Martyr reports
Acts of the martyrs , or martyrs files , a special form of hagiography , the historical or legendary accounts of mainly early Christian martyrs . Of particular interest are the martyrs' accounts from the first three centuries, which are often important historical sources. The historical value must be viewed critically in each case. In any case, these files offer an insight into the theology and piety of their time of origin.
The term acts is to be understood in the sense of the Latin acta and means deeds or actions . So these are not court records.
The best known, most likely real martyr reports are:
- The martyrdom of Polycarp (around 155 AD) is the first report of a martyr in Asia Minor.
- The Files of the Martyrs of Scili (180 AD), an account of the martyrs in the North African city of Scili , is also the oldest surviving Christian text in Latin.
- The Passio Perpetuae et Felicitatis (202 AD) with personal notes of two martyrs in prison; research debates whether the text was edited by Tertullian .
- The Acta proconsularia Cypriani (258 AD) describe the end of life of Bishop Cyprian of Carthage .
- The Acta Maximiliani report on a Numidian Christian who refused to do military service (295 AD).
- The Acta Alexandrinorum report on the persecution and trial of Alexandrian Greeks by the Roman emperors (1st – 3rd centuries).
Web links
- Passio Perpetuae et Felicitatis: Latin text
- Acta proconsularis Sancti Cypriani: Latin text
- Acta Sancti Maximiliani Martyris: Latin text ( Memento of March 16, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
- Acts of martyrs of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna: Greek text
- Cl. Aurelius Prudentius, Liber Peristephanon (soon in a revised form): Latin text
- Martyrs files, library of the church fathers: German text