Callista : a Tale of the Third Century

Set in third-century Proconsular Africa, the narrative follows a community divided between pagan traditions and an emergent Christian faith as personal loyalties and beliefs are strained by legal pressure and social disapproval. At the center is a young pagan woman whose encounters with Christian neighbors prompt deep inner questioning, leading her to embrace baptism despite the attendant dangers. The tale combines domestic scene and theological reflection, portraying clandestine worship, confrontations with civic power, and episodes of suffering and martyrdom, while examining the moral costs and consolations of conversion, charity, and steadfast religious conviction.