Acts of Euplus of Catania (Latin) (complete)

The Acts of Euplius.

In the consulship of Diocletian for the ninth time and Maximian for the eighth, on the day before the Ides of August, in the city of Catana, Euplius the deacon, standing outside the curtain of the council chamber, cried out, saying, “I am a Christian, and I desire to die for the name of Christ.” Hearing this, Calvisianus the consular said, “Let the man who cried out come in.” And when Euplius had entered the judge's chamber carrying the Gospels, one of Calvisianus's friends, named Maximus, said, “He ought not to hold such writings, against the royal command.” Calvisianus the consular said to Euplius, “Where are these from? Did they come from your house?” Euplius answered, “I have no house; and this my Lord Jesus Christ knows.” Calvisianus the consular said, “Did you bring them here?” Euplius said, “I brought them here myself, as you yourself see. They found me with them.” Calvisianus said, “Read them.” Euplius opened them and read: “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And in another place: “Whoever wishes to come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me.” While he was reading these and other passages, Calvisianus the consular said, “What does this mean?” Euplius said, “The law of my Lord, which was handed down to me.” Calvisianus the consular said, “By whom?” Euplius answered, “By Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.” Calvisianus the consular gave an interim ruling: “Since his confession is clear, let him be questioned under torture; let him be handed over to the torturers.” And when he had been handed over, the second hearing began, under torture.

In the consulship of Diocletian for the ninth time and Maximian for the eighth, on the day before the Ides of August, Calvisianus the consular said to Euplius, who had been put to the torture, “What do you say now about the things you said today in your confession?” Euplius, signing his forehead with his free hand, said, “What I said then I confess now too: that I am a Christian and read the divine Scriptures.” Calvisianus said, “Why did you keep these writings, which the emperors have forbidden, and not hand them over?” Euplius answered, “Because I am a Christian, and it was not lawful to hand them over; it is better to die than to hand them over. In them is eternal life; whoever hands them over loses eternal life. So as not to lose it, I give my life.” Calvisianus gave an interim ruling: “Let Euplius, who did not hand over the Scriptures according to the edict of the princes but read them to the people, be tortured.” While he was being tortured, Euplius said, “Thanks be to you, Christ. Guard me, who suffer these things for you.” Calvisianus the consular said, “Stop this madness, Euplius. Worship the gods, and you will be set free.” Euplius said, “I worship Christ; I detest demons. Do what you wish; I am a Christian. This I have long desired. Do what you wish; add more; I am a Christian.” After he had been tortured a long time, the executioners were ordered to stop. And Calvisianus said, “Wretch, worship the gods. Pay honor to Mars, Apollo, and Aesculapius.” Euplius said, “I worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I worship the Holy Trinity, besides whom there is no God. Let the gods perish that did not make heaven and earth and what is in them. I am a Christian.” Calvisianus the prefect said, “Sacrifice, if you want to be set free.” Euplius said, “I am sacrificing myself now to Christ God; I have nothing more I can do. You are wasting your effort: I am a Christian.” Calvisianus ordered him to be tortured again, more severely. While he was being tortured, Euplius said, “Thanks be to you, Christ. Help me, Christ. For you I suffer these things, Christ.” And he said this repeatedly. And as his strength failed, he went on saying these or other words with his lips only, without voice.

Calvisianus went further in behind the curtain and dictated the sentence; and coming out with a tablet, he read: “I order Euplius, a Christian, who despises the edicts of the princes, blasphemes the gods, and does not repent, to be executed by the sword. Lead him away.” Then the Gospel with which he had been arrested was hung around his neck, while the herald proclaimed: “Euplius, a Christian, enemy of the gods and of the emperors.” Euplius, joyful, kept saying, “Thanks be to Christ God.” And when he had been brought to the place, he knelt and prayed at length; and again giving thanks, he offered his neck and was beheaded by the executioner. Afterwards his body was taken up by the Christians, embalmed with spices, and buried.