Unitarian martyrs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007) |
Unitarian martyrs are Bible-believing Christians who were willing to die for their belief in Unitarianism, one God, one person (the Father). Early Christians were persecuted because they believed that Jesus was the Son of God; Unitarian martyrs were persecuted because they did not support the ecumenical view of the Trinity.
Contents |
[edit] Ancient times
260 AD: Dionysius of Alexandria - was denounced at Rome for calling Jesus a "creature of God." Later (likely due to pressure), he recanted.[1]
336 AD: Arius - was murdered by a mob in the streets of Constantinople shortly after Constantine I's death.[citation needed]
339 AD: Eusebius of Caesarea - is suspected to have been murdered; his ecclesiastical history ends abruptly with the death of Constantine I. In any case he was definitely excommunicated[2]
[edit] Dark Ages
476 - 1000 A.D. - Dark Ages. Little history recorded.
[edit] Renaissance
1553: Michael Servetus - burned at the stake after a prison term because of writing a book criticizing biblical evidence for a Trinity.
1579: Francis David - Lutheran pastor in Transylvania; after Unitarian King John Sigismund died, orthodox views regained power. Francis David was placed in prison, where he ultimately died.
[edit] Modern times
1697: Thomas Aikenhead - a medical student, executed for disrespecting the Trinity. On the morning of January 8, 1697, Thomas wrote to his 'friends' that "it is a principle innate and co-natural to every man to have an insatiable inclination to the truth, and to seek for it as for hid treasure. . . So I proceeded until the more I thought thereon, the further I was from finding the verity I desired. . ." Aikenhead may have read this letter outside the Tolbooth, before making the long walk, under guard, to the gallows. He was said to have died Bible in hand, "with all the Marks of a true Penitent".[3]
1942: Norbert Capek - preached religious freedom (including Unitarianism). Was sent to the Dachau concentration camp, and later gassed to death at Hartheim Castle.
