August 1: The Seven Holy Maccabean Martyrs:
Habim, Antonin, Guriah, Eleazar, Eusebon, Hadim (Halim) and
Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar
Commemorated on August 1
The
seventh chapter of the Second Book of Maccabees (a book found in the Catholic
Bible but not found in Protestant Bibles because Martin Luther ripped out that
book because he did not believe in Purgatory. However, the New Testament
book of Hebrews commends these martyrs as examplars of living faith.)
The
horrific tortures (scalping, tongue removal, body cutting, burning alive) and
murders of these Maccabean martyrs was so terrible and gruesome that we derived
an English word from it – macabre. (Adopted from the French word for
Maccabee).
The
Seven Holy Maccabean Martyrs: Habim, Antonin, Guriah, Eleazar, Eusebon, Hadim
(Halim) and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar
suffered in the year 166 before the Birth of Christ under the impious Syrian
emperor Antiochos Epiphanos.
Adhering
to an Hellenistic cult, Antiochos Epiphanos introduced pagan customs at
Jerusalem and throughout all Judea. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord,
putting there in a statue of the pagan god Zeus, and forcing the Jews to
worship it. Many of them then fell away from the True God. But there were also
those, who were deeply sorrowed by the downfall of the people of God and who
continued to believe in the coming arrival of the Saviour.
A
ninety year old elder – the law-teacher Eleazar, was brought to trial for his
adherence to the Mosaic Law, and he steadfastly underwent tortures and died at
Jerusalem. Bravery was likewise shown by the disciples of Saint Eleazar – the
Seven Maccabean Brothers and their mother Solomonia.
They
were brought to trial in Antioch by the emperor Antiochos Epiphanos. They
fearlessly acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
offer sacrifice to the pagan gods.
The
eldest of the lads, having been first to answer the emperor in the name of all
seven brothers, was given over to fierce tortures in sight of his remaining
brothers and their mother. The next five brothers one after the other underwent
these tortures. There remained the seventh brother, the very youngest.
Antiochos suggested to Saint Solomonia to urge the lad into renunciation, so
that at least this final son would remain for her. But the brave mother
encouraged him also in the confession of the True God. The lad resolutely
ignored the entreaty of the emperor and likewise firmly underwent the tortures,
just like his older brothers.
After
the death of all her seven children, Saint Solomonia, standing over their
bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to God and died.
The
Martyrs Act of the holy Seven Maccabean Brothers inspired Judas Maccabee, and
he led the revolt against Antiochos Epiphanos with the help of God gaining the
victory, and then purifying the Jerusalem Temple of idols.
All
these events are related in the Book of Second Maccabees, which is included
within the Bible. Sermons of laudation to the holy Maccabean Martyrs were
offered by various fathers of the Church – Sainted Cyprian of Carthage, Sainted
Ambrose of Mediolanum (Milan), Sainted Gregory Nazianzus and Sainted John
Chrysostomos.
From
The Crucified Rabbi by Taylor R. Marshall:
A
Catholic Church in Rome was once dedicated to these holy Jewish martyrs.
It is known today as San Pietro in Vincoli or Saint Peter in Chains
because it housed the chains used by the pagan Roman authorities to arrest
Saint Peter. In 1876, an archeologist found beneath the church what were
once believed to be the tombs of the seven martyred brothers of this Maccabean
story. This same church is known throughout the world for its famous
statue of Moses as the great giver of the Law.
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