E03221: The Martyrdom of *Cantius, Cantianus and Cantianilla (martyrs of Aquileia, S01552) is written in Latin, presumably in Aquileia, at an uncertain date between the 5th and the 9th centuries. It narrates how the main protagonists, born in Rome and instructed by Protus, flee Diocletian and Maximian’s persecution to their estates in Aquileia; there, they try again to flee from persecutors but are arrested, beheaded and their bodies buried by the priest Zoilus; an epilogue found in variant versions adds that Zoilus, who raised the virgins *Agape, Chionia and Irene (presumably martyrs of Thessalonike, S00206), has a vision telling him of their martyrdom; it also adds that the sisters pray at the martyrs’ tomb with *Anastasia (martyr of Sirmium and Rome, S00602) before Zoilus dies.
Creators: name: Mpignot
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2017
Subjects: History

description: Martyrdom of Cantinus, Cantianus and Cantianilla (BHL 1543-1547) <br><br>Summary:<br><br>§ I: Prologue starting ‘Omnia quae a sanctis gesta sunt vel geruntur’ praising the deeds of the saints and promoting the reading and writing of martyrdom accounts. <br><br>[The editor Mattaloni identifies three families at the origin of the preserved manuscript tradition: ξ (including the full prologue), ν (omitting it), and λ starting with an addition presenting the text as a letter from Ambrose, then further modifying and shortening the body of the prologue given by ξ.]<br><br>§ II: Cantius, Cantianus and Cantianilla are instructed in the Christian faith by the teacher (pedagogus) Protus. They are from the family of the Anicii, related to the emperor Carinus, born and raised in Rome in the 14th region (regio) at the time when Diocletian rulds in Rome, Maximian in Illyricum, and Carinus, who is tolerant towards Christians, in Gaul. After Carinus’ death, Diocletian and Maximian promulgate laws ordering Christians who refuse to sacrifice to be tortured. The martyrs decide to leave Rome pretending to visit their properties (praedia) in the suburbs and go to Aquileia where they have many estates (rura). However, in Aquileia the persecution is even more fierce than in Rome: very many Christians are imprisoned.<br><br>§ III: The governor (praeses) Dulcidius with the help of the count (comes) Sisinnius hears about the saints and summons them to offer incense to the gods; however they refuse, stating that they prefer to die for the name of Christ rather than going against his commandments.<br><br>§ IV: Dulcidius and Sisinnius write to Diocletian about the three brothers who have come from Rome, are Christian, and refuse to comply to the emperor’s order. Diocletian is angered and replies ordering them to be sentenced to death if they refuse to sacrifice. Hearing about the sentence pronounced against them, the martyrs flee from Aquileia with Protus on a chariot. Sisinnius goes after them with scouts (spiculatores).<br><br>§§ V-VI: The martyrs are captured when one of their mules falls down, not far from the city walls in the place called Ad Aquas Gradatas. The episode of Elijah ascending to heaven on a chariot provides a parallel showing that the martyrs were on their way to heaven on their chariot. Further, their flight on a chariot has a sound explanation: what they did was not to flee, as this was a most inefficient way of escaping, but to manifest to all on their way that they were Christians and to show them the path to be followed.<br><br>§ VII: Sisinnius orders them to be arrested and to offer incense to Jupiter. As they refuse, Sisinnius orders them to be sentenced to death. However the martyrs together with Protus rejoice, sing psalms, and pray to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking him to welcome their souls among the saints.<br><br>§ VIII: After the prayer they are beheaded, their blood seems like milk to those present. A priest called Zoilus takes their bodies, embalms them and buries them in a fine place. Zoilus dies shortly thereafter.<br><br>Versions then differ in the epilogue. According to Mattaloni’s edition, while family ξ has no addition, family λ simply includes a prayer to the martyrs of whom the memory is being celebrated, while family ν adds the following:<br><br>The martyrs appeared in a vision to Zoilus and said that Diocletian would soon arrest the virgins Agape, Chionia and Irene, whom he had raised. They would be comforted by Anastasia, while Zolius would rest among the saints. As Zoilus describes this vision, Anastasia enters the house and asks to see her sisters; they meet and rejoice. The sisters show her the place where the bodies of the martyrs rest; they ask her to stay to pray together. After spending the night with them, she goes back to Aquileia caring for those imprisoned. Then Zoilus dies.<br><br>The Martyrdom ends, mentioning that the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were martyred on the day before the Calends of June [= 31 May] [there are variants in manuscripts for this feast day, see Mattaloni].<br><br>Text: Mattaloni 2013, 225-249. Summary: M. Pignot.