The new year is just around the corner - can you believe it! Well, I thought that I would end this year with a brief run down of the most famous martyrs we all know and love and how they died. Yes, I know this is uplifting isn't it...well, it really is when you consider why they died, for Whom they died, and you look at their examples for inspiration. These are the fathers of our Christian faith.
My source for this information is the Foxe's Book of Martyrs written by John Foxe.
St. Stephen was stoned to death.
James the Great was beheaded and his accuser repented, professed Christ and also was beheaded.
Philip was scourged, thrown in prison and then crucified.
Matthew was slain with a halberd.
James the Less was beat and stoned by the Jews and had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club.
Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
Andrew was crucified on the cross.
Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
Peter was crucified upside down.
Paul gave his neck to the sword.
Jude was crucified.
Bartholomew was cruelly beaten and then crucified.
Thomas was thrust through with a spear.
Luke was supposed to have been hung on an olive tree.
Simon was crucified.
John, the beloved disciple, was the only disciple to escape a violent death.