E02485: The Martyrdom of *Callixtus (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00145), *Calepodius (priest and martyr of Rome, S01411) and Companions is written in Latin presumably in Rome in Late Antiquity, certainly before the early 8th c. It narrates the activities of pagans around the Capitol and Christians in Trastevere, the conversions and baptisms of the consul Palmatius, the senator Simplicius and their households, and the soldier Privatus, miraculous healings, and the martyrdom of all the protagonists and of *Asterius (martyr of Ostia, S01550). Calepodius and Callixtus are both buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the via Aurelia.

Martyrdom of Callixtus, Calepodius and Companions (BHL 1523)

Summary:

§ 1: Under the emperors Macrinus and Alexander, a fire erupts on the Capitol, partly burning the idol in the temple of Jupiter. Pagan soothsayers and priests obtain instructions from the emperor Alexander that a sacrifice be performed, but this triggers lightning in clear skies on the day of Jupiter [Thursday], that kills four priests and destroys the altar of Jupiter. The sky is darkened, causing the fearful Roman people to go outside the city walls, on the other side of the Tiber (trans Tiberim), to the temple in the city of the people of Ravenna (in urbem ad templum Ravennatium), where they hear a crowd of Christians chanting, with their bishop Callixtus and his clergy. The consul Palmatius hears this and tells Alexander that they are the cause of the trouble; the city needs to be purified. Alexander decides to punish all those who refuse to offer sacrifice to the gods.

§ 2: Alexander gives power to Palmatius to bring all to sacrifice and torture those who refuse. Palmatius goes with several soldiers to the other side of the Tiber where many Christians are gathered with Callixtus, among whom is the old priest (presbyter) Calepodius. As ten soldiers enter the place where the Christians dwell, they are immediately blinded. Calepodius asks them what they want, they reply that they need light, and he tells them that they have been blinded by God. As Palmatius realises this, he flees and tells what happened to Alexander, who thinks that it is magic. Palmatius convinces Alexander to send orders for all people to come to the Capitol on the day of Mercury [Wednesday] to perform sacrifice and obtain help from the god Mercury, and to kill all those who are found staying in their homes. On the day, all the Roman people come to the Capitol, including Palmatius with all his household and a pig and calf.

§ 3: As sacrifice is performed, a virgin of the temple named Iuliana is seized by a devil and shouts that the God of Callixtus is the true God and will bring their reign to an end. Palmatius hurries alone to Callixtus on the other side of the Tiber in the city quarters of the people of Ravenna, enters the house where the Christians are gathered, falls at Callixtus’ feet, and tells him that he has learnt that Jesus Christ is the true God and wants to be freed from the cult of idols and be baptised. Bishop Callixtus is dubious about Palmatius’ intentions, but Calepodius tells him not to deny Palmatius’ request to be baptised. Callixtus requires him to fast for one day, initiates him (catechizare) and baptises him, with a three-fold interrogation about his belief in the Trinity and the creed, Palmatius each time replying ‘I believe’. Palmatius is baptised together with his whole household, in total 42 individuals. He gives all his possessions to the Christian poor, searching them out across the regions of the city (regiones) and crypts, and providing them with food and lodging.

§ 4: After 32 days, Palmatius is summoned by Alexander, tempted by the tribune Torquatus and sent to the Mamertine prison (custodia mamertina). After three days, he is again summoned by Alexander. A dialogue follows in which Palmatius tells Alexander why he has abandoned the cult of the idols. Alexander tells the senator Simplicius to bring him back to the worship of the gods with mild words. Simplicius dresses Palmatius and brings him to his home, giving authority to Palmatius over it. Palmatius fasts and prays unceasingly to God to repent from his error.

§ 5: A certain Felix, whose wife has been paralysed in bed for four years, comes to Palmatius, asking him, the confessor (confessor) of the Lord Jesus Christ, for his wife, Blanda, to be healed; in turn he and his wife will receive baptism. Palmatius, Simplicius’ wife being present, falls to the ground and prays weeping with Felix, asking God to heal Blanda. Immediately Blanda arrives on her feet at Simplicius’ house and asks for baptism, as does Felix. Callixtus is called and baptises Felix with his wife. Seeing this, Simplicius falls at Callixtus’ feet and asks to be baptised with all his household. Callixtus initiates (catechizare) Simplicius’ household, in total 68 individuals. Calepodius rejoices. Alexander hears what has happened, sends an army to arrest all those who were baptised, and orders them to be beheaded and their heads to be suspended at the gates of the city of Rome, as an example for Christians.

§ 6: Calepodius is arrested, killed by the sword, and his body dragged through the city, on the Calends of May [= 1 May]. His body is ordered to be thrown into the Tiber before the insula Lycaonia. Callixtus flees with ten clerics and hides at night in the house of a certain Pontianus, asking fishermen to look for Calepodius’ body. After it is found, Callixtus embalms it with perfume and linen cloth and, with hymns, buries it in the cemetery of the same name [Calepodius], on the 6th day of the Ides of May [= 10 May].

§ 7: From that day, Alexander seeks Callixtus. He learns that he dwells in the house of Pontianus near the city quarters of the people of Ravenna (iuxta urbem Ravennatium) on the other side of the Tiber. Callixtus is arrested and left to die of hunger. On the fourth day, as Callixtus is still fasting and praying, Alexander orders him to be beaten and sent to prison, ordering that anyone who tires to visit him at night be killed. After several days, Calepodius appears to him at night in a vision, comforts him and tells him that he will be soon martyred and rewarded by God.

§ 8: A certain soldier named Privatus, suffering from ulcers, comes to Callixtus’ feet and asks to be healed, since he believes that Jesus Christ, who freed Blanda, can save him. Callixtus tells him that if he believes and is baptised, he will be purified. Privatus again states his belief, Callixtus baptises him, and he is healed. He starts shouting about the true God and Jesus Christ, and against the idols. Alexander hears about this and orders him to be beaten with lead-weighted scourges and Callixtus to be thrown out of the window, a stone to be bound to his neck, his body immersed in a well, and covered with rubble.

§ 9: After 17 days, one of Callixtus’ priests, named Asterius, comes with clerics at night, takes Callixtus’ body and buries it in the cemetery of Calepodius on the via Aurelia, on the day before the Ides of October [= 14 October]. After six days, Alexander arrests Asterius and orders him to be thrown from a bridge. His body is found in Ostia and buried by Christians in the same city on the 12th day of the Calends of November [= 21 October].

Text: Acta Sanctorum, Oct., VI, 439-441. Summary: M. Pignot.