Chrysanthus and Daria

Description

Saints Chrysanthus and Daria (3rd century – 283.AD) are saints of the Early Christian period. Their names appear in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, an early martyrs list, and a church in their honour was built over their reputed grave in Rome.

The Acts of the Martyrs relating the legend of Chrysanthus and Daria exist in Greek and Latin versions written by writers like Armenius, dating from the fifth century and all “without historical value”, according to Johann Peter Kirsch, writing in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

According to legend, Chrysanthus was the only son of an Egyptian patrician, named Polemius or Poleon, who lived in the reign of Numerian. His father moved from Alexandria to Rome, and Chrysanthus was educated in the finest manner of the era. Disenchanted with the excess in the Roman world, he began reading the Acts of the Apostles.^[2]

He was then baptized and educated in the Christian faith by a priest named Carpophorus. His father was unhappy with Chrysanthus’s conversion, and attempted to inculcate secular ways into his son by arranging a marriage to Daria, a Roman priestess of Minerva,^[2] or as other accounts state, a Vestal Virgin.^[3] Chrysanthus managed to convert his wife, and the couple agreed to lead celibate lives. They went on to convert a number of Romans.

When this was made known to Claudius, the tribune, Chrysanthus was arrested and tortured. Chrysanthus’s faith and fortitude under torture were so impressive to Claudius that he and his wife, Hilaria, two sons named Maurus and Jason, and seventy of his soldiers became Christians. For this betrayal, the Emperor had Claudius drowned, his sons beheaded, and his wife hanged at the gallows. The legend states that Daria was forced to live as a prostitute, as virgins could not be executed, but her chastity was defended by a lioness. She was brought before Numerian and he ordered her death. There are many variations to the means, from execution by stoning, while others say she was beheaded, and yet others claim she was buried alive in a deep pit beside her husband. It appears the last torment was chosen for Daria, as it was the execution method reserved for unchaste Vestal Virgins.^[4] They were entombed in a sand pit near the Via Salaria Nova, the catacombs in Rome.^[1]

The surviving “Acts” of Chrysanthus and Daria state that on the anniversary of their deaths, a large number of Christians had gathered at their underground crypt to pay their respects when Roman persecutors surprised them, filled the crypt with stones and buried them all alive, including Diodorus, a priest, and Marianus, a deacon.