A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 2. The Death of Peter and Paul 17The works of Caius have been preserved only in fragments;see Krüger, § 90. If he was a contemporary of Zephyrinus, heprobably lived during the pontificate of that bishop of Rome,199-217 A. D. The Phrygian heresy which Caius combatedwas Montanism; see below, § 25.Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, was a contemporary of Soter,Bishop of Rome, 166-174 A. D., whom he mentions in anepistle to the Roman Church. Of his epistles only fragmentshave been preserved; see Krüger, § 55. The following extractfrom his epistle to the Roman Church is the earliest explicitstatement that Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom at the same [009]time or that Peter was ever in Italy. In connection with thisextract, that from Clement of Rome (see § 1, a) should beconsulted; also Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum, ch. 2(ANF).It is therefore recorded that Paul was beheaded at Rome itself,and that Peter was crucified likewise at the same time. Thisaccount of Peter and Paul is confirmed by the fact that theirnames are preserved in the cemeteries of that place even to thepresent time. It is confirmed no less by a member of the Church,Caius by name, a contemporary of Zephyrinus, Bishop of Rome.In carrying on a discussion in writing with Proclus, the leaderof the Phrygian heresy, he says as follows concerning the placeswhere the sacred corpses of the aforesaid Apostles are laid: “ButI am able to show the trophies of the Apostles. For if you will goto the Vatican or to the Ostian Way, you will find the trophiesof those who laid the foundations of this church.” And that theytwo suffered martyrdom at the same time is stated by Dionysius,Bishop of Corinth, corresponding with the Romans in writing, inthe following words: “You have thus by such admonition boundtogether the planting of Peter and Paul at Rome and at Corinth.For both planted in our Corinth and likewise taught us, and inlike manner in Italy they both taught and suffered martyrdom atthe same time.”