The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Saturninus of Carthage

d. 7 March 203 · Catechumen · Martyr of Carthage · Carthage

The Ante-Nicene Church

Who Saturninus of Carthage was

A catechumen of Perpetua’s company who, the account says, wished to be exposed to every beast so as to win the more glorious crown — and in the arena faced the leopard and the bear with Revocatus before dying by the sword. Distinguished by his city from the Scillitan Saturninus and the Antiochene heretic of the same name. One of the free catechumens who went to the beasts beside the slaves Felicity and Revocatus.

Also listed in martyrs.

Common questions

When did Saturninus die?

Saturninus of Carthage is dated d. 7 March 203 in the archive, which places Saturninus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).

Which early sources mention Saturninus?

Saturninus of Carthage is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The Passion (eyewitness redactor) and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Saturninus from?

The archive associates Saturninus of Carthage with Carthage.

Who were Saturninus’ contemporaries?

The archive links Saturninus of Carthage to 3 other figures, including Revocatus, Vibia Perpetua and Saturus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (2)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Passion of Perpetua and Felicity 19

c. AD 203
But Saturninus indeed had professed that he wished for all the beasts; doubtless that he might wear a more glorious crown.
The Passion (eyewitness redactor) · 19 · source text

Martyrologium Hieronymianum (with Perpetua's company, 7 March)

c. AD 450
The Hieronymian compilers · calendar entry · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The one place the sources put Saturninus.

  1. 1Carthage

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