SCILLITANI, saints, martyrs. - They are commemorated in the Hieronymian Martyrology and in the Calendar of Carthage on 17 July. They are considered the protomartyrs of Africa, since, according to the testimony of Tertulliano (Ad Scapulam, 3), the proconsul who condemned them was the first persecutor in Africa.
The acts of their martyrdom are extant; they are not the authentic copy of the judicial records, since they appear greatly abridged, but they were probably drawn up by an eyewitness of the trial and constitute one of the most ancient documents of this kind. On 17 July 180,
twelve Christians from Scillium, Sperato, Nartzalo, Cittino, Veturio, Felice, Aquilino, Letanzio, Gennara, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Seconda, were arrested and brought to Carthage before the tribunal of the proconsul Vegello Saturnino. When the interrogation began, all unanimously professed their faith; in vain did the proconsul attempt to induce them to change their minds by granting them a month to reflect: the confessors refused, declaring that they were steadfast in their decision. They were therefore condemned to be beheaded. In their honor a basilica was built, mentioned by Vittore di Vita (Hist. persec. Vandal., I, 3), in which s. Agostino delivered several sermons.