Scillitan Martyrs

The scilitanischen martyrs are Christians who suffered on 17 July 180 AD in Carthage for their faith martyrdom. The surviving martyrs report Passio sanctorum scilitanorum is one of the oldest evidence of the Church in Roman Africa and the oldest Christian document in Latin.

Two of the martyrs, and Nartzalus Cittinus, wore native, ie Punic or Berber language, the other Roman names. Spokesman of the group was Speratus. The interrogation was conducted by the Roman proconsul Publius Vigellius Saturninus. The group included several women. All scilitianischen martyrs were laymen. The number ( eleven, twelve or thirteen ) and the names of the martyrs, in the different traditions are slightly different.

The no longer clearly identifiable place " Scilium " (or " Scillium " ) is located in the Roman province of Numidia or in the province of "Africa proconsularis " (probably in present-day Tunisia). The Martyrdom of scilitanischen martyr is mentioned by Tertullian (Ad Scapulam 3, 4 ) and multiply by the Church Father Augustine, who testified their devotion in Carthage.

The " Passio sanctorum scilitanorum " and is similar to the shape of a court record, and provides a valuable historical testimony dar. is remarkable about that no torture is mentioned, as is otherwise a regular part of the Martyrs reports. The mention of the writings of Paul of Tarsus represents an early witness to the Latin translation of Paul's letters

Remembrance

• Evangelical: July 17,
• Roman Catholic: July 17,
• Orthodox: July 17,