E05363: The Greek Martyrdom of *Akakios the Cappadocian (soldier and martyr of Byzantium, S00468) recounts the martyrdom of a Cappadocian centurion, arrested at Perinthus (west of, and close to, Byzantium) and beheaded at the site of Staurion in Byzantium. It gives 8 May as the saint's festival. Written in Greek at Constantinople, possibly in the 6th c..
Creators: name: Erizos
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2018
Subjects: History

description: The Martyrdom of Akakios the Cappadocian (BHG 13)<br><br>Summary:<br><br>1. Under Diocletian and Maximian a decree of persecution of Christians is issued to all provincial governors and military commanders.<br><br>2. Akakios is a Cappadocian, serving as a centurion in the military unit of the Martenses. He confesses his Christian faith before the commander Fermos who sends him fettered to the katholikos (general?) Vivianos.<br><br>3. A letter of Fermos with accusations against Akakios is read to Vivianos.<br><br>4. Akakios is interrogated and confesses to being a Christian. He is Achaean in origin, born in Cappadocia. Several of his fellow soldiers became martyrs.<br><br>5-10. Akakios defends and explains the Christian faith, and proclaims his readiness to suffer.<br><br>11-12. Akakios is cruelly flogged and tortured but refuses to sacrifice. He is kept in gaol fettered.<br><br>13. He spends seven days in the prison of Perinthus, until Vivianos receives letters from the Praetorian Prefect Likinios, instructing him to send the martyr to Byzantium. During the journey, Akakios prays for strength from Christ, and a voice is heard from heaven encouraging him. Many of his guards and torturers believe in Christ and ask of him to explain the faith to them.<br><br>14. Akakios expounds the faith to his guards. During the following nights they see him being visited by splendidly clad men in military attire, who cure his wounds.<br><br>15-18. They arrive at Byzantium, and lock Akakios in the inner prison cell. Seven days later, Vivianos arrives and the trial resumes. Despite torture and imprisonment, Akakios looks handsome like an angel and strong like an athlete. The general is enraged at Akakios’ guards. His keeper, Kassios, reports about the nocturnal apparitions. The general accuses him of having been bribed and has him tortured. Akakios laughs at Vivianos.<br><br>19. Vivianos has Akakios cruelly flogged, until the torturers are miraculously paralysed. He then decides to send the martyr to the proconsul of Europa, Flakkinos.<br><br>20. Vivianos sends a letter reporting Akakios to Flakkinos. The proconsul has the martyr imprisoned without fetters. His wife was a Christian and had asked him not to subject Christians to excessive torment.<br><br>21. Five days later, Flakkinos sits at the tribunal and has the trial acts of Akakios publicly read. He reproaches Vivianos for subjecting a soldier to excessive torturing and commands that Akakios be immediately beheaded by the sword.<br><br>22. Akakios is brought outside the city and offers up his final prayer of thanksgiving, requesting that Christ may grant every petition to those who will honour his martyrdom. He is beheaded and buried by pious men at a place called Staurion. His martyrdom took place on 8 May, under Maximian.<br><br>Text: Migne 1864.<br>Summary: E. Rizos.