E02089: The Martyrdom of *Caesarius (martyr of Terracina, S00893) is written in Latin in two main versions, BHL 1511 and BHL 1515. The shorter version, BHL 1515, is a sequel to the Martyrdom of *Nereus and Achilleus (E02033) and presumably written in Rome in Late Antiquity. It narrates that Caesarius, who refuses to sacrifice, is thrown into the sea to drown; his body is cast up and buried near Terracina. The longer version, BHL 1511, presumably written in Terracina (southern Italy), also in Late Antiquity, narrates the same and other events preceding and following Caesarius’ martyrdom in more detail and with reference to the local topography of Terracina, and adding companion martyrs, a priest Julianus, a monk Eusebius and a priest Felix. Only the longer version includes feast dates.

Martyrdom of Caesarius (BHL 1515 and 1511)

BHL 1515

Summary:

Luxurius brings the deacon Caesarius to the governor (consularis) Leontius who interrogates him, asking him his name and whether he is a freeman or a slave. Caesarius tells Leontius his name and that he is a slave of Jesus Christ. The governor tells Caesarius about the emperors’ order to sacrifice to the gods to avoid various punishments. Caesarius does not fear various, but only eternal, punishments; he does not follow their [his persecutors'] order since their anger will soon fade and they will be no more. Luxurius reacts to what he thinks are insults against the emperors and tells the governor that Caesarius should be thrown into the sea bound to a stone. Caesarius tells Luxurius that the water that has given him new life will receive him as a son, making him a martyr after having made him a Christian. Luxurius however will be consumed by a snake, as the revenge of the Lord for the burning of virgins and for throwing him into the water. Caesarius is thrown into the water and cast up by the sea onto the coast the same day, where Luxurius is lying, struck by a snake. He was riding on horseback alone to his villa for lunch, and, while resting for a while near a tree, was attacked by a snake which, from his head and neck, entered inside his tunic and bit him all over his side until it reached his heart. Before dying, he sees people chanting and taking the body of Caesarius with great honour. The martyr is buried near Terracina, and there many favours are bestowed, thanks to his merits, on those who believe in him.


BHL 1511

Summary:

§ 1: At the time when Claudius killed his mother, he issued an order requiring everyone to venerate the gods and offer sacrifices. This is implemented by a certain Firminus, priest (pontifex) of Terracina in Campania.

§ 2: Every year on the calends of January [= 1 January], for the protection of the state and the emperor, offering them numerous riches, Firminus convinces men to commit suicide by jumping from a high place. These men are then to be honoured by the inhabitants of Terracina.

§ 3: A beautiful young man from the city, named Lucianus, is being entertained and nourished in preparation for his death on the calends of January. The deacon Caesarius arrives from Africa and sees Lucianus.

§§ 4-5: Caesarius asks the citizens why Lucianus is so well dressed. They explain that he is preparing for his death: he is taken special care of for six or eight months, then, armed and dressed for the occasion, he reaches the top of Mons Marinus on horseback, and, after dismounting, he jumps and dies for the protection of the state, the emperor and the citizens, and for his own glory. His body is then brought with great honour to the temple of Apollo and burned, then his ashes are deposited in the temple.

§ 6: Caesarius tells them that they are bringing innocent souls to ruin and the devil, and that they do not obtain eternal life. He hides in the city in the house of a servant of God until the calends of January, praying and chanting to God and Jesus Christ.

§§ 7-8: On the calends, the citizens gather and come to the temple, they lead Lucianus there, with a sow that is sacrificed by Lucianus. Caesarius comes and shouts that their plan to kill an innocent man is foolish and unjust.

§§ 9-10: At the same time, the young man mounts a horse and with great fury he reaches the top of the mountain, jumps and dies. Caesarius shouts, cursing the state and the emperors, deceived by the devil, for spilling innocent blood and for sending souls to their ruin.

§ 11: The priest Firminus orders Caesarius to be arrested and put into public custody (custodia publica). Following custom, he takes the body of Lucianus and brings it to the temple of Apollo, burns it and puts the ashes in the temple.

§ 12: Eight days later, Luxurius, the first citizen of the city (primus civitatis), and the priest Firminus take Caesarius out of jail, bring him to the forum, and call the governor of Campania (consularis), named Leontius, who at that time was governing in the city of Fundi (fundana civitas).

§§ 13-14: After three days, which Caesarius spent waiting in the forum, Leontius arrives in Terracina and interrogates him. Caesarius replies to each question in turn: Leontius asks him his name, whether he is a freeman or a slave, and whether he has heard the emperors’ orders. Caesarius replies that he is Caesarius, a sinner and unworthy deacon, a slave of Christ, and that he has not heard about the order. Leontius explains to him that he has to sacrifice to the immortal gods for the protection of the state. However, for Caesarius this offers no protection but death, since men are killed and receive no life.

§ 15: Leontius advises Caesarius to sacrifice, otherwise he will be punished, but Caesarius replies that he does not fear any such suffering; they (his persecutors) should instead fear eternal suffering. Leontius brings him in chains and naked to the temple of Apollo.

§§ 16-17: Upon arrival near the temple, Caesarius prays to God, asking that he be not abandoned; immediately the temple is destroyed, killing the priest Firminus. Luxurius arrives and tells Leontius that Caesarius is practising magic. Leontius threatens Caesarius, who replies that he does not fear him nor the emperor, because they will soon die and be no more.

§§ 18-19: Luxurius reacts to what he thinks are insults against the emperor and tells the governor that the people should assemble near the temple where Caesarius practised magic. There, next to Firminus’ body, Luxurius tells the people (populus) that Caesarius, who does not fear the gods or the emperor, killed a man and destroyed the temple with magic.

§§ 20-21: Caesarius asks the people whether it is right to fear man more than God the Creator, and to kill a man for the sake of the city. He advises them to do penance for the innocent blood spilled and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The people agree with Caesarius’ speech; Luxurius takes him away and imprisons him for a year and a month.

§§ 22-23: Luxurius then orders Caesarius to be taken out of custody, and brought naked before Leontius. An angel had been taking care of Caesarius night and day. Arriving in the forum, Caesarius asks the soldiers who keep him chained to free him, so that he may thank the Lord Jesus Christ for being worthy of becoming one of his servants. Falling to the ground he prays to God and asks for mercy. A bright light appears and protects Caesarius.

§§ 24-25: Leontius proclaims his adhesion to the God of Caesarius, throws himself at his feet, takes off his mantle (chlamyda) and puts it on Caesarius, asking him in front of the people to be baptised. Caesarius requires him to believe and then baptises him in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The priest Julianus comes and gives him the body and blood of the Lord. As he has received all the mysteries of the law (sacramenta legis), Julianus prays over Leontius; then Leontius dies.

§§ 26-27: On the same day, Luxurius arrests Julianus and Caesarius, ordering that they be thrown into the sea tied up in a bag. The wife and sons of Leontius bury him near the city in his own field, the third day of the calends of November [30 October]. At night three days later, just before being thrown into the sea, Caesarius tells Luxurius that, while he, Caesarius, will be martyred together with Julianus in the water that also gave him new life through baptism, Luxurius will be consumed by a snake, as the revenge of the Lord for the burning of his servants and virgins and for casting Caesarius into the sea.

§§ 28-30: After being thrown into the water, the bodies of Julianus and Caesarius are cast up by the sea onto the coast where Luxurius is lying, struck by a snake. Luxurius was riding on horseback alone to his villa for lunch and, resting for a while under a tree, was attacked by a snake which from his head and neck entered inside his tunic and bit him all over his side until reaching his heart. Before dying, he sees the bodies of Julianus and Caesarius, chanting as they are brought onto the coast by the waves. As he asks them for help, he dies choked by a devil in front of everyone. The bodies of Julianus and Caesarius are taken by a servant of God who lived near there, and buried at night near the city of Terracina on the calends of November [= 1 November].

§ 31: Post dies autem quinque inventus est et ipse servus Dei, nomine Eusebius, in eodem loco ubi posuerat beatos martyres, jejunans et orans Dominum et psallens. Hoc dum multi viderent, occurrebant beato Eusebio de civitate Terracina, quia locus prope civitatem erat; et multi convertebantur et baptizabantur a Felice presbytero.

‘Then five days later, people found the same servant of God, named Eusebius, in the same place where he had buried the blessed martyrs, fasting, praying and chanting to the Lord. Now many had seen this and were running to meet Eusebius from the city of Terracina, since the place was near the city; and many were converted and baptised by the priest Felix.’

§§ 32-33: Hearing of this, Leontius, the son of Leontius, full of rage because of the death of his father, sends soldiers and arrests the priest Felix and the monk (monachus) Eusebius and orders them to be brought in front of the citizens in the forum. Seated with the greatest of the citizens, he interrogates them, asking them whether they are slaves or freemen, what their names are, and why they preach against the state and the emperors. They reply to each question in turn: they state that they are slaves of Jesus Christ, named Felix and Eusebius, and that they preach a true and sound teaching (doctrina) to make God known and feared so that all may receive eternal life.

§§ 34-35: Leontius won