Sfinţii Macabei, prototip al martirajului creştin
Saints Maccabees, a prototype for the Christian martyrdom

Summary/Abstract: The Second Book of Maccabees, regarded as being anagynoscomena (good to read) by our Church, describes in two distinct episodes the persecution of Antioh IV Epifanes on the Jews. The ordeal of Eleazar, a ninety year old scribe, particularly stands out. Close after this, the martyrdom of the seven brothers, follows, who were tortured to the death, because they refused to break the traditional customs. Their mother also had an important role in their confession of faith. They will become role models for the Christian martyrdom literature. The panegyrics written by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and Saint John Chrysostom are a testimony to the story of Eleazar and his brothers. It is very interesting how some heroes of the Judaism history became so glorious that they are considered proto-martyrs by the Church.

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