# Early Christian martyrdoms in the Roman Empire

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/early-christian-martyrdoms-in-the-roman-empire
> Updated: 2026-10-13T03:55:55.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Historical accounts detail the execution of various Christian martyrs during periods of Roman imperial persecution. 

In Cilicia, under the reign of Emperor Diocletian, the soldiers Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus were apprehended and subjected to torture, including flogging and being hung upside down, before being beheaded. 

Separately, in Pergamum, a group including Carp, Papyl, Agathodor, and Agatonika faced persecution during the reign of Emperor Decius. After refusing to participate in pagan sacrifices, the group was executed by beheading.

## Claims

- The Orthodox Church commemorates the memory of the holy martyrs Carp, Papyl, Agathodor, and Agatonika. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The martyrs lived during the late second and first half of the third century. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Carp served as a priest or bishop in the city of Thyatira. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Papyl was a doctor and served as a deacon. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The martyrs were persecuted during the reign of Roman Emperor Decius in the third century. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The martyrs were born in the city of Pergamum, located in modern-day western Turkey. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Proconsul Valerius ordered the martyrs to be tortured and eventually beheaded. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Tradition states that Papyl healed a blind man through prayer. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Christian martyrs Carp, Papyl, Agathodor, and Agatonika commemorated

The Orthodox Church honors the memory of martyrs Carp, Papyl, Agathodor, and Agatonika, who were executed in the third century for their Christian faith during the Roman persecutions.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/christian-martyrs-carp-papyl-agathodor-and-agatonika-commemorated

### 2026-10-11: Martyrdom of Saints Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus

Historical accounts detail the martyrdom of Christian soldiers Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus during the Diocletian persecutions in the early 4th century.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/martyrdom-of-saints-probus-tarachus-and-andronicus

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Cite as: Early Christian martyrdoms in the Roman Empire. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/early-christian-martyrdoms-in-the-roman-empire