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E04779: The Martyrdom of *Mustiola, Ireneus and Felix (martyrs of Sutri and Chiusi, S01982) is written in Latin, presumably in Chiusi at an uncertain date, by the mid 8th c. at the latest. It narrates the trial and martyrdom of the priest Felix in Sutri, and of the deacon Ireneus and the matron Mustiola in Chiusi.
online resource
posted on 2018-01-31, 00:00 authored by mpignotMartyrdom of Mustiola, Irenaeus and Felix (BHL 4455)
Summary:
There is a cruel persecution against Christians under the emperor Aurelian. He learns that in Tuscany many convert to Christianity. He sends Turtius, vicarius of the prefecture, to interrogate Christians. Turtius comes to the civitas Falisca and orders any Christian that may be found to be brought to him.
A certain priest (presbyter) Felix, hearing about Turtius’ persecution, gathers Christians and comforts them, telling them to be ready to fight. He is denounced by a curialis who says that a most rich priest Felix converts people to Christianity and is to be found in agrum filiseum. Turtius has Felix arrested with the help of soldiers and he prepares a tribunal in the civitas Falisca. Turtius interrogates Felix who instructs him about eternal life and rejects Turtius’ wish that he abandon his faith. Turtius orders his mouth to be crushed. As he is severely beaten, Felix dies. His body is collected by the deacon Ireneus, who buries it next to the walls of the city of Sutri (sutrina civitas) on the 9th day before the Calends of July [= 23 June].
Turtius orders Ireneus to be arrested, brought chained to Chiusi (civitas Clusina) and imprisoned. The Christian matrona Mustiola, offering money to the guards, comes at night and takes care of the many imprisoned Christians by washing their feet, healing their wounds, and providing food and clothes. A certain Torquatus tells Turtius that Mustolia, the most noble first cousin of Claudius, comforts the prisoners. Angered, Turtius, at first summons Mustiola, but after seeing how beautiful she is, he sends her back home and interrogates her there. As he asks about her nobility, Mustiola explains that nobility comes from the blood of Christian saints, rejects her relatives, and tells of her attachment to Christ. Turtius advises her not to reject her relatives but to offer sacrifice as ordered by the emperors and enjoy her riches.
As Mustiola rejects this, Turtius orders all prisoners to be beheaded and Ireneus to be tortured on a rack in front of her. As he refuses to offer sacrifice, Ireneus is tortured with claws and burning flames. Ireneus praises God and dies. Mustiola tells Turtius that Ireneus will earn glory forever while he will burn for eternity. Turtius orders Mustiola to be beaten with lead-weighted scourges (plumbatae) and she dies, on the 5th day before the Nones of July [= 3 July]. One of her slaves named Marcus collects her body and buries it next to the walls of Chiusi, where her prayers flourish up to this day.
Text: Liverani 1872, 267-270. Summary: M. Pignot.
Summary:
There is a cruel persecution against Christians under the emperor Aurelian. He learns that in Tuscany many convert to Christianity. He sends Turtius, vicarius of the prefecture, to interrogate Christians. Turtius comes to the civitas Falisca and orders any Christian that may be found to be brought to him.
A certain priest (presbyter) Felix, hearing about Turtius’ persecution, gathers Christians and comforts them, telling them to be ready to fight. He is denounced by a curialis who says that a most rich priest Felix converts people to Christianity and is to be found in agrum filiseum. Turtius has Felix arrested with the help of soldiers and he prepares a tribunal in the civitas Falisca. Turtius interrogates Felix who instructs him about eternal life and rejects Turtius’ wish that he abandon his faith. Turtius orders his mouth to be crushed. As he is severely beaten, Felix dies. His body is collected by the deacon Ireneus, who buries it next to the walls of the city of Sutri (sutrina civitas) on the 9th day before the Calends of July [= 23 June].
Turtius orders Ireneus to be arrested, brought chained to Chiusi (civitas Clusina) and imprisoned. The Christian matrona Mustiola, offering money to the guards, comes at night and takes care of the many imprisoned Christians by washing their feet, healing their wounds, and providing food and clothes. A certain Torquatus tells Turtius that Mustolia, the most noble first cousin of Claudius, comforts the prisoners. Angered, Turtius, at first summons Mustiola, but after seeing how beautiful she is, he sends her back home and interrogates her there. As he asks about her nobility, Mustiola explains that nobility comes from the blood of Christian saints, rejects her relatives, and tells of her attachment to Christ. Turtius advises her not to reject her relatives but to offer sacrifice as ordered by the emperors and enjoy her riches.
As Mustiola rejects this, Turtius orders all prisoners to be beheaded and Ireneus to be tortured on a rack in front of her. As he refuses to offer sacrifice, Ireneus is tortured with claws and burning flames. Ireneus praises God and dies. Mustiola tells Turtius that Ireneus will earn glory forever while he will burn for eternity. Turtius orders Mustiola to be beaten with lead-weighted scourges (plumbatae) and she dies, on the 5th day before the Nones of July [= 3 July]. One of her slaves named Marcus collects her body and buries it next to the walls of Chiusi, where her prayers flourish up to this day.
Text: Liverani 1872, 267-270. Summary: M. Pignot.
History
Evidence ID
E04779Saint Name
Mustiola, martyr at Chiusi in Tuscany (Italy) : S01982Saint Name in Source
Felix, Ireneus, MustiolaRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Accounts of martyrdomLanguage
LatinEvidence not before
400Evidence not after
750Activity not before
270Activity not after
750Place of Evidence - Region
Italy north of Rome with Corsica and SardiniaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
ChiusiPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Chiusi Sardinia Sardinia Sardegna SardiniaCult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast