A merchant in Asia during the 3rd century, Maximus courageously confessed his Christian faith following the edicts of Emperor Decius. After enduring the torments of the cudgel and the rack before the proconsul Optimus, he was condemned to be stoned. He died around 251, affirming that his sufferings were a consolation for eternity.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT MAXIMUS, MERCHANT IN ASIA, MARTYR (251).
Arrest and interrogation
Under the reign of Emperor Decius, Maximus, a merchant from Asia, is arrested for his Christian faith and brought before the proconsul Optimus.
Emperor Decius, having resolved to exterminate our holy religion, had edicts published throughout the empire ordering Christians to worship idols. Maximus, w ho was Maxime Merchant from Asia and 3rd-century martyr. from Asia and a merchant by trade, declared himself openly a servant of Jesus Christ. He was immediately arrested and led before the proconsul Optimus.
The proconsul, after asking his name, added: "What is your profession?" — Maximus: "Of free condition, but a servant of Jesus Christ." — The proconsul: "What is your trade?" — Maximus: "I am a man of the people, and I live by my trade." — The proconsul: "Are you a Christian?" — Maximus: "Yes, I am, though a sinner." — The proconsul: "Are you not aware of the edicts that have been published recently?" — Maximus: "What edicts? And what do they contain?" — The proconsul: "That all Christians must renounce their superstition and acknowledge the true prince to whom all obeys, and that they must worship his gods." — Maximus: "I know of this impious edict; and it is that very thing which has led me to publicly confess my religion." — The proconsul: "Since you are informed of the content of the edicts, sacrifice then to the gods." — Maximus: "I sacrifice only to one God, and I rejoice to have sacrificed to Him since my youth." — The proconsul: "Sacrifice to save your life; for I declare to you that if you disobey, I will make you expire in torments." — Maximus: "That is what I have always desired: I have only made myself known to have the opportunity to leave this miserable life promptly, in order to possess one that is eternal."
Tortures and resistance
Subjected to scourging and the rack, Maximus refuses to sacrifice to the idols, affirming that the grace of Jesus Christ sustains him in his pain.
Then the proconsul had him struck several times with a rod; he said to him at the same time: "Sacrifice, Maximus, sacrifice to deliver yourself from torments." Maximus: "What one suffers for the name of Jesus Christ is not a torment, it is a true consolation; but if I had the misfortune to deviate from what is prescribed in the Gospel, it would then be that I should expect eternal punishments." The proconsul, irritated by his resistance, ordered that he be stretched on the rack; and while they were tormenting him, he often repeated these words to him: "Renounce, wretch, this senseless stubbornness, and sacrifice at last to save your life." Maximus: "I would lose it by sacrificing; and it is to preserve it that I do not sacrifice. Your rods, your iron claws, your fire, will cause me no pain, because the grace of Jesus Christ is in me; it will deliver me from your hands, to put me in possession of the happiness enjoyed by so many Saints who, in the same combat, have triumphed over your cruelty; and it is by the virtue of their prayers that I obtain this strength and this courage that you see in me."
Sentence and execution
Condemned to be stoned as an example, Maximus was executed outside the city around the year 250.
The proconsul, despairing of being able to overcome the soldier of Jesus Christ, pronounced the following sentence: "I order that Maximus, who has refused to obey the edicts, be stoned to serve as an example to the Christians." Maximus was immediately seized by a troop of satellites, who led him outside the city, where they beat him to death with stones. His martyrdom occurred in 250 or 251.
Cult and historical sources
The memory of Maximus is celebrated on May 14 by the Greeks and on April 30 by the Romans, based on authentic judicial acts.
Saint Maximus is honored by the Greeks on May 14, which was the day of his death. He is named under April 30 in the Roman Martyrology.
These acts are a model of what are called proconsular Acts, that is to say, they were taken word for word from the registry of the tribunal that conde mned Saint M saint Maxime Merchant from Asia and 3rd-century martyr. aximus. Cf. Surius, Surerus, Heuscheni us and Ruinart Hagiographer who published the Acts of the saint. Rui nart; Til Tillemont Ecclesiastical historian cited as a source for details of the cult. lemont, Fleury, etc.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Publication of the edicts of Emperor Decius
- Public confession of his Christian faith
- Arrest and interrogation by the proconsul Optime
- Torture by bastinado and the rack
- Stoning outside the city
Quotes
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What one suffers for the name of Jesus Christ is not a torment, it is a true consolation.
Proconsular Acts -
I would lose it by sacrificing; and it is to preserve it that I do not sacrifice.
Proconsular Acts