10 First name: Blandina Born: ca. 162, in what is now Lyon, France Died: 177, in what is now Lyon, France Occupation: Slave Moments of weakness: Unknown Moments of strength: Joy, moral courage, and confidence in front of her executioners Patroness of: Young girls and the city of Lyon, France Blandina, the Gentle Strength of Faith Biblis According to Eusebius of Caesarea, Biblis, another Christian martyr, momentarily renounced her faith (as Saint Peter did after the arrest of Jesus). A person who claims to renounce his religion under threat or torture is called a "renegade" or an "apostate." Eusebius added that Biblis recovered herself quickly. Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. 265–339) Eusebius was bishop of the city of Caesarea, in Palestine. He survived the persecution of Diocletian and became close to Emperor Constantine I, who granted the freedom of worship to Christians in 313. Eusebius wrote the story of the early times of the Church and recalled the martyrdom of Saint Blandina in book 5 of his Church History. Christian artists represent Blandina as a serene young girl with a lion at her feet, to remind us that the animals in the amphitheater did not want to kill her. She also holds a palm in her hand. The palm is the symbol of the martyrs, in reference to the book of Revelation, where Saint John has a vision of a crowd of people dressed in white, holding palms in their hands and standing in front of the throne of the Lord. The angel explains to him that they are the ones “who have come out of the great tribulation” (Rev 7:14). Did You Know? Foundation of Lyon (called Lugdunum, in what is now France) Birth of Jesus The Church of Lyon flourishes under Bishop Pothinus and his assistant, Irenaeus. Martyrdom of Blandina, Pothinus, and many other Christians in Lyon A.D. 157 A.D. 177 43 B.C. 0 Eusebius of Caesarea publishes Church History, in which he recounts Blandina’s story. ca. A.D. 330 Birth of Blandina (precise date unknown) ca. A.D. 162
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