The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Victor the Gravedigger
fl. 19 May 303 (death unrecorded) · Gravedigger of Cirta · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Victor the Gravedigger was
The Victor listed among the fossores in the staff of 19 May 303 — one of five distinct men of that name in a single document, and not to be confused with Victor of Deusatelium the presbyter, Victor of Aufidus the notary, Victor the Grammarian, Victor of Samsuricum, or Victor the fuller.
Named once, in the Gesta apud Zenophilum — the Cirta records of 19 May 303 and 13 December 320; no other ancient source names him.
Common questions
When was Victor active?
Victor the Gravedigger is dated fl. 19 May 303 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Victor in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Victor?
Victor the Gravedigger is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Municipal acts of Cirta. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Victor from?
The archive associates Victor the Gravedigger with Cirta (Constantina), Numidia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Victor’s contemporaries?
The archive links Victor the Gravedigger to 2 other figures, including Meraclus and Victor of Samsuricum. 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.
The Acts of Munatius Felix, 19 May 303 — read into evidence before Zenophilus
c. AD 303In the presence of Paul the Bishop (who remained seated), of Montanus and Victor of Deusatelium, and Memorius priests, Mars and Helius the deacons, Marcuclius, Catullinus, Silvanus and Carosus the subdeacons standing by with Januarius, Meraclus, Fructuosus, Migginis, Saturninus, Victor and the rest of the grave-diggers, Victor of Aufidus made this brief inventory against them.Municipal acts of Cirta · Gesta apud Zenophilum, Acts of 19 May 303 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Victor, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.