Agathonica (Agathonice, or Agathonika) was a Christian martyr who died in Pergamum in Asia Minor in approximately AD 170, during the persecution of Marcus Aurelius.
Probably.
She died with Carpus and Papylus (definitely) and all three were executed for refusing to worship the Roman gods . Carpus is said to have declared “your gods have no feeling, deprive them of your veneration and they will be defiled by the dogs and crows.”
Nice line, but tactless, and he and Papylus were sentenced to death by ‘scraping with a metal claw.’
Again, probably, some sources have that they were beheaded, but this is the version presented in the Oxford Dictionary of Saints, so it must be right!
Agathonica was offered a reprieve, especially as she was the mother of children, but she, too, refused to sacrifice to ‘demons’ and said, “my children have God, who watches over them, but I will not obey your commands. If I am worthy, I desire to follow the footsteps of my teachers.”
Again, some sources have it that she was throttled by 'ox sinews' but I'm sticking with the Oxford Dictionary. As the fire burned, she cried out three times, “Lord Jesus Christ, help me, because I am enduring this for your sake!”
The Oxford Dictionary also states that she voluntarily undressed at the place of execution, and that when the crowd saw how beautiful she was, they grieved and lamented.
Which got me thinking, maybe watching crowds aren’t always bloodthirsty hordes….
Agathonica
A milky sun, a vapid sky
Moisture in the air, and eye
Three victims forced out here to die
As we all watch, like ghouls.
Said Carpus, “No! I shall not kneel
“Before a ‘god’ which cannot feel –
“Add pigeon shit – will it appeal?
“You people are such fools!”
“Papylus said, “I stand with him,
“To worship ‘it’ would be a sin
“You’ll catch me doing no such thing!”
The Consul screamed with rage.
“You’ve insulted Roman law
“For that you both shall now endure
“Death by cruel iron claw!”
They dragged them to the stage.
They stripped those brave men, then , when nude
They tied them to a cross of wood
“Fear not!”, said one, “For Jesus, good
“Is here with you and I!”
But, worse than a nightmarish dream
The claws dug deep, we heard them scream
They writhed upon their cruel beams;
It took them hours to die.
Agathonica, tied nearby
Beneath that grey and sombre sky
Had watched her fellow Christians die
With tears upon her face.
“My dear, you can be spared their fate,
“Come, bow your knee, it’s not too late!
“If only for your children’s sake –
“Bow down, there’s no disgrace!”
“If worthy, I will follow them
“For I fear God, I don’t fear men
“Tis He, not you, that can condemn
“I shall not bow my knee!
“My children? They will be all right
“For God will care both day and night
“If you will spare them from this sight
“Do what you like with me!”
And then, without a further care
She stripped herself, while we all stared
Upon her graceful body, bared
For wicked men to see.
The cries went up, “Please! Let her go!”
“It isn’t right!” “Oh no!” “Oh NO!”
“You cannot treat such beauty so!”
Her captors grinned with glee.
While soldiers held the crowd at bay
They led the naked girl away
They tied her to her cross that day
Beside her teachers, dead.
And so it started, once again
They set about their grisly game
They clawed her breasts, ignored her pain
As she hung there and bled.
But then they set the wood alight
Though she still lived, the fire bright
Hid that brave woman from our sight
As, finally, she died
Yet who had victory that day?
A roman proconsul? No way!
Those three charred crosses point the way
Towards the winning side.
Probably.
She died with Carpus and Papylus (definitely) and all three were executed for refusing to worship the Roman gods . Carpus is said to have declared “your gods have no feeling, deprive them of your veneration and they will be defiled by the dogs and crows.”
Nice line, but tactless, and he and Papylus were sentenced to death by ‘scraping with a metal claw.’
Again, probably, some sources have that they were beheaded, but this is the version presented in the Oxford Dictionary of Saints, so it must be right!
Agathonica was offered a reprieve, especially as she was the mother of children, but she, too, refused to sacrifice to ‘demons’ and said, “my children have God, who watches over them, but I will not obey your commands. If I am worthy, I desire to follow the footsteps of my teachers.”
Again, some sources have it that she was throttled by 'ox sinews' but I'm sticking with the Oxford Dictionary. As the fire burned, she cried out three times, “Lord Jesus Christ, help me, because I am enduring this for your sake!”
The Oxford Dictionary also states that she voluntarily undressed at the place of execution, and that when the crowd saw how beautiful she was, they grieved and lamented.
Which got me thinking, maybe watching crowds aren’t always bloodthirsty hordes….
Agathonica
A milky sun, a vapid sky
Moisture in the air, and eye
Three victims forced out here to die
As we all watch, like ghouls.
Said Carpus, “No! I shall not kneel
“Before a ‘god’ which cannot feel –
“Add pigeon shit – will it appeal?
“You people are such fools!”
“Papylus said, “I stand with him,
“To worship ‘it’ would be a sin
“You’ll catch me doing no such thing!”
The Consul screamed with rage.
“You’ve insulted Roman law
“For that you both shall now endure
“Death by cruel iron claw!”
They dragged them to the stage.
They stripped those brave men, then , when nude
They tied them to a cross of wood
“Fear not!”, said one, “For Jesus, good
“Is here with you and I!”
But, worse than a nightmarish dream
The claws dug deep, we heard them scream
They writhed upon their cruel beams;
It took them hours to die.
Agathonica, tied nearby
Beneath that grey and sombre sky
Had watched her fellow Christians die
With tears upon her face.
“My dear, you can be spared their fate,
“Come, bow your knee, it’s not too late!
“If only for your children’s sake –
“Bow down, there’s no disgrace!”
“If worthy, I will follow them
“For I fear God, I don’t fear men
“Tis He, not you, that can condemn
“I shall not bow my knee!
“My children? They will be all right
“For God will care both day and night
“If you will spare them from this sight
“Do what you like with me!”
And then, without a further care
She stripped herself, while we all stared
Upon her graceful body, bared
For wicked men to see.
The cries went up, “Please! Let her go!”
“It isn’t right!” “Oh no!” “Oh NO!”
“You cannot treat such beauty so!”
Her captors grinned with glee.
While soldiers held the crowd at bay
They led the naked girl away
They tied her to her cross that day
Beside her teachers, dead.
And so it started, once again
They set about their grisly game
They clawed her breasts, ignored her pain
As she hung there and bled.
But then they set the wood alight
Though she still lived, the fire bright
Hid that brave woman from our sight
As, finally, she died
Yet who had victory that day?
A roman proconsul? No way!
Those three charred crosses point the way
Towards the winning side.
