A deacon in Sicily, Euplus sought martyrdom by presenting himself to the local governor who, according to legend demanded that he worship Mars, Apollo, and Aesculapius. Euplus, now being stretched like a bungee cord on the rack, retorted that he worshiped only the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He was beheaded for his droubles on this day in AD 305.
There are a number of stories in the early centuries of individual’s “seeking” martyrdom. Origen, for example, was saved only by his mother stealing his clothes!
I’ve always had trouble understanding or even welcoming the commemoration of “martyrs” who actively sought martyrdom. It is a complex concept, and the possible interpretations of “seeking” martyrdom make it difficult to draw a black line down the middle and say: this is acceptable, and this is way off base. It is worth pausing for a moment and asking some questions about the motivation people like Euplus and Origen had when they felt compelled to seek out their own death. Perhaps then we can better understand the meaning and value of “martyrdom” in this light.
The mid fourth century saw the rise of asceticism, which became the “new martyrdom” (not to be confused with those martyrs who stood fast in the faith during the horrors of early 20th century communism). This in turn raises a whole new set of questions about the meaning of “martyrdom” in this new context. Does it mean that the “old” meaning is now altered? Is it a strange justification for the acts of the likes of Euplus who actively sought the martyrs crown? How does this affect our interpretation of asceticism?
Feast days are not just another “oh, that’s nice . . . he/she died for Jesus. . . .” rather they present us with opportunities to pause and reflect on some of our most deeply held images and ideas – like martyrdom.
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