Martyrs Terence, Pompius, and with them Africanus, Macarius, Xeno, Alexander and the other 33 beheaded at Carthage

During the persecution under Emperor Decius, the governor of Africa, Fortunatian, ordered Christians at Carthage to sacrifice to the idols, among them to Hercules. Forty held firm, led by Terence, with Pompius, Africanus and Maximus among those named. Terence told the governor that they would not give up their faith for any torture.

They were beaten, hung up and scraped with iron claws, and kept in chains. According to their Life, an angel freed them from their fetters and brought them food, and snakes released into their cell did them no harm. In the end all were beheaded and were buried with honour about two miles from the city. The Church dates the martyrdom to about 249–251.