SCILLITANI, Saints, Martyrs. — They are commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum and in the Calendar of Carthage on July 17. They are considered the protomartyrs of Africa, since according to the testimony of Tertullian (Ad Scapulam, 3) the proconsul who condemned them was the first persecutor in Africa.
The Acts of their martyrdom are preserved; they are not an authentic copy of the judicial records since they appear very abridged, but they were probably drawn up by an eyewitness of the trial and constitute one of the oldest documents of this kind. On July 17, 1860, twelve Christians from Scillium, Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda were arrested and brought to Carthage before the tribunal of the proconsul Vigellius Saturninus. When the interrogation began, they all consistently professed their faith; in vain did the proconsul try to induce them to change their minds by granting them a month’s time to reflect: the confessors refused, declaring that they were steadfast in their decision. They were therefore condemned to beheading. In their honor a basilica was built, mentioned by Victor of Vita (Hist. persec. Vandal., I, 3), in which St. Augustine delivered some discourses.
AGOSTINO AMORE