Here at Backyard Conversations, we are in a series remembering some of the great servants of Jesus who, in their duties of faith, found themselves sacrificing their lives for the Kingdom.
We tend to think of the disciples who each, save John, were all martyred for their faith. But some very faithful young women faced death with great courage, and we ought not forget them!
Ever heard of Blandina? She was famous in France in the mid second century. She inspired artwork and poetry and stained glass.
Pretty, isn’t she? She was only 15 when Romans had her executed for her faith. People were astonished at the slave girl’s victorious cry even in the midst of her pain and suffering: “I am a Christian and there is nothing vile done by us.” Even though the crowd detested these Christians, they had to admit that never had a woman endured so many and so terrible tortures.
It was the year 177 in Lyons, Gaul (modern France). Christianity had first come to Lyons over 25 years earlier when Polycarp of Smyrna (you can read about him in our previous blog) had sent Pothinus as a missionary to Gaul. Pothinus had diligently established churches in Lyons and nearby Viennes (now Vienna, Austria). As the churches grew, spiritual resistance began to mount, and persecution against the Christians began. Christians were shut out of businesses and houses. They endured all kinds of shame and personal injuries. Mobs formed to beat, stone and rob the Christians. Believers who were arrested and examined by the city authorities, were imprisoned to await the arrival of the governor to the region.
Some of the non-believing servants of the Christians were also seized. These servants feared being tortured and devised all sorts of false accusations against the Christians–such as that they practiced cannibalism, incest, and other shameful practices. Such accusations enraged the mob even more.
August 1 was a holiday to celebrate the greatness of Rome and the emperor. Governors were expected to show their patriotism by sponsoring entertainment for the whole city. It was expensive to hire gladiators, boxers and wrestlers. It would be a lot cheaper to torture these Christians as part of the holiday entertainment!
The Christians were confined in the darkest and most awful part of the prison; many of them suffocated there. Some were placed in stocks; others were placed in a hot-iron seat where their flesh was burned, chained onto a grate over burning coals. An example of this barbaric torture instrument can still be seen today at the archeological museum in Lyons.
It seemed impossible that any could live, having been tortured so cruelly, yet many were strengthened by the Lord, and exhorted and encouraged each other in the faith. Pothinus, the 92-year-old bishop of Lyons, died in his prison cell two days after his torture (that cell, too, can still be visited today in Lyon). It is about the size of a typical dishwasher, so cramped that he could not stand.
Sanctus, a deacon from Vienne stood firm in his faith, even after red hot plates were fastened to the most tender parts of his body. He was “an example for the others, showing that nothing is fearful where the love of the Father is, and nothing is painful where there is the glory of Christ.”1
After enduring torture, some of the Christians were taken to the amphitheater to “entertain” the crowd. Among the group was the 15 year old slave girl Blandina, who had already endured every imaginable torture and cruelty.
Blandina was suspended on a stake and exposed to the wild beasts. Because she appeared to be hanging on a cross and because of her intense prayers, she inspired the other Christians. When they looked at her, they were reminded of Christ who was crucified for them and that everyone who suffered for the glory of Christ would enjoy eternal fellowship with the living God. Miraculously, none of the beasts touched Blandina at the time, and she was taken down from the stake and cast into prison.
On the last day of the contests in the amphitheater, Blandina was again brought in with Ponticus, another boy of about 15. Every day they had been brought to witness the sufferings of others and pressed to deny their faith and swear by idols. Ponticus died first, and Blandina remained the last. She had encouraged many others and saw them go on before her to Jesus. She faced her death rejoicing “as if being called to a marriage feast” rather than wild beasts. The report stated: After the scourging, after the wild beasts, after the roasting seat, she was finally enclosed in a net, and thrown before a bull. And having been tossed about by the animal, but feeling none of the things which were happening to her, on account of her hope and firm hold upon what had been entrusted to her, and her communion with Christ, she also was sacrificed.
What an encouragement at that time and what an encouragement now. After more than 50 years since I gave my life to Christ this story inspires and challenges me. Blandina claimed her 100 Fold blessing.
It is a strange new world and even today Christians are being killed for their faith in agonizing numbers. In fact, more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, according to David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson. And the trend has not slowed in this century.
It leaves me to wonder – at what cost do we follow this King of kings?
Visit 100 Fold Ministries again in a couple of weeks to remember the great men and women of the faith and to reflect with me in this ‘backyard conversation’ about the cost of discipleship and the merits of the 100 Fold confession. I am Dave Scherrer, and these are Backyard Conversations!
1 The Martyrs of Lyons, in The Oxford Dictionary of Saints
Thanks for Christianity.com for their reference found at:
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/blandina-a-faithful-witness11629606.html
We tend to think of the disciples who each, save John, were all martyred for their faith. But some very faithful young women faced death with great courage, and we ought not forget them!
Ever heard of Blandina? She was famous in France in the mid second century. She inspired artwork and poetry and stained glass.
Pretty, isn’t she? She was only 15 when Romans had her executed for her faith. People were astonished at the slave girl’s victorious cry even in the midst of her pain and suffering: “I am a Christian and there is nothing vile done by us.” Even though the crowd detested these Christians, they had to admit that never had a woman endured so many and so terrible tortures.
It was the year 177 in Lyons, Gaul (modern France). Christianity had first come to Lyons over 25 years earlier when Polycarp of Smyrna (you can read about him in our previous blog) had sent Pothinus as a missionary to Gaul. Pothinus had diligently established churches in Lyons and nearby Viennes (now Vienna, Austria). As the churches grew, spiritual resistance began to mount, and persecution against the Christians began. Christians were shut out of businesses and houses. They endured all kinds of shame and personal injuries. Mobs formed to beat, stone and rob the Christians. Believers who were arrested and examined by the city authorities, were imprisoned to await the arrival of the governor to the region.
Some of the non-believing servants of the Christians were also seized. These servants feared being tortured and devised all sorts of false accusations against the Christians–such as that they practiced cannibalism, incest, and other shameful practices. Such accusations enraged the mob even more.
August 1 was a holiday to celebrate the greatness of Rome and the emperor. Governors were expected to show their patriotism by sponsoring entertainment for the whole city. It was expensive to hire gladiators, boxers and wrestlers. It would be a lot cheaper to torture these Christians as part of the holiday entertainment!
The Christians were confined in the darkest and most awful part of the prison; many of them suffocated there. Some were placed in stocks; others were placed in a hot-iron seat where their flesh was burned, chained onto a grate over burning coals. An example of this barbaric torture instrument can still be seen today at the archeological museum in Lyons.
It seemed impossible that any could live, having been tortured so cruelly, yet many were strengthened by the Lord, and exhorted and encouraged each other in the faith. Pothinus, the 92-year-old bishop of Lyons, died in his prison cell two days after his torture (that cell, too, can still be visited today in Lyon). It is about the size of a typical dishwasher, so cramped that he could not stand.
Sanctus, a deacon from Vienne stood firm in his faith, even after red hot plates were fastened to the most tender parts of his body. He was “an example for the others, showing that nothing is fearful where the love of the Father is, and nothing is painful where there is the glory of Christ.”1
After enduring torture, some of the Christians were taken to the amphitheater to “entertain” the crowd. Among the group was the 15 year old slave girl Blandina, who had already endured every imaginable torture and cruelty.
Blandina was suspended on a stake and exposed to the wild beasts. Because she appeared to be hanging on a cross and because of her intense prayers, she inspired the other Christians. When they looked at her, they were reminded of Christ who was crucified for them and that everyone who suffered for the glory of Christ would enjoy eternal fellowship with the living God. Miraculously, none of the beasts touched Blandina at the time, and she was taken down from the stake and cast into prison.
On the last day of the contests in the amphitheater, Blandina was again brought in with Ponticus, another boy of about 15. Every day they had been brought to witness the sufferings of others and pressed to deny their faith and swear by idols. Ponticus died first, and Blandina remained the last. She had encouraged many others and saw them go on before her to Jesus. She faced her death rejoicing “as if being called to a marriage feast” rather than wild beasts. The report stated: After the scourging, after the wild beasts, after the roasting seat, she was finally enclosed in a net, and thrown before a bull. And having been tossed about by the animal, but feeling none of the things which were happening to her, on account of her hope and firm hold upon what had been entrusted to her, and her communion with Christ, she also was sacrificed.
What an encouragement at that time and what an encouragement now. After more than 50 years since I gave my life to Christ this story inspires and challenges me. Blandina claimed her 100 Fold blessing.
It is a strange new world and even today Christians are being killed for their faith in agonizing numbers. In fact, more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, according to David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson. And the trend has not slowed in this century.
It leaves me to wonder – at what cost do we follow this King of kings?
Visit 100 Fold Ministries again in a couple of weeks to remember the great men and women of the faith and to reflect with me in this ‘backyard conversation’ about the cost of discipleship and the merits of the 100 Fold confession. I am Dave Scherrer, and these are Backyard Conversations!
1 The Martyrs of Lyons, in The Oxford Dictionary of Saints
Thanks for Christianity.com for their reference found at:
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/blandina-a-faithful-witness11629606.html