St. Benjamin
Name: St. Benjamin
Date: 31 March
The Persian monarch Isdegerdes, son of Sapor III, put a stop to the cruel persecutions against theChristians begun by Sapor II, and the Church had been enjoying twelve years’ peace in that kingdom. Then, in 420, it was disturbed by the indiscreet zeal of a Christian bishop who burned down thePyraeum, or Temple of Fire, the great divinity of the Persians. King Isdegerdes thereupondemolished all the Christian churches in Persia, put to death the offending bishop, and raised ageneral persecution against the Church, which continued during forty years with great fury. Isdegerdes died the following year, but his son and successor carried on the persecution with greaterinhumanity. The very recital of the cruelties he exercised on the Christians strikes us with horror. Among theglorious champions of Christ was Saint Benjamin, a deacon. The tyrant caused him to be beaten andimprisoned. He had lain a year in the dungeon, when an ambassador from the emperor obtained hisrelease on condition that he never speak to any of the courtiers about religion. The ambassador,wishing to save him, said on Benjamin’s behalf, that he would not do so; but Benjamin, who was aminister of the Gospel, declared that he would miss no opportunity of announcing Christ. The king,being informed that he still was preaching the Faith in his kingdom, ordered him to be apprehendedand tortured. Reeds were thrust with violence between the nails and flesh of his hands and feet andelsewhere, and this was frequently repeated. Finally a knotty stake was entered into his bowels torend and tear them; in that torment he expired for love of his God, in the year 424. |
