The Martyrdom of Maximus · §1 · Origen of Alexandria

Decius orders sacrifice and Maximus confesses he is a Christian

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Emperor Decius has ordered all Christians to sacrifice and Maximus presents himself voluntarily to Optimus the proconsul in Asia for interrogation.

The emperor Decius wanted to crush and overcome the law of the Christians, so he established decrees throughout the whole world: every Christian who turned away from the living and true God was to offer sacrifice to demons, and whoever refused would face penalties. At that time Maximus, a servant of God and a holy man, came forward openly of his own accord. He was a commoner who lived by caring for his own business. After his arrest he was brought before Optimus the proconsul in Asia.

The proconsul said to him, "What is your name?" Maximus answered, "I am called Maximus." The proconsul said, "What is your standing?" Maximus said, "I was born free, but I am a servant of Christ." The proconsul said, "What trade do you follow?" Maximus answered, "I am a commoner, and I live by my own business." The proconsul said, "Are you a Christian?" Maximus answered, "Though a sinner, I am still a Christian."

The proconsul said, "Do you not know the decrees of the most unconquered rulers that recently arrived?" Maximus answered, "What are they?" The proconsul said, "Every Christian must abandon needless superstition, acknowledge the true ruler to whom all things are subject, and revere his gods." Maximus answered, "I have heard the unjust sentence put forward by the king of this age, and for that reason I came forward openly."

The proconsul said, "Then offer sacrifice to the gods." Maximus answered, "I offer sacrifice to God alone, and I rejoice that I have offered sacrifice to him since my earliest years." The proconsul said, "Offer sacrifice so you may be saved, but if you refuse, I will make you perish under every kind of torture." Maximus answered, "That is what I have always longed for. I showed myself for this very reason, to be rid at last of a wretched and temporal life and receive eternal life."

Greek

I. Decius imperator volens opprimere vel superare legem Christianorum, decreta constituit per universum orbem ut omnes Christiani recedentes a deo vivo et vero daemoniis sacrificarent, qui vero noluissent, suppliciis subiacerent. eo tempore famulus dei Maximus, vir sanctus, ultro se palam ostendit. erat vero plebeius, negotii sui curam gerens. comprehensus igitur oblatus est Optimo proconsuli apud Asiam. proconsul dixit ad eum: Quis vocaris? respondit: Maximus dicor. proconsul dixit: Cuius condicionis es? Maximus dixit: Ingenuus natus, servus vero Christi. proconsul dixit: Quod officium geris? Maximus respondit: Homo sum plebeius, meo negotio vivens. proconsul dixit: Christianus es? Maximus respondit: Etsi peccator, Christianus tamen sum. proconsul dixit: Non cognovisti decreta invictissimorum principum quae nuper advenerunt? Maximus respondit: Quae? proconsul dixit: Ut omnes Christiani relicta superflua superstitione cognoscant verum principem, cui omnia subiacent, et eius deos adorent. Maximus respondit: Iniquam regis huius saeculi prolatam sententiam cognovi, et ideo me palam ostendi. proconsul dixit: Sacrifica ergo diis. Maximus respondit: Ego non sacrifico nisi soli deo, cui me ab ineunte aetate sacrificasse congratulor. proconsul dixit: Sacrifica ut salveris; quod si nolueris, variis faciam te deficere tormentis. Maximus respondit: Hoc est quod semper optavi. propterea enim me manifestavi, ut tandem carens miserabili et temporali vita aeternam reciperem.

About this text

No occasion or purpose is stated in the text. It records Decius's decree, Maximus's voluntary appearance, interrogation, torture, sentence and stoning.

This account was written by an anonymous writer in Asia. It is not sent to any named person, and it states no occasion or purpose. It belongs to the time of Emperor Decius and the proconsul Optimus, and it records the decree, the voluntary appearance of Maximus, his interrogation, torture, sentence and stoning.

Decius ordered Christians throughout the world to leave the living and true God, offer sacrifice to demons, or face punishment. Maximus, a freeborn commoner who lives by his own business and calls himself a Christian and servant of Christ, presents himself voluntarily, rejects the order as unjust, refuses to offer sacrifice to any but God, and seeks eternal life in place of miserable temporal life. The reader meets Maximus, Decius behind the decree, and Optimus the proconsul in Asia who interrogates, tortures and condemns him for refusing to offer sacrifice to Diana, then has him led outside the walls and struck with stones until he dies. Most of the text is direct speech in which Maximus answers Optimus, and Maximus argues against the words of Optimus and the order of Decius, all framed by an anonymous narrator who closes with thanks and a doxology to Christ.

In this rendering, offer sacrifice means performing the ordered pagan offering, demons is the Christian word for the pagan gods named in the decree, and torture covers beating and the rack. Anointing is Maximus word for his sufferings, which he says soothe rather than hurt, and he says he is sustained by Christ's grace. The language about divine mercy belongs to the formal sentence spoken by Optimus, not to God, and the king of this age means Decius. No book of the Bible is named, quoted or numbered in the text.

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.