Saints Abdon and Sennen

"S. Abdon et Sennen Martyrum" refers to Saints Abdon and Sennen, who are recognized by the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church as Christian martyrs⁴. Here's some information about them:

- **Origins**: They are described as Persian nobles.

- **Martyrdom**: They suffered martyrdom under Decius, around A.D. 250.

- **Veneration**: They are venerated with a feast day on July 30. In some places, they have been honored on March 20, and the first Sunday of May.

- **Acts**: Their Acts, written mostly before the 9th century, describe them as Persian nobles who were captured and taken to Rome during a military campaign in the third century. There, they became slaves, converted to Christianity, and helped bury the Christian dead. They came to the attention of Emperor Decius who had them taken in chains before the Roman Senate, where they refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and so were dismembered by gladiators in the Colosseum.

- **Burial**: The Roman Martyrology indicates that they were buried on July 30 in the Cemetery of Pontianus on the Via Portuensis, outside Rome.

- **Patronage**: They are the patrons of children, invoked for good harvest, burying the dead, coopers, Pescia; Sahagún, León; Calasparra.

- **Capture and Conversion**: They were captured and taken to Rome during a military campaign in the third century¹. There, they became slaves and converted to Christianity.

- **Service to the Christian Community**: They committed themselves to caring for Christian martyrs and properly interring their bodies.

- **Arrest and Trial**: Once discovered by the Roman authorities, Abdon and Sennen were arrested and commanded to pay homage to idols. They refused and even spat upon the idols in contempt of anything other than the true religion.

- **Imprisonment and Torture**: They were imprisoned and tortured until the Emperor returned to Rome.

- **Martyrdom in the Colosseum**: Abdon and Sennen were then thrown before the wild beasts in the arena, but the animals miraculously refused to attack despite the urging of the keepers. Finally, gladiators were sent into the amphitheater to dispatch the two faithful Persians by the sword.

- **Burial**: A Christian named Quirinus rescued and buried their bodies, which were eventually reinterred with honor during the reign of the Emperor Constantine.

Please note that their Acts, written for the most part prior to the ninth century. The historical accuracy of these accounts is uncertain.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_%281913%29/Sts._Abdon_and_Sennen. (1) Abdon and Sennen - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdon_and_Sennen.

(2) Abdon and Sennen, Saints | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia. https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/abdon-and-sennen-saints.

(3) The Daily Mass: SS. Abdon & Sennen, Martyrs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjfTi1Y4v4g.

(4) Saint of the Day — July 30 — Saint Abdon and Saint Sennen #saintoftheday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNGfA5-_TZQ. (5) Ss. Abdon & Sennen (30 July). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb4zupybWR0.

(6) The Daily Mass: SS. Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFF8B-q5FLo.

(7) Guillaume Courtois | Abdon and Sennen carrying the early Christian .... https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/819341.

(8) undefined. https://sensusfidelium.us/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/july/july-30-sts-abdon-and-sennen-martyrs/. (9) undefined. https://www.tanbooks.com/.

(10) undefined. https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc.

(11) Sts. Abdon and Sennen - CatholiCity.com. https://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/a/abdon_and_sennen.html. (12) Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Sts. Abdon and Sennen.