Top 10 Christian Martyrs

1. St. Agnes of Rome

   

   St. Agnes was around 12 or 13 years old when she was arrested in ancient Rome for practicing Christianity. She was admired for her beauty and wealth, which led many young Roman men to seek her hand in marriage. However, Agnes had taken a vow of consecrated virginity and declared Christ as her only spouse.... read more

   She chose to die rather than betray her faith in Christ.

   Bride of Our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us. Amen.

2. St. Peter the Apostle

   

   His death was in a satanic way. I am not accusing St. Peter of Satanism. I mean, Satanists use the position of the way he died for their symbol. How vain they are, putting a bad name on St. Peter.

   The first Pope was crucified upside down because he said he was unworthy to die the same death as Christ.

   I believe in Christ and choose to always, even if it costs my life!

3. St. Steven

   

   Paul was in attendance. Satan wanted a do-over!

4. St. Catherine of Alexandria

   

   Catherine of Alexandria was a highly educated young woman from Alexandria, Egypt, who was martyred under the rule of Emperor Maxentius. She is considered a Christian saint and martyr. Joan of Arc claimed that Saint Catherine was one of the voices that inspired her to lead France during the Hundred Years... read more

   I really enjoy learning about the martyrs! Not in a gross or bad way, but in a way, I just can't explain. Their bravery and guts to die for Christ, ah! It's amazing! I have done a lot of research on a good amount of martyrs, but St. Catherine has always been one of my favorites!

   The greatest female martyr of Christianity. Extraordinary purity and holiness. The second greatest being St. Barbara.

   Highly educated young woman of Alexandria who was tortured with a wheel before finally being killed.

5. St. John the Baptist

   

   Was beheaded by Herod Antipas because his wife tricked him by getting her daughter, Salome, to dance at his birthday feast.

6. St. Maximilian Kolbe

   Priest who was sent to Auschwitz Death Camp, volunteered to be executed by needle in place of another prisoner.

   Inspirational figure. Agape love in action.

7. St. Joan of Arc

   

   Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans," is considered a heroine of France for her role in the final phase of the Hundred Years' War. She claimed visions of saints including St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret of Antioch, who urged her to lead French forces against... read more

   She burned alive because she refused to recant her faith. She suffered a horrible, slow death, all for the glory of God. She was an amazing woman.

   She mostly died for France but she also had a strong belief in God.

8. The Holy Innocents

   The children of Bethlehem who were killed by Herod the Great in his diabolical scheme to kill the Christ Child.

9. St. Maria Goretti

   

   St. Maria Goretti is an Italian virgin-martyr of the Catholic Church and one of its youngest canonized saints.

   She lived on a farm in Nettuno, Italy, at the beginning of the 20th century. After her father died of malaria, Maria helped care for her younger siblings while her mother worked in the... read more

   Was stabbed to death while standing up to a rapist and warning him that he was committing a serious sin against God.

10. St. Thomas More

    

    Was beheaded for refusing to recognize Henry VI's break away from the Catholic Church.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Saint Lucia

12. ?

    Saint Sebastian

    
The Contenders

13. St. Jean Brebeauf

    Jesuit priest who was killed in the New World for preaching in the Name of Christ.

14. Oscar Romero

    

15. Joan of Arc

    

    Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans," is considered a heroine of France for her role in the final phase of the Hundred Years' War. She claimed visions of saints including St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret of Antioch, who urged her to lead French forces against... read more

16. St. Paul the Apostle

    

    Paul the Apostle, commonly known as Saint Paul and also by his native name Saul of Tarsus, was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the 1st-century world. He is considered one of the most important figures in the spread of Christianity. Paul's epistles make up a significant portion of the New... read more

17. Jim Elliot and His Companions

    He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. These words were memorialized by these brave men who died willingly, walked into danger, and ultimately gave their lives in the service of Christ. They gave what they could not keep, and as a result, many more gained what they could not lose. They are heroes, indeed.

    I heard this quote from Jim Elliot years ago and it became one of my favorites. He gave up a life of athletic stardom to serve the only true living God - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the God of Israel! Amen.

18. St. Thecla

    The first female to be martyred for Christ's sake - the female equivalent of St. Stephen. Her martyrdom took place in Maaloula, Syria where there is still a steady flow of pilgrims who come to imbibe the spiritual atmosphere. A steady trickle of water emanates from the very place where she disappeared. Local legend has it that the mountain opened miraculously to protect Thecla from her persecutors.