DEATH OF CARPUS AND PAPYLUS

Eusebius (165 A.D.)

When the proconsul was present in Pergamum [Asia Minor],

Carpus and Papylus, joyful martyrs of Christ, were brought to

him. The proconsul sat down and asked, “What is your name?”

The one who was questioned answered, “My first and chosen

name is Christian. But if you are asking for my name in the

world, then I call myself Carpus.”

The proconsul declared, “The decrees of the emperors are known

to you, that you must worship the all-controlling gods. Therefore I

advise both of you to come forward and sacrifice.”

Carpus replied, “I am a Christian. I honor Christ, the son of God,

who has come in the latter times to save us and has delivered us

from the madness of the Devil. I will not sacrifice to such idols.

Do what you please. It is impossible for me to offer sacrifices to

these delusive phantoms, these demons, for they who sacrifice to

them become like them.”

The proconsul flared up, “Both of you, sacrifice to the gods and

listen to reason!”

Carpus said joyfully, “Away with the gods who have created

neither heaven nor earth.”

The proconsul said,“You must sacrifice; the Caesar has

commanded it.”

Carpus answered, “The living do not sacrifice to the dead.”

The proconsul asked, “Do you believe that the gods are dead?”

Carpus replied, “If you would like to know, they were never even

men, nor did they ever live that they could die. Believe me, you

are caught up in a grave delusion.”

The proconsul replied, “I have let you talk too much nonsense and

thus have misled you to blaspheme the gods and the majesty. You

shall not continue in this way. You will sacrifice or else – ! What

do you say?”

Carpus said, “I cannot sacrifice. I have never yet sacrificed to

idols.”

At once the proconsul ordered him to be hung up and had his skin

flayed with tools of torture, but he cried out again and again, “I

am a Christian! I am a Christian! I am a Christian!”

After this torture had gone on for a long time he lost his strength

and could not speak any more. The proconsul therefore turned his

attention from Carpus to Papylus and asked him, “Are you a

councilor?”

He answered, “I am a citizen.”

The proconsul asked, “Of what city?”

Papylus answered, “Thyatira.”

The proconsul asked, “Do you have any children?”

Papylus replied, “Oh yes, many of them, through God.”

One of the surrounding crowd shouted, “He means he has

children by his Christian faith.”

The proconsul shouted at him, “Why do you lie, saying that you

have children?”

Papylus answered, “Will you understand that I am not lying but

saying the truth? In every district and city I have children in

God.”

The proconsul said, “You will sacrifice or else perish! What do

you say?”

Papylus answered, “I have served God since my youth. I have

never sacrificed to idols. I am a Christian. You cannot learn

anything else from me. There is nothing I can say which is greater

or more wonderful than this.”

Then he also was hung up and his body was flayed with three

pairs of iron instruments of torture. He did not utter a sound, but

as a courageous fighter he endured the rage of the tempter.

When the proconsul saw their outstanding steadfastness, he

ordered them to be burned alive. They descended into the

amphitheater with brisk steps, that they might be freed from this

world as quickly as possible.

Papylus was the first to be nailed to the stake. When the flames

leaped up he prayed quietly and gave up his soul.

Carpus was nailed on after him. He was full of joy…When he had

spoken and the fire was burning, he prayed, “Praise be to thee O

Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, that thou didst deem me, a sinner,

also worthy of this part in thee!”

After these words he gave up his soul.

Agathonica was present when these things happened. She saw the

glory of the Lord which Carpus had seen and described. In this

she recognized a call from heaven and raised her voice straight

away.

“This meal has been prepared for me. I must partake in it. I must

receive the meal of glory.”

The people cried out, “Have pity on your son.”

Agathonica joyfully answered, “He has God who can care for

him, for he is the provider for all. But I, why do I stand here?”

She threw off her clothes and jubilantly allowed herself to be

nailed to the stake.

Those standing by burst into tears and cried, “A cruel sentence!

What unjust orders!”

But she, standing erect and caught by the fire, cried out three

times, “Lord, Lord, Lord, help me, for I flee unto thee.”

Then she gave up her soul and was perfected with the saints.

(Ca. A.D. 165. Acts in Eusebius IV. 15– 48.)