia on the 6th day before the Nones of July [= 2 July]. There, their favours are bestowed up to this day.

Text: Acta Sanctorum, Iul., I, 303-304. Summary: M. Humphries, The Roman Martyrs Project, adapted and expanded by M. Pignot.