Blandina

Blandina
The sufferings of the martyrs of Lyons and Vienne (Pothinus and Companions) during Marcus Aurelius' persecution of Christians included being ostracized (excluded from various public places) then insulted and stoned, and finally imprisoned.. Among these martyrs was a slave named Blandina, who derived strength from saying, " I am a Christian and mothing vile is done amongst us" She was hung on a stake in an amphitheater. Looking like one crucified, Blandina prayed fervently and thus strengthened the other christians. When the beasts would not harm her, she was imprisioned again and made to watch her companions being tortured. Finally she was brought out with a youth named Ponticus. both refused to swear by idols and were tortured. Ponticus was encouraged by Blandina; he persevered until death. Then Blandina died triumphantly "as if she had been summoned to a marriage feast". After the scourges, after the wild animals, after the frying pan, she was thrown at last into a net and exposed to a bull....the heathen themselves confessing that they had never known a woman to show such endurance.