Crispina of Thagora (d. 304)

Crispina was a noblewoman and mother from Thagora in Roman North Africa, remembered for her steadfast confession during the Diocletian persecution. Though surrounded by the comforts and protections of rank, she met a demand that no social standing could soften: to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods “for the emperors,” a public act meant to prove loyalty to the state and deny loyalty to Christ.

Brought before the proconsul Anulinus, Crispina was ordered to purchase safety with a small outward gesture—a pinch of incense, a few words of reverence. The empire treated such acts as trivial, but the church understood their meaning. Crispina refused, answering plainly that she was a Christian and would worship Christ alone. Her simplicity was not stubbornness; it was worship. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” (Matthew 10:28)

Anulinus and the Diocletian Persecution

Anulinus represented an imperial program designed to break Christian communities through fear, shame, and legal force. Trials often included ridicule, threats, and public humiliation—tools meant to isolate believers and make faith appear irrational. Crispina endured these pressures without bargaining. Her courage displayed a quiet strength: obedience without bitterness, confession without theatrics, and suffering without surrender.

Theveste and Witness unto Death (December 5, 304)

Condemned at Theveste (modern Tébessa, Algeria), Crispina was sentenced to death and executed by beheading. Her death reminds the church that the issue was never merely political compliance. When rulers demand what belongs to God, the believer must answer with faithful confession. “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

Crispina’s witness encourages Christians facing coercion—whether by law, culture, or fear—to hold fast to Christ with humility and resolve. “Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)