Ten Martyrs of Crete (23 December): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On December 23, the Church commemorates the Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete, heroic witnesses to Christ who triumphed over persecution during the Roman persecutions under Diocletian. This reading is drawn from “The Lives of the Saints” by Father Alban Butler, recounting the sufferings and glorious martyrdom of Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunicianus, Zoticus, Cleomenes, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus—collectively known as the Ten Martyrs of Crete. Following the publication of the imperial edict against Christians, the island of Crete (then called Candia) became a vast field of blood. These saints boldly refused to sacrifice to pagan idols, openly condemning the false gods of Rome and proclaiming Jesus Christ as the one true God. Dragged, beaten, tortured, and mocked, they endured racks, iron claws, stones, plummets of lead, and unimaginable cruelty—yet they rejoiced, declaring: “We are Christians. Were a thousand deaths prepared for us, we would receive them with joy.” Condemned at last to death by the sword, they went forth praying not only for themselves but for their persecutors and for the conversion of their homeland. Their relics were later conveyed to Rome, and the Church testifies that through their intercession Crete was preserved from heresy for centuries. 📖 Greeks, Latins, and Slavs commemorate these martyrs on December 23, honoring their unwavering faith and victory in Christ. 🔔 WHY WATCH THIS VIDEO? Learn authentic Catholic hagiography Deepen devotion to the martyrs Preserve traditional Catholic teaching Reflect on courage, truth, and sacrifice 00:00 Introduction – Lives of the Saints (Fr. Alban Butler) 00:20 The Edict of Persecution Under Diocletian 00:36 Crete Becomes a Field of Martyrdom 00:45 Names of the Ten Martyrs of Crete 01:03 St. Cyril of Gortyna and the Faith of Crete 01:24 Arrest, Abuse, and Public Humiliation 01:38 Trial Before the Governor of Crete 01:42 Refusal to Sacrifice to Jupiter 02:10 Condemnation of Pagan Gods 02:39 Brutal Tortures of the Martyrs 03:19 The Martyrs’ Joyful Endurance 03:45 Final Condemnation to Death 04:02 Martyrdom by the Sword 04:25 Burial and Translation of Relics 04:31 The Martyrs’ Legacy and Intercession https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/december/ten-martyrs-of-crete/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #TenMartyrsOfCrete #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicMartyrs #December23Saints #AlbanButler #CatholicTradition #EarlyChur

Topics

• Suffering & Trials