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ID
ER 1837
Presbyter Calepodius accompanies Bishop Callixtus of Rome and his congregation when the persecutions erupt in Rome in the reign of the Emperor Alexander. Calepodius convinces Callixtus to give baptism to the Consul Palmatius, who initially persecutes Christians but later converts; AD 222. Account of the Martyrdom of Callixtus, written probably in Rome before the 8th c.
During the reign of the emperor Alexander (222-235), the disturbing signs appear - the fire breaks out on the Capitol, the lightning kills the pagan priests, the sky is darkened. The Romans go outside the city walls where they encounter Christians praying together with their bishop, Callixtus, and his clergy. Consul Palmatius learns about it and informs the emperor Alexander that these Christians are certainly responsible for causing the worrying phenomena. Palmatius receives authority to force them to sacrifice.
 
2. [...] Tunc Palmatius accepta potestate, collecta multitudine militum, venit trans Tiberim, ubi collecta erat multitudo Christianorum cum Calixto: inter quos erat Calepodius senex presbyter: et venientes in quoddam coenaculum ingressi sunt decem milites: et cum ingressi fuissent omnes, hi decem milites subito caeci facti sunt. Respondit Calepodius senex presbyter et dixit: Filii mei, quem quaeritis? Illi autem clamabant dicentes: Accendite nobis luminaria, quia obscuratus est ante nos locus iste. Dixit autem Calepodius presbyter: Deus qui videt omnia, ipse caecavit oculos vestros. Tunc palpantes illi descenderunt caecati. [...]
 
Palmatius flees the scene and relates the events to Alexander who thinks that magic was involved. Palmatius convinces Alexander to organize a sacrifice to Mercury in which all the people should took part. During the sacrifice a virgin of the temple is possessed by a demon which confesses that God of Callixtus is the true God. Palmatius, struck by this event, goes to Callixtus and asks him to give him baptism.
 
3. [...] Dixit ei Calixtus episcopus: Noli deridere errando veritatem. Respondit Palmatius cum lacrimis, dicens: Domine, non derideo: quia cognovi in caecitate militum, et in responsione virginis, quia Dominus meus Christus tuus est. Respondit Calepodius senex et dixit ad beatum episcopum: Beatissime Pater, petenti baptismum noli denegare. [...]
 
Callixtus agrees. He instructs Palmatius and gives him baptism. Also his whole household converts to Christianity.
 
(Acta Sanctorum Octobris V, 439-440)
During the reign of the emperor Alexander (222-235), the disturbing signs appear - the fire breaks out on the Capitol, the lightning kills the pagan priests, the sky is darkened. The Romans go outside the city walls where they encounter Christians praying together with their bishop, Callixtus, and his clergy. Consul Palmatius learns about it and informs the emperor Alexander that these Christians are certainly responsible for causing the worrying phenomena. Palmatius receives authority to force them to sacrifice.
 
2. [...] Then Palmatius having been authorized gathered many soldiers and went beyond the Tiber where many Christians were gathered together with Callixtus. Among them was the presbyter Calepodius, an old man. They arrived on the spot and ten soldiers entered an upper store [of a certain building]. And when they all were inside, all those ten lost their sight. The old presbyter Calepodius addressed them saying: "My sons, whom are you seeking?" They cried: "Give us some light because this place is completely dark." But the presbyter Calepodius said: "God who sees everything, He is the one who made blind your eyes." Thus blinded they used touch to find their way down. [...]
 
Palmatius flees the scene and relates the events to Alexander who thinks that magic was involved. Palmatius convinces Alexander to organize a sacrifice to Mercury in which all the people should took part. During the sacrifice a virgin of the temple is possessed by a demon which confesses that God of Callixtus is the true God. Palmatius, struck by this event, goes to Callixtus and asks him to give him baptism.
 
3. [...] Bishop Callixtus said to him: "Do not mock the truth in your error." Palmatius replied with tears saying: "O Lord, this is not a mockery because I was convinced by the blindness of the soldiers and by the saying of the virgin that your Christ is my Lord." Old Calepodius said to the blessed bishop: "O, the most blessed Father, do not deny baptism to the one who is asking for it."
 
Callixtus agrees. He instructs Palmatius and gives him baptism. Also his whole household converts to Christianity.
 
(trans. and summary M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region
  • Rome
City
  • Rome

About the source:

Title: Martyrdom of Callixtus, Passio Callixti, Passio Callisti, Acta Callixti, Acta Callixti
Origin: Rome (Rome)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The Martyrdom of Callixtus is an anonymous account most probably composed in Rome in the milieu interested in the cult of Callixtus and his companions, the presbyters Calepodius and Asterius, in Trastevere (this cult is attested already in the 4th c.). The date of the text is uncertain but it is surely earlier than the 8th c. because it was used by Bede in his Martyrology. Some scholars attempt to prove that the Martyrdom is earlier than the biography of Callixtus in the Liber Pontificalis, thus claiming that it is earlier than the 6th c. The arguments, however, are not compelling. For a detailed discussion and the further bibliography see Pignot 2017.
Edition:
Mombritius, B., Sanctuarium seu vitae sanctorum, 2 volumes with additions and corrections by D. A. Brunet and D. H. Quentin (Paris, 1910), I, 268-271. The original edition was published in  ca. 1480.
Acta Sanctorum, Oct., VI, 439-441
Bibliography:
Matthieu Pignot, Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity, E02485, 2017

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Fame of sanctity
Ritual activity - Baptism and instructing catechumens
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Relation with - Monarch and royal/imperial family
Age
Conflict - Violence
Devotion - Supernatural experience
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1837, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1837
Record by: Marta Szada
last edited: 2020-08-28 17:40:54
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