The Martyrdom of Genesius-The Actor that became a Saint
The ancient Roman actor Genesius (martyred in c. 285 AD) was a leader/member of a troupe of actors who performed comedic plays regularly for Emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305).
The actors specialized in satire on many subjects and people of their day and Genesius was a favorite of the Emperor. One evening the idea of the play was to ridicule the burgeoning sect of Christians whom Diocletian hated, persecuted and killed. Genesius’ role was to pretend to be baptized.
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Genesius obviously had attended several Christian baptisms in order to be familiar with his role. He was supposed to be sick and fell to the ground on stage. The appointed “priest” and “exorcist” rushed onstage. Genesius said he was weighted down with his sins and an angel had commanded him to be baptized to wipe away all his sins. Everyone was hilarious. Genesius insisted he wanted to be baptized and the “priest” poured water on him. But Genesius stood up and told the audience of Diocletian, his court and all the other actors that he was serious. He had just become a Christian and he could still see the angel who spoke to him. The “priest” threw a white robe over him in imitation of a Christian catechumen.
Genesius would not play the part. Instead, Genesius addressed the Emperor and all those around him and exhorted them all to give their lives to Christ. So serious and persistent was Genesius, the Emperor became enraged and had Genesius turned over to the prefect of the Praetorian Guard Plautia for torture.
Under torture, Genesius still insisted that he had been converted right there and then onstage and would not renounce Christ. Seeing it was a true conversion to Christianity, Diocletian had him beheaded. Genesius “played” the part of a new Christian, became the part, was tortured and lost his head because he actually became what he portrayed.
Hearing of his death, the Christians realized that Genesius had been converted and put to death for the faith. They secured his body and buried him in the Cemetery of St Hippolytus on the Via Tiburtina.
https://earlychurchhistory.org/entertainment/the-actor-saint-genesius/
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