The Martyrs of Lyon

Lyon is in modern-day France. As a part of Gaul in 177, Lyon was the site of a vicious persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. As is typical of Christian persecution under Rome, the problems in Lyon started with floods and fire. Someone needed to be responsible and the Christians were blamed. As they did not sacrifice to the pagan gods, it must be their fault that calamity was befalling Lyon.

James Kiefer wrote of this persecution,

At first, Christians were excluded from the public baths, the market place, and from social and public life. They were subject to attack when they appeared in public, and many Christian homes were vandalized.

At this point the government became involved, and began to take Christians into custody for questioning. Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to obtain confessions, and were induced to say that Christians practiced cannibalism and incest. These charges were used to arouse the whole city against the Christians, particularly against Pothinus, the aged bishop of Lyons; Sanctus, a deacon; Attalus; Maturus, a recent convert; and Blandina, a slave.

Pothinus was beaten and then released, to die of his wounds a few days later. Sanctus was tormented with red-hot irons.

The charge of cannabalism was common as somone might overhear something about eating "the Body of Christ" and make cannabilistic assumptions rather than sacramental ones. Yet, the Martyrs of Lyon suffered death willingly rather than deny their faith. Early church historian Eusebius (c. 260-341) wrote that Blandina,

so frail in body ... was filled with such strength that the torturers, who followed one another in relays and tormented her from morning to night with every kind of torture, acknowledged that they were beaten and had nothing more that they could do to her, ... and were amazed to see her still breathing while her body was torn and laid open."

In the midst of the torture she declared, "I am a Christian, and we commit no wrongdoing." She died by being gored by a wild bull placed in the ring with her. The Roman Empire persecuted Christianity sporadically and occasionally quite systematically from the decades after Jesus' death and resurrection until 313.

The prayer for June 2 in the book Lesser Feasts and Fasts is

Grant, O Lord, that we who keep the feast of the holy martyrs Blandina and her companions may be rooted and grounded in love of you, and may endure the sufferings of this life for the glory that shall be revealed in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.