E03253: The Martyrdom of *Ambrosius (martyr of Ferentino, S01866) is written in Latin, presumably in Ferentino (southeast of Rome), at an uncertain date, perhaps in the 9th c. It narrates the trial, miraculously endured tortures, and martyrdom of Ambrosius in Ferentino, together with fourteen converts.

Martyrdom of Ambrosius (BHL 375)

Summary:

§ 1: At the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, there is a noble Christian man named Ambrosius from the province of Liguria. He becomes a centurion under the governor (praeses) Datianus when the latter comes back from Hispania to the city. Datianus then comes to Rome to report on his activities; he is rewarded by the curia and sent to Campania to persecute Christians.

§ 2: As he stays in Ferentino (civitas Ferentina), Datianus learns from the accusations of pagans that Ambrosius is a Christian and rejects the worship of the gods. He orders him to be brought before him in front of all the people. Datianus interrogates Ambrosius who proclaims his Christian faith. Datianus orders him to be stripped from his military clothes. A golden collar is tied around his neck, he is chained and imprisoned, with the order that no one should visit him nor give him food or water. Ambrosius however receives food and consolation from angels for a month.

§ 3: Datianus, who, after a month, assumed Ambrosius was dead, summons him and asks him to offer sacrifice. As he refuses, Datianus asks his soldiers to strip him, put him on a scaffold (catasta), and beat him with rods. As he is beaten, Ambrosius calls for the Lord’s help. Datianus orders him to be taken out from the scaffold and beaten with lashes. As Ambrosius still refuses to offer sacrifice to the gods, Datianus orders him to be tortured on a rack. Ambrosius again asks for Christ’s help. Seeing a crowd gather for the spectacle, Datianus orders Ambrosius to be sent to prison.

§ 4: After a few days, Datianus summons Ambrosius and orders him to be tortured with burning plates. Since Ambrosius still does not yield, Datianus orders him to be thrown into a burning hot copper pot filled with pitch and resin. As he is put into the pot, Ambrosius tells Datianus that his tortures do nothing to him and that he is refreshed. He comes out unharmed.

§ 5: Datianus orders Ambrosius to be sent to prison in chains. The next morning, Ambrosius is brought chained and naked to the amphitheatre next to the porta Sanguinaria with a great crowd attending. As they come to the two arches (ad duos arcus) on top of which there are idols for worship, Ambrosius raises his hands and eyes to the sky and orders the destruction of the idols in the name of God. The idols fall and are broken. Shocked, Datianus tells the martyr to worship the idol of Mercury. However Ambrosius takes the idol in his hands, throws it to the ground and breaks it. Datianus is troubled and orders the martyr to be stretched in a scaffold and beaten.

§ 6: Datianus then orders a furnace (caminus) to be prepared and the martyr to be sent into it with his hands and feet tied. He is left there from the evening until the early morning. In the morning, citizens of Ferentino come to the furnace and find him unharmed. Datianus orders him to be thrown into the river Alabrus with his hands and feet tied and a huge stone bound to his neck. However, an angel of the Lord frees him. Seeing this, fourteen nobles from the city believe in God and are baptised.

§ 7: Datianus hears this and orders a tribunal to be prepared outside the city in the place called vicus and Ambrosius to be brought before him together with the fourteen converts. As they keep firm in their faith, Datianus orders them to be beheaded. They are brought to the place or execution and beheaded on the 17th day before the Calends of September [= 16 August].

Text: Catalogus 1893, 546-548. Summary: M. Pignot.