This was the story Emily shared during our All Saint’s Day service:
One of the ways that I find God is through romantic love. Finding a deep connection with another soul reminds me of my connection to God. I believe Perpetua and Felicity may have had a similar experience when they were imprisoned together for being Christians in Africa in around the year 200.
From the years between 193 to 211 Roman Emperor Septimus Severus ruled over North Africa where Perpetua and Felicity were from. At this time, it was still punishable by death to declare yourself a Christian. Eventually, they would both be executed, accounts from Perpetua’s diary and others who knew her mean that we can keep their stories alive.
Perpetua was a well-educated noble woman who decided to follow her mother’s path of being a Christian. Her father, who was not a Christian, was extremely worried and tried to dissuade her from being a Christian. Then Perpetua was 22 with a son, she was married but her husband is never mentioned.
In response to her father’s concerns Perpetua pointed to a water jug and asked, ‘See that pot lying there? Can you call it by any other name than what it is?’
Her father answered, ‘Of course not’.
Perpetua replied, 'Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am- a Christian’. Perhaps this inspiring sense of being her most authentic self is what helped her to bravely express her sexuality later.
Perpetua was baptised before being imprisoned with four other Christians including a slave, Felicity. Felicity was eight months pregnant when they were imprisoned in a dark and cramped cell. During such testing times their relationship grew as Perpetua supported Felicity in giving birth to her daughter. This was an important moment in their relationship as it was illegal then to kill a pregnant woman and Felicity had a deep desire to be killed with Perpetua by her side. It was a few days later that they were to be killed. After suffering public humiliation, they were sent to the gladiators where they publicly kissed one another before being killed.
Known by some as the saints of same-sex couples, as a lesbian woman myself, I connected with Perpetua and Felicity’s story particularly Perpetua’s words when she says, ‘Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am’. Before I discovered my own sexuality I was told it was a choice, let’s follow the example of the Perpetua and Felicity and celebrate the diversity of God’s creation even under opposition.
— Emily Harris
You can hear all the stories that were shared during our All Saint’s service by watching the recording, and you can also read Pauline’s story here too.