Acts of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonice

The Acts of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonice is a martyrdom account from the second to third century AD.[1]

Overview

Carpus, a bishop, Papylus, a deacon, and Carpus's sister Agathonice were at the time, together in Pergamum. While present together, the cities's counsel called, "Optimus" ordered them to sacrifice to their gods in the name of the emperor. Carpus was the first to refuse the counsel reason on not to sacrifice to other gods because of his Christian faith. They ordered his death through hanging and to be clawed alive.

Papylus, a wealthy roman citizen, followed the footsteps of Carpus the same death and torture as did Agathonice. All three confessed their Christian faith without remorse.[2]

The earliest know women to be martyred from Eusebius's written works, Agathonice witnessed the deaths of her brother Carpus and Papylus. While watching their agony in horror, Agathonice threw herself in the fire blazing pyre. Despite the crowd trying to persuade her for the sake of her child, she did so anyway.[3]

Her death was recorded through letters of Christian witnesses who attended the martyrdom, and later, the letters would form her pre-martyrdom account.[3]

Manuscripts

The only know manuscripts of the Acts of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonice are known from a preserved Greek and Latin version.[3] Eusebius dates the persecutions around 165 AD, however, the Latin version's qualities points to the third century AD. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Ferguson, Everett (2013). Encyclopedia of Early Christianity (Second ed.). Routledge. p. 11. ISBN 9781136611582.
  2. ↑ Farmer, David (2011). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Fifth Edition Revised (5th Revised ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 78 & 79. ISBN 9780191036736.
  3. 1 2 3 Attridge, Harold W.; Hata, Gōhei (1992). Eusebius, Christianity, and Judaism. Wayne State University Press. p. 257. ISBN 9780814323618.
  4. ↑ Ferguson, Everett (2009). Church History, From Christ to Pre-Reformation: The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context. Zondervan. ISBN 9780310829362.


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