Perpetua and Felicity: The first female Christian martyrs to record their harrowing persecution

Perpetua and Felicity lived during a time of intense persecution against Christians in the early 3rd century AD.

The Roman Empire, at the time under the rule of Emperor Septimius Severus, enacted a range of harsh measures against Christians in an attempt to preserve traditional Roman religious practices.

Roman authorities viewed Christianity as a threat to the stability and unity of the empire.  

Christians were often scapegoated for various societal problems, including natural disasters and economic difficulties.

Because they refused to participate in pagan rituals, Christians were accused of atheism and hostility towards Roman traditions.

This alienation fueled further resentment and suspicion among the general populace.  

In AD 202, Severus had issued an edict that forbade conversions to Christianity and Judaism under threat of severe punishment or even public execution.

In fact, public executions were increasingly common as it was thought that they would discourage others from adopting the Christian faith.

Previously, persecution was sporadic but could be extremely brutal when enforced.

Local governors had considerable autonomy in how they dealt with Christians.

In some regions, Christians were relatively untroubled, while in others, they faced intense scrutiny and violence. 

Perpetua was a young noblewoman born into a prominent and well-respected family in Carthage.

As a result, her family enjoyed a comfortable and privileged life, but her father was a pagan.

So, when Perpetua chose to convert to Christianity, the decision created tension within her household.

Her father strongly opposed her new faith because he feared the repercussions of her defiance against Roman religious expectations.

While sources are limited, it appears that she had been recently married and had given birth you a young child. 

In comparison, Felicity was a young slave who also lived in Carthage. As another convert to Christianity, she faced significant risks, both as a Christian and as a slave.

Her enslaved status made her particularly vulnerable to much harsher treatment.

Like Perpetua, Felicity converted to Christianity despite the dangers it posed.

In addition, she was pregnant with her very first child. 

Before their arrest, Perpetua and Felicity attended secret gatherings of the small but devoted group of Christians in Carthage.

These meetings were often held in private homes, away from the prying eyes of Roman authorities.

At these gatherings, they worshiped, prayed, and studied the teachings of Christ.  

In around AD 203, during a period of heightened persecution against Christians under Emperor Septimius Severus.

Perpetua, Felicity, and their companions were catechumens.

These were individuals who were undergoing instruction in the Christian faith in preparation for baptism.

During one of their evening gatherings, Roman soldiers discovered the group.  

Apparently, they had been tipped off by informants who were eager to gain favor with the authorities.

So, the soldiers broke into the house where the Christians were meeting, where they found Perpetua, Felicity, and three other catechumens, including Revocatus, Saturninus, and Secundulus.

They quickly arrested the group, treating them roughly as they were dragged from their place of worship. 

Perpetua and her companions were taken to a local prison where the conditions were harsh and deplorable, which was clearly designed to break their spirits and force them to renounce their faith.

One of the most difficult parts of Perpetua’s imprisonment was the fact that she was separated from her baby.

Eventually, however, she was allowed to have her baby with her in prison, which provided her with some comfort. 

Perpetua faced immense pressure from her family, particularly her father, to renounce her faith for the sake of her child.

Her father visited her frequently, pleading with her to think of her son's future and abandon Christianity to save herself.

There was an obvious tension between familial loyalty and religious conviction for the believers.

Nevertheless, despite his pleas and the mounting pressure, Perpetua remained steadfast in her commitment to Christianity. 

Meanwhile, Felicity faced additional challenges due to her pregnancy. Roman law prohibited the execution of pregnant women, so she worried that she would be separated from her companions when they faced martyrdom.

Her concern was alleviated when she gave birth prematurely while still in prison. This allowed her to face her fate alongside Perpetua and the others.  

Thankfully, throughout their imprisonment, the rest of the Christian community in Carthage provided what support they could, visiting the prison to offer food, comfort, and prayers.  

Perpetua and Felicity were then put on trial in the public forum of Carthage, presided over by the Roman governor Hilarian.

The Roman authorities fully intended to make an example of them, hoping to deter others from following Christianity.

Perpetua stood calmly before the governor and refused to recant.  

Hilarian questioned Perpetua about her beliefs, demanding that she perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods.

She refused, asserting her allegiance to Christ with unwavering conviction.

Perpetua's refusal angered the governor, who viewed her defiance as a threat to Roman authority.

Once more, her father desperately tried to convince her to renounce her faith, to no effect. 

Felicity faced the same charges alongside Perpetua and their fellow catechumens. She remained equally steadfast in her faith, refusing to comply with the governor's demands.

Because of their unwavering stance, the governor sentenced all of the five prisoners to death in the amphitheater.

The condemned Christians were then returned to their prison cells to await execution.

During this time, their faith and friendship only grew stronger. 

While imprisoned, Perpetua experienced a series of visions that helped to strengthen her faith in preparation for her death.

These visions, which she documented, included powerful images of her future triumph over death.

In one vision, she climbed a dangerous ladder leading to a beautiful garden, which, she believed, symbolized her impending ascent to heaven.

At the base of the ladder was a dragon or serpent, which represented the painful death she had to go through in order to begin her ascension.  

This vision, plus others that she had, were so powerful, that Perpetua chose to write them down for posterity, and also share them with her fellow prisoners.

The other four said that found great solace in them, as it gave them hope that they would receive a great reward despite the immense suffering they were about to experience. 

The prisoners were to face their execution on March 7, AD 203, in the amphitheater of Carthage.

It was intended to be a very public event, to show other Romans what would happen if they likewise became Christians.

The common people treated such events as a form of entertainment and a large crowd gathered to watch.

On the day of their execution, the prisoners were led into the arena and subjected to a series of gruesome ordeals. 

The condemned were first attacked by wild beasts. In particular, Perpetua and Felicity faced a savage cow, a particularly brutal form of execution designed to maximize their suffering.

The animal gored and trampled them, inflicting severe injuries. Despite the excruciating pain, Perpetua and Felicity are said to have maintained their calm demeanor, even comforting each other through the ordeal.

Their courage and solidarity in the face of such violence began to deeply move some of the onlookers. 

After the attack by the beasts, the surviving martyrs were ordered to be executed by the sword.

Perpetua, weakened but resolute, stood with Felicity and their companions as they awaited their final moments.

The soldiers tasked with the executions were initially hesitant, as they were struck by the martyrs' serene bravery.

However, Perpetua guided the sword to her own throat in a final act of defiance and control over her fate.

Alongside her, Felicity and the others met their deaths with similar bravery. 

The martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity had a profoundly influenced early Christianity.

Their courage and faith under persecution became a source of inspiration for many believers.

The account of their martyrdom was widely circulated. It was known as The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, and it took two parts.  

The first is the first-hand diary of Perpetua herself. It begins with an account of her arrest and imprisonment, before detailing her agony of being separated from her family, and the series of visions.

In her prison cell, she experienced visions that fortified her faith and gave her courage.

The second part is an eye-witness account of her death, written by an unnamed onlooker.  

Because of their documented experiences, Perpetua and Felicity’s narrative became a vital part of Christian teaching and tradition.

In various regions, Christians read and revered this account. Over centuries, their story influenced Christian art and literature.

Today, Perpetua and Felicity are celebrated annually by the Catholic Church on March 7.