 |
| St. Martin I in chains during his exile in Cherson |
A steadfast defender of Christian orthodoxy, Martin opposed Monothelitism, a heretical doctrine that taught Christ possessed only one will rather than both a divine and human will. In 649, he convened the Lateran Council in Rome, which condemned the teaching and reaffirmed the Church’s traditional doctrine.
His defiance angered Emperor Constans II, who ordered his arrest in 653. Seized in Rome, Martin was taken to Constantinople, where he was imprisoned, humiliated, and condemned on charges of treason. Although initially sentenced to death, he was eventually exiled to Cherson in Crimea, where he died in 655 after enduring severe deprivation.
Remembered as the last pope to suffer martyrdom, St. Martin I remains a symbol of unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution. Evviva San Martino I!
In celebration of his feast, we offer this prayer:
St. Martin I, faithful servant and courageous defender of the truth, pray for us. Help us to speak and act with boldness when our faith is tested. Inspire us to endure difficulties with trust in God and to hold fast to what is true, no matter the cost. May your example strengthen us to live as faithful witnesses to Christ in our daily lives. Amen.
