Martyrdom (redirected from martyrdoms)

Martyrdom

See also Sacrifice.

Agatha, St.

tortured for resisting advances of Quintianus. [Christian Hagiog.: Daniel, 21]

Alban, St.

traditionally, first British martyr. [Christian Hagiog: NCE, 49]

Andrew, St.

apostle and missionary; condemned to be scourged and crucified. [Christian Hagiog.: Brewster, 4]

arrow and cross

symbol of martyrdom of St. Sebastian. [Christian Iconog.: Attwater, 304]

Brown, John

(1800–1859) abolitionist leader; died for antislavery cause. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 111]

Callista

beautiful Greek convert; executed and later canonized. [Br. Lit.: Callista]

Campion, Edmund

harassed and tortured by Anglicans, hanged on a false charge of treason. [Br. Lit.: Edmund Campion in Magill I, 237]

carnelian

symbol of St. Sebastian. [Christian Hagiog.: Brewer Handbook, I, 411]

Elmo, St.

patron saint of sailors; intestines wound on windlass. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 117]

Golgotha

place of martyrdom or of torment; after site of Christ’s crucifixion. [Western Folklore: Espy, 79]

Holy Innocents

male infants slaughtered by Herod. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 179; N.T.: Matthew 2:16–18]

James Intercisus, St.

cut to pieces for belief in Christianity. [Christian Hagiog.: Brewster, 2]

Jesus Christ

crucified at demand of Jewish authorities. [N.T.: Matthew 27:24–61; Mark 15:15–47; Luke 23:13–56; John 19:13–42]

Joan of Arc, St.

(1412–1431) burned at stake for witchcraft (1431). [Fr. Hist.: NCE, 1417; Br. Lit.: I Henry VI]

John the Baptist, St.

Jewish prophet; beheaded at instigation of Salome. [N.T.: Matthew 11:1–19; 17:11–13]

More, Sir Thomas

(1478–1535) statesman and humanist; be-headed for opposition to Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy [Br. Hist.: NCE, 1830]

Nero’s Torches

oil- and tar-smeared Christians implanted and set aflame. [Christian Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 614]

palm

appeared on martyrs’ graves. [Christian Symbolism: Appleton, 73]

Perpetua, St., and St. Felicity

gored by wild beasts; slain with swords. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 273]

Peter, St.

apostle crucified upside down in Rome. [Christian Hagiog.: Brewster, 310]

Sacco and Vanzetti

(Nicola, 1891–1927) (Bartolomeo, 1888–1927) perhaps executed more for radicalism than murder (August 22, 1927). [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 311]

Sebastian, St.

Roman soldier; shot with arrows and struck with clubs. [Christian Hagiog.: Brewster, 75]

Stephen, St.

first martyr; stoned as blasphemer. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 313]

sword

instrument of decapitation of early saints. [Christian Symbolism: Appleton, 14]

Thecla, St.

first woman martyr. [Christian Hagiog.: Brewer Dictionary, 1072]

Thomas à Becket, St.

(1118–1170) brutally slain in Canterbury cathedral by king’s knights. [Br. Hist.: NCE, 2735–2736]