Martyr
Martyr Blandina Of Lyons
†177
Martyr Blandina of Lyons — a frail young slave girl who received Christianity from her mistress; she was martyred together with 43 other Christians, including Hieromartyr Pothinus, Bishop of Lyons, during the famous persecution of 177 in Lyons (Gaul).
Martyr Blandina was a frail slave girl belonging to a Christian mistress living in the city of Lyons (Roman Gaul), from whom she received the Christian faith. In August 177, a cruel persecution of Christians broke out in Lyons, resulting in most members of the local community, including the elderly Bishop of Lyons, Hieromartyr Pothinus, being seized and put to a painful death — 43 Christians suffered in all. Blandina endured the cruelest tortures: she was scourged, thrown to wild beasts in the arena, and, stripped naked, seated on a heated metal grate — but despite her frail build, she steadfastly bore all torments, strengthening other Christians by her example. She was martyred. Her memory is kept on June 2/15 together with Hieromartyr Pothinus and the other Lyons martyrs; also noted on July 25/August 7.