Christian martyrdom: Far from over with

Saint Stephen (Cavedone, 1601)

Mention Christian martyrs, and many think back to ancient times.

The Massacre of the Innocents, Herod's killing of all male infants in Bethlehem (according to the Gospel of Matthew), is said to be the very first example of Christian martyrdom.  Saint Stephen (aka "Protomartyr"), who Acts tells us was stoned to death, is considered to be the first personally-identified Christian martyr.

Most of the Apostles were hideously killed for their faith.  G. R. Konig of About-Jesus.org cites sources which tell us that Bartholomew was beaten with rods and then beheaded; James Son of Alphaeus was beaten, stoned and clubbed to death; Andrew was most likely

crucified; Peter was crucified upside down; Thomas was killed with a spear; James Son of Zebedee was executed with a sword; Philip was crucified; Matthew was killed with a spear; Jude Thaddeus was crucified; and Simon was crucified.

Tragically, this type of persecution is far from over.  In fact, there have been so many modern-day Christian

martyrs that the Basilica of Saint Bartholomew in Rome has created "a unique memorial" for them.  The AFP

reports that this "initiative was begun by late pope John Paul II in 1993 and the ancient church now draws a steady stream of pilgrims to pay tribute to victims from all Christian denominations including Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants."

These modern-day martyrs include the following:  victims of Communism; victims of Nazism; victims of the Mexican and Spanish civil wars; Chaldean priest Raghi Ghani who was assassinated in Iraq in 2007; Italian nun Leonella Sgorbati who was killed in Somalia in 2006; Archbishop Oscar Romero who was assassinated in San Salvador in 1980 while celebrating Mass; Pakistani Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti who was killed by his bodyguard in 2011; and French monk Christian de Cherge who was killed in Algeria in 1996 (along with six other religious brothers).

Resources

http://www.about-jesus.org/martyrs.htm

http://news.yahoo.com/unique-memorial-rome-honours-christian-martyrs-214034687.html

  

Copyright August 5, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved