martynIa

martyr 1. One who suffers death for the sake of Christ and his religion; one who by his death bears witne to the truth; one who gives up his life rather than renounce his religion. "In those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr , who was slain among you."- Rev . ii. 13. 2. One who suffers death or persecution in defense of any cause. "For these humble martyrs of pa ive obedience and hereditary right nobody has a word to say." -Macaulay : Hist. Eng ., ch. xi. The Church recognizes three kinds of martyrs: (1) in will and deed; (2) in will, though not in deed; (3) in deed, though not in will. It is noteworthy that the three days immediately following the great festival of Christmas commemorate St. Stephen, St. John the Divine, and the Holy Innocents, respectively. The first suffered willingly for the faith; the second was willing to suffer, but, according to tradition, was miraculously delivered; the third suffered, though too young to be willing so to do. Many martyrs find a place in the English Calendar; but, with the exception of those above mentioned, and the Apostles, none has popular le ons. The proper color for Feasts of Martyrs in the Roman Church is red. mar'-tŷr, *mar-tri, v. t. & i. [MARTYR, 8.] A. Transitive: 1. To put to death for adherence to the truth or one's religion; to make a martyr of. 2. To murder, to destroy. "Here his abode the martyr'd Phocion claims With Agis, not the least of Spartan names" Pope: Temple of Fame. 174. IMG:content-0959.jpg:[blocks in formation] *B. In trans.: To suffer martyrdom.