E04777: The Martyrdom of *Arcadius (presumably martyr of Caesarea in Mauritania, S01859) is written in Latin at an uncertain date and place. Thought to be late antique because it relates to a late antique sermon tentatively attributed to the bishop Zeno of Verona (4th c.), although no manuscript containing the Martyrdom has been identified to date. The persecution being situated in Achaia, it narrates the tortures endured, death and burial of Arcadius, after all his body joints were cut one after the other.

Martyrdom of Arcadius (BHL 659)

Summary:

§§ 1-2: There is a persecution against Christians in Achaia. Pagans try to force them to perform sacrifice and abandon Christianity. Arcadius sees this happen in the city (urbs), flees and hides, serving Christ with vigils and prayers. Noticing his absence, pagans look for Arcadius but fail to find him. Instead they seize a kinsman (propinquus) and bring him to the governor of the province (rector provinciae) who orders him to be tortured until he reveals where Arcadius is hiding.

§§ 3-4: Learning about this, Arcadius, eager for martyrdom, comes back to the city and surrenders himself to the governor, asking him to free his kinsman. The governor is ready to forgive Arcadius for fleeing, if he offers sacrifice, but Arcadius tells him that he will never yield and is ready to suffer torture.

§§ 5-6: Knowing that all conventional tortures fail to work on martyrs, the governor orders all of Arcadius’ body joints to be cut one after the other, making sure that suffering lasts as long as possible. As the lictors (lictores) lead Arcadius to the place of torture, he prays to God. As his limbs are cut one after the other, he remains steadfast and praises God. The martyr’s perseverance brings those present to tears and leads them to recognise divine power.

§§ 7-8: Arcadius’ dismembered body floats in its own blood, but seeing this, Arcadius rejoices in seeing his body parts cut off, as this leads him to immortality and to become part of Christ. He exhorts those present to abandon their gods and recognise his God, who makes it possible to endure suffering and who grants immortality. After this, Arcadius dies, on the day before the Ides of January [= 12 January]. This astonishes pagans and inclines Christians to martyrdom. Arcadius’ body is buried with honours by Christians, and the missing body parts are collected and placed with it.

Text: Lefèvre d’Étaples 1519, f. 25r-26r (paragraph numbers from the Acta Sanctorum, Ian. I, 722-723). Summary: M. Pignot.