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Thursday, November 12
Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite
Sinaxarion

Martyr

Vestia of Scilli

One of the Scillitan martyrs, beheaded at Carthage in 180, commemorated in the Roman Martyrology.

Feast
July 17old style July 30
Reposed
1802nd century
Place
Carthage (Scillitan martyrs, beheaded under proconsul Saturninus)
Order
Martyrs

Life

Vestia of Scilli was one of the five women among the Scillitan martyrs. Her name is Latin.

The Scillitans were twelve Christians of North Africa, seven men and five women: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata and Secunda. Their name comes from the town of Scillium. They were tried at Carthage by the proconsul Publius Vigellius Saturninus, without being tortured, and because they refused to swear by the emperor and to deny Christ they were beheaded on 17 July 180, in the time of Marcus Aurelius. Their spokesman was Speratus.

Their story, the Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs, is the earliest dated document of the Latin Church and the first to mention a Latin Bible. A basilica was built in their honour at Carthage. They are venerated as saints by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, and their commemoration falls on 17 July.

Commemorated the same day July 17