Hagiography: The Early Church Martyrs

So now I'd like to focus on the Martyr saints that began immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This topic has extra interest for me, since St. Stephen (my namesake) was the first martyr. He could be included alongside the other apostles and disciples as the protomartyrs. They are defined as Christian followers who are killed willingly because of their faith. However I'm also going to include the Holy Innocents in this post, as they unwillingly died because of Christ. They are the unique case of martyrdom, as those who died in fact, but not in will. They were just children who had no knowledge of Christ, and yet still died for him and became holy saints. Whereas the rest of the martyrs willingly chose to die for Christ.

As I've laid out the groundwork for this post I've noticed there are different cases pertaining to the historical time period. Most of your early foundational martyrs were persecuted by the Jews or Romans since they were considered blasphemers. However after Constantine the Great accepts Christianity the criteria for martyrdom somewhat changed. It became more political in nature, where the cause of their faith was almost secondary to their political influence (examples: Saint Thomas Becket or Saint Oscar Romero). So I've decided to break up my martyrdom study into three distinct categories: The Early Roman Martyrs; the Medieval Martyrs; and the Modern Political Martyrs. I'm not going to include the apostles here, since I categorized them as witnesses of Christ in my last post. I'm also going to separate the 14 Holy Helpers, who were persecuted by the Romans but became extremely popular during the Middle Ages and beyond. 

Martyrs in Fact

Holy Innocents

• 
  Years: 4-2 BC (Under 2 years old)
• Nationality: Bethlehem, Israel
• Life: King Herod the Great had become aware of the prophecy of the coming Messiah and began to fear for his kingdom. He thus ordered that all male children in Bethlehem aged 0-2 were to be massacred. While some medieval estimates range up to 14,000 it's more likely to be around 30 children present in Bethlehem at the time that were killed by sword or dagger. These poor children were thus killed because of Christ, and are considered the first holy martyrs (even though they had no awareness of Christ). They are also considered the rare exception of "proto-martyrs" because they died because of Christ and not for Christ.
• Cause of Death: Sword or dagger
  
• Patronage: Foundlings, babies, choirs
• Symbols: Martyrs palm, crown of martyrdom, angelic children
• Feast Day: December 28
• Famous Churches:
• Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem, Israel)- 326 AD- Has a chapel within the church dedicated to the Holy Innocents
• Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio (Milan, Italy)- 4th century- Has many relics, paintings, and chapels pertaining to the nativity, the Magi, and the Holy Innocents
• Church of the Holy Innocents (Chicago, USA)- 1905- one of the largest churches dedicated entirely to the Holy Innocents

Proto-Martyrs

Saint Stephen

• 
  Years: 5-36 AD (27 years)
• Nationality: Jerusalem, Judea
• Life: He was a deacon and famously the first martyr after he publicly preached of the glory of Christ which defied a group of Jewish rabbi. The Jewish council considered his words to be blasphemy and had him stoned to the death on the spot. According to legend he died like an angel and forgave his persecutors in the similar fashion as Jesus did. The prophet Saul witnessed the whole event unfold and was then inspired to continue the ministry of the teachings of Christ under the new name of Paul the Apostle.
  
• Cause of Death: Stoned to death
• Patronage: Altar servers, headaches, deacons, bricklayers, horses
• Symbols: Stones, Palm branches, deacon robes
• Feast Day: December 26th
• Famous Churches:
• The Church of St. Stephen (Jerusalem, Israel) Built in the 400s as the site of St. Stephen's martyrdom and burial
• St Stephen's Cathedral (Vienna, Austria) 1137-1578- Beautiful cathederal that towers over Vienna
• Bourges Cathedral (Bourges, France) 1195-1230

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

• Years: 35-108 (73 years)
• Nationality: Syria (Roman Empire)
• 
  Life: He was an apostle of John and later became a bishop of Antioch. He is considered one of the early fathers of the church, and played a pivotal role in establishing it's structure (the clergy heriarchy, the eucharist, and early warnings against heresy). His rise to fame was quickly opposed by the Roman emperor Trajan who insisted he worship the Roman pagan Gods. When Ignatius refused he was taken prisoner and fed to lions in the iconic Colosseum. He famously welcomed the beasts and died a martyr.
  
• Cause of Death: Eaten by lions
• Patronage: Church of North Africa, Church of East Mediterranean
• Symbols: Surronded by lions in chains
• Feast Day: Dec 20
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of San Clemente (Rome, Italy)- 1108-1203- Despite being dedicated to Pope Clement it still houses many relics pertaining to Saint Ignatius including his tomb
• Colosseum (Rome, Italy)- This was the site of his martyrdom

Saint Polycarp

• Years: 69-155 AD (86 years)
• Nationality: Smyrna, Anatolia (Roman Empire)
• 
  Life: He was a disciple of John the Apostle, who carried on his preaching and gospel. He later became Bishop of Smyrna (a booming trade hub in Anatolia) at an elder age of 80. The practice of Christianity was still considered quite illegal by the Roman authorities at this time, and he was eventually persecuted. Instead of fleeing Polycarp boldly welcomed the Roman guards with food and drink, then requested to pray. During his trial, he was offered a chance at freedom if he rejected Christianity as atheism, however Polycarp instead pointed to the Roman pagans as the true atheists. According to legend at his execution he requested not to be tied to the stake, so he could accept the flames willingly in the name of God. The flames however danced around him and would not touch him. At this point he was killed by one of the Roman soldiers by sword.
• Cause of Death: Sword
  
• Patronage: Ear aches
• Symbols: Pallium, holding a gospel book,
• Feast Day:
• Famous Churches:
• Church of St. Polycarp (Smyrna, Turkey)- 1625- The site of Polycarp's martyrdom
• Sant'Ambrogio della Massima (Rome, Italy)- 4th century- Dedicated to Ambrose but contains some of Polycarp's relics.

Saint Justin Martyr

• Years: 90-165 AD
  
• Nationality: Judea, Roman Empire
• 
  Life: He was a Greek philosopher, a pagan, who helped bridge the gap between Greek philosophy and Christian theology. He was instantly converted one day when an old man questioned why philosophers always disagree with one another, and yet Christ fulfilled the prophecy of the Hebrew testament. Justin then dove into theological studies and began teaching this as the one true faith. He wrote several famous works include the First Apology (155 AD). He openly debated with philosophers, pagans, and Jews about the undeniable truth of Jesus Christ. He is eventually arrested with other of his followers for his outspoken passion on the matter. He willingly faces his martyrdom by renouncing the pagan Gods as impious to the one true God.
• Cause of Death: Beheading
• Patronage: Philosophers
• Symbols: Book, scroll, philosopher's attire, teaching gesture, martyr's palm
• Feast Day: June 1st
• Famous Churches:
• Church of San Giustino (Rome, Italy)- 1952-1953- Considered the site of his school or his martyrdom. Contains many of his relics.

Martyrs of the Roman Empire


Saint Perpetua and Felicity

• Years: 182-203 (21 years)
  
• 
  Nationality: Carthage (Roman Empire)
• Life: Perpetua was a noblewoman from Carthage who began following Christ despite her father's protests. She began receiving visions including a ladder to heaven, her deceased brother at peace in prayer, and herself as gladiator fighting against an evil monster. She was eventually arrested alongside several other Christians including a pregnant slave named Felicity. Both gave birth before they were sent to the arena for a public death. Both were eventually gored by a bull, however reacted calmly, and stood by one another side-by-side as they were later killed by sword.
• Cause of Death: March 7
• Patronage: Mothers, ranchers, butchers, Carthage
• Symbols: Books, ladder, serpant, infant child
• Feast Day: Feb 1
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of Saints Perpetua and Felicity (Rome, Italy)- 4th century- Dedicated to both women as one of the earliest martyr churches in Rome.

Saint Cecilia

• Years: 200-222 (22 years)
• 
  Nationality: Rome, Italy
  
• Life: She was another young virgin saint, completely dedicated to Christ at a young age. She was renown for her beautiful voice which she sang for God. However her parents forced her into a marriage despite her protests. Yet this is a rare story of love, in which the husband (Valerian) did not force himself upon her. Instead he honored her desire of purity and was so convinced by her faith that he too chose a life of devotion to Christ. Her husband Valerian is martyred first for his faith, then his brother Tiburtius. Cecilia is arrested several days later and is unsuccessfully beheaded. She survives the sword blows for three days preaching the word of the lord before she dies of the wounds. She is considered the patron saint of music.
• Cause of Death: Beheading
• Patronage: Sacred music, organs, singers, musicians, poets
• Symbols: Flute, organ, roses, violin, harp, harpsichord, songbord, singing
• Feast Day: November 22
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of Saint Cecilia (Rome, Italy)- 817-819- The primary church of her burial place. It has undergone several renovations as far back as the 4th century.
• Albi Cathedral (Albi, France)- 1282-1480- Built in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade dedicated to Saint Cecilia. To this day it is regarded as the largest brick building in the world. 

Saint Cyprian

• 
  Years: 210-258
  
• Nationality: Carthage, Roman Empire
• Life: He was born into a pagan family in Carthage and did not convert to Christianity until his 40s. He was already very well educated and quickly ascended to the post of bishop due to his quick understanding of the Christian theology. During the Decian persecutions of 250 AD he fled for his safety but also the work he had down for the church. When he returned to his post he faced heavy scrutiny of cowardice for not standing up for his beliefs like many other martyrs had. He pushed for forgiveness thru repentance and continued to fully devout himself to the unity of the church. In 258 a 2nd wave of persecutions eventually caught up with him under Emperor Valerian. This time he did not run away but bravely faced his accusers to meet his death by beheading.
• Cause of Death: Beheading
• Patronage: North Africa, church administrators
• Symbols: Bishop robes, sword, palm brance, books
• Feast Day: Sept 16
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of Saint Cyprian (ruins)- 380-400 AD (Destroyed during Arab conquest 698)- considered the site of his martyrdom

Saint Lawrence

• 
  Years: 225-258 (32 years)
• Nationality: Valencia, Spain
  
• Life: St. Lawrence first encountered Pope Sixtus II in Zaragoza, and traveled with him from Spain to Rome. There he was later appointed as a deacon working under Pope Sixtus II during the reign of Roman emperor Valerian. In the year 258 Valerian issued an edict to have many Christians executed (which included Sixtus and St. Lawrence). Before executing St. Lawrence they demanded he hand over all the church's valuables. St. Lawrence famously denied this request and gave all the treasures of the church to the poor and sick. He then suffered a terrible martyrdom being tortured and burned on a metal gridiron. He was famously resilient throughout his torture and famously told the prefect's to "turn him over as he was done on one side". He is often associated with St. Stephen (another deacon who was martyred) and is buried in the same church.
• Cause of Death: Tortured, Burned
• Patronage: Open fires, cooks, bakers, tanners, archivists, miners, poor people, comedians
• Symbols: Gridiron, priest robes
• Feast Day: Aug 10
• Famous Churches: 
• St. Lawrence Outside the Walls (Rome, Italy)- 6th century- Holds tomb and relics of St. Lawrence. One of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
• San Lorenzo in Lucina (Rome, Italy)- 4th century- Has the famous gridiron relic that burned St. Lawrence
• Trogir Cathedral (Trogir, Croatia)- 13th century
• San Lorenzo in Panisperna (Rome, Italy)- 5th century- Site of his martyrdom

Saint Valentine

• 
  Years: 225-270 (43 years)
• Nationality: Rome, Italy
  
• Life: He was a priest from Rome, who was eventually martyred for openly preaching and converting people to Christianity. His greatest claim to fame was miraculously healing the blind daughter of a jail guard. He converts both the guard and his daughter, and writers her letter signed "your valentine". He is later condemned and executed for refusing to renounce Christ. The connection to being the patron saint of love and romance came much later during the medieval age. His association to romance was made famous by the poet Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote of birds courting on his already established feast day of Feb 14. So it wasn't so much his actions but more so his feast day that fell during the bird's mating season. By the 1700s this feast day evolved into one of popular culture to exchange romantic gestures with loved ones.
• Cause of Death: Beheading
• Patronage: Marriage, romance, couples, against fainting, beekeepers, plague, epilepsy, blindness
• Symbols: Birds, roses, bishop with a crippled person, rooster, priest bearing a sword or sun, giving sight to the blind
• Feast Day: Feb 14
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of Saint Valentine on the Via Flaminia (Rome, Italy)- 1606-1618- Has many relics dedicated to him as well as his tomb
• Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church (Dublin, Ireland)- 1825- Contains bones and relics of St. Valentine

Saint Agatha

• 
  Years: 231-251 (20 years)
  
• Nationality: Sicily (Roman Empire)
• Life: She was a beautiful noble 15 year old girl, who made a vow to stay chaste in the name of God. However the Roman governor found her very desirable and made numerous advances at her. Since she would not give herself up to him willingly he had her arrested for being a Christian. He then had her tortured and famously removed her breasts. She was later visited by the spirit of Saint Peter who healed her. She was to be sentenced to burn at the stake, however a powerful earthquake disrupted this event. She was continuously tortured however including having her body racked and dragged over coals. She eventually succumbed to her injuries and died a virgin martyr.
• Cause of Death: Torture
• Patronage: breast cancer, bakers, nurses, virgins, rape victims, natural disaster, fire, earthquakes
• Symbols: pincers, breasts
• Feast Day: Feb 5
• Famous Churches:
• Catania Cathedral (Catania, Siciliy, Italy)- 1078-1093- Her hometown and site of her martyrdom that houses her tomb and relics

St. Maurice and the Theban Legion

• 
  Years: 250-287 AD (37 years)
  
• Nationality: Thebes, Egypt
• Life: St. Maurice was a Roman military commander of the Theban Legion from Egypt which included 6000 soldiers. He was ordered into Gaul (Switzerland) to persecute many Christians for not worshipping the pagan Gods. However Maurice himself was a devout Christian along with his legion and calmly refused the emperor's order to kill these Christians. The Roman authorities then proceeded to kill the soldiers of the Theban Legions in groups of ten, so that the rest would recant their Christian vows. Yet none of the soldiers renounced their faith, and responded with peaceful prayer instead of reactionary violence. Eventually all were killed by the sword to become martyrs.
• Cause of Death: Sword
• Patronage: Alpine troops, armies, armorers, clothmakers, cramps, dyers, gout, infantry, soldiers, swordsmiths
• Symbols: Banner, soldiers, knights, Africans in armor,
• Feast Day: Sept 22
• Famous Churches:
• Abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaunce (St. Maurice, Switzerland)- 515- The site of Maurice and his legion's martyrdom. One of the oldest monasteries in the world.
• Magdeburg Cathedral (Madgeburg, Germany)- 1209-1520- Contains several major relics of St. Maurice.

St. Alban

• Years: 250-300
• 
  Nationality: Roman Britain
  
• Life: He was a citizen in Roman Britain who sheltered a priest who was fleeing from persecution. While the priest was hiding, Alban became curious with his devotion to prayer, the gospels, and the Christian faith. Eventually Alban was inspired his faith, and asked the priest to baptize him as a Christian. When the Roman soldiers finally located the priest's whereabouts, Alban took the priests' cloak to pretend he was the priest. This allowed the actual priest to escape while Alban was arrested instead as a new Christian convert. During his trial he was ordered to worship the pagan gods, which he refused and was prepared to face martyrdom. During his execution, according to legend, there were multiple miracles that happened on this account. First on route to his execution, they could not cross the bridge due to pedestrian traffic and Alban was able to part the river with the hands raised to the sky (Moses style). The execution was so moved by this act that he later refused to do his task and was replaced by another. The 2 nd executioner succeeded in beheading Alban, however his eyes fell out shortly after and he went blind. This is a great tale (mixed with some legend) about a heroic act of sacrificing oneself for another.
• Cause of Death: Beheading
• Patronage: Converts, refugees, torture victims
• Symbols: Soldier with a large cross, decapitation, head in a holly bush, eyes of executioner falling
• Feast Day: June 22
• Famous Churches:
• Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban (St. Albans, England)- Very impressive Gothic Cathedral with a Benedictine monastery that was built on the site of his execution and burial. It is the centerpiece of the town of St. Albans

Saint Sebastian

• Years: 255-288 (32 years)
• Nationality: Narbonne, France (Roman Empire)
• 
  Life: He decided to enlist in the Roman army so as to defend Christians that were being persecuted at the time. He converted fellow soldiers while saving multiple Christians that were condemned to death. He eventually made enemies with the Roman authorities and was sentenced to death by emperor Diocletian. His body was covered with arrows from a firing squad, like a porcupine, and somehow he survived. He later revisited Diocletian to ridicule him so as to see the true power of God. Diocletian immediately had him executed again, this time he was killed by clubs. His dead corpse was thrown into the sewers but was later recovered by a woman named Lucina who received a holy vision from St. Sebastian with the exact location of her body.
• Cause of Death: Beat to death by clubs
  
• Patronage: Soldiers, plague, archers, arrows, disabled people, athletes, cyclists,
• Symbols: Tied to a post, Pillar, Tree
• Feast Day: January 20
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of San Sebastiano (Rome, Italy) 300-350 (The burial site of St. Sebastian. One of the Seven Pilgrim churches of Rome)
• San Sebastiano al Palatino (Rome, Italy) Built in the 900s as a pagan temple but later re-consecrated as the holy site of San Sebastian's martyrdom.

Saint Lucy

• Years: 283-304 (21 years)
• 
  Nationality: Syracuse (Roman Empire)
  
• Life: She was another of the famous early virgin martyrs, who swore a life of purity to Christ. She was able to save her sick mother by praying to the tomb of St. Agatha. She was eventually wedded to a pagan man, who discovered her Christian faith and quickly had her arrested. During her trial she stated she could only sacrifice to the one living God and not to the Roman pagan gods. The authorities sent her to a brothel as punishment, to violate her purity. However by some divine intervention her body remained locked in place and they were unable to move her. At this point they stabbed her in the throat (or the eye) with a dagger to send her to her martyrdom.
• Cause of Death: Dagger
• Patronage: The blind, martyrs, salesman, throat, infections, writers
• Symbols: Cord, eyes, eyes on a dish, blindfold, palm branch, lamp, swords, woman hitched to an oxen, woman with St. Agatha
• Feast Day: Dec 13
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro (Syracuse, Sicily)- 4th-6th century (Rebuilt 1693)- Site of her martyrdom and burial. There are catacombs associated with this basilica.
• Cathedral of Syracuse (Syracuse, Italy)- 5th century- very ancient cathedral that has many relics dedicated to Saint Lucia.

St. Vincent of Saragossa

• 
  Years: 270- 304 AD
  
• Nationality: Huesca, Spain
• Life: He was a deacon from Spain and is celebrated for his resilience in the face of great torture and martyrdom. It's very plausabile that he suffered the worse torture of all the saints, however endured it with great spiritual strength. He was persecuted by the Roman Emperor Diocletian after Vincent refused to worship their pagan Gods. His torture was a brutal one that consisted of being stretched on the rack, beaten severely, torn with iron hooks, burned over the fire, and salt rubbed in his wounds. Despite all this pain he refused to worship their gods and turn away from Christ. The emperor then wanted to have his dead body devoured by wild animals, however his body was protected by a divine force field from the angels.
• Cause of Death: Torture
• Patronage: Spain, Lisbon, wine, vinegar, deacons
• Symbols: deacon robes, ships, ravens
• Feast Day: January 22
• Famous Churches:\Valencia Cathedral (Valencia, Spain)- 1262- Although it is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption, it also has significant chapels and relics of St. Vincent. This church also claims to have the Holy Grail
• Lisbon Cathedral (Lisbon, Portugal)- 1147; 1582-1629- Contains relics of St. Vincent and is considered his burial site