Pompeius of Carthage

Holy Martyr Pompeius of Carthage, also called Publius, suffered in the time of the emperor Decius (249-251), in the company of the Holy Martyr Terentius, together with Africanus, Maximus, Zeno, Alexander, Theodore and others.

The emperor had issued an edict by which all subjects had to offer sacrifices to the idols. When the edict reached the governor of Africa, Fortunatian, he gathered the people in the square, displayed the instruments of torture and announced that everyone without exception would sacrifice. Many submitted out of fear, but forty Christians, led by Terentius, bravely declared their faith in the Saviour. Fortunatian marvelled at their boldness and asked how they, sensible men, could confess as God one crucified by the Jews as a criminal. Terentius answered that they believed in the Saviour, who had willingly accepted death on the cross and risen on the third day. Seeing that Terentius encouraged the others, Fortunatian threw him into prison together with his three closest friends, Africanus, Maximus and Pompeius.

The other martyrs, among them Zeno, Alexander and Theodore, the governor wished to force to renounce. Neither persuasion nor torments shook their faith: they were burned with red-⁠hot iron, vinegar was poured on their wounds, their wounds were rubbed with salt, and they were scraped with iron claws. Fortunatian then led them to the temple of the idols and asked them again to sacrifice; the martyrs called on God to bring down the impious dwelling, and the idols fell with a crash and broke into pieces, then the whole temple collapsed. Enraged, the governor ordered them put to death, and they bowed their heads beneath the sword, glorifying God.

After the execution of thirty-⁠six martyrs, Fortunatian called Terentius, Maximus, Africanus and Pompeius, showed them the slain and asked them once more to sacrifice. They refused and were put in heavy chains and left to die of hunger in prison. At night an angel of the Lord removed their chains and fed them, and in the morning the guards found them unharmed and full of strength. Fortunatian ordered sorcerers to bring snakes and other creeping things into the prison; the guards, looking through a hole in the roof, saw the martyrs praying untouched, with the snakes crawling at their feet. When the sorcerers opened the doors, the snakes leapt on them and bit them. Enraged, the governor ordered their heads cut off. The Christians took their bodies and buried them with honour outside the city.

St Pompeius is commemorated on 26 March, on 23 April and on 10 November, in the new style.