The early Christian martyrs

Early Christian martyrs being taken away from their homes and families

The day after the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Church commemorates the many unknown, possibly thousands of Christian martyrs who shed their blood for their faith under ruthless Emperors. What is known as the Persecution era, which lasted three centuries, so many martyrs died defending their faith, either through crucifixion, being burned, being eaten by lions or other excruciating methods of torture. Many of them were arrested just by being seen carrying a cross in their hands. Most of the Christians congregated underground in catacombs, for fear of being arrested and killed. Some of the known martyrs have been canonized by the church, St Agnes, St Agatha, St Cecilia, St Ignatius of Antioch, most of the early Popes, and so many others. There is also another category known as confessors, who still kept the faith, but were not arrested or tortured or killed. It was only thanks to King Constantine who ended the Persecutions in 313 AD, that Christians could once again profess their faith freely and build basilicas and churches to worship in.