7 Saint Blandina (c. 162–177) Blandina was a young slave, whose life was of no importance in the unequal society of the Roman Empire. But she belonged to the newborn Christian Church, where there were no masters or slaves, only children of God. And these children of God were incredibly brave. A Slave Blandina came out of the house, two empty baskets in her hands. Such a beautiful day to go shopping for her mistress! Lyon1 was a rich city, and even at this early hour, the market was already buzzing with activity. Blandina, quiet and cheerful, liked the joyous uproar of the merchants and customers chatting loudly between stalls packed with merchandise and overflowing with fragrances. She wove her way through the crowd. No one paid attention to her, since her simple clothes revealed her status as a slave. People kept their eyes instead on the wealthy marketgoers in their fine dress. And yet, Blandina felt free, with an inner liberty that no one could steal from her. The Secret of Freedom “Hello, my little Blandina!” called out a familiar voice. The young slave turned around, and her face lit up. The old man calling her was Bishop Pothinus, accompanied by Biblis, a woman from their community. They were coming to buy wine for the Lord’s Supper—the Christian celebration that recalls the last meal Jesus Christ shared with his disciples. “Are you coming tonight?” Pothinus asked. “Yes, I am,” Blandina answered with a radiant smile. “My mistress gives me the evening off.” 1. Today in France. During the Roman Empire, the city was called Lugdunum.
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