E05111: Coptic Martyrdom of *Viktor (son of Romanos, S00749), relates the saint’s conflict with his father Romanos at Antioch and his subsequent arrest and transportation to Alexandria, ordered and organised by Diocletian; written presumably during the 6th/7th century.

Brit. Mus. MS. Oriental, No. 7022, fol. 1a–11a

The martyrdom is introduced as follows:

Fol. 1a:
ⲧⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲡⲉⲥⲧⲣⲁⲧⲏⲗⲁⲧⲏⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡϥⲁⲓⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲛⲁⲙⲉ · ⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ϫⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲁⲅⲱⲛ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ · ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ϫⲟⲩⲧⲥⲁϣϥⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲫⲁⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ {ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ} ⲉϫⲱⲛ ⲛⲧⲛⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲛ ϩⲓ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ :–

‘The martyrdom of saint Viktor, the general and revered martyr of Christ and the true crown bearer. He completed his glorious contest on day 27 of the month Pharmoute (22 April). In God’s peace. His holy blessing shall come down upon us and we shall be well all at once. Amen.’

The account begins with Diocletian and his edict at Antioch, the home of Viktor and his noble parents, the Roman army general Romanos and his wife Martha. Diocletian urges the sacrifice at the temple of Apollo, starting with members of the nobility, all the way down to the common citizens.

Basileides, a high ranking official at Antioch refused to sacrifice at the temple and was put to death.

Fol. 2a; Budge, p. 4, line 5–9:

ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲟⲣⲇⲓⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲡⲣⲟⲧⲉⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲧⲁϩⲟϥ · ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲉⲓⲧⲏⲥ · ⲙⲡⲉϥⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲛⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲣⲟ · ⲁⲗⲗⲁ
ⲁⲇⲓⲟⲕⲗⲏϯⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ·

‘When the turn of the protector came, whose name was Basileides, he did not sacrifice to the gods of the emperor. But Diocletian killed him together with all the people of his household.’

Soon it was the turn of the son of the general Romanos to sacrifice. Viktor, aged 19 was a pious Christian, devoted and humble, a Roman soldier who spend his time fasting and praying, refusing to wear high ranking clothes and adornments. When he refused to sacrifice, his father became very angry and brought the matter before the emperor. Viktor is immediately arrested, beaten and tortured. Diocletian forms the plan to banish Viktor to Alexandria, accompanied by four soldiers and a letter of instructions to Armenios, the comes of Alexandria. Armenios is instructed to put Viktor on trial and give him three chances to sacrifice, before burning him in the oven of the Roman bath should he refuse.

Viktor greets his mother and servants farewell, before being put onto a vessel and shipped to Alexandria where upon arrival he is put into prison.


(Text: E. A. W. Budge; summary and trans.: G. Schenke)