St Rufina and St Secunda
Celebrated on July 10th
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The Martyrdom of St Rufina and St Secunda by Giovanni Battista Crespi (1620-1625)
These early Christian saints were the daughters of Asterius, a Roman senator. He arranged for them to marry Armentarius and Verinus and, because all four were Christian, the matches seemed perfect.
However, when the Emperor began persecuting Christians, the two young men renounced their faith. The women refused to do this and ran away. They were captured and scourged at the orders of a prefect named Junus Donatus, before being beheaded.
A pagan lady named Plautilla buried their bodies in a spot called the Black Forest outside Rome. It was renamed the White Forest after the sisters. A church was built in their honour.
(from ICN)
Celebrated on July 10th
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
The Martyrdom of St Rufina and St Secunda by Giovanni Battista Crespi (1620-1625)
These early Christian saints were the daughters of Asterius, a Roman senator. He arranged for them to marry Armentarius and Verinus and, because all four were Christian, the matches seemed perfect.
However, when the Emperor began persecuting Christians, the two young men renounced their faith. The women refused to do this and ran away. They were captured and scourged at the orders of a prefect named Junus Donatus, before being beheaded.
A pagan lady named Plautilla buried their bodies in a spot called the Black Forest outside Rome. It was renamed the White Forest after the sisters. A church was built in their honour.
(from ICN)