Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Martyrs, Irish The collective title given to the 260 or more persons who are credited with dying for the faith in Ireland between 1537 and 1714 . Pope Benedict XV signed the Commission of Introduction for their beatification in March 1915 . The long delay in the start of their Cause was occasioned by the … Continue reading “Martyrs, Irish”

Martyrs in China The first Christian martyrs in China appear to have been the missionaries of Ili Bâliq in Central Asia, Khan-Bâlig (Peking), and Zaitun (Fu-kien), in the middle of the fourteenth century. Islam had been introduced into Central Asia, and in China, the native dynasty of Ming, replacing the Mongol dynasty of Yuan, had … Continue reading “Martyrs in China”

Martyrs, Forty Christian soldiers who died for their faith (320 ) at Sebaste, Armenia. They were exposed naked on a frozen pond, their bodies later being burnt. Feast , Roman Calendar, 10 March . Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary

Martyrs, Festivals of the These commemorations of Christian sufferers for the cause of their blaster are of very ancient date, and may be carried as high as the time of Polycarp, who suffered death about A.D. 168. In the days of Chrysostom and Theodoret these festivals had become so frequent that, so they tell us, … Continue reading “Martyrs, Festivals of the”

Martyrs, English Those who suffered death in England for the Catholic Faith and for the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, from 1535 to 1681 . The total number of them is over 600; of these, fifty-four were beatified in 1888 and nine more in 1895 ; 247 others had their cause of beatification introduced in … Continue reading “Martyrs, English”

Martyrs, Carthusian Memorial 4 May Profile A group of Carthusian monks who were hanged, drawn and quartered between 19 June 1535 and 20 September 1537 for refusing to acknowledge the English royalty as head of the Church. Blessed Humphrey Middlemore Blessed James Walworth Blessed John Davy Blessed John Rochester Blessed Richard Bere Blessed Robert Salt … Continue reading “Martyrs, Carthusian”

Martyrs, Canonization of the The ceremony for canonizing saints in the Roman Catholic Church varied greatly until, in the middle of the last century, pope Benedict XIV definitely prescribed it. It is now as follows: After the candidate’s reputation for sanctity has been duly proved, he is styled venerable, after which an inquiry is entered … Continue reading “Martyrs, Canonization of the”

Martyrs, Acts of the A name given to the narratives of the martyrs’ trials and deaths. They may be classified as follows: Official reports of the interrogatories, few in number, among the most famous being the “Passio Cypriani” and the “Acta Martyrum Scillitanorum” Non-official records, made either by eye-witnesses or by contemporaries recording the testimony … Continue reading “Martyrs, Acts of the”

Martyrs those who lay down their life or suffer death for the sake of their religion. In accordance with the primitive Greek sense of the word, i.e. a witness, SEE MARTYR, it is applied by Christian writers to such as suffer in testimony of the truth of the Gospel or its doctrines. The Christian Church … Continue reading “Martyrs”

Martyropolis A titular see, suffragan of Amida in the Province of Mesopotamia or Armenia Quarta. It was only a small town, named Maipherqat, but was rendered celebrated at the end of the fourth century, by its bishop, St. Maruthas. Enjoying great influence at the Roman and the Persian Courts, Maruthas was sent on several important … Continue reading “Martyropolis”