Martyrdom

In general, it means suffering and sacrificing one's life for one's faith. In Christianity, particularly, people who suffered and sacrificed their lives for their faith during times of persecution are called martyrs, and their death is called martyrdom. The word martyr originally meant "witness" in Greek and referred to the apostles who were witnesses to the life of Jesus and his resurrection, but as persecution intensified from the 2nd century onwards, the meaning changed. As Tertullian said, "The blood of Christians is the seed," martyrs were highly respected as the foundation of the development of the church, and were distinguished from confessed saints, who confessed their faith and suffered but were not killed. Stephen, who was stoned to death, is considered to be the first martyr (Acts). Many martyrs are known, including Paul, Peter, Ignatius, and Justin.

In the Martyrdom of Polycarp, written in the second half of the second century, the relics of martyrs were venerated and the anniversaries of their deaths were celebrated, and the martyrs were eventually revered as saints. Masses were held on their anniversaries, and as intercessors to God, the merits of martyrs were considered to be effective in salvation for believers, and from the fourth century onwards, churches were built over their tombs. A list of martyrs and other saints, called the Martyrdom Book, was created in order of their anniversaries throughout the year, and was read during the Divine Office. Even after the Middle Ages, much blood was shed for the faith both in and outside of Europe as Christian missionaries spread. In Japan, persecution of Christians was severe, and the "Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan," who were martyred in Nagasaki, are particularly famous.

[Renta Kidera]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

一般には、信仰のために苦難を受け命を捧(ささ)げることをいう。とくにキリスト教で、迫害の時代に、自己の信仰のために苦難を受け、命を捨てた人々を殉教者といい、その死を殉教という。殉教者はギリシア語で本来「証人」を意味し、イエスの生涯とその復活の証人である使徒をさすことばであったが、2世紀以降、迫害が激化するにつれて、意味の転化がおこった。テルトゥリアヌスが「キリスト教徒の血は種子である」といっているように、殉教者は教会発展の礎(いしずえ)として非常に尊敬され、信仰を告白して苦難を受けたが殺されはしなかった証聖者と区別された。石で殺されたステパノが最初の殉教者とされる（使徒行伝）。パウロやペテロ、イグナティオス、ユスティノスなど多くの殉教者が知られている。

　2世紀後半の『ポリュカルポス殉教記』では、殉教者の遺物を尊び、死の記念日を祝っており、やがて殉教者は聖人として崇敬されるに至った。記念日にはミサがあげられ、神にとりなしをする者として、殉教者の功徳は信徒の救いに有効とされ、4世紀以降、墓所の上に教会が建てられた。そして、殉教録という殉教者その他の聖人を年間の記念日の順に配列した名簿がつくられ、聖務日課のときに朗読された。なお中世以降も、キリスト教の宣教に伴って、ヨーロッパの内外で信仰のために多くの血が流された。日本においても、キリシタンの迫害は激しく、とくに長崎で殉教した「日本二十六聖人」は有名である。

［木寺廉太］

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