(ABOUT A.D. 260.)
[Roman Martyrology, those of Bede, Ado, Usuardus, Notker, &c.
Authority, a panegyric by S. Zeno, Bishop of Verona, his
contemporary.]
During a severe outbreak of persecution, in the reign of Gallienus, in
the north of Africa, Arcadius, doubting his own constancy, sought refuge
in flight, and escaping from Caesarea, hid himself. As he did not appear
at the sacrifices, the Governor ordered his house to be searched. It was
found to be deserted, save by a relative of his, whom the soldiers
seized, and, at the command of the Governor, detained till Arcadius
should surrender himself.
Hearing of this capture, and unwilling that his kinsman should suffer,
Arcadius deserted his hiding place, and gave himself up. The Governor,
exasperated at his constancy in refusing to adore the gods of the state
religion, ordered him to be dismembered, piecemeal and leisurely. First
his fingers were taken off, joint by joint; then his toes, then his
hands at the wrists, and his feet at the ankles. As he extended his
hands to amputation, he prayed, "Thy hands have made me and fashioned
me; O give me understanding that I may keep thy law." Thereupon the
judge ordered his tongue to be cut out. He was cast on his back, and his
feet were taken off. Then his legs and arms were amputated at the knees
and elbows, finally at the thighs and shoulders, so that he was nothing
save a human trunk in a pool of blood, with his limbs in little
fragments scattered about him. Thus he expired; but the Christians
collected the portions of his body, and buried them with the trunk
reverently, glorifying God for having given such constancy to his
martyr.
In art, represented as a torso; sometimes, for some reason unknown, with
a candle in his hand.