Ok – is it me or are the tales of the recent commemorations of saints and martyrs bordering on tales from the Twilight Zone?
Myron faced off with the petty ruler of Achaia Antipas on the Feast of the Nativity. Antipas had stormed the church seeking to harrass the Christians and probably kill a few for his personal amusement. Myron – overwhelmed with “holy zeal” (or insanity) basically bitch-slapped Antipas in the middle of the church. Good on him for protecting the community – but . . . there were unfortunate consequences to be sure.
The litany of bloody and ferocious torture Myron endured includes being “scraped” (I’m not sure exactly what that is but it does not sound nice), having strips of his own flesh excised from his body, being thrown into a furnace, and being thrown to the wild beasts. After all of this, Myron remained alive and stroppy. Antipas went mad and committed suicide, but not before sending Myron to the Proconsul at Cyzikus who was more efficient than Antipas was and beheded what was left of the man in AD250.
Now, I’m all for being inspired by the Spirit of holy zeal for the faith and the protection of our communities. I’m all for celebrating and commemorating the sacrifices of the martyrs and confessors – through their example we are all encouraged for those times in life when it does seem that the easiest, even the most reasonable thing to do is to say “bugger this” and abandon all hope of ever seeing the fruit of our trust in the teachings of the Master.
However, . . . I wonder if . . . its not possible to do so without so much . . . . “horror” – hagiography ought to inspire, and instruct, but does it have to be “R” rated to do so?
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