MARTYR

(Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) When the members" of the Christian church were subjected to persecution under the Roman emperors, the persons accused were questioned as to their belief; and, in undergoing punishments and death, were said to bear witne of their master before the worW. A distinction was also made between those who, although they boldly a erted their belief, were yet not visited with extreme punishment, who were designated under the name of confe ors, and those who actually suffered death, who alone were dignified with the title of martyrs, and said to obtain the crown of martyrdom. Martyr, in its ordinary signification, denotes a' person who suffers death or persecution on account of his belief. (See Mosheim's Eccl. History (traDsl.),ed. 1790,1.77.; GieseZer (transl.), c.8. I4.71. . As to the interce ion of martyrs, lb. 109. 162.) [s. 733]