The First Martyrs of Rome

Today is the feast day of the first martyrs of Rome.  It is the feast day of Christians such as Justin in our story, Diana and the Martyrs of Rome. 

Since this is a special occasion, we will post Part IV ahead of schedule for you to read!  In addition, there will be a page devoted to this story located below the blog title.  (Click here!)

Martyrs of Rome, Pray for Us!

Diana and the Martyrs of Rome part IV

   The streets of Rome were still running with cries of blood. Violence had vastly increased and there was no order. There was no law except for the Praetorian Guard, whose duty it was to protect the person of the Emperor. Therefore, chaos remained in the broken city that was once the glory of Rome, and why? Why was the city that had stood for hundreds of years burned to the ground? That was the question that all Romans wanted to be answered.
   Despite the danger, Diana moved about with her father to try to rebuild their stock and home. Calixtus sent Justin to Diana, as Cosmos had very few slaves. The slave protected her from the madness of the city. They carried salvage from place to place, trying to find items that they could still use in the wreckage of their property.
   One day, as they passed the Roman Colonnade where Nero could be seen at a distance during imperial audiences, they saw a great crowd of raging people. Justin and Diana tried to get around and out of the crowd, but as a great mass, the people carried the two along with them, closer to the Royal Balcony. The people were yelling and screaming mostly threats in their desperation.
   Justin and Diana could see Nero step out onto the balcony overlooking the colonnade. His arms stretched high and suddenly the crowd was silent. They could feel each others’ anticipation of the words of the emperor. As a stunned wild beast, all was still, so Nero’s voice was heard clearly.
   He said, “Citizens of Rome! I hear ye. Tirelessly, I have worked to discover the identity of our great enemies. The great enemies that have put fire to the city of Rome. As I have promised to discover the people who are responsible, I promise to bring them to justice. We will rebuild Rome! We will make it better than before! And as a testament of this, I shall kill everyone responsible for this catastrophe; I shall kill every member of the sect of Christians!”
   Cries and cheers resounded in the colonnade and the chaos resumed. This time the people were more violent, as each had a different destination. Diana and Justin were beaten and bruised in the fight, finding it difficult merely to stand. Eventually, Justin grasped Diana’s hand and cut through the crowd. He reached a narrow alley and pulled Diana into it. They stayed there until the crowd finally dispersed.
Meanwhile, Diana said, “I don’t understand. How can it be true?”
    “It isn’t true,” Justin replied, “Someone who hates Christians must have convinced the emperor. Nero is weak and easily swayed. Come now, I must get you to my master’s house; it will be the safest place.”
But, before they could reach Calixtus’ home, a second crowd blocked their way. An angry mob, just like the first, crowded the street with fierce yells of hatred. Involuntarily, Diana and Justin were forced to the fray. Diana could not distinguish what was going on, but Justin saw through the mass of people and suddenly grew white. The people were armed with stones and stood over a Christian slave.
    As the men shouted insults, the slave replied, “In the name of God and Rome I promise you that the allegation is false! The Christians did not start the deadly fire.”
   “Then who did?” asked one man.
   The slave responded, “I saw who started the fire. It was the Praetorian Guard.” He paused to moan as the first stone hit him on his back. “It was Nero himself who ordered that Rome be burned to the ground. The Christians were blamed to satisfy the blood cry of the Romans.”
    More stones were flung at him and the people condemned him for accusing the emperor. The Christian muttered prayers to God as violent curses resounded around him. Justin grabbed Diana’s hand again and forced their way out of the crowd. But, before they were out of earshot, they heard the sound of the fateful stone that silenced the Christian and brought him into the Eternal Kingdom.
   The rest of the journey to Calixtus’ house was eerily quiet. When they arrived, Diana’s eyes were flowing with tears. She sat down upon the cold steps of the ruined courtyard, dirty with dust and sweat. She said, “How can you stand it, Justin? Your people are being murdered in the streets.”
   “It is as it was expected,” Justin replied. He sat down beside her and offered her wine to calm her. “Christ said, ‘Blessed are they who are persecuted for My sake.’ He told us that this day would come.”
   “But, you too will be killed,” she cried. “Surely a belief is not worth your death.”
   Justin smiled down at her and said, “It was worth My Lord’s life to gain salvation for all. Surely it is worth my death for Him. Besides, if a belief is not worth dying for, why trust in it?”
   Diana refused to give up. She grasped his arm and wept, “You must give it up, Justin! I can’t see you die.”
   But, he smiled even more and simply shook his head. Diana looked down at the floor. They had been seated for a little while when she suddenly brushed away her tears, looked up at him, and said, “Then I must come with you. If there is so much faith and love in God, then I must have a share in it.”

        To be continued…