Saint POTHIN de LYON, évêque, sainte BLANDINE, vierge, et leurs compagnons, martyrs

Saint Pothin, évêque et Sainte Blandine, vierge, et leurs compagnons, martyrs.

Le récit du martyre de Saint Pothin, évêque de Lyon et de ses quarante-sept compagnons (dont vingt-deux femmes) nous est parvenu par la Lettre des Eglises de Lyon et de Vienne aux Eglises d'Asie et de Phrygie, lettre relevée par Eusèbe de Césarée dans son Histoire ecclésiastique. Les martyrs de Lyon rendirent leur témoignage au Christ au cours de la persécution déclenchée sous Antonius Verus en 177. Pothin, plus que nonagénaire, subit d'abord l'interrogatoire du président du Tribunal, puis il fut l'objet de toutes sortes de mauvais traitements, et enfin on le jeta en prison où, au bout de deux jours, il mourut. Parmi ses compagnons, il faut noter surtout le néophyte Maturus, le diacre de Vienne Sanctus, la servante Blandine et Attale. Alors qu'ils avaient déjà été exposés à de nombreux supplices, on leur adjoignit le médecin Alexandre, de nationalité phrygienne, et l'adolescent Ponticus. Tous confessèrent jusqu'à la mort la foi au Christ, quant à Blandine, « faible et petite », elle avait « revêtu le Christ » et entra dans l'amphithéâtre « pleine de joie et d'allégresse, comme si elle était invitée à un festin de noces. ».

SOURCE : http://www.paroisse-saint-aygulf.fr/index.php/prieres-et-liturgie/saints-par-mois/icalrepeat.detail/2015/06/02/211/-/saint-pothin-eveque-et-sainte-blandine-vierge-et-leurs-compagnons-martyrs

Vitrail de St-Pothin par Bégule (Eglise St-Pothin de Lyon)

Stained glass window depicting Pothinus. Église Saint-Pothin, Lyon.

Saints Blandine et Pothin

et leurs 46 compagnons, martyrs à Lyon (+ 177)

"La violence de la persécution a été telle, la fureur des païens contre les saints et les souffrances endurées par les bienheureux martyrs ont été si véhémentes que nous ne saurions les décrire complètement." Ainsi commence la lettre que les Églises de Lyon et de Vienne adressèrent aux Églises d'Asie Mineure au lendemain de la persécution déclenchée par l'empereur Marc-Aurèle. Nombre de chrétiens de Lyon et de Vienne sont mis en prison. Parmi eux, l'évêque de Lyon saint Pothin, le jeune Vettius qui voulait prendre la défense de ses frères, le diacre de Vienne, Sanctus, le nouveau baptisé Maturus, la petite esclave Blandine et le tout jeune Ponticus. On les livre à la haine de la population, on les torture pour les forcer à renier leur foi. Quelques-uns abjurent; la plupart confessent leur foi au milieu des supplices. Beaucoup succombent dans la prison. Les survivants sont jetés aux fauves. C'est alors que - coup de théâtre - ceux qui avaient abjuré sont comme enfantés à nouveau à la foi par la mort de leurs frères. Ils rejettent leur abjuration, confessent à nouveau leur foi et partagent le martyre des premiers. Le martyre de Blandine frappa tous ceux qui le virent. "Après les fouets, les bêtes, le gril, elle fut mise dans un filet et livrée à un taureau. Plusieurs fois projetée en l'air par l'animal, elle n'avait plus le sentiment de ce qui se passait tant elle était prise par son espérance et son entretien avec le Christ... Les corps des martyrs furent exposés aux injures de l'air pendant plusieurs jours. Ensuite on les brûla. Les cendres furent balayées jusqu'au Rhône." La lettre qui relate ces événements fut peut-être rédigée par saint Irénée, successeur de saint Pothin.

Voir sur le site du musée du diocèse de Lyon:

Disciple de Polycarpe, Pothin arrive de Smyrne en Asie Mineure vers 140. Il est le premier évêque de Lyon. En 177 il fut amené au tribunal, roué de coups et jeté en prison, où il mourut rapidement.

"Pothin, venu d'Orient à Lyon vers 122, fut le premier évêque de cette ville. Plus que nonagénaire, il fut martyrisé en 177 avec un groupe de chrétiens - nous connaissons 43 noms - dont les plus célèbres sont le diacre Sanctus, le néophyte Maturus, Attale, une des plus fermes colonnes de l'Église lyonnaise, l'esclave Blandine, et le jeune Pontique âgé de 15 ans. Une précieuse lettre des Églises de Lyon et de Vienne aux chrétiens d'Asie nous rapporte leurs supplices. Leurs corps furent enfin brûlés et les cendres jetées dans le Rhône.

Leur témoignage est le fondement de la foi de notre Église." (diocèse de Valence)

À Lyon, les saints martyrs Pothin, évêque, et Blandine, avec quarante-six compagnons: les saints Zacharie, prêtre, Vettius Epagathus, Macaire, Alcibiade, Silvius, Primus, Ulpius, Vital, Comminus, Octobre, Philomène, Geminus, Julie, Albine, Grata, Émilie, Potamia, Pompée, Rodana, Biblis, Quarta, Materna, Helpis, Sanctus diacre, Maturus néophyte, Attale de Pergame, Alexandre de Phrygie, Pontique, Istus, Aristée, Corneille, Zozime, Tite, Jules, Zotique, Apollonius, Géminien, une autre Julie, Ausone, une autre Émilie, Jamnique, un autre Pompée, Domna, Juste, Trophime, Antonie, dont une lettre de l'Église de Lyon aux Églises d'Asie et de Phrygie rapporte les combats courageux et répétés, au temps de l'empereur Marc Aurèle, en 177. Parmi eux l'évêque saint Pothin, âgé de quatre-vingt-dix ans, fut conduit en prison et rendit l'âme peu après. D'autres moururent également en prison. D'autres furent placés au milieu de l'amphithéâtre devant une multitude de milliers d'hommes rassemblés pour le spectacle: ceux qui furent trouvés citoyens romains furent décapités; tous les autres furent livrés aux bêtes. En dernier lieu, Blandine, soumise à des combats répétés et des plus violents, enfin égorgée d'un coup d'épée, suivit tous les autres, qu'elle avait exhortés à recevoir la palme.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1259/Saints-Blandine-et-Pothin.html

Jan Luyken (1649-1712), Martyr Maturus, Sanctus, Blandina, & a youth from Pontus, most miserably tormented, on the River Rhone, about the year 172, The Martyrs Mirror, 1660

Saints Pothin, Sainte Blandine et leurs compagnons

Martyrs - (+ 177)

Saint Pothin fut le premier évêque de Lyon. Il venait de l’Asie, avait été formé à l’école de saint Polycarpe, évêque de Smyrne, et envoyé par lui dans les Gaules.

Pothin, après avoir gagné un grand nombre d’âmes à Jésus-Christ, fut arrêté sous le règne de Marc-Aurèle. Il était âgé de quatre-vingt-dix ans, faible et tout infirme ; son zèle et le désir du martyre soutenaient ses forces et son courage. Conduit au tribunal au milieu des injures de la populace païenne, il fut interrogé par le gouverneur, qui lui demanda quel était le Dieu des chrétiens : "Vous le connaîtrez si vous en êtes digne," répondit l’évêque. A ces mots, la multitude furieuse se précipite contre lui ; ceux qui étaient plus près le frappèrent à coups de pieds et à coups de poings, sans aucun respect pour son âge. Le vieillard conservait à peine un souffle de vie quand il fut jeté en prison, où il expira peu après.

Le récit du martyre des compagnons de saint Pothin est une des plus belles pages de l’histoire de l’Église des premiers siècles. Le diacre Sanctus supporta sans faiblir toutes les tortures, au point que son corps était devenu un amas informe d’os et de membres broyés et de chairs calcinées ; au bout de quelques jours, miraculeusement guéri, il se trouva fort pour de nouveaux supplices. Il ne voulait dire à ses bourreaux ni son nom, ni sa patrie, ni sa condition ; à toutes les interrogations il répondait : "Je suis chrétien !" Ce titre était tout pour lui ; livré enfin aux bêtes, il fut égorgé dans l’amphithéâtre.

Maturus eut à endurer les mêmes supplices que le saint diacre ; il subit les verges, la chaise de fer rougie au feu, et fut enfin dévoré par les bêtes féroces.

Le médecin Alexandre, qui, dans la foule des spectateurs, soutenait du geste le courage des martyrs, fut saisi et livré aux supplices.

Attale, pendant qu’on le grillait sur une chaise de fer, vengeait les chrétiens des odieuses imputations dont on les chargeait indignement : "Ce ne sont pas, disait-il, les chrétiens qui mangent les hommes, c’est vous ; quand à nous, nous évitons tout ce qui est mal." On lui demanda comment S’appelait Dieu : "Dieu, dit-il, n’a pas de nom comme nous autres mortels."

Il restait encore le jeune Ponticus, âgé de quinze ans, et l’esclave Blandine, qui avaient été témoins de la mort cruelle de leurs frères ; Ponticus alla le premier rejoindre les martyrs qui l’avaient devancé ; Blandine, rayonnante de joie, fut torturée avec une cruauté particulière, puis livrée à un taureau, qui la lança plusieurs fois dans les airs ; enfin elle eut la tête tranchée.

SOURCE : http://viechretienne.catholique.org/saints/1656-saints-pothin-sainte-blandine-et-leurs

Arrivée de saint Pothin à Lyon, mosaïque de Charles Lameire, basilique N.-D. de Fourvière.

Saint Pothin, vêtu d'une tunique blanche, débarque à Lyon. A gauche, appuyé sur la balustrade d'or, saint Polycarpe le désigne de la main. A sa gauche, saint Jean descend du ciel, porté par les serres de son aigle. A droite les principaux évêques successeurs de saint Pothin : saint Irénée (177), saint Eucher (vers 435), saint Patient (468), saint Sacerdos (542), saint Nizier (550), Leidrade (768), saint Jubin (1077) et , pour les temps modernes, Mgr de Marquemont (1612), Mgr de Neuville (1654), le cardinal Fresch (1802), le cardinal de Bonald (1840), Mgr Ginoulhiac (1870), lea cardinaux Caverot (1876) et Foulon (1886). Enfin, au premier plan et hors de la balustrade, le cardinal Coullié présente la basilique de Fourvière qu'il a consacré le 16 juin 1896. Sur la gauche des marches blanches descendues par le saint on peut lire LUGD(unum) CIVITAS, ville de Lyon.

SAINT POTHIN et ses COMPAGNONS

Martyrs

(177)

Saint Pothin fut le premier évêque de Lyon. Il venait de l'Asie, avait été formé à l'école de saint Polycarpe, évêque de Smyrne, et envoyé par lui dans les Gaules.

Pothin, après avoir gagné un grand nombre d'âmes à Jésus-Christ, fut arrêté sous le règne de Marc-Aurèle. Il était âgé de quatre-vingt-dix ans, faible et tout infirme; son zèle et le désir du martyre soutenaient ses forces et son courage. Conduit au tribunal au milieu des injures de la populace païenne, il fut interrogé par le gouverneur, qui lui demanda quel était le Dieu des chrétiens: "Vous le connaîtrez si vous en êtes digne," répondit l'évêque. A ces mots, la multitude furieuse se précipite contre lui; ceux qui étaient plus près le frappèrent à coups de pieds et à coups de poings, sans aucun respect pour son âge. Le vieillard conservait à peine un souffle de vie quand il fut jeté en prison, où il expira peu après.

Le récit du martyre des compagnons de saint Pothin est une des plus belles pages de l'histoire de l'Église des premiers siècles. Le diacre Sanctus supporta sans faiblir toutes les tortures, au point que son corps était devenu un amas informe d'os et de membres broyés et de chairs calcinées; au bout de quelques jours, miraculeusement guéri, il se trouva fort pour de nouveaux supplices. Il ne voulait dire à ses bourreaux ni son nom, ni sa patrie, ni sa condition; à toutes les interrogations il répondait: "Je suis chrétien!" Ce titre était tout pour lui; livré enfin aux bêtes, il fut égorgé dans l'amphithéâtre.

Maturus eut à endurer les mêmes supplices que le saint diacre; il subit les verges, la chaise de fer rougie au feu, et fut enfin dévoré par les bêtes féroces.

Le médecin Alexandre, qui, dans la foule des spectateurs, soutenait du geste le courage des martyrs, fut saisi et livré aux supplices.

Attale, pendant qu'on le grillait sur une chaise de fer, vengeait les chrétiens des odieuses imputations dont on les chargeait indignement: "Ce ne sont pas, disait-il, les chrétiens qui mangent les hommes, c'est vous; quand à nous, nous évitons tout ce qui est mal." On lui demanda comment S'appelait Dieu: "Dieu, dit-il, n'a pas de nom comme nous autres mortels."

Il restait encore le jeune Ponticus, âgé de quinze ans, et l'esclave Blandine, qui avaient été témoins de la mort cruelle de leurs frères; Ponticus alla le premier rejoindre les martyrs qui l'avaient devancé; Blandine, rayonnante de joie, fut torturée avec une cruauté particulière, puis livrée à un taureau, qui la lança plusieurs fois dans les airs; enfin elle eut la tête tranchée.

Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950.

SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_pothin_et_ses_compagnons.html

Vitrail de Sainte Blandine par Bégule, église Saint-Pothin de Lyon

Biblis, la sainte apostate et martyre de la foi

Sainte Blandine (IIe siècle) a été condamnée à mort sous le règne de l'empereur Marc Aurèle. Mais cette mise à mort ne s'est pas déroulée comme prévu, le grill ne l'a pas brûlée, le lion n'a l'a pas mangée. Et c'est entre les cornes d'un taureau qu'elle a trouvé la mort.

Anne Bernet - Publié le 01/06/21

Au nombre des martyrs de Lyon, fêtés avec Blandine le 2 juin, se trouve aussi la fragile Biblis qui céda sous le fouet, mais se reprit sous la torture, soutenue par la prière de ses compagnons.

Pâques approchait, la cent soixante-dix septième depuis la mort et la résurrection du Seigneur. La communauté chrétienne de Lyon, que l’on appelle alors Lugdunum, compte la passer dans la joie et l’allégresse mais, cette année-là, il n’en sera pas ainsi. Nœud essentiel au commerce entre le nord de l’Empire romain et le bassin méditerranéen, Lugdunum compte une importante communauté de marchands orientaux. Ce sont eux qui, quelques décennies plus tôt, ont introduit le christianisme dans la ville. Depuis, il se sont largement développé et les conversions ont été nombreuses parmi les Gaulois. 

Les accusations les plus folles

Longtemps, ces gens n’ont dérangé personne mais, en ce printemps, pour eux, l’horizon s’obscurcit. Désastres militaires, menaces d’invasion, pestes, famines, crise économique, crise démographique : l’empire que Marc Aurèle, malade et désabusé, tente de maintenir, craque de toutes parts et, puisqu’il faut bien un responsable à ces malheurs, les chrétiens fournissent aux autorités un bouc émissaire idéal. Depuis une quinzaine d’années, ceux de Rome sont pourchassés, dénoncés, traduits devant les tribunaux et, s’ils refusent d’abjurer, envoyés à la mort. « L’empereur philosophe », qui reproche aux fidèles du Christ ce qu’il nomme « une pure obstination » destinée à le contrarier trouve cela très bien ; pourtant sa réputation de bonté et de sensibilité n’est pas usurpée. Reste que les chrétiens n’en bénéficient pas… Tant s’en faut !

Lire aussi :La cathédrale de Lyon, berceau du christianisme en Gaule

La situation ne s’améliorant pas, la persécution, d’abord sporadique et localisée, tend à s’étendre. Pour la première fois, la Gaule est concernée. Encore faut-il un prétexte à s’en prendre à la communauté lyonnaise. Les prêtres de la déesse orientale Cybèle le fournirent. Ils se plaignirent aux autorités que la fête de Pâques, qui tombe cette année-là en même temps que celle de la « Grande Mère », perturbe leurs célébrations. Sur ce, l’honorable corporation des bouchers charcutiers lyonnais s’avise qu’elle aussi a des raisons de se plaindre des chrétiens : ils ne se fournissent pas en viande chez eux. Non qu’ils soient végétariens mais parce que les boucheries s’approvisionnant auprès des temples, les chrétiens refusent de manger des bêtes sacrifiées aux idoles, donc aux démons… Les dénonciations commencent à pleuvoir, et les accusations les plus folles : les chrétiens mangent en réalité de la chair humaine, celle de petits enfants tués lors de banquets sacrilèges, lesquels se terminent en accouplements incestueux entre « frères et sœurs ». Cela suffit à provoquer des violences « spontanées ». Des chrétiens, ou supposés tels, sont pris à partie quand ils se rendent au forum, faire leurs courses, se promener. Les coups succèdent vite aux insultes, puis les lynchages. On signale les demeures chrétiennes, on les pille, on en assomme les habitants.

Violation du droit

Pour mettre un terme à ces émeutes, le légat juge bon d’arrêter les fauteurs de trouble, c’est-à-dire, non les émeutiers mais leurs victimes. Fin avril, une quarantaine de fidèles, hommes et femmes, jeunes et vieux, de naissance libre ou esclaves, Gaulois ou Orientaux, citoyens romains ou pérégrins, clercs et laïcs se retrouvent dans les prisons de la ville. Parmi eux, l’évêque Potheinos, saint Pothin, vieillard de 90 ans, en sa jeunesse disciple de l’apôtre Jean à Éphèse. Sommés de dire s’ils croient au Crucifié, tous ces gens confessent leur foi, y compris les deux esclaves du groupe, une frêle jeune fille prénommée Blandine et un adolescent de quinze ans, Ponticus. Normalement, ces aveux dispensent d’être soumis à la torture, procédure destinée à faire avouer les crimes prétendus. Ce n’est pas le cas. Sans aucun motif juridique, tous ces gens sont confiés aux bourreaux. Un jeune aristocrate gallo-romain, avocat de profession, et chrétien, Vettius Epagathus, ayant osé dénoncer cette scandaleuse violation du droit et prendre la défense de ses coreligionnaires, est immédiatement arrêté et décapité sur les marches du tribunal, sans autre forme du procès…

Elle dit tout et n’importe quoi

Cette invraisemblable procédure d’exception fait comprendre à ces pauvres gens le sérieux de leur affaire et qu’ils risquent de mourir dans l’arène et, quand, un à un, on les soumet à la question, c’en est trop pour certains. Si la majorité, à l’instar d’un jeune diacre originaire de Vienne, de l’autre côté du Rhône, Sanctus, demeurent fermes, une dizaine craque et renie le Christ.

Parmi eux l’épouse d’un commerçant oriental, Biblis, ou Bibliade. Soumise à la flagellation avec le fouet réglementaire, aux lanières hérissées de billes de plomb, de crocs ou d’osselets, de manière à déchirer impitoyablement les chairs, Biblis flanche et hurle qu’elle n’est pas chrétienne. Terrifiée, elle se met à parler d’abondance, prête à tout pour qu’on arrête de la frapper et qu’on la laisse rentrer chez elle. Elle dit tout et n’importe quoi. On lui demande si les chrétiens se livrent à des orgies, dévorent des nouveau-nés. En sanglotant, elle dit oui, chance inespérée pour des magistrats qui n’obtiennent jamais pareils aveux de prévenus chrétiens. Sans le comprendre, Biblis vient de perdre le profit de son apostasie. L’on a maintenant trop besoin d’elle afin de confondre ses « complices » pour la relâcher. Elle est reconduite en prison avec les autres. Choc terrible : victime d’un marchand de dupes où ses compagnons reconnaissent la griffe du diable, elle a perdu pour rien la vie éternelle. Elle le comprend. Aux douleurs du fouet endurées s’ajoute l’angoisse de la damnation.

La mort de Pothin

Ces prisons de Lugdunum sont un endroit horrible. Dans ces geôles souterraines, profondes, l’on étouffe littéralement, par manque d’air. Le jour n’y entre jamais, l’odeur est insoutenable, les prévenus ont les chevilles prises dans les ceps, lourdes pièces de bois qui empêchent tout mouvement et interdisent de s’allonger ; enfin, et, pour les confesseurs, ce dernier détail est le pire, hommes et femmes sont enfermés ensemble, attentant à leur pudeur. On compte aussi là-dessus pour les amener à abjurer. Les prisonniers restent là, enchaînés. Les bourreaux, que leur résistance exaspère, font subir à Sanctus le supplice du fer rouge, lui infligeant d’horribles brûlures. Il les offre pour le salut des dix apostats et d’abord de Biblis, que le groupe plaint particulièrement. Abasourdie, muette, la malheureuse reste prostrée dans son coin. 

Lire aussi :Sainte Blandine et saint Pothin, martyrs de Lyon : une histoire encore d’actualité

Cette captivité dura plus de deux mois. Dix-huit prisonniers n’y survivent pas et meurent dans les cachots. L’évêque Pothin, nonagénaire, est le premier à périr. On est le 2 juin et cette date reste celle de la fête des martyrs, alors même que les derniers du groupe, et la plus célèbre d’entre eux, Blandine, survivent jusqu’au 1er août. Les places libérées par les morts ne restent pas longtemps inoccupées. Les rafles continuent à Lugdunum et Vienne, amenant de nouveaux captifs. On les torture à leur tour, pour leur faire avouer les crimes improbables qu’a dénoncés Biblis mais eux ne reconnaissent rien de tout cela.

Sous les yeux médusés des bourreaux

En désespoir de cause, le légat, qui s’est cru tout proche d’un exploit inédit : faire avouer leurs abominations aux chrétiens, décide d’imposer une seconde séance de tortures aux prévenus. L’on commence par Sanctus. Ses brûlures infectées sont si graves, il souffre tant que l’on peut espérer le voir s’effondrer. Il n’en est rien. Entre deux gémissements, il se borne à répéter : « Je suis chrétien. » On n’en tire pas davantage, pas même son nom et son lieu de naissance. Alors, advint un événement incroyable. À l’odeur pestilentielle qui monte des plaies du martyr succède un parfum merveilleux et l’impossible se produit. Chaque coup infligé au supplicié, au lieu d’ajouter à ses tourments, lui devient un remède et, sous les yeux médusés des bourreaux, des juges et du public, ses blessures cicatrisent miraculeusement ; Sanctus sort de la séance de torture intégralement guéri… 

Comme il faut d’urgence faire oublier l’incident, ordre est donné d’amener Biblis, le maillon le plus faible du groupe. Le légat ne doute pas qu’elle réitère ses premiers aveux sitôt aura-t-elle vu le fouet. Il se trompe. Comme l’écrit l’auteur de la Lettre des Églises de Lyon et de Vienne à leurs frères d’Asie et de Phrygie, auteur que la Tradition identifie au successeur de Pothin, saint Irénée : 

Biblis était de ceux qui avaient renié. Le diable paraissait l’avoir déjà engloutie. Mais il chercha à la perdre encore davantage en l’amenant à blasphémer. Il la conduisit à la torture afin de la forcer à dire des impiétés à notre sujet. Il est vrai qu’elle s’était montrée faible et sans courage mais sous la torture, elle sortit de son enivrement. La douleur passagère la fit souvenir des douleurs éternelles de la Géhenne. Aussi répliqua-t-elle aux calomniateurs en disant : “Mais comment ces gens-là pourraient-ils manger des petits enfants alors qu’ils n’ont même pas le droit de manger le sang des animaux dénués de raison ?” À compter de cet instant, elle s’affirma de nouveau chrétienne et tint ferme. Aussi fut-elle mise au rang des martyrs. 

Ils ne veulent pas se désolidariser

À bout de nerfs, incapable de faire plier les chrétiens, car tous les apostats, un à un, se reprenant, confessent de nouveau le Christ, le légat se décide à les livrer à la mort. Esclaves, Blandine et Ponticus sont condamnés aux bêtes. Par esprit de vengeance, parce qu’ils lui ont tenu tête, le magistrat leur adjoint le diacre Sanctus, l’encombrant miraculé, et un riche marchand oriental, Attale.  Pour les autres, un dilemme se pose : on ne peut livrer aux fauves des citoyens romains ou leurs épouses, qui ont le droit d’être décapités, sans souffrances inutiles. Or, contre tout bon sens, aucun des condamnés n’accepte de revendiquer cette précieuse citoyenneté, qui leur accorde une fin moins pénible. Ils ne veulent pas se désolidariser de leurs frères et sœurs esclaves ou pérégrins. Faute de les fléchir, le légat, brusquement devenu légaliste, préfère s’éviter des plaintes à Rome et condamne tous les autres chrétiens de Vienne et de Lyon au glaive.

Ainsi périt sainte Biblis, sauvée par les mérites de ses amis et de la communion des saints. Ce devait être le 23 ou le 24 juin, aux célébrations du solstice d’été.

Lire aussi :Pourquoi est-il bon de parler des saints martyrs aux enfants ?

SOURCE : https://fr.aleteia.org/2021/06/01/biblis-la-sainte-apostate-et-martyre-de-la-foi/?utm_campaign=Web_Notifications&utm_medium=notifications&utm_source=onesignal

Vettius Æpagathus, le saint patron oublié des avocats

Anne Bernet - publié le 01/06/24

C’est saint Irénée lui-même qui raconte l’histoire de Vettius Æpagathus, jeune avocat qui osa prendre la défense des chrétiens de Lyon. Puni pour avoir fait son travail, il fut décapité, une exécution inédite dans l’histoire juridique de Rome… Il est fêté le 2 juin, comme Blandine, Pothin et leurs 46 compagnons, martyrs en l’an 177.

Quand il s’agit des chrétiens, les autorités romaines, si attachées aux formes légales, deviennent moins pointilleuses et s’affranchissent des procédures normales. La communauté de Lyon, en cette fin de printemps 177, en sait quelque chose… Depuis Pâques, qui a coïncidé malencontreusement avec les fêtes des dévots de Cybèle, provoquant la fureur de ceux-ci, et une rafle massive parmi les fidèles, l’on n’a cessé de violer les lois sur le christianisme. Voici l’histoire de Vettius Æpagathus, jeune avocat qui osa prendre la défense des chrétiens de Lyon.

Depuis Néron, la législation n’a pas varié, se bornant à affirmer : “Il est interdit d’être chrétien.” Condamnant à mort ceux qui pratiquent quand même la foi proscrite, les légistes, conscients de l’aberration d’envoyer des gens au bourreau pour un crime jamais défini et dont on soupçonne même l’inexistence, ont tout de même réussi à lui apporter quelques garde-fous. Idiots d’ailleurs. Ainsi peut-on arrêter les chrétiens dénoncés mais pas les rechercher, ce qui est absurde ; ils ne doivent pas servir de prétexte à émeutes et séditions ; on ne doit pas les interroger en dehors de la présence du représentant de l’empereur, ni traiter de même manière esclaves et hommes libres, citoyens romains et pérégrins. Or, depuis le début de l’instruction contre la communauté lyonnaise, rien de tout cela n’a été respecté, ce qui devrait invalider la procédure et valoir des sanctions aux magistrats mais ce n’est pas le cas car, pour scandaleux que cela soit, les chrétiens ne sont plus des sujets de droit et, s’agissant d’eux, l’on peut tout se permettre.

Un jeune homme se révolte

En ce début juin, alors que le légat impérial fait comparaître une fois de plus les prévenus, y compris ceux qui ont abjuré et que l’on a maintenus malgré tout en prison, imposant à tous une nouvelle séance de torture inutile, un jeune homme se révolte contre cet extravagant déni de droit. Appartenant à la bonne société gallo-romaine, de souche arverne, avocat, marié et père de famille, Vettius Æpagathus est une figure lyonnaise. Bon, serviable, charitable, toujours prêt à aider, plaidant gratuitement pour les pauvres, il est évident qu’il est chrétien mais les préjugés sont tels, les concernant, que l’on n’imagine pas qu’un aristocrate puisse se mêler à cette lie d’Orientaux, d’esclaves. Vettius n’a donc pas été inquiété lorsque ses frères ont été arrêtés. 

L’usage est ancré dans les églises : quand des chrétiens comparaissent et rendent témoignage, leurs coreligionnaires en liberté se doivent d’assister aux audiences, pour les soutenir et conserver trace de leur héroïsme. Cela explique la présence de Vettius. Il a beau n’avoir guère d’illusions sur le traitement réservé aux chrétiens, la procédure indigne le révolte, au point de le pousser à se lever et rappeler qu’en droit, tout accusé est assisté d’un avocat. Ce qu’il se propose de faire. Saint Irénée, probable auteur des actes des martyrs de Lyon, écrit : 

L’un de nos frères, Vettius Æpagathus, possédait la plénitude de l’amour envers Dieu et le prochain, et sa conduite était parfaite […] car il avait marché dans tous les commandements et les préceptes du Seigneur d’une manière irréprochable, toujours prêt à rendre service, ayant un grand zèle de Dieu et bouillonnant de l’Esprit. Étant tel, il ne supporta pas la procédure conduite contre nous et contre toute raison. Il en fut vivement exaspéré et réclama d’être entendu en faveur des frères pour démontrer qu’il n’y avait chez nous ni athéisme ni impiété.

Il se jette dans la gueule du loup

Le magistrat ne pouvant refuser de conseil aux accusés, force lui est de donner la parole à cet avocat connu venu se mêler de ce qui ne le regarde pas, sauf à croire qu’il soit complice de ces chrétiens soupçonnés d’inceste, cannibalisme et, pis que tout, de ne pas adorer les divinités officielles, ce qui leur vaut d’être traités d’athées. Qu’il se jette dans la gueule du loup, Vettius le sait : son intervention ne sauvera pas ses amis. Pourtant, soutenu par sa foi, il prend la parole et plaide, reprenant les arguments traditionnels des apologètes : les chefs d’inculpation sont un tissu d’insanités, les procédures à leur encontre une absurdité ridicule. Se passe alors ce qui ne s’est jamais vu dans aucun prétoire de l’Empire : le légat coupe la parole à la défense et lui interdit de poursuivre ce qui devient une plaidoirie en faveur de la liberté du culte chrétien. Irénée, présent, rapporte : 

Ceux qui entouraient le tribunal criaient contre Vettius, car il était un homme distingué ; quant au légat, il ne supportait pas la juste défense qu’il présentait. Il lui demanda : “Est-ce que toi aussi, tu serais chrétien ?” Ayant alors confessé sa foi d’une voix éclatante, Vettius fut aussitôt mis au rang des martyrs sous ce chef d’accusation : “Celui-là a voulu se faire le défenseur des chrétiens” car en effet, le Paraclet, le Défenseur, l’Esprit saint était en lui ; il le manifesta par la plénitude de son amour en se complaisant à prendre la défense de ses frères au risque de sa propre vie. Il fut ainsi, et demeure pour toujours un authentique disciple du Christ et suit l’Agneau partout où Il va.

Inédit dans l’histoire juridique de Rome

Priver la défense de parole en plein prétoire relève d’un droit d’exception, mais, pour les chrétiens, jusqu’à la fin des persécutions, il n’en existe pas d’autre. Quant à décapiter l’avocat pour le punir d’avoir fait son travail, c’est inédit dans l’histoire juridique de Rome… Ainsi Vettius, mort pour avoir respecté les règles de sa profession et fait passer son devoir et sa foi avant sa propre sauvegarde, mérite-t-il de partager avec le bon saint Yves le patronage des avocats.

Parmi ses descendants figure le saint évêque de Clermont-Ferrand au Ve siècle, Sidoine Apollinaire, qui revendiquera la gloire de posséder un tel aïeul. La famille de Sidoine s’étant continuée jusqu’au XIIe siècle où elle s’éteignit après s’être alliée à plusieurs familles royales, nombre de têtes couronnées et d’aristocrates européens descendent encore aujourd’hui, mais le savent-elles, du jeune martyr lyonnais. 

Lire aussi :Biblis, la sainte apostate et martyre de la foi

Lire aussi :Épipode et Alexandre, martyrisés à cause d’une sandale mal attachée

Lire aussi :La chapelle de la Croix glorieuse, en mémoire du martyre des Lyonnais

SOURCE : https://fr.aleteia.org/2024/06/01/vettius-aepagathus-le-saint-patron-oublie-des-avocats/?utm_campaign=Web_Notifications&utm_medium=notifications&utm_source=onesignal

Sainte Blandine, patronne des servantes et les compagnons de son martyre Date d'édition : 1867

Éditeur : bureau de la bibliothèque catholique (Toulouse)

Sainte Blandine, Saint Pothin et ses compagnons martyrs, le diacre Sanctus, Maturus, le jeune Ponticus, Attale et le médecin Alexandre (†177)

Le martyre de sainte Blandine (en 177 ap.J-C) livrée aux lions, et des autres chrétiens de Lyon et de Vienne, fut décrit par des témoins oculaires qui écrivirent une lettre à l'Eglise de Phrygie et d'Asie. Celle-ci fut retranscrite par Eusèbe (265-340) dans son Histoire ecclésiastique.

Saint Pothin fut le premier évêque de Lyon. Il venait de l'Asie, avait été formé à l'école de saint Polycarpe, évêque de Smyrne, et envoyé par lui dans les Gaules.

Après avoir gagné un grand nombre d'âmes à Jésus-Christ, Pothin fut arrêté à Lyon sous le règne de Marc-Aurèle. Il était âgé de quatre-vingt-dix ans, faible et tout infirme; son zèle et le désir du martyre soutenaient ses forces et son courage. Conduit au tribunal au milieu des injures de la populace païenne, il fut interrogé par le gouverneur, qui lui demanda quel était le Dieu des chrétiens: "Vous le connaîtrez si vous en êtes digne," répondit l'évêque. A ces mots, la multitude furieuse se précipite contre lui; ceux qui étaient plus près le frappèrent à coups de pieds et à coups de poings, sans aucun respect pour son âge. Le vieillard conservait à peine un souffle de vie quand il fut jeté en prison, avec de nombreux chrétiens dont Sainte Blandine. Là, il expira peu après, roué de coups.

Le récit du martyre des compagnons de saint Pothin est une des plus belles pages de l'histoire de l'Église des premiers siècles. Le diacre Sanctus supporta sans faiblir toutes les tortures, au point que son corps était devenu un amas informe d'os et de membres broyés et de chairs calcinées; au bout de quelques jours, miraculeusement guéri, il se trouva fort pour de nouveaux supplices. Il ne voulait dire à ses bourreaux ni son nom, ni sa patrie, ni sa condition; à toutes les interrogations il répondait: "Je suis chrétien!" Ce titre était tout pour lui; livré enfin aux bêtes, il fut égorgé dans l'amphithéâtre.

Maturus eut à endurer les mêmes supplices que le saint diacre; il subit les verges, la chaise de fer rougie au feu, et fut enfin dévoré par les bêtes féroces.

Le médecin Alexandre, qui, dans la foule des spectateurs, soutenait du geste le courage des martyrs, fut saisi et livré aux supplices.

Attale, pendant qu'on le grillait sur une chaise de fer, vengeait les chrétiens des odieuses imputations dont on les chargeait indignement: "Ce ne sont pas, disait-il, les chrétiens qui mangent les hommes, c'est vous; quand à nous, nous évitons tout ce qui est mal." On lui demanda comment S'appelait Dieu: "Dieu, dit-il, n'a pas de nom comme nous autres mortels."

Il restait encore le jeune Ponticus, âgé de quinze ans, et l'esclave Blandine, qui avaient été témoins de la mort cruelle de leurs frères; Ponticus alla le premier rejoindre les martyrs qui l'avaient devancé; Blandine, rayonnante de joie, fut torturée avec une cruauté particulière, puis livrée à un taureau, qui la lança plusieurs fois dans les airs; enfin elle eut la tête tranchée.

Torturée sans relâche, Blandine se contenta de dire à ses bourreaux que les chrétiens ne faisaient aucun mal. Envoyée dans l'arène avec ses compagnons, elle les exhortait à garder leur foi malgré les supplices.

"Blandine,  Sanctus, Maturus et Attale furent conduits à l'amphithéâtre. Blandine fut attachée à un poteau, exposée aux bêtes féroces lâchées dans l'amphithéâtre. Les autres chrétiens, dans leur supplice, l'entendaient prier à haute voix. Il leur semblait voir, en regardant leur sœur, celui qui a été crucifié pour nous. Celui qui souffre pour le Dieu vivant ne fait qu'un avec le Christ. Aucune bête n'attaqua Blandine. A la fin de la journée on égorgea Maturus et Sanctus, qui survivaient à peine à leurs blessures et on remit Blandine en prison.   

Blandine fut finalement mise dans un filet et jeté à un taureau sauvage. Blandine fut bien des fois projetée en l'air par les cornes de l'animal, mais on aurait dit qu'elle ne se rendait compte de rien. Elle ne pensait qu'à Jésus Christ. N'étant toujours pas morte, les romains décidèrent de l'achever à l'épée. Les païens eux-mêmes reconnaissaient que jamais une femme n'avait enduré de telles souffrances.

Le Pape Jean-Paul II lors de son voyage apostolique en 1986 à Lyon déclara : " Ils n'ont pas voulu renier Celui qui leur avait communiqué sa vie et les avait appelés à être ses témoins.

Nous savons qu'ils sont nombreux aujourd'hui encore, et dans toutes les parties du monde, ceux qui subissent les outrages, le bannissement et même la torture à cause de leur fidélité à la Foi chrétienne. En eux le Christ manifeste sa puissance.

Les martyrs d'aujourd'hui et les martyrs d'hier nous environnent et nous soutiennent pour que nous gardions nos regards fixés sur Jésus."

Sources : 1, 2, 3

SOURCE : https://christroi.over-blog.com/article-32144401.html

Saint Photinus of Lyons

Also known as

Pothin

Pothinus

Memorial

2 June

Profile

Bishop of Lyons, France. At age 90 he was one of a group of 48 Christians from the areas of Vienne and Lyon in France, who were attacked by a pagan mob, arrested and tried for their faith, and murdered in the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius. A letter describing their fate, possibly written by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, was sent to the churches in the Middle East.

Died

of general abuse and neglect while in prison in 177 in Lugdunum, Gaul (modern France)

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Saints of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein

Short Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly

books

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

other sites in english

Catholic Online

Catholic Online

Wikipedia

sitios en español

Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición

fonti in italiano

Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition

MLA Citation

“Saint Photinus of Lyons“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 April 2021. Web. 2 June 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-photinus-of-lyons/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-pothinus-martyr/

Jan van Haelbeck  (fl 1600–1630), Ecclesiae Militantis Triumphi - Aestimati sumus sicut..., between 1600 and 1620, engraving, Titled in top margin: "Aestimati svmvs sicvt oves occisionis. Psal.XLIII.".

Lettered and numbered '12' in lower margin, with explanatory key in Latin. Print made by Jan van Haelbeck. Published by Jean Leclerc IV.

Plate 12: Martyrdom scenes with St Blandina enmeshed in a net and being attacked by a bull in foreground, Christians being burned in background, Attalus seated on a chair and on fire in left background, a man tied to a pole and being beaten in right background; letters A-D within composition indicating different scenes. British Museum

Short Lives of the Saints – Saint Pothinus, Martyr

Entry

One of the first churches in Gaul was founded at Lyons in the first century by Saint Pothinus. The body of Christians there began to grow so numerous and fervent that the pagans took alarm, and their jealous priests excited a tumult among the people. Saint Pothinus was then more than ninety years of age, and was almost paralyzed in his limbs through age; but in order to answer the summons of the judges, he suddenly nerved himself to walk to the tribunal. On his way thither, being questioned mockingly by the multitude who surrounded him, the brave old martyr made such firm and heroic manifestation of his faith, that the rabble fell on him and so furiously maltreated him. that he expired in prison two days later. This was in the year 177.

For Thee they slight the threats of foes,
Their furious rage, and deadly blows;
The tearing hook they scorn no less,
Which cannot reach the soul’s recess.
    – Sanctorum Meritis

Favorite Practice – To make efforts to master physical infirmity when the glory of God demands it.

MLA Citation

Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly. “Saint Pothinus, Martyr”. Short Lives of the Saints, 1910. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 April 2021. Web. 2 June 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-pothinus-martyr/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-pothinus-martyr/

Saint Blandine's martyrdom at Lyons, drawn by Jacques Callot  (1592–1635), circa 1636, for a Saints Calendar book.

Photinus (Pothinus) and Companions MM (RM)

Died 177. Photinus, Sanctus (Sanctius), Vetius, Epagathus, Maturus, Ponticus, Biblides, Attalus, Alexander, Blandina (see separate entry), and companions, were martyrs in Lyons, France, which was the center of trade and government for Roman Gaul. The authentic acta of these martyrs was preserved in a letter from the churches in Vienne and Lyons to those of Asia. The author is believed to have been Saint Ireneaus.

At first they were set upon by an angry pagan mob, whose harsh handling of the 90-year-old Bishop Pothinus left him with wounds that caused his death in prison. Pothinus was raised in Greece and instructed in the faith by the successors to the Apostles. He was sent to Gaul to evangelize Lyons and become its first bishop. On his arrival he was warmly welcomed by the Lyonnaise who were of Greek heritage and built a church and underground crypt on the site of the present-day Saint-Nizier Church. For the next 20 years he preached the Gospel to an ever-growing flock.

The persecutions began under Marcus Aurelius with social ostracism. Christians were prevented from purchasing goods in the market, visiting the public baths, or using other public services. The incident in which Photinus was mortally wounded was just one of many in which gangs of bullies insulted and assaulted the Christians as they moved about town.

Once the mob was finished with Photinus and 57 of his followers, they were arrested and taken into the forum where, after a summary questioning, they were ordered to prison. A young Christian named Epagathus openly protested the injustice of the procedure. He asked to be allowed to defend the others from the absurd and slanderous charges of cannibalism and incest brought against them, but he was silenced and arrested. Ten of the Christians apostatized, but the rest remained steadfast.

Two men, Maturus and Sanctus, were roasted to death on an iron chair. Attalus suffered a similar fate. Alexander, a physician who had encouraged the martyrs, was arrested and summarily condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts. All 48 martyrs suffered tortures of equal viciousness. On the last day only the slave girl named Blandina, whose mistress had already been killed, and the young boy Ponticus remained. The boy was tortured first as Blandina urged him to remain steadfast. Then Blandina was tortured and finally enmeshed in a net and tossed by a wild bull until she perished, kept repeating the simple words, "I am a Christian." So great was her faith and firmness in her hope of salvation that she seemed to feel no pain. After she was beheaded by the sword, "the pagans themselves saying that they had never seen a woman show such courage." Not one of the martyrs wavered in the faith.

The bodies of the martyrs were left in the arena for a week and then thrown into the Rhône (Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia).

SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0602.shtml

Sainte Blandine ; Vitraux de Lucien Bégule (1901), Église Saint-Irénée.

Pictorial Lives of the Saints – Saints Pothinus, Bishop, Sanctus, Attalus, Blandina, and the Other Martyrs of Lyons

Article

After the miraculous victory obtained by the prayers of the Christians under Marcus Aurelius, in 174, the Church enjoyed a kind of peace, though it was often disturbed in particular places by popular commotions, or by the superstitious fury of certain governors. This appears from the violent persecution which was raised three years after the aforesaid victory, at Vienne and Lyons, in 177; whilst Saint Pothinus was bishop of Lyons, and Saint Irenseus, who had been sent thither by Saint Polycarp out of Asia, was a priest of that city. Many of the principal Christians were brought before the Roman governor. Among them was a slave, Blandina: and her mistress, also a Christian, feared that Blandina lacked strength to brave the torture. She was tormented a whole day through, but she bore it all with joy till the executioners gave up, confessing themselves outdone. Red-hot plates were held to the sides of Sanctus, a deacon of Vienne, till his body became one great sore, and he looked no longer like a man; but in the midst of his tortures he was ” bedewed and strengthened by the stream of heavenly water which flows from the side of Christ.” Meantime, many confessors were kept in prison, and with them were some who had been terrified into apostasy. Even the heathens marked the joy of martyrdom in the Christians who were decked for their eternal espousals, and the misery of the apostates. But the faithful confessors brought back those who had fallen, and the Church, ” that Virgin Mother,” rejoiced when she saw her children live again in Christ. Some died in prison, the rest were martyred one by one, Saint Blandina last of all, after seeing her younger brother put to a cruel death, and encouraging him to victory.

Reflection – In early times, the Christians were called the children of joy. Let us seek the joy of the Holy Spirit to sweeten suffering, to temper earthly delight, till we enter into the joy of Our Lord.

MLA Citation

John Dawson Gilmary Shea. “Saints Pothinus, Bishop, Sanctus, Attalus, Blandina, and the Other Martyrs of Lyons”. Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 1889. CatholicSaints.Info. 22 May 2014. Web. 2 June 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saints-pothinus-bishop-sanctus-attalus-blandina-and-the-other-martyrs-of-lyons/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saints-pothinus-bishop-sanctus-attalus-blandina-and-the-other-martyrs-of-lyons/

 

Church of Saint-Pothinus in Lyon.

June 2

St. Pothinus, Bishop, Sanctus, Attalus, Blandina, &c., Martyrs of Lyons

From the Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons to their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, extant though imperfect, in Eusebius’s Hist. b. 5, ch. 1, 2, 3, one of the most precious and most moving monuments of the primitive ages, as Jos. Scaliger observes, in his notes on the Chronicle of Eusebius.

A.D. 177.

AFTER the miraculous victory obtained by the prayers of the Christians under Marcus Aurelius, in 174, the church enjoyed a kind of peace, though it was often disturbed in particular places by popular commotions, or by the superstitious fury of certain governors. This appears from the violent persecution which was raised three years after the aforesaid victory, at Vienne and Lyons in Gaul, in 177; whilst St. Pothinus was bishop of Lyons, and St. Irenæus, who had been sent thither by St. Polycarp out of Asia, 1 was a priest of that city. Many of the principal persons of this church were Greeks, and came from Asia; being, doubtless, led by a zealous desire to propagate the kingdom of Christ, and invited by the great intercourse of traffic between the ports of Asia and Marseilles. The progress which the gospel had made, and the eminent sanctity of those who professed it in that country, enraged the devil, and stirred up the malice of the idolaters, who in a transport of sudden fury, resolved to extirpate their very name; not knowing that the church of Christ, planted by his cross, grew more fruitful by the sufferings of its children, as a vine flourishes by being pruned. The conflicts of the glorious martyrs, who on this occasion had the honour to seal their faith with their blood, were recorded by those who were eye-witnesses, and the companions of their sufferings, in a letter written by them on purpose to their old friends and brethren, the Christians of Asia and Phrygia. The piety, eloquence, and animated style of this epistle, seems to leave no doubt but that St. Irenæus was the principal author. 2 According to the remark of a modern historian, 3 the combats of the martyrs are here painted in so lively colours, that their spirit appears as it were living in the dead letter, and their blood spilt for Jesus Christ seems to shine throughout the relation.

It is impossible, say the authors of this letter, for us to give an exact account, nor will it be easy to conceive the extent of our present calamities, the rage of the Pagans against the saints, and the sufferings of the holy martyrs among us. For the adversary directs his whole force against us, and lets us see already what we are to expect when he is let loose, and allowed to attack the church in the end of the world. He makes his assaults boldly, and stirs up his agents against the servants of God. Their animosity runs so high that we are not only driven from private houses, from the baths and public places, but even forbidden to show ourselves at all. But the grace of God, which is an overmatch for all the powers of hell, hath rescued the weak from the danger, and from the temptation of the fiery trial, 4 and exposed such only to the combat as are able by an invincible patience to stand their ground, like so many unshaken pillars of the faith, and dare even invite sufferings, and defy all the malice and strength of the enemy. These champions have fought the powers of darkness with success, borne all manner of infamy, and the most inhuman torments, looked on all their sufferings as nothing, but rushed through them with an intrepidity that spoke them thoroughly persuaded that all the miseries of this life are not fit to be allowed any consideration, when weighed against the glory of the world to come. At first the people attacked them in a tumultuous manner, struck them, dragged them about the streets, threw stones at them, plundered, confined them, fell on them with all the exorbitancies of an incensed mob, when allowed to take their own revenge of their enemies; all which the Christians bore with an inexpressible patience. After this first discharge of their rage they proceeded more regularly. The tribune and the magistrates of the town ordered them to appear in the public place, where they were examined before the populace, made a glorious confession of their faith, and then were sent to prison, where they were to await the arrival of the governor. When that judge came to town, they were carried before him, and used with so much cruelty, that Vettius Epagathus, 5 one of our number, fired with a holy resentment at our treatment, desired to be heard on that subject. He was full of the love of God and his neighbour; a man so exactly virtuous, that though young, the character of old Zacharias might justly be applied to him; for he walked in all the commandments blameless. His heart was inflamed with an ardent zeal for the glory of God; and he was active and indefatigable whenever his neighbour wanted his assistance. This excellent person undertook the defence of the injured brethren; and promised to make it appear, that the Christians were guilty of no impious practices. But the whole crowd, who were too well acquainted with his merit, opposed the motion in a noisy and tumultuous manner; and the governor, determined not to grant him that reasonable request, which impeached him and his associates for injustice, interrupted him, by asking whether he was a Christian? Upon his declaring his faith boldly, he was ranked among the martyrs, with the additional title of The Advocate of the Christians; which, indeed, was justly his due. And now it was easy to distinguish between such as came thither well provided for the trial, and resolved to suffer all extremities, and such as were not prepared for the battle. The former finished their glorious course with the utmost alacrity; while the latter started back at the near view of what was prepared for them upon persevering in the faith, and quitted the field; which was the case of ten persons. Their cowardice and apostacy not only proved an inexpressible affliction to us, but also cooled the zeal of several, who were not yet apprehended, and had employed their liberty in a constant attendance on the martyrs, in spite of all the dangers to which their charity might expose them. We were all now in the utmost consternation, which did not arise from the fear of torments, but the apprehension of losing more of our number in the way. But our late loss was abundantly repaired by fresh supplies of generous martyrs, who were seized every day, till our two churches were deprived of all their eminent men, whom we had been used to look on as the main support of religion among us.

As the governor’s orders for letting none of us escape were very strict, several Pagans in the service of Christians were taken with their masters. These slaves, fearing they should be put to the same torments which they saw the saints endure, at the instigation of the devil and the soldiers, accused us of feeding on human flesh, like Thyestes, engaging in incestuous marriages, like Œdipus, and several other impious extravagances, which the principles of our religion forbid us to mention, or even think of, and which we can hardly persuade ourselves were ever committed by men. These calumnies being divulged, the people were so outrageously incensed against us, that they who till then had retained some sparks of friendship for us, were transported against us with hatred, and foamed with rage. It is impossible to express the severity of what the ministers of Satan inflicted on the holy martyrs on this occasion, to force some blasphemous expression from their mouths. The fury of the governor and soldiers, and the people, fell most heavily upon Sanctus, a native of Vienne, and a deacon: also on Maturus, who, though but lately baptized, was yet bold and strong enough for the combat; on Attalus, a native of Pergamus, but who had ever been the pillar and support of our church: and on Blandina, a slave, in whom Christ has shown us that those whom men look on with contempt, and whose condition places them below the regard of the world, are often raised to the highest honours by Almighty God for their ardent love of him, manifested more by works than words or empty show. She was of so weak a constitution, that we were all alarmed for her, and her mistress, one of the martyrs, was full of apprehensions that she would not have the courage and resolution to make a free and open confession of her faith. But Blandina was so powerfully assisted and strengthened, that she bore all the torments her executioners, who relieved each other, could ply her with from break of day till night; they owned themselves conquered, protested they had no more torments in reserve, and wondered how she could live after what she had endured from their hands; declaring that they were of opinion that any one of the torments inflicted on her would have been sufficient to despatch her, according to the common course of nature, instead of the many violent ones she had undergone. But that blessed person, like a valiant combatant, received fresh strength and vigour from the confession of her faith. The frequent repetition of these words: “I am a Christian; no wickedness is transacted among us:” took off the edge of her pains, and made her appear insensible to all she suffered.

The deacon Sanctus, too, endured most exquisite torments, with more than human patience. The heathens, indeed, hoped these severities would at last force some unbecoming expressions from him; but he bore up against their attacks, with such resolution and strength of mind, that he would not so much as tell them his name, his country, or station in the world; and to every question they put to him, he answered in Latin: “I am a Christian:” nor could they get any other answer from him. The governor, and the persons employed in tormenting the martyr, were highly incensed at this; and, having already tried all other arts of cruelty, they applied hot plates of brass to the tenderest parts of his body: but, supported by the powerful grace of God, he still persisted in the profession of his faith. His body was so covered with wounds and bruises, that the very figure of it was lost. Christ, who suffered in him, made him a glorious instrument for conquering the adversary, and a standing proof to others, that there is no grounds for fear, where the love of the Father dwells; nor is there anything that deserves the name of pain, where the glory of Christ is concerned. Some days after, the martyr was brought on the stage again; for the pagans imagined, that his whole body being so sore and inflamed that he could not bear to be touched, it would now be an easy matter to overcome him by a repetition of the same cruelties; or, at least, that he must expire under their hands, and thus strike a horror into the other Christians. But they succeeded in neither of these views; for, to the amazement of all, his body under the latter torments recovered its former strength and shape, and the exact use of all his limbs was restored: so that by this miracle of the grace of Jesus Christ, what was designed as an additional pain, proved an absolute and effectual cure. The devil thought himself secure of Biblis, one of the unhappy persons who had renounced the faith; and desirous to enhance her guilt and punishment by a false impeachment, caused her to be arraigned, believing it would be no hard matter to bring one so weak and timorous to accuse us of impieties. But the force of the torments had a very different effect upon her; they awakened her, as it were, out of a profound sleep; and those transitory pains turned her thoughts upon the everlasting torments of hell. So that, contrary to what was expected of her, she broke out into the following expostulation: “How can it be imagined that they should feed upon children, whose religion forbids them even to taste the blood of beasts?” 6 From that moment she publicly confessed herself a Christian, and was ranked amongst the martyrs. The most violent torments being thus rendered ineffectual by the patience of the martyrs, and the power of Jesus Christ, the devil had recourse to other devices. They were thrown into a dark and loathsome dungeon, had their feet cramped in wooden stocks, and extended to the fifth, or last hole; and all those severities exercised upon them, which are commonly practised by the enraged ministers of darkness upon their prisoners; so great, that numbers of them died of the hardships they endured there. Others, after having been so inhumanly tortured, that one would have thought all the care imaginable could not have recovered them, lay there destitute of all human succour; but so strongly supported from above, both in mind and body, that they comforted and encouraged the rest: whilst others but lately apprehended, and who had as yet undergone no torments, soon died, unable to bear the loathsomeness of the prison.

Among the persons who suffered for their faith on this occasion was the blessed Pothinus, bishop of Lyons. He was then above ninety years old; and so weak and infirm, that he could hardly breathe. But his ardent desire of laying down his life for Jesus Christ, gave him fresh strength and vigour. He was dragged before the tribunal; for, though his body was worn out with age and infirmity, his life was preserved till that time, that Jesus Christ might triumph in him. He was brought thither by the soldiers and magistrates of the city, the whole multitude hallooing after, and reviling him with as much eagerness and rage as if he had been Christ himself. Being asked by the governor, who was the God of the Christians? Pothinus told him, to prevent his blaspheming, he should know, when he was worthy of that satisfaction. Upon which he was dragged about unmercifully, and inhumanly abused. Those who were near him, kicked and struck him without any regard to his venerable age; and those who were at some distance, pelted him with what first came to hand; imagining the least tenderness or regard for him would have been an enormous crime, when the honour of their gods was so nearly concerned, which they endeavoured to assert by insulting the martyr. He was scarcely alive when he was carried off, and thrown into prison, where he expired after two days’ confinement.

Those who had denied their faith when first taken, were imprisoned too, and shared the same sufferings with the martyrs, for their apostacy at that time did them no service. But then there was this difference between their condition, that those who had generously owned their religion, were confined only as Christians, and no other crime alleged against them; but the perfidious wretches were imprisoned like murderers and criminals, and thus suffered much more than the martyrs, who were comforted with the joyful prospect of laying down their lives in that glorious cause, and supported by the divine promises, the love of Jesus Christ, and the spirit of their heavenly Father; while the apostates were tortured with the remorse of conscience. They were distinguished from the others by their very looks: when the martyrs appeared, it was easy to discover a lovely mixture of cheerfulness and majesty in their faces: their very chains appeared graceful, and seemed more like the ornaments of a bride than the marks of malefactors: and their bodies sent forth such an agreeable and pleasant savour, as gave occasion to think that they used perfumes. But those who had basely deserted the cause of Christ, appeared melancholy, dejected, and completely disagreeable. The very pagans reproached them with faint-heartedness and effeminacy, for renouncing their principle, (the honourable, glorious, and salutary name of Christian,) their former profession whereof had ranked them with murderers, an imputation they, by their apostacy, had justly incurred. This sight had a happy influence on several, strengthened them in their profession, and defeated all the attempts the devil could make on their constancy and courage. After this, great variety of torments was allotted to the martyrs; and thus they offered to the eternal Father a sort of chaplet, or crown, composed of every kind of flowers of different colours; for it was fit that these courageous champions, who gained such glorious victories in so great variety of engagements, should receive the crown of immortality. A day was set when the public was to be entertained at the expense of their lives, and Maturus, Sanctus, Blandina, and Attalus were brought out in order to be thrown to the beasts for the barbarous diversion of the heathens. Maturus and Sanctus being conducted into the amphitheatre, were made to pass through the same torments, as if they had not before felt the force of them, and looked like champions, who had worsted the adversary several times, and were just entering on the last trial of their skill and courage. Again they felt the scourges, and were dragged about by the beasts as before; and in a word, they suffered every torment the incensed multitude were pleased to call for; who all joined at last in requiring they should be put into the red-hot iron chair, which was granted; nor did the noisome smell of their roasted flesh, offensive as it was, any way abate, but seemed rather to enhance their rage. They could extort nothing more from Sanctus than his former confession: and he and Maturus, after a long struggle, had their throats cut; and this their victory was the only entertainment that day.

Blandina was fastened to a post to be devoured by beasts: as her arms were stretched out in the ardour of her prayer, that very posture put the faithful in mind of the sufferings of him who was crucified for their salvation, gave them fresh courage, and assured them that whoever suffers for Jesus Christ, shall partake of the glory of the living God. After she had remained thus exposed for some time, and none of the beasts could be provoked to touch her, she was untied, carried back to prison, and reserved for another combat; in which she was to gain a complete victory over her malicious adversary the devil, (whom she had already foiled and discomfited on several occasions,) and to animate the brethren to the battle by her example. Accordingly, though she was a poor, weak, inconsiderable slave, yet, by putting on Christ, she became an overmatch for all the art and malice of her enemy, and, by a glorious conflict, attained to the crown of immortality.

Attalus was called for next, as a noted person, and the people were very loud in their demands to see him suffer: who, being one that had always borne a glorious character among us for his excellent life and courage in asserting the truth, boldly entered the field of battle. He was led round the amphitheatre, and this inscription in Latin carried before him: “This is Attalus, the Christian.” The whole company was ready to discharge their rage on the martyr, when the governor, understanding he was a Roman citizen, remanded him to prison, and wrote to the emperor to know his pleasure concerning him and the rest of the prisoners. During their reprieve, they gave extraordinary proofs of charity and humility. Notwithstanding such a variety of sufferings for the faith, they would by no means allow us to call them martyrs; and severely reprimanded any of us, who, in writing or speaking, gave them that title; which, according to their humble way of reasoning, was due only to Jesus Christ, the faithful and true martyr, or witness—the first-born of the dead, and the guide to eternal life; or, at most, could only be extended to such as were freed from the prison of the body. These, indeed, said they, may be termed martyrs, because Christ has sealed them by a glorious death; but we are yet no more than confessors of a mean rank. They then besought the brethren, with tears, to offer up assiduous prayers for their persevering to the end. But, though they refused the title of martyr, yet every action of theirs was expressive of the power of martyrdom; particularly their meekness, their patience, and the intrepid freedom with which they spoke to the heathens, and which showed them to be void of fear, and in a readiness to suffer anything it was in the power of their enemies to inflict. They humbled themselves at the same time under the powerful hand of God, who hath since raised them to the highest glory; excusing every body, accusing none; and, like that great protomartyr, St. Stephen, praying for their persecutors. But their chief concern, on the motive of sincere charity, was how to rescue those unhappy persons from the jaws of the devil, whom that infernal serpent reckoned he had as good as swallowed up. Far from insulting over the lapsed, or valuing themselves upon the comparison, they freely administered to their spiritual wants, out of their abundance, the rich graces with which God had favoured and distinguished them; expressing the tenderness of a mother for them, and shedding floods of tears before their heavenly Father for their salvation. Thus they asked for life, and it was granted them, so that their brethren partook of it. For their endeavours were so successful, and their discourse and behaviour so persuasive, that the church had the pleasure of seeing several of her children recover new life, ready to make a generous confession of the sacred name they had renounced, and even offer themselves to the trial.

Among the martyrs, there was one Alcibiades, who had long been used to a very austere life, and to live entirely on bread and water. 7 He seemed resolved to continue this practice during his confinement; but Attalus, after his first combat in the amphitheatre, understood, by a revelation, that Alcibiades gave occasion of offence to others, by seeming to favour the new sect of the Montanists, who endeavoured to recommend themselves by their extraordinary austerities. Alcibiades listened to the admonition, and from that time he ate of every thing with thanksgiving to God, who did not fail to visit his servants with his grace, and the Holy Ghost was their guide and counsellor. In the mean time the emperor’s answer arrived, directing the execution of all who persisted in their confession, and discharging those who had recanted. The governor took the opportunity of a public festival among the pagans, which drew vast crowds from all parts; and ordered the martyrs to be brought before him with a design of entertaining the people with the sight of their sufferings. After a re-examination of them, finding them resolute, he sentenced such of them as were Roman citizens to lose their heads, and ordered the rest to be thrown to wild beasts. And now the glory of Jesus Christ was magnified in the unexpected confession of such as had before denied their faith. Those weak persons were examined apart, with a view of giving them their liberty; but, upon their declaring themselves Christians, they were sentenced to suffer with the other martyrs. Some indeed still continued in their apostacy; but then they were only such as never had the least trace of true faith, nor any regard for the wedding garment; strangers to the fear of God; who, by their way of living, had cast a scandal on the religion they professed, and who may justly be styled sons of perdition.

Alexander, a Phrygian by birth, and physician by profession, was present, when the apostates were brought this second time before the governor. He had lived many years in Gaul, and was universally remarkable for his love of God, and his freedom in publishing the gospel; for he was full of an apostolical spirit. This man being near the tribunal at that critical moment, he made several signs with his eyes and head, to exhort them to confess Jesus Christ, with as much agitation as a woman in labour; so that it was impossible he should pass unobserved. The heathens exasperated to see those confess who had recanted, elamoured against Alexander as the author of this change. Upon which the governor turning himself towards him, asked him who and what he was? Alexander answered, he was a Christian; which so enraged the governor, that, without any further inquiry, he condemned him to be thrown to the wild beasts. Accordingly, the next day, he was conducted into the arena with Attalus, whom the governor, to oblige the people, had delivered up a second time to the same punishment. Having undergone all the various torments usually inflicted in the amphitheatre, they were despatched with the sword. Alexander was not heard to sigh or make the least complaint, conversing only with God in his heart. When Attalus was placed in the iron chair, and the broiling of his body exhaled an offensive smell, he turned to the people, and said to them, in Latin: “This may, with some justice, be called devouring men, and thus you are guilty of that inhuman act; but we are neither guilty of this, nor any other abominable practice we are accused of.” Being asked what was the name of his God, he replied: “God had not a name like us mortals.”

On the last day of the combats of the gladiators, Blandina and Ponticus, a lad not above fifteen years old, were brought into the amphitheatre. They had been obliged to attend the execution of the martyrs every day, and were now urged to swear by the idols. Upon their absolutely refusing to comply with the demand, and expressing a thorough contempt of their pretended gods, the people gave a free loose to their rage; and, without any regard either to Ponticus’s youth, or the sex of Blandina, employed all the different sorts of torments upon them, pressing them from time to time, but in vain, to swear by the idols. Ponticus, encouraged by his companion, went through all the stages of his martyrdom with great alacrity, and died gloriously. Blandina was the last that suffered. She had acted like a mother, animated the other martyrs like so many favourite children, sent them victorious to the heavenly King; and then, passing through the same trials, hastened after them with joy. She was scourged, torn by beasts, put into the burning chair; afterwards wrapt in a net, and exposed to a wild bull, that tossed and gored her a long time. But her close conversation with Christ in prayer, and the lively hopes she had of the good things of the other life, made her insensible to all these attacks on her body; and she too had her throat cut. The heathens themselves could not but wonder at her patience and courage, and own, that, among them, no woman had ever been known to have gone through such a course of sufferings.

Not content with the death of the martyrs, that savage and barbarous people, spurred on by the infernal beast, raised a new persecution against their dead bodies. Those who died in prison were thrown to the dogs, and a strict guard kept, day and night, to prevent our carrying them off. The remains of the other martyrs, such as the beasts or fire had spared, their scattered half-burnt limbs, the heads and trunks, were carefully laid together, and watched by the soldiers several days. Some foamed and gnashed their teeth at the sight of these relics, expressing an eager desire of inflicting more exquisite torments upon them; while others laughed and scoffed at the martyrs, extolling their own idols, ascribing to them the punishment of their enemies. Even those who had behaved themselves with the most moderation, and felt some compassion for their sufferings, could not forbear reproaching them now, by asking, Where is their God? What hath this religion availed them, which they have preferred to life itself? These were the dispositions of the heathens on this occasion, while we were most sensibly afflicted that we could not bury our brethren. The soldiers were always on the guard, not to be gained by entreaty or money, and took as much care to keep the bodies unburied, as if, by so doing, they were to have gained some mighty advantage. The martyrs’ bodies lay thus exposed six days, and then were burnt to ashes and thrown into the Rhone, that no part of them might remain above ground. This they did, as if they had been superior to God, and could thereby have prevented the resurrection, the hopes of which, as they observed, had put them upon introducing a new and strange religion, making a mock of the severest torments, and meeting death with pleasure. Let us now see, said the heathens, if they will ever return again to life, and whether their God can save them, and deliver them out of our hands?

Thus far the incomparable letter of the Christians of Lyons and Vienne, which was inserted entire in Eusebius’s account of the martyrs, as he himself assures us. But that piece is lost, and we have no more of this letter than what that author has given us in his Church History. He adds, that the churches of Vienne and Lyons subjoined, in the close of this epistle, a religious testimony conformable to holy faith, concerning the Montanists. These martyrs suffered in the beginning of the pontificate of Eleutherius, in the seventeenth year of Marcus Aurelius, as Eusebius testifies, 8 and of Christ 177, not 167, as Dodwell pretends. They are called the martyrs of Lyons, because that city was the theatre of their sufferings, though some of them were citizens of Vienne. St. Gregory of Tours says, they were forty-eight in number, and that part of their ashes was miraculously recovered. These relics were deposited under the altar of the church which anciently bore the name of the Apostles of Lyons.

The fidelity, fervour, and courage, of so many saints, of every age and condition, condemn aloud our tepidity and indifference. We profess the same religion, and fight for the same cause with the primitive martyrs. Whence comes this monstrous disagreement in our conduct and sentiments? if we do not prefer God and his service to every other consideration—that is, if we are not martyrs in the disposition of our souls—we cannot hope to be ranked by Christ among his disciples, or to inherit his promises. What should we do under greater trials, who are unfaithful on the most trifling occasions? What so many followers of our Lord attained to, that may we. Their passions and infirmities were the same with ours: our trials and temptations are far less than theirs: we serve the same God, are guided by the same truths, supported by the same power, elevated by the same hopes; we have the same peace bequeathed us, the same spirit; the same heaven promised us, and we march under the conduct of the same Captain.

Note 1. St. Greg. Turon. l. 1, Hist. France, c. 20. [back]

Note 2. Vales, Not. ad. l. 5. Euseb. Tillem. t. 3, p. 2. [back]

Note 3. Du Bosquet, l. 2. Hist. Eccles. ch. 18. [back]

Note 4. The humility of the authors of this letter, in order to show they had no share in the praise of the martyrs, made them ascribe to their own weakness and cowardice that they had escaped the fury of the persecutors, though their style speaks them animated with the same heroic spirit. [back]

Note 5. Vettius is mentioned in the acts as a person of high rank, and he is called by St. Gregory of Tours, the first senator of all the Gauls. The Vettii, or Vectii, were a most ancient and noble family, which often adorned the first dignities in the commonwealth at Rome. [back]

Note 6. These Christians still observed the law of abstaining from eating blood, enacted by the Apostles. Acts xv. 20. [back]

Note 7. Eusebius, (ch. 3,) speaking of this action of Alcibiades, observes, that these martyrs were not unacquainted with the superstitious austerities of Montanus and his followers, and with their pretended prophecies. Many miraculous operations, wrought by the power of God at that time, in the Catholic Church, inclined some to believe at first that these fanatics had the gift of prophecy, as this historian adds: who further says, that these martyrs were better informed, and wrote several letters, whilst in prison, to their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, against the errors and false prophecies of the Montanists, and that they stirred up Pope Eleutherius against the same, by a letter, of which St. Irenæus, whom they much commended to that pope, was the bearer. (Ib. ch. 4.) They therefore exhorted Alcibiades to avoid such extraordinary practices, which might seem an affected conformity with fanatics. St. Irenæus, at that very time a most holy and learned priest at Lyons, testifies, that the church fasts, especially Lent, were observed with severe abstinence from certain meats. [back]

Note 8. Euseb. Hist. l. 6, c. 1. [back]

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume VI: June. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/6/021.html

Святая мученица Бландина Лионская. Фреска из православной Успенской церкви иконописного ателье святого Иоанна Дамаскина в департаменте Дром (Франция).

Sainte martyre Blandine de Lyon. Fresque de la chapelle orthodoxe de la Dormition de la Mère de Dieu (Drôme, France).

St. Blandina

Virgin and martyr.

She belongs to the band of martyrs of Lyons who, after some of their number had endured the most frightful tortures, suffered a glorious martyrdom in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (177) and concerning whose death we have the touching report sent by the Church of Lyons to the Churches of Asia Minor (Eusebius, Church History V.2). The fanaticism of the heathen populace in Lyons had been excited against the Christians so that the latter, when they ventured to show themselves publicly, were harassed and ill-treated. While the imperial legate was away the chiliarch, a military commander, and the duumvir, a civil magistrate, threw a number of Christians, who confessed their faith, into prison. When the legate returned, the imprisoned believers were brought to trial. Among these Christians was Blandina, a slave, who had been taken into custody along with her master, also a Christian. Her companions greatly feared that on account of her bodily frailty she might not remain steadfast under torture. But although the legate caused her to be tortured in a horrible manner, so that even the executioners became exhausted "as they did not know what more they could do to her", still she remained faithful and repeated to every question "I am a Christian and we commit no wrongdoing." Through fear of torture heathen slaves had testified against their masters that the Christians when assembled committed those scandalous acts of which they were accused by the heathen mob, and the legate desired to wring confession of this misconduct from the Christian prisoners. In his report to the emperor the legate stated that those who held to their Christian belief were to be executed and those who denied their faith were to be released; Blandina was, therefore, with a number of companions subjected to new tortures in the amphitheater at the time of the public games. She was bound to a stake and wild beasts were set on her. They did not, however touch her. After this for a number of days she was led into the arena to see the sufferings of her companions. Finally, as the last of the martyrs, she was scourged, placed on a red-hot grate, enclosed in a net and thrown before a wild steer who tossed her into the air with his horns, and at last killed with a dagger. Her feast is celebrated 2 June. 

Sources

Acta SS., June, I, 161 sqq.; ALLARD, Histoire des persécutions (Paris, 1892), I, 397 sqq.

Kirsch, Johann Peter. "St. Blandina." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 4 Jun. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02594a.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Bob Mathewson.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02594a.htm

église Sainte-Blandine de Lyon, 

église Sainte-Blandine de Lyon, 

Jules Comparat, Le martye de sainte Blandine. 1886. Lyon,  église Sainte-Blandine de Lyon, tympan

Blandina M (RM)

Died in Lyons, France, 177.

The memory of Blandina, a slave, has been preserved in a letter from the survivors of the persecution of the Church at Lyons (Lugdunum) to the Church in Asia Minor, which Eusebius recorded in his history. The letter reports that the official persecutions began with a popular boycott that prevented Christians from entering enter private houses, baths, and markets. Many Christian masters were accused to the officials by their slaves who thereby hoped to escape suspicion themselves.

Through Blandina, ". . . Christ showed that those who in the eyes of men appear cheap, ugly and contemptible, are treated by God with great honor because of their love for Him, which displays itself in power and now mere outward boasting. For while we were all of us trembling and her earthly mistress . . . was in torment lest Blandina, so frail in body, should not be strong enough to acknowledge her faith frankly, the child 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." She repeatedly said, while being tortured, "I am a Christian, and nothing vile is done amongst us." She said this because they were accused of incest and cannibalism (a literal interpretation of Christians' consuming the Body and Blood of Christ).

Blandina's steadfast faith inspired Sanctus, a quite recent convert, and strengthened him.

After a time the Emperor said the apostates should be released; the obstinate executed. Blandina was taken to the amphitheater and "fastened to a stake as though to a cross; she prayed aloud, giving much courage to the others, who beheld with their very eyes, by means of this their sister, Him who had been crucified for them!"

The wild beasts would not touch Blandina, so they put her back in prison. On the last day, she and Ponticus--a 15 year old, were brought out (after having watched the others being tortured daily). Ponticus died first. She was then scourged, burned, tied up in a net and thrown to a savage bull to be tossed and finally she was killed. After the bodies rotted for a week, they were cremated, and the ashes thrown into the Rhone. This occurred under the reign of Marcus Aurelius (Attwater, Benedictines, Martindale)

In art, Saint Blandina is a martyred maiden with a bull near her; otherwise the image may include (1) a net and bull; (2) her being tossed by the bull in the amphitheater; or (3) tied to a pillar with a lion and bear near her (Roeder). This patroness of servant girls is venerated in Lyons and Vienne, France (Roeder).

SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0602.shtml

Santi Potino, Blandina e compagni Martiri di Lione

2 giugno

† Lione, 177

Martirologio Romano: A Lione in Francia, santi martiri Potino, vescovo, Blandina e quarantasei compagni, le cui ardue e reiterate prove compiute al tempo dell’imperatore Marco Aurelio sono attestate nella lettera scritta dalla Chiesa di Lione alle Chiese d’Asia e Frigia. Tra questi, il nonagenario vescovo Potino rese il suo spirito poco dopo essere stato incarcerato; altri, come lui, morirono in carcere e altri ancora posti al centro dell’arena davanti a migliaia di persone radunate per lo spettacolo: quanti erano stati identificati come cittadini romani subirono la decapitazione, gli altri invece venivano dati in pasto alle fiere. Da ultima, Blandina, sgozzata alfine con la spada dopo aver patito più lunghe e aspre torture, seguì tutti coloro che ella aveva poco prima esortato a raggiungere la palma del martirio.

Nel 177 si scatenò a Lione, una persecuzione contro i cristiani, secondo gli editti dell’imperatore Marco Aurelio; il ‘Martyrologium Romanum’ riporta al 2 giugno un gruppo di 48 martiri, uccisi più o meno nello stesso tempo in odio alla fede cristiana, sia a Lione sia a Vienne, ma che comunque sono denominati ‘Martiri di Lione’. 

Il loro glorioso martirio è narrato da testimoni contemporanei, assolutamente degni di fede; il racconto completo era contenuto in una lettera, che la Chiesa della Gallia, inviò poco dopo gli avvenimenti, ai confratelli dell’Asia e della Frigia e che lo storico Eusebio di Cesarea, incluse integralmente nella sua ‘Historia Ecclesiastica’ pervenuta così fino a noi. 

Il gruppo menzionato è capeggiato da s. Fotino vescovo e il secondo nome è quello di Blandina, la quale era una schiava cristiana, arrestata insieme alla sua padrona. Nonostante i timori che gli altri cristiani nutrivano sulla sua saldezza nella fede, ella dimostrò invece una fermezza straordinaria nell’affrontare il martirio, che a lei non fu risparmiato in crudeltà; ripeteva “io sono cristiana e tra noi non c’è nessun male”. 

Fu condotta inizialmente nell’anfiteatro e appesa ad un palo a forma di croce, ella pregò ad alta voce e le fiere non l’aggredirono. Poi fu ricondotta nell’arena insieme ad altri fedeli, sopravvissuti ai vari supplizi, qui fu costretta ad assistere alla morte atroce dei suoi compagni, mentre lei superava ancora una volta, il tormento della graticola ardente. 

Rimasta sola, su di lei si accanì la ferocia pagana; ignuda e ricoperta con una rete, fu esposta ai lazzi degli spettatori ed alla furia di un toro, che colpendola con le corna, la lanciò più volte in aria; infine fu finita con la spada. Gli stessi pagani dichiararono che mai, in mezzo a oro, una donna aveva sopportato così numerosi e duri tormenti. 

Santa Blandina, schiava nella vita, ma eroica e gloriosa martire nella morte, è raffigurata da secoli nell’arte, con gli attributi del suo supplizio: la rete, la graticola, il palo, i leoni, il toro; viene celebrata il 2 giugno insieme agli altri martiri di Lione.

Autore: Antonio Borrelli

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/60450

PÈRE ANDRÉ GOUILLOUD, DE LA CONGRÉGATION DE JÉSUS. SAINT POTHIN ET SES COMPAGNONS MARTYRS. ORIGINES DE L'ÉGLISE DE LYON, FÉLIX GIRARD, LIBRAIRE ÉDITEUR – 1868 : http://www.mediterranee-antique.info/Religion/Gouilloud/EL_000.htm  

Voir aussi :  http://www.sources-chretiennes.mom.fr/index.php?pageid=martyrs_lyon

http://www.maintenantunehistoire.fr/blandine-lesclave-heroique/

http://storage.canalblog.com/52/29/249840/51860144.pdf