500 Martyrs of Tyre

On 19 February we remember the 500 Martyrs of Tyre who were killed in about the year 304AD.

 

The Ancient City of Tyre (also known as Soor) had been a very important Phonecian City.

The city of Tyre is referred to in the scriptures numerous times. We are told that people came from Tyre to hear Jesus preach (Mark 3:8) and that Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon and performed miracles. (Matthew 15:21 and Mark 7:24)

Tyre is one of the cities that had some of the earliest followers of Christ. We know that many of those early Christians were persecuted for their faith. The historian Eusebius tells us that in the early fourth century, under the reign of Diolectian, many soldiers of Christ were killed for their faith in the city of Tyre.

We often forget that many of our ancestors were the very first Christians and that the ancient cities of our forbearers were the cradles of Christianity.

As we remember the righteous and the just and the faithful departed over these two weeks, let us remember the difficulties that many of our ancestors faced for their faith.

Inspired by their examples let us learn to walk in their righteous path and live according to Gods word.