The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Zeno the Soldier
d. AD 250 (martyr) · Soldier of the tribunal guard · Martyr · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Zeno the Soldier was
Second named of the soldier-five who broke ranks at the Decian tribunal to confess — 'the rulers and assessors were filled with fear, and the accused took courage.'
Dionysius to Fabius only.
Also listed in martyrs and the decian persecution.
Common questions
When did Zeno die?
Zeno the Soldier is dated d. AD 250 (martyr) in the archive, which places Zeno in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Zeno?
Zeno the Soldier is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius the Great. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Zeno from?
The archive associates Zeno the Soldier with Alexandria.
Who were Zeno’s contemporaries?
The archive links Zeno the Soldier to 2 other figures, including Ammon the Soldier and Dionysius the Great. 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.
Dionysius of Alexandria, via Ecclesiastical History VI.41
c. AD 255…so that the judges and their fellow-assessors were affrighted; and they departed rejoicing in their testimony, God triumphing gloriously in them.Dionysius the Great · VI.41 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Zeno.