Bademus (also known as Bademe[1] and Vadim) was a rich, noble citizen of Bethlapeta in Persia, who founded a monastery nearby. He and some of his disciples were arrested and Bademus was martyred in the year 376; he was subsequently recognized as a saint.[2]
Saint Bademus
Saint Bademus (Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 1878)
In the thirty-sixth year of Shapur II's persecution, Bademus was arrested with seven of his monks. For months, he lay in chains in a dungeon. At the same time, a Christian lord named Nersan, Prince of Aria, was also imprisoned because he refused to convert to Zoroastrianism. At first, he appeared resolved to keep the faith, but at the sight of tortures he gave in, and promised to conform. In order to test Nersan's sincerity, King Shapur ordered that Bademus be moved into Nersan's cell, which was actually a chamber in the royal palace. Shapur further instructed Nersan that if he would kill Bademus, his princely rights and dignities would be restored.[2]
Nersan accepted the conditions. A sword was placed in his hand, and he advanced so as to plunge it into the abbot's chest. However, he was seized with a sudden terror, so he stopped short, and was unable to lift up his arm to strike for some time. Even so, he attempted to harden himself, and continued, trembling, to aim at Bademus' sides. A combination of fear, shame, remorse, and respect made his strokes weak and unsteady. The martyr's wounds were so numerous that the bystanders are said to have been in admiration of his invincible patience.[2]
The resolute martyr chided his torturer, saying, "Unhappy Nersan, to what a pitch of impiety do you carry your apostasy. With joy I run to meet death; but could wish to fall by some other hand than yours: why must you be my executioner?"[1]
It took four strokes for Nersan to successfully separate Bademus' head from his body. A short time after, Nersan committed suicide. The body of Saint Bademus was cast out of the city by the Sassanids, but was carried away and buried in secret by the Christians. His disciples were released from their chains in 379, after the death of King Shapur.[2]
^ abRabenstein, Katherine (April 1999). "Bademus of Persia, Abbot M (AC)". Saints O' the Day for July 16. from the original on 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
^ abcdButler, Alban (1894). "April 10.—ST. BADEMUS, Martyr". Lives of the Saints. sacred-texts.com (Benziger Brothers). Retrieved 2007-07-23.
External linksedit
Hagiography from Butler's "Lives of the Saints," 1864
Saint of the Day - Bademus of Persia, Abbot M (AC)
January 01, 1970
bademus, also, known, bademe, vadim, rich, noble, citizen, bethlapeta, persia, founded, monastery, nearby, some, disciples, were, arrested, martyred, year, subsequently, recognized, saint, saint, saint, little, pictorial, lives, saints, 1878, abbot, martyrborn. Bademus also known as Bademe 1 and Vadim was a rich noble citizen of Bethlapeta in Persia who founded a monastery nearby He and some of his disciples were arrested and Bademus was martyred in the year 376 he was subsequently recognized as a saint 2 Saint BademusSaint Bademus Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints 1878 Abbot and MartyrBornunknownBethlapeta PersiaDied10 April 376Feast9 April Eastern Orthodox Churches 10 April Catholic Churches Contents 1 Martyrology 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksMartyrology editIn the thirty sixth year of Shapur II s persecution Bademus was arrested with seven of his monks For months he lay in chains in a dungeon At the same time a Christian lord named Nersan Prince of Aria was also imprisoned because he refused to convert to Zoroastrianism At first he appeared resolved to keep the faith but at the sight of tortures he gave in and promised to conform In order to test Nersan s sincerity King Shapur ordered that Bademus be moved into Nersan s cell which was actually a chamber in the royal palace Shapur further instructed Nersan that if he would kill Bademus his princely rights and dignities would be restored 2 Nersan accepted the conditions A sword was placed in his hand and he advanced so as to plunge it into the abbot s chest However he was seized with a sudden terror so he stopped short and was unable to lift up his arm to strike for some time Even so he attempted to harden himself and continued trembling to aim at Bademus sides A combination of fear shame remorse and respect made his strokes weak and unsteady The martyr s wounds were so numerous that the bystanders are said to have been in admiration of his invincible patience 2 The resolute martyr chided his torturer saying Unhappy Nersan to what a pitch of impiety do you carry your apostasy With joy I run to meet death but could wish to fall by some other hand than yours why must you be my executioner 1 It took four strokes for Nersan to successfully separate Bademus head from his body A short time after Nersan committed suicide The body of Saint Bademus was cast out of the city by the Sassanids but was carried away and buried in secret by the Christians His disciples were released from their chains in 379 after the death of King Shapur 2 See also editMartyrs of Persia under Shapur IIReferences edit a b Rabenstein Katherine April 1999 Bademus of Persia Abbot M AC Saints O the Day for July 16 Archived from the original on 2007 06 08 Retrieved 2007 07 17 a b c d Butler Alban 1894 April 10 ST BADEMUS Martyr Lives of the Saints sacred texts com Benziger Brothers Retrieved 2007 07 23 External links editHagiography from Butler s Lives of the Saints 1864 Saint of the Day Bademus of Persia Abbot M AC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bademus amp oldid 1084111002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
