Jan 21, 2014

St. Germanicus of Smyrna


Feast day : January 19
Died : 155



Martyr of Smyrna. He was thrown to wild animals in a local amphitheater. When the beasts did not attack, Germanicus provoked them into attacking, gaining the admiration of the pagans of the arena. A letter describing his martyrdom and that of St. Polycarp is extant.
 
from Wikipedia
Saint Germanicus was a youth who was arrested and martyred for his faith in Smyrna during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus. As Germanicus stood in the arena, facing a wild beast, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him that in view of his youth he should deny his faith to obtain a pardon. But the young man refused to apostatize, and willingly embraced martyrdom.

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