Zephyros
Magistrate
In this thread some more female (crucified) Christian Martyrs are presented ... there are only a few accounts concerning their lives and martyrdom, though they are venerated in tradition …
Martha & Maria of Egypt
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Martha and Mary were sisters who lived in Asia Minor, and fervently desired to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ. Once, a pagan military commander marched past their house. The sisters went out to him and loudly declared that they were Christians. At first the commander paid no attention to them, but they persistently shouted after him, repeating their confession.
They were arrested together with their brother, Lykarion. All three were crucified
The circumstances of Martha's and Maria's martyrdom are not clear; neither the year nor the location is certain. Some sources claim that it happened in Egypt. Martha and Maria suffered together with a young man whose name is given as Lycarion or Bycarion, and who is in some sources called “a boy”, in others their younger brother or a novice monk.
But all sources, agree that, during one of the Roman persecutions, the two Christian virgins Martha and Maria gave themselves up to the Roman authorities. The governor had them crucified. They did not die quickly. In the end, the guards dispatched them with their swords, either out of mercy or impatience.
The sisters' memorial day is February 8th.
Hieronymus Wierix, c. 1570 - 1609
Febronia of Nisibis
It must be frankly admitted that the virgin martyr St. Febronia is in all probability a purely fictious personage, but she is venerated by all the churches of the East, including that of Ethiopia, and in the West by such towns as Trani in Apulia and Patti in Sicily. She is supposed to have suffered at Nisibis in Mesopotamia, somewhere about the year 304, in the persecution under Diocletian. No genuine records of her life and passion are available but the legend attributed to her survives in the form of an attractive romance purporting to have been written by Thomais, a nun of her convent who is said to have witnessed the events she describes.
Febronia was a nun of exceptional beauty living in Nisibis, a town in Mesopotamia.
Febronia also known as Febronia of Sebapte, was a nun at Nisibis, Mesopotamia. She suffered persecution under Diocletian, who offered her freedom if she renounced her faith and married his nephew, Lysimachus, who had been leaning towards conversion to Christianity. Febronia refused and was tortured, suffered mutilation and death. Lysimachus, witnessing her suffering, converted.
Febronia is one of the 140 Colonnade saints which adorn St. Peter's Square. She is known as a Holy Virgin Martyr.
Hieronymus Wierix, c. 1570 - 1609
Augustinus Braun, c. 1600–40: Febronia after breast amputation, pressing a cloth against her wounds; a soldier preparing to kill her with his sword
(Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, Germany)
Adrian Collaert, 1608 (from P. Bartoloméo Ricci SJ, “Triumphus Jesu Christi Crucifixi”; also Pedro de Bivero, “Sacrum sanctuarium crucis et patientiae crucifixorum et cruciferorum”, 1634): foreground: Febronia suspended over a fire, belly down, and roasted; background: nailed almost naked to a cross and tortured with the “cat's paw”
(Kirishitan Bunko, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan)
N. N., 1607–08 (icon): (left side Febronia before the judge, hanging at a pillar and treated with torches, losing her tongue, having her hands amputated, (right side lying belly-down in a fire and beaten on the back, streched over a wheel, having her breasts cut, and finally beheaded
(Monastry of Gračanica, Serbia)
N. N. (fresco): Febronia tortured with candles
N. N., 17–18th Century
(Chiesa S. Marco, Novara, Italy)
and other ...
N. N., 20th Century (ancient church fresco recently partially restored): an executioner opening Febronia's breasts with a knife
The assignment is not certain; some sources assume that the saint is Agatha.
(Eremo di Santa Febronia, Palagonia/Sicily, Italy)
Martha & Maria of Egypt
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Martha and Mary were sisters who lived in Asia Minor, and fervently desired to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ. Once, a pagan military commander marched past their house. The sisters went out to him and loudly declared that they were Christians. At first the commander paid no attention to them, but they persistently shouted after him, repeating their confession.
They were arrested together with their brother, Lykarion. All three were crucified
The circumstances of Martha's and Maria's martyrdom are not clear; neither the year nor the location is certain. Some sources claim that it happened in Egypt. Martha and Maria suffered together with a young man whose name is given as Lycarion or Bycarion, and who is in some sources called “a boy”, in others their younger brother or a novice monk.
But all sources, agree that, during one of the Roman persecutions, the two Christian virgins Martha and Maria gave themselves up to the Roman authorities. The governor had them crucified. They did not die quickly. In the end, the guards dispatched them with their swords, either out of mercy or impatience.
The sisters' memorial day is February 8th.
Hieronymus Wierix, c. 1570 - 1609
Febronia of Nisibis
It must be frankly admitted that the virgin martyr St. Febronia is in all probability a purely fictious personage, but she is venerated by all the churches of the East, including that of Ethiopia, and in the West by such towns as Trani in Apulia and Patti in Sicily. She is supposed to have suffered at Nisibis in Mesopotamia, somewhere about the year 304, in the persecution under Diocletian. No genuine records of her life and passion are available but the legend attributed to her survives in the form of an attractive romance purporting to have been written by Thomais, a nun of her convent who is said to have witnessed the events she describes.
Febronia was a nun of exceptional beauty living in Nisibis, a town in Mesopotamia.
Febronia also known as Febronia of Sebapte, was a nun at Nisibis, Mesopotamia. She suffered persecution under Diocletian, who offered her freedom if she renounced her faith and married his nephew, Lysimachus, who had been leaning towards conversion to Christianity. Febronia refused and was tortured, suffered mutilation and death. Lysimachus, witnessing her suffering, converted.
Febronia is one of the 140 Colonnade saints which adorn St. Peter's Square. She is known as a Holy Virgin Martyr.
Hieronymus Wierix, c. 1570 - 1609
Augustinus Braun, c. 1600–40: Febronia after breast amputation, pressing a cloth against her wounds; a soldier preparing to kill her with his sword
(Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, Germany)
Adrian Collaert, 1608 (from P. Bartoloméo Ricci SJ, “Triumphus Jesu Christi Crucifixi”; also Pedro de Bivero, “Sacrum sanctuarium crucis et patientiae crucifixorum et cruciferorum”, 1634): foreground: Febronia suspended over a fire, belly down, and roasted; background: nailed almost naked to a cross and tortured with the “cat's paw”
(Kirishitan Bunko, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan)
N. N., 1607–08 (icon): (left side Febronia before the judge, hanging at a pillar and treated with torches, losing her tongue, having her hands amputated, (right side lying belly-down in a fire and beaten on the back, streched over a wheel, having her breasts cut, and finally beheaded
(Monastry of Gračanica, Serbia)
N. N. (fresco): Febronia tortured with candles
N. N., 17–18th Century
(Chiesa S. Marco, Novara, Italy)
and other ...
N. N., 20th Century (ancient church fresco recently partially restored): an executioner opening Febronia's breasts with a knife
The assignment is not certain; some sources assume that the saint is Agatha.
(Eremo di Santa Febronia, Palagonia/Sicily, Italy)
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