The Apologists · AD 130–180
Chariton
d. c. 165 · Martyr · Companion of Justin · Rome
The Apologists
Who Chariton was
One of the six students beheaded with Justin Martyr at Rome under the prefect Junius Rusticus. The surviving court transcript — the Acts of Justin — records each answering for himself; asked whether he was a Christian, Chariton replied simply, “I am a Christian by the command of God.” His plain confession, preserved verbatim, makes him one of the earliest lay martyrs whose own trial words survive.
Acts of Justin only.
Also listed in martyrs and under marcus aurelius.
Common questions
When did Chariton die?
Chariton is dated d. c. 165 in the archive, which places Chariton in the Apologists (AD 130–180). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Chariton?
Chariton is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Court transcript (Recension A). Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Chariton from?
The archive associates Chariton with Rome.
Who were Chariton’s contemporaries?
The archive links Chariton to 4 other figures, including Justin Martyr, Charito, Euelpistus and Junius Rusticus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Acts of Justin and Companions 3–4
c. AD 165Rusticus the prefect said to Chariton, ‘Are you also a Christian?’ Chariton said, ‘I am a Christian by the command of God.’Court transcript (Recension A) · 3–4 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Chariton.
- 1Rome