Victorian, Frumentius and Companions of Africa

Victorian, Frumentius and Companions of Africa are venerated as martyrs by the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, as martyrs before the Great Schism of 1054. They were killed at Hadrumetum in 484 by the Arian Vandals. The accounts say that King Huneric began to persecute Catholic priests and virgins in 480, and in 484 simple believers as well.

Victorian was born at Hadrumetum, in a noble and wealthy family, and was appointed proconsul of Carthage by Huneric, who considered him faithful to the king. When Huneric asked him to pass to Arianism, promising him the first place among all, Victorian answered firmly, according to Victor of Vita: let him put me on the flames, give me to the beasts, torment me in every way; if I consent, I was baptized in vain in the Catholic Church; for even if this present life were the only one, I would not act so for a brief glory. The king was enraged, imprisoned and tortured him. After fierce torments, on 23 March 484 he was martyred, together with two brothers of Aquae Regiae (now Henchir-⁠Baboucha) and two merchants both named Frumentius, of Carthage, commemorated with him on 23 March. Florus put his commemoration on 26 July, and Ado moved it to 23 March.