The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Vestia of Scillium

d. 17 July 180 · Scillitan martyr · Scillium → Carthage

The Ante-Nicene Church

Who Vestia of Scillium was

One of the Scillitan women, remembered for the whole of her recorded testimony — three words. When the proconsul pressed the company to abandon their persuasion, Vestia answered simply, “Christiana sum,” I am a Christian. It is the entirety of her surviving voice, and enough: with it she was beheaded on 17 July 180.

Also listed in martyrs, women and under marcus aurelius.

Common questions

When did Vestia die?

Vestia of Scillium is dated d. 17 July 180 in the archive, which places Vestia in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).

Which early sources mention Vestia?

Vestia of Scillium is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Court transcript and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Vestia from?

The archive associates Vestia of Scillium with Scillium, Carthage. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Who were Vestia’s contemporaries?

The archive links Vestia of Scillium to 4 other figures, including Januaria of Scillium, Generosa of Scillium, Donata of Scillium and Secunda of Scillium. 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.

Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs 9

c. AD 180
Vestia said, ‘I am a Christian.’
Court transcript · 9 · source text

Martyrologium Hieronymianum (the Scillitan feast, 17 July)

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 Vestia.

  1. 1Carthage

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