MARTYR, is one who lays down his life, or suffers death, for the sake of his religion. The word is Greek, μαρτυρ, and properly signifies a "witness." It is applied, by way of eminence, to those who suffer in witness of the truth of the gospel.
The Christian church has abounded in martyrs, and history is filled with surprising accounts of their singular constancy and fortitude under the cruellest torments human nature was capable of suffering. The primitive Christians were accused by their enemies of paying a sort of divine worship to the martyrs. Of this we have an instance in the answer of the church of Smyrna to the suggestion of the Jews, who, at the martyrdom of Polycarp, desired the heathen judge not to suffer the Christians to carry off his body, lest they should leave their crucified master, and worship him in his stead. To which they answered, "We can neither forsake Christ, nor worship any other: for we worship him as the Son of God; but love the martyrs as the disciples and followers of the Lord, for the great affection they have shewn to their King and Master." A like answer was given at the martyrdom of Fructuofus in Spain. For when the judge asked Eulogius, his deacon, Whether he would not worship Fructuofus? as thinking, that, tho' he refused to worship the heathen idols, he might yet be inclined to worship a Christian martyr; Eulogius replied, "I do not worship Fructuofus, but him whom Fructuofus worships." The primitive Christians believed, that the martyrs enjoyed very singular privileges; that upon their death they were immediately admitted to the beatific vision, while other souls waited for the completion of their happiness till the day of judgment; and that God would grant chiefly to their prayers the hastening of his kingdom, and shortening the times of persecution.
The churches built over the graves of the martyrs, and called by their names, in order to preserve the memory of their sufferings, were distinguished by the title martyrium confessio, or memoria.
The festivals of the martyrs are of very ancient date in the Christian church, and may be carried back at
Martyr least till the time of Polycarp, who suffered martyrdom
Marvell. about the year of Christ 168. On these days the Chri-
stians met at the graves of the martyrs, and offered
prayers and thanksgivings to God for the examples
they had afforded them: they celebrated the eucha-
rist, and gave alms to the poor; which, together with
a panegyrical oration or sermon, and reading the acts
of the martyrs, were the spiritual exercises of these an-
niversaries.