E01983: The Martyrdom of *Potitus (child martyr with cult in southern Italy, S01131) is written in Latin at an uncertain date by the 8th c. at the latest, and presumably in Puglia (southern Italy). Potitus is a Christian child but his father pagan. He performs several miracles leading to mass conversions. He is tortured then put to death by the emperor Antoninus and buried in Puglia.
Creators: name: Mpignot
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2016
Subjects: History

description: Martyrdom of Potitus (BHL 6908)<br><br>Summary:<br><br>§ 1: Potitus is a child full of God’s spirit [variants include: ‘in the city of Serdica’]. His father Hylas is a pagan and tries to convince his son to sacrifice to the gods. Potitus however refuses and his father orders that he be sent to prison without food and drink to see if his god will feed him. <br><br>§ 2: Potitus asks for God’s help with references to biblical passages (Ps 34:1; Daniel in the lions den; the beatitudes in Matthew 5). <br><br>§ 3: His father implores him again to sacrifice, mentioning the emperor Antoninus’ order and the death penalty for those who refuse; Potitus is his only son. Potitus is unaware of the gods Jupiter, Arpa (or Arphan), Ariana and Minerva mentioned by his father, but instead offers his father an overview of the Christian God, Creator of the world and Saviour, providing biblical quotations (Ps. 95:5; Mt. 10:19). <br><br>§ 4: Although his father worries about him, Potitus explains that he will be protected by his lord Jesus Christ, referring to the story of David and Goliath. Potitus is ready to suffer for Christ since he believes in him; he tries to convince his father to believe as well, in order to be saved, arguing that the gods are nothing, offer no protection, and burn night and day. Idols destroyed cannot restore themselves, but remain silent; Christ however offers protection to those who suffer for him since he defeated the lion and the dragon (Ps. 90:13). <br><br>§ 5: Hylas is amazed by the words of his son and falls to the ground recognising the true God, acknowledging that he is a sinner and that his son is wiser than him. Instantly Potitus is taken by clouds and brought to a place called Jerusalem [variant: Ephirus]. There he prays that his father may know the only true God, and asks God to send his Spirit to his father so that he may know him and not be set apart from him. <br><br>§ 6: An angel appears to Potitus telling him that his prayer will be fulfilled, and that he will always be heard each time he invokes God. He also tells him to beware of a devil who will introduce himself as Christ. He will be able to recognise him by praying together with him: the devil's knees won’t touch the ground. The angel disappears and Potitus again prays with confidence (Ps 56:2).<br><br>§ 7: A devil comes and exhorts Potitus to go to his father’s house to eat. Potitus rejects him, although the devil says that he is Christ. Potitus asks the devil to pray and then observes that his knees do not touch the ground. The devil then becomes gigantic, but Potitus exorcises him in the name of God. The devil changes appearance and becomes likes a bull; Potitus makes a sign of the cross to block him. The devil asks to be freed; Potitus accepts after forcing him to swear that he will not harm any Christian. <br><br>§ 8: Being dismissed, the devil curses himself for having been defeated by a child. He tells Potitus that he will enter the daughter of the emperor Antoninus. He will never leave Potitus until his death; he will enter the hearts of the emperor Antoninus and of the governor (praeses) Gelasius and thus Potitus will be killed. Potitus replies that he will overcome every suffering thanks to Jesus Christ. The devil disappears, complaining over his defeat. <br><br>§ 9: Potitus goes to the forum of civitas Valeriana. The lady Quiriacis, spouse of the high-ranking (primae cathedrae) senator, Agatho, suffers from leprosy and nobody can cure her. Potitus presents himself at her residence as a poor man and asks for water from the eunuch [variants mention his name as Hyacinthus]. As he is questioned on his motives, Potitus tells the eunuch that he wants this house to hold the Christian faith. The eunuch is surprised to hear such words from a small child (infans) and asks him who he is. Potitus introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ who cured lepers and paralytics. As the eunuch assumes that Potitus can heal leprosy, Potitus explains that indeed Jesus Christ can cure through him, quoting Matthew 17:19. The eunuch asks Potitus to cure his mistress; Potitus agrees to heal her on the condition that she believes in Jesus Christ. He does not want any of the riches offered by the eunuch as a reward. <br><br>§ 10: The eunuch tells his mistress everything; Potitus is brought into the house. She asks for healing and promises to believe. Potitus tells her that she needs baptism to believe. She states her belief in God; Potitus prays quoting Matthew 10:8 and cures her. She believes together with all her household and half of the city, all blessing God for being forgiven their sins through a small child (infans). Potitus exhorts them to keep God’s commandments and leaves the house. <br><br>§ 11: The devil possesses Antoninus’ daughter and asks to see Potitus, while the prayers to the gods have no effect. The emperor sends the governor Gelasius with soldiers to the mountains where Potitus dwells, surrounded by wild beasts. Gelasius is afraid when they attack him, but Potitus orders the beasts to go away. Gelasius seizes him and brings him to the city (urbs) [perhaps the city of Rome]. In the palace, Gelasius tells the emperor about the wild beasts, who asks to see Potitus. <br><br>§ 12: Potitus states that he is a Christian; the emperor reminds him of the death penalty for those who do not sacrifice. The emperor asks him to cure his daughter in exchange of wealth. Wondering why his gods do not heal her, Potitus agrees to cure her, the emperor stating that he believes in God. As she is brought to him, Potitus expels the devil by blowing on her face. The devil becomes a dragon, many are amazed and praise God. <br><br>§ 13: The emperor believes that it is magic and thanks the gods for healing his daughter. Potitus tells him that he is wrong, but the emperor requires him to sacrifice and offers him wealth again. Potitus prefers the wealth found in heaven and does not fear any punishment. The emperor tells Potitus that he will put him to death, although reluctantly because he is a child; Potitus tells the emperor that he will perish in hell and burn with the devil. <br><br>§ 14: Potitus is stripped and beaten with sticks but prays to God with blessings. The emperor leaves Potitus with the choice of sacrificing to the gods Jupiter, Arpa, Ariana and Minerva or dying. Potitus asks where these gods are; the emperor brings him with a huge crowd to a temple. There Potitus prays, the idols fall and become dust. He asks again about the gods and wonders why they did not defend themselves. <br><br>§ 15: The emperors puts him in jail with an iron weight around the neck. Potitus prays for God’s help, evoking Joseph’s story. An angel appears in glowing light, the iron melts like wax. Potitus again prays to Jesus Christ, and a pleasant perfume fills the place. The guardians see everything and are amazed. <br><br>§ 16: The emperor organises games, forcing everyone to attend; Potitus is brought to the amphitheatre; he remains confident. <br><br>§ 17: Potitus is put on a rack, burned and tortured but stands firm. The people are amazed that a child bears these tortures [variants add that ‘the god of Peter is with Potitus’]. He is then thrown to the beasts that fall at his feet. Potitus tells the emperor that Jesus Christ is stronger and protects him. <br><br>§ 18: The emperor orders that his limbs should be cut and given to dogs; Potitus thanks God, stating that his body may belong to the emperor but not his soul. However, the emperor’s ministers are not able to touch him. Two thousand people believe in Jesus Christ. The emperor orders Potitus to be fried in a frying-pan with oil and to have molten lead poured over him, however when this is done Potitus is refreshed. <br><br>§ 19: The emperor orders a nail (acutus) to be hammered through Potitus’ head from top to bottom. Then Potitus prays to God, asks to be freed like Peter from his chains and that the nail should be placed in the head of the emperor Antoninus. An angel comes, takes the nail out and drives it into the emperor’s head. The emperor asks to be freed but Potitus refuses; the crowd is amazed and rejects the idols. <br><br>§ 20: Potitus says that Antoninus will not be freed unless his daughter comes. There is a great crowd, and all the senators are grieving. The emperor’s daughter named Agnes comes to the feet of Potitus and asks to be baptised. After her baptism, Potitus takes the nail from the emperor’s head, who thanks the gods Apollo, Arpha, Ariana and Minerva. <br><br>§ 21: The emperor orders Potitus’ tongue to be cut off and his eyes to be plucked out. However Potitus still sings to God (Ps. 33:2 and Ps. 71:2) and leaves the emperor defeated. <br><br>§ 22: Potitus tells the emperor that the only way to defeat him is to behead him. The emperor rejoices and orders Potitus’ beheading. Potitus asks the emperor to be beheaded in the place that he has chosen: he is brought to Apulia, to the place called Milianus between Sentianum and Mulianum. Potitus is beheaded at the river called Banus and his spirit resembles a dove. His body is kept for three days, then buried with great sorrow. Potitus was martyred under the emperor Antoninus on the Calends of January [= 1 January ] (variant manuscript readings: ‘Calends of February’; ‘Ides of January’). He was thirteen (variant manuscript readings: ‘twelve’).<br><br>Text: Saxer 2000-2001, 85-100. Summary: M. Pignot<br>