Fr. Troy Beecham - Pilgrim on the Way: Today the Church honors Sts. Maxima, along with Martinian, Saturian, Saturninus, Nereus, and Companions, Martyrs. Orate pro nobis. Maxima, along with Martinian, Saturian, and their two brothers, were slaves in the Vandal kingdom of North Africa, where the Arian form of Christianity was the established religion and orthodox Nicene Christianity was considered heresy. The Vandals were a Germanic people who first inhabited what is now southern Poland. They established Vandal kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, and North Africa in the fifth century AD. In AD 429, under king Genseric (reigned AD 428–477), the Vandals entered North Africa. By AD 439, they established a kingdom which included the Roman province of Africa as well as Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta and the Balearic Islands. They fended off several Roman attempts to recapture the African province, and sacked the city of Rome in 455. Their sacking of Rome was so violent and destructive of property that we get our word vandalism from it to describe the wanton destruction of property. King Genseric violently persecuted orthodox Nicene Christians. A commander in the army of King Genseric had many slaves, among whom were Maxima (the woman who ran his household), Martinian (his armor-bearer), and three of Martinian's brothers (one of whom was named Saturian). The commander, being fond of both Maxima and Martinian, ordered their marriage, and being slaves, they had to comply. Maxima told Martinian that she had consecrated herself as a virgin bride of Jesus, and therefore could not truly be any man's wife. He ultimately agreed to convert to her orthodox Nicene Christianity, to live chastely, and to work on the conversion of his brothers and their fellow slaves. They converted many, and even managed to petitioned the Pope to send them a priest, though this never occurred. They then conspired to escape from their Arian master and live in monasteries. After some time, Maxima and the four brothers, who had been baptized into the orthodox Christian Faith, managed to escape. However, they were captured and returned to their master, who promptly insisted that they accept Arian baptism. They declined, and the inevitable tortures began. The commander was in no hurry. Perhaps he did not want to lose his investment in Maxima and the four brothers. Ultimately, he recognized that they would not serve him and the orthodox Christian Faith, so he slowly, methodically sought to break down their resistance to the Arian heresy. He was thwarted in this by the resolution of their faith as well as the divine destruction of the torture implements. The most ingenious engines of pain broke down when applied to the brothers. Not recognizing the signs of the presence of God, the commander persisted, so the divine message got a little louder. His livestock died, then his children, and then he died. His widow, in her grief and acknowledging the cause of her calamity, gave Maxima and the brothers to Genseric's kinsman. The plague followed them -- illness struck the new master’s family, and so the slaves were quickly sold on to Capsur, a Berber chieftain. Capsur sensed that Maxima might be the problem, so in spite of her beauty and cleverness, he turned her loose. She headed for a convent and lived piously ever after. The brothers began preaching in their new master's home, but he had little patience for the Christian proselytizing. He ordered them dragged by horses until the abrasions and contusions killed them. The year was AD 450. A group of some 365 martyrs (including Saturninus and Nereus) who were put to death in Africa during the persecution of the Church by the Arian Vandals who had conquered the region under their king, Geiseric. It is considered possible that they are to be identified with the martyrs who died under the leadership of Sts. Martinian and Saturian. Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Maxima, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Martinian, Saturian, and Companions triumphed over suffering and were faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Monday, October 16, 2023

Today the Church honors Sts. Maxima, along with Martinian, Saturian, Saturninus, Nereus, and Companions, Martyrs. Orate pro nobis. Maxima, along with Martinian, Saturian, and their two brothers, were slaves in the Vandal kingdom of North Africa, where the Arian form of Christianity was the established religion and orthodox Nicene Christianity was considered heresy. The Vandals were a Germanic people who first inhabited what is now southern Poland. They established Vandal kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, and North Africa in the fifth century AD. In AD 429, under king Genseric (reigned AD 428–477), the Vandals entered North Africa. By AD 439, they established a kingdom which included the Roman province of Africa as well as Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta and the Balearic Islands. They fended off several Roman attempts to recapture the African province, and sacked the city of Rome in 455. Their sacking of Rome was so violent and destructive of property that we get our word vandalism from it to describe the wanton destruction of property. King Genseric violently persecuted orthodox Nicene Christians. A commander in the army of King Genseric had many slaves, among whom were Maxima (the woman who ran his household), Martinian (his armor-bearer), and three of Martinian's brothers (one of whom was named Saturian). The commander, being fond of both Maxima and Martinian, ordered their marriage, and being slaves, they had to comply. Maxima told Martinian that she had consecrated herself as a virgin bride of Jesus, and therefore could not truly be any man's wife. He ultimately agreed to convert to her orthodox Nicene Christianity, to live chastely, and to work on the conversion of his brothers and their fellow slaves. They converted many, and even managed to petitioned the Pope to send them a priest, though this never occurred. They then conspired to escape from their Arian master and live in monasteries. After some time, Maxima and the four brothers, who had been baptized into the orthodox Christian Faith, managed to escape. However, they were captured and returned to their master, who promptly insisted that they accept Arian baptism. They declined, and the inevitable tortures began. The commander was in no hurry. Perhaps he did not want to lose his investment in Maxima and the four brothers. Ultimately, he recognized that they would not serve him and the orthodox Christian Faith, so he slowly, methodically sought to break down their resistance to the Arian heresy. He was thwarted in this by the resolution of their faith as well as the divine destruction of the torture implements. The most ingenious engines of pain broke down when applied to the brothers. Not recognizing the signs of the presence of God, the commander persisted, so the divine message got a little louder. His livestock died, then his children, and then he died. His widow, in her grief and acknowledging the cause of her calamity, gave Maxima and the brothers to Genseric's kinsman. The plague followed them -- illness struck the new master’s family, and so the slaves were quickly sold on to Capsur, a Berber chieftain. Capsur sensed that Maxima might be the problem, so in spite of her beauty and cleverness, he turned her loose. She headed for a convent and lived piously ever after. The brothers began preaching in their new master's home, but he had little patience for the Christian proselytizing. He ordered them dragged by horses until the abrasions and contusions killed them. The year was AD 450. A group of some 365 martyrs (including Saturninus and Nereus) who were put to death in Africa during the persecution of the Church by the Arian Vandals who had conquered the region under their king, Geiseric. It is considered possible that they are to be identified with the martyrs who died under the leadership of Sts. Martinian and Saturian. Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Maxima, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Martinian, Saturian, and Companions triumphed over suffering and were faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Today the Church honors

Sts. Maxima, along with Martinian, Saturian, Saturninus, Nereus, and Companions, Martyrs.

Orate pro nobis.

Maxima, along with Martinian, Saturian, and their two brothers, were slaves in the Vandal kingdom of North Africa, where the Arian form of Christianity was the established religion and orthodox Nicene Christianity was considered heresy. The Vandals were a Germanic people who first inhabited what is now southern Poland. They established Vandal kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, and North Africa in the fifth century AD. In AD 429, under king Genseric (reigned AD 428–477), the Vandals entered North Africa. By AD 439, they established a kingdom which included the Roman province of Africa as well as Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta and the Balearic Islands. They fended off several Roman attempts to recapture the African province, and sacked the city of Rome in 455. Their sacking of Rome was so violent and destructive of property that we get our word vandalism from it to describe the wanton destruction of property.

King Genseric violently persecuted orthodox Nicene Christians. A commander in the army of King Genseric had many slaves, among whom were Maxima (the woman who ran his household), Martinian (his armor-bearer), and three of Martinian's brothers (one of whom was named Saturian).

The commander, being fond of both Maxima and Martinian, ordered their marriage, and being slaves, they had to comply. Maxima told Martinian that she had consecrated herself as a virgin bride of Jesus, and therefore could not truly be any man's wife. He ultimately agreed to convert to her orthodox Nicene Christianity, to live chastely, and to work on the conversion of his brothers and their fellow slaves. They converted many, and even managed to petitioned the Pope to send them a priest, though this never occurred. They then conspired to escape from their Arian master and live in monasteries.

After some time, Maxima and the four brothers, who had been baptized into the orthodox Christian Faith, managed to escape. However, they were captured and returned to their master, who promptly insisted that they accept Arian baptism. They declined, and the inevitable tortures began.

The commander was in no hurry. Perhaps he did not want to lose his investment in Maxima and the four brothers. Ultimately, he recognized that they would not serve him and the orthodox Christian Faith, so he slowly, methodically sought to break down their resistance to the Arian heresy. He was thwarted in this by the resolution of their faith as well as the divine destruction of the torture implements. The most ingenious engines of pain broke down when applied to the brothers. Not recognizing the signs of the presence of God, the commander persisted, so the divine message got a little louder. His livestock died, then his children, and then he died.

His widow, in her grief and acknowledging the cause of her calamity, gave Maxima and the brothers to Genseric's kinsman. The plague followed them -- illness struck the new master’s family, and so the slaves were quickly sold on to Capsur, a Berber chieftain. Capsur sensed that Maxima might be the problem, so in spite of her beauty and cleverness, he turned her loose. She headed for a convent and lived piously ever after. The brothers began preaching in their new master's home, but he had little patience for the Christian proselytizing. He ordered them dragged by horses until the abrasions and contusions killed them. The year was AD 450.

A group of some 365 martyrs (including Saturninus and Nereus) who were put to death in Africa during the persecution of the Church by the Arian Vandals who had conquered the region under their king, Geiseric. It is considered possible that they are to be identified with the martyrs who died under the leadership of Sts. Martinian and Saturian.

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Maxima, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Martinian, Saturian, and Companions triumphed over suffering and were faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.