Flora and Maria

Flora and María were the first two of nine female Christian Martyrs of Córdoba. After denouncing Islam before an Islamic judge, they were imprisoned. Though threatened "with being thrown upon the streets as prostitutes", they were eventually beheaded.[1] Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.[2][3]

Flora

Flora was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father. Her father died when she was still very young, and Flora was brought up as a Christian. Her Muslim older brother tried in vain to convert Flora to Islam, eventually surrendering his sister to the authorities. Flora was imprisoned and a Muslim scholar was appointed to teach her about Islam, But she managed to escape and fled towards the Christian settlements.

María

María was born to a Christian father and Muslim mother. Her mother was baptised some time after she got married. Fearing charges of apostasy, the couple and their two children left their home in the town of Elche and moved to the village of Fronianus. María lost her mother at a young age, and her father sent her to convent in Cuteclara. The convent’s abbess, Artemia, told María how she witnessed the execution of her two sons by the Muslim rulers thirty years prior. The story had a long-lasting impression on the girl.

María’s older brother, Walabonsus, also received a religious education at the monastery of Saint Felix. The siblings, who were separated when María was sent to the convent and Walabonsus to the monastery, met again when Walabonsus was appointed one of the supervisors of María’s convent. Walabonsus was executed by Muslim authorities on 16 July 851, and his martyrdom along with Artemia's story drove María to follow in her brother’s footsteps.[2][4]

Imprisonment and martyrdom

Flora and María met at the church of Saint Acisclus.[2][4] and decided to denounce Islam together.[2][4] They did so before a Qadi (Islamic judge) and were subsequently imprisoned.[1]

In jail, Flora was offered a full pardon if she "returned" to Islam, but she explained that the only beliefs she had ever held were Christian. This explanation was not accepted because according to Islamic law, a child born to even one Muslim parent should have adopted Islam as their religion.[2][4] Sabigotho used to visit Flora and María in jail and once spent a night in their cell "as if she herself were shackled, not only to console the two soldiers, but to confide in them her own intention to die".[2][3]

In accordance with Shari'a law, Flora and María were found guilty of two different crimes: Flora was executed for apostasy, and María for blasphemy. Before the executions, the young women were threatened "with being thrown upon the streets as prostitutes", which was an unbearable punishment for virgins. They were beheaded on 24 November 851.[1]

Legacy

Flora and María were the first two of nine females Christian Martyrs of Córdoba described by Eulogius of Córdoba in his Memorial of the Saints.[1] Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Charles Reginald (March 4, 2010). Christianity and Islam in Spain A.D. 756-1031. Forgotten Books. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4510-0752-7.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kenneth Baxter Wolf. "The Martyrs of Córdoba".
  3. 1 2 3 Marcelle Thiébaux. The Writings of medieval women: an anthology. p. 180.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ann Christys. Christians in Al-Andalus, 711-1000. p. 76.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.