Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs, Greek recension (Martyrdom of Speratus)
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Greek recension (Martyrdom of Speratus) (title)
0Gebhardt, 22
Μαρτύριον τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ καλλινίκου μάρτυρος Σπεράτου.
Martyrion tou hagiou kai kallinikou martyros Speratou.
Martyrdom of the holy and gloriously victorious martyr Speratus.
Chapter 1
1Gebhardt, 22
Ἐπὶ Πέρσαντος τὸ δεύτερον xoi Κλαυδιανοῦ τῶν ὑπάτων, πρὸ ic καλανδῶν Αὐγούστων, ὅπερ ἐστὲν Ἰουλίῳ ιζ΄, ἐν τῷ κατὰ Καρϑαγένναν βουλευτηρίῳ ἤχϑησαν παραστάσιμοι Σπερᾶτος, Νάρτζξαλλος καὶ Κιττῖνος, Δονᾶτα, Σεκοῦνδα καὶ Ἑστία. πρὸς οὗς Σατουργῖνος ὁ ἀνϑύπατός φησινʼ Ἐδύνασϑε παρὰ τοῦ ἡμῶν αὐτοκράτορος συγχωρήσεως ἀξιωθῆναι, ἐὰν ἄρα σώφρονα λογισμὸν ἀνακαλέσησϑε.
Epi Persantos to deuteron xoi Klaudianou tōn hypatōn, pro ic kalandōn Augoustōn, hoper esten Iouliǭ iz΄, en tǭ kata Karϑagennan bouleutēriǭ ēchϑēsan parastasimoi Speratos, Nartzxallos kai Kittinos, Donata, Sekounda kai Hestia. pros hous Satourginos ho anϑypatos phēsinʼ Edynasϑe para tou hēmōn autokratoros synchōrēseōs axiōthēnai, ean ara sōphrona logismon anakalesēsϑe.
In the consulship of Praesens, for the second time, and Claudianus, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of August, that is, on the seventeenth of July, there were brought to stand trial in the council chamber at Carthage Speratus, Nartzalus and Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, and Vestia. Saturninus the proconsul said to them, “You could be granted pardon by our emperor, if only you recover a sober way of thinking.”
Chapter 2
2Gebhardt, 22
ὁ δὲ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος ἐπε- χρίνατο λέγων Οὐδέποτε ἐχακουργήσαμεν, οὐδέποτε κατηρασάμεϑα, ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ καχῶς δεχϑέντες εὐχαρι- στοῦμεν, ἐπειδὴ τῷ ϑεῷ ἡμῶν xai βασιλεῖ δουλεύομεν.
ho de hagios Speratos epe- chrinato legōn Oudepote echakourgēsamen, oudepote katērasameϑa, alla mēn kai kachōs dechϑentes euchari- stoumen, epeidē tǭ ϑeǭ hēmōn xai basilei douleuomen.
Holy Speratus answered, saying, “We have never done evil, we have never cursed; on the contrary, when ill-treated we give thanks, since we serve our God and King.”
Chapter 3
3Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατος ἔφη ᾿Αλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖς ϑρησκεύομεν, καὶ ἁπλὴ ἡ καϑʼ᾽ ἡμᾶς ϑρησχεία καϑέστηκεν· καὶ δὴ ὀμνύομεν κατὰ τῆς συμπεφυχυίας εὐδαιμονίας τοῦ δεσπότου ἡμῶν βασιλέως, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς αὐτοῦ σωτηρίας ἱκετεύομεν. ὃ καὶ ὑμᾶς ὡσαύτως χρὴ ποιεῖν.
Satourninos ho anthypatos ephē ᾿Alla kai hēmeis ϑrēskeuomen, kai haplē hē kaϑʼ᾽ hēmas ϑrēscheia kaϑestēken; kai dē omnyomen kata tēs sympephychuias eudaimonias tou despotou hēmōn basileōs, kai hyper tēs autou sōtērias hiketeuomen. ho kai hymas hōsautōs chrē poiein.
Saturninus the proconsul said, “But we too are religious, and our religion is simple: we swear by the inborn good fortune of our master the emperor, and we pray for his safety—which you too ought to do in the same way.”
Chapter 4
4Gebhardt, 22
ὁ δὲ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος εἶπεν. Ἐὰν γαληνιώσας μοι τὰς σὰς ἀκοὰς παράσχης, ἐρῶ τὸ τῆς ἀληθοῦς ἁπλότητος μυστήριον.
ho de hagios Speratos eipen. Ean galēniōsas moi tas sas akoas paraschēs, erō to tēs alēthous haplotētos mystērion.
Holy Speratus said, “If you calmly lend me your ears, I will tell the mystery of true simplicity.”
Chapter 5
5Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατος ἔφη; Ἐναρξαμένῳ σοι πονηρὰ λέγειν κατὰ τῶν ἡμετέρων ἱερῶν τὰς ἀκοάς μου οὐ προσϑήσω· ἀλλ᾽ ὁμόσατε μᾶλλον κατὰ τῆς εὐδαιμονίας τοῦ δεσπότου ἡμῶν αὐτοχράτορος.
Satourninos ho anthypatos ephē? Enarxamenǭ soi ponēra legein kata tōn hēmeterōn hierōn tas akoas mou ou prosϑēsō; all᾽ homosate mallon kata tēs eudaimonias tou despotou hēmōn autochratoros.
Saturninus the proconsul said, “Since you are beginning to speak evil against our sacred rites, I will not lend you my ears; rather, swear by the good fortune of our master the emperor.”
Chapter 6
6Gebhardt, 22
ὁ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος λέγει· Ἐγὼ τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ νῦν αἰῶνος οὐ γινώσχω, αἰνῶ δὲ καὶ λατρεύω τῷ ἐμῷ ϑεῷ, ὃν οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τεϑέαταιʼ οὐδὲ γὰρ οἷόν τε τούτοις τοῖς αἰσϑητοῖς ὄμμασι. κλοπὴν οὐ πεποίηκα" ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι καὶ πράσσω, τὸ τέλος ἀποτίνυμι, ὅτι ἐπιγινώσκω τὸν χύριον ἡμῶν καὶ βασιλέα τῶν βασιλέων καὶ δεσπότην πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν.
ho hagios Speratos legei; Egō tēn basileian tou nyn aiōnos ou ginōschō, ainō de kai latreuō tǭ emǭ ϑeǭ, hon oudeis tōn anthrōpōn teϑeataiʼ oude gar hoion te toutois tois aisϑētois ommasi. klopēn ou pepoiēka" all᾽ ei ti kai prassō, to telos apotinymi, hoti epiginōskō ton chyrion hēmōn kai basilea tōn basileōn kai despotēn pantōn tōn ethnōn.
Holy Speratus says, “I do not know the kingdom of this present age; but I praise and serve my God, whom no one of men has seen, for that is not possible with these eyes of sense. I have committed no theft; but if I do any business, I pay the tax, because I acknowledge our Lord and King of kings and Master of all nations.”
Chapter 7
7Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατος ἔφη πρὸς τοὺς λοιπούς" ᾿Απόστητε ἀπὸ τῆς ἀποδειχϑείσης ταύτης πιϑανότητος. ὁ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος ἔφη· Ἐκείνη ἐστὲν ἐπισφαλὴς πιϑανότης, τὸ ἀνδροφονίαν κατεργάζεσθαι ἢ ψευδομαρτυρίαν κατασχευάζειν.
Satourninos ho anthypatos ephē pros tous loipous" ᾿Apostēte apo tēs apodeichϑeisēs tautēs piϑanotētos. ho hagios Speratos ephē; Ekeinē esten episphalēs piϑanotēs, to androphonian katergazesthai ē pseudomartyrian katascheuazein.
Saturninus the proconsul said to the rest, “Give up this persuasion that has been displayed.” Holy Speratus said, “That is a dangerous persuasion: to commit murder or to contrive false testimony.”
Chapter 8
8Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατὸς εἶπεν· Μὴ βουληϑῆτε τῆς τοσαύτης μανίας καὶ παραφροσύνης γενέσθαι ἢ δειχϑῆναι συμμέτοχοι. ὁ δὲ ἅγιος Κιττῖνος ὑπολαβὼν ἀπεχρίνατοʼ Ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἔχομεν ἕτερον ὃν φοβηϑῶμεν, εἰ μὴ κύριον τὸν ϑεὸν ἡμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς κατοικοῦντα.
Satourninos ho anthypatos eipen; Mē boulēϑēte tēs tosautēs manias kai paraphrosynēs genesthai ē deichϑēnai symmetochoi. ho de hagios Kittinos hypolabōn apechrinatoʼ Hēmeis ouk echomen heteron hon phobēϑōmen, ei mē kyrion ton ϑeon hēmōn ton en tois ouranois katoikounta.
Saturninus the proconsul said, “Do not choose to become, or to be shown to be, partners in such madness and folly.” Holy Cittinus answered, “We have no other whom we fear, except the Lord our God who dwells in heaven.”
Chapter 9
9Gebhardt, 22
ἡ δὲ ἁγία Δονᾶτα ἔφη Τὴν μὲν τιμὴν τῷ Καίσαρι ὡς Καίσαρι, τὸν φόβον δὲ τῷ ϑεῷ ἡμῶν ἀποδίδομεν. ἡ δὲ ἁγία Ἑστία λέγει: Ἐγὼ “Χριστιανὴ καϑίσταμαι. ἔτι δὲ ἡ ἁγία Σεκούνδα ἔφη· Ὅπερ εἰμί, καὶ διαμεῖναι πορεύομαι.
hē de hagia Donata ephē Tēn men timēn tǭ Kaisari hōs Kaisari, ton phobon de tǭ ϑeǭ hēmōn apodidomen. hē de hagia Hestia legei: Egō “Christianē kaϑistamai. eti de hē hagia Sekounda ephē; Hoper eimi, kai diameinai poreuomai.
Holy Donata said, “We render honor to Caesar as Caesar, but fear to our God.” Holy Vestia says, “I am a Christian.” And holy Secunda said, “What I am, in that I intend to remain.”
Chapter 10
10Gebhardt, 22
τότε Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνϑύπατος τῷ. ἁγίῳ Σπεράτῳ εἶπεν· Ἐπιμένεις ὡσαύτως Χριστιανός: ὁ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος εἶπεν Χριστιανὸς ὑπάρχω. τὸ αὐτὸ δὲ καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ πάντες ἅγιοι εἶπαν.
tote Satourninos ho anϑypatos tǭ. hagiǭ Speratǭ eipen; Epimeneis hōsautōs Christianos: ho hagios Speratos eipen Christianos hyparchō. to auto de kai hoi loipoi pantes hagioi eipan.
Then Saturninus the proconsul said to holy Speratus, “Do you likewise persist as a Christian?” Holy Speratus said, “I am a Christian.” And all the other saints said the same.
Chapter 11
11Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατος ἔφη Μὴ ἄρα πρὸς διάσκεψεν ἀναμονῆς χρήζετε; ὁ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος ἔφη Ἔν πράγματι οὕτως ἐγκρίτῳ οὐδεμία καϑίσταται βουλὴ ἣ διάσκεψις.
Satourninos ho anthypatos ephē Mē ara pros diaskepsen anamonēs chrēzete? ho hagios Speratos ephē En pragmati houtōs enkritǭ oudemia kaϑistatai boulē hē diaskepsis.
Saturninus the proconsul said, “Do you need time for reflection and waiting?” Holy Speratus said, “In a matter so well approved there is no room for counsel or reflection.”
Chapter 12
12Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατος ἔφη: Ποῖαι πραγματεῖαι ⟨ἐν⟩ τοῖς ὑμετέροις ἀπόκεινται σκεύεσιν; ὁ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος εἶπεν᾽ Αἱ καϑʼ ἡμᾶς βίβλοι καὶ αἱ πρὸς ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐπιστολαὶ Παύλου τοῦ ὁσίου ἀνδρός.
Satourninos ho anthypatos ephē: Poiai pragmateiai ⟨en⟩ tois hymeterois apokeintai skeuesin? ho hagios Speratos eipen᾽ Hai kaϑʼ hēmas bibloi kai hai pros epi toutois epistolai Paulou tou hosiou andros.
Saturninus the proconsul said, “What things are stored in your containers?” Holy Speratus said, “Our books, and besides these the letters of Paul, the holy man.”
Chapter 13
13Gebhardt, 22
Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνθύπατος ἔφη" Προϑεσμία τριάκοντα ἡμερῶν ὑμῖν ἔστω εἴ πως σωφρονήσητε. ὁ ἅγιος Σπερᾶτος παρ αὐτὰ ἀπεκρίνατο" «Χριστιανὸς ἀμετάϑετος τυγχάνω. τοῦτο δὲ καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ὁμοϑυμαδὸν συναπεφϑέγξαντο.
Satourninos ho anthypatos ephē" Proϑesmia triakonta hēmerōn hymin estō ei pōs sōphronēsēte. ho hagios Speratos par auta apekrinato" «Christianos ametaϑetos tynchanō. touto de kai hoi loipoi homoϑymadon synapephϑenxanto.
Saturninus the proconsul said, “Let there be a delay of thirty days for you, in case you may come to your senses.” Holy Speratus at once answered, “I am a Christian, and unchangeable.” And the rest also said this with one accord.
Chapter 14
14Gebhardt, 22
τότε Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνϑύπατος τὴν περὶ αὐτῶν ψῆφον ἐξεφώνησεν οὕτω περιέχουσαν Τὸν Σπερᾶτον, Νάρτζαλλον ᾿χαὶ Κιττῖνον, Δονᾶτάν τε Ἑστίαν καὶ Σεκούνδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀφάντους, ὅσοι τῷ Χριστιανικῷ ϑεσμῷ ἑαυτοὺς κατεπηγγείλαντο πολιτεύεσθαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ χαρισϑείσης αὐτοῖς προϑεσμίας τοῦ πρὸς τὴν τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἐπανελϑεῖν παράδοσιν ἀκλινεῖς τὴν γνώμην διέμειναν, ξίφει τούτους ἀναιρεθῆναι δέδοκται παρ᾽ ἡμῖν.
tote Satourninos ho anϑypatos tēn peri autōn psēphon exephōnēsen houtō periechousan Ton Speraton, Nartzallon ᾿chai Kittinon, Donatan te Hestian kai Sekoundan kai tous aphantous, hosoi tǭ Christianikǭ ϑesmǭ heautous katepēngeilanto politeuesthai, epei kai charisϑeisēs autois proϑesmias tou pros tēn tōn Rhōmaiōn epanelϑein paradosin aklineis tēn gnōmēn diemeinan, xiphei toutous anairethēnai dedoktai par᾽ hēmin.
Then Saturninus the proconsul pronounced the sentence about them, which ran thus: “Speratus, Nartzalus and Cittinus, Donata, Vestia and Secunda, and the absent ones, as many as have professed to live by the Christian ordinance: since, even when a period was granted them for returning to the tradition of the Romans, they remained unbending in their purpose, it is decided by us that they be put to death by the sword.”
Chapter 15
15Gebhardt, 22
τότε τοίνυν ὁ ἀϑλοφόρος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Σπερᾶτος ἐπαλλόμενος εὐχαριστίαν τῷ ϑεῷ ἡμῶν τῷ προσκεκληκότι αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ϑάνατον ἀνέπεμψεν. ὁ δὲ ἅγιος Νάρτζαλλος χαίρων εἶπενʼ Σήμερον ἀληϑῶς μάρτυρες ἐν οὐρανοῖς τυγχάνομεν εὐάρεστοι τῷ ϑεῷ.
tote toinyn ho aϑlophoros tou Christou Speratos epallomenos eucharistian tǭ ϑeǭ hēmōn tǭ proskeklēkoti autous eis ton hyper autou ϑanaton anepempsen. ho de hagios Nartzallos chairōn eipenʼ Sēmeron alēϑōs martyres en ouranois tynchanomen euarestoi tǭ ϑeǭ.
Then the champion of Christ, Speratus, leaping for joy, sent up thanksgiving to our God, who had called them to death for his sake. And holy Nartzalus said, rejoicing, “Today we are truly martyrs in heaven, well-pleasing to God.”
Chapter 16
16Gebhardt, 22
Τότε τοίνυν Σατουρνῖνος ὁ ἀνϑύπατος διὰ τοῦ κήρυχος τὰ τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων ὀνόματα κηρυχϑῆναι προσέταξεν, τουτέστι τὸν Σπερᾶτον, Νάρτζαλλον, Κιτ- τῖνον, Οὐετούριον, Φήλικα, ᾿Αχουιλῖνον, Καιλεστῖνον, Ἰανουαρίαν, Γενερῶσαν, Ἑστίαν, Δονᾶταν καὶ Σεκούνδαν.
Tote toinyn Satourninos ho anϑypatos dia tou kērychos ta tōn hagiōn martyrōn onomata kērychϑēnai prosetaxen, toutesti ton Speraton, Nartzallon, Kit- tinon, Ouetourion, Phēlika, ᾿Achouilinon, Kailestinon, Ianouarian, Generōsan, Hestian, Donatan kai Sekoundan.
Then Saturninus the proconsul ordered the names of the holy martyrs to be proclaimed through the herald: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Caelestinus, Ianuaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda.
Chapter 17
17Gebhardt, 22
τηνικαῦτα οὖν πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι τὸν ϑεὸν δοξολογοῦ ντες ὁμοφώνως ἔφασχονʼ “Σοὶ εὐχαριστοῦμεν, τρισάγιε κύριε, χαὶ σὲ μεγαλύνομεν, ὅτε τὸν ἀγῶνα τῆς ὁμολογίας ἵλεως ἐτελείωσας, καὶ διαμένει σου ἡ βασιλεία εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν. καὶ ἀναπεμψάντων αὐτῶν τὸ ἀμὴν ἐτελειώϑησαν τῷ ξίφει, μηνὶ ᾿Ιουλίῳ ιζ΄. Ἦσαν οὖν ὁρμώμενοι οἱ ἅγιον ἀπὸ Ἰσχλὴ τῆς Νουμιδίας, κατάκεινται δὲ πλησίον Καρϑαγέννης μητρο- πόλεως" ἐμαρτύρησαν δὲ ἐπὶ Πέρσαντος καὶ Κλαυδιανοῦ τῶν ὑπάτων καὶ Σατουρνίνου ἀνθυπάτου, καϑ᾽ ἡμᾶς δὲ βασιλεύοντος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ: ᾧ πρέπειν πᾶσα δόξα, τιμὴ καὶ προσκύνησις σὺν τῷ παναγίῳ καὶ ζωοποιῷ πνεύματι νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν.
tēnikauta oun pantes hoi hagioi ton ϑeon doxologou ntes homophōnōs ephaschonʼ “Soi eucharistoumen, trisagie kyrie, chai se megalynomen, hote ton agōna tēs homologias hileōs eteleiōsas, kai diamenei sou hē basileia eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn. amēn. kai anapempsantōn autōn to amēn eteleiōϑēsan tǭ xiphei, mēni ᾿Iouliǭ iz΄. Ēsan oun hormōmenoi hoi hagion apo Ischlē tēs Noumidias, katakeintai de plēsion Karϑagennēs mētro- poleōs" emartyrēsan de epi Persantos kai Klaudianou tōn hypatōn kai Satourninou anthypatou, kaϑ᾽ hēmas de basileuontos tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou: hǭ prepein pasa doxa, timē kai proskynēsis syn tǭ panagiǭ kai zōopoiǭ pneumati nyn kai aei kai eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn, amēn.
Thereupon all the saints, glorifying God, said with one voice, “We thank you, thrice-holy Lord, and we magnify you, because you have graciously brought the contest of our confession to its end; and your kingdom endures to the ages of ages. Amen.” And when they had sent up the Amen they were perfected by the sword, on the seventeenth of July. The saints came from Scilli in Numidia, and they lie near Carthage, the metropolis. They were martyred under the consuls Praesens and Claudianus and the proconsul Saturninus, but according to us in the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belong all glory, honor, and worship, with the all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and always and to the ages of ages. Amen.