The Martyrs of Carthage under Valerian were a group of Christians including Montanus, Lucius, Flavian, Julian, Victoricus, Primolus, Rhenus, and Donatian.
The monks of St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate wrote in their Book of Saints (1921), Montanus, Lucius, Julian, Victorious, Flavian and Others (SS.)
As soon as we were taken, say the authors of the acts, we were given in custody to the officers of the quarter: when the governor’s soldiers told us that we should be condemned to the flames, we prayed to God with great fervour to be delivered from that punishment: and he, in whose hands are the hearts of men, was pleased to grant our request.
The sharpest trial was that which we underwent by hunger and thirst, the governor having commanded that we should be kept without meat and drink for several days, insomuch that water was refused us after our work: yet Flavian, the deacon, added great voluntary austerities to these hardships, often bestowing on others that little refreshment which was most sparingly allowed us at the public charge.
He took us to all parts to make us go out, but there was no outlet; then he said to me, ‘You have still some concern at your being retained here, but be not discouraged, I am with you: carry these tidings to your companions, and let them know that they shall have a more glorious crown.’ I asked him where heaven was; the infant replied, ‘Out of the world.’” Show it me, says Victor.
The acts say they brought the never failing food, which Tillemont understands of the blessed eucharist, and the following words still more clearly determine it in favour of this sense.
Heaven had pity on them both, and, to reunite them, admonished Montanus by a dream, which he related to us as follows: “It appeared to me that the centurions were come to us, and that they conducted us through a long path into a spacious field, where we were met by Cyprian and Lucius.
After suffering extreme hunger and thirst, with other hardships, during an imprisonment of many months, the confessors were brought before the president, and made a glorious confession.
The false friends of Flavian maintained before the judge that he was no deacon, and, consequently was not comprehended within the emperor’s decree; upon which, though he declared himself to be one, he was not then condemned; but the rest were adjudged to die.
Lucius, who was naturally mild and modest, was a little dejected on account of his distemper, and the inconveniences of the prison; he therefore went before the rest, accompanied but by a few persons, lest he should be oppressed by the crowd, and so not have the honour to spill his blood.
Julian and Victorius exhorted a long while the brethren to peace, and recommended to their care the whole body of the clergy, those especially who had undergone the hardships of imprisonment.
Like a true disciple of Saint Cyprian, and a zealous lover of discipline, he exhorted those that had fallen not to be over hasty, but fully to accomplish their penance.
When the executioner was ready to give the stroke, he prayed aloud to God that Flavian, who had been reprieved at the people’s request, might follow them on the third day.
[8] And, to express his assurance that his prayer was heard, he rent in pieces the handkerchief with which his eyes were to be covered, and ordered one half of it to be reserved for Flavian, and desired that a place might be kept for him where he was to be interred, that they might not be separated even in the grave.
and not rather that they are guilty of an untruth who say the contrary?” The people demanded that he might be tortured in hopes he would recall his confession on the rack; but the judge condemned him to be beheaded.
A shower dispersed the infidels, and the martyr was led into a house where he had an opportunity of taking his last leave of the faithful without one profane person being present.