Examining Martyrdom and Its Relevance Today

Stories of martyrs for the faith are woven into the fabric of the Church. But what did the Church Fathers teach about martyrdom, and how relevant is the topic today?

These are some of the key concepts addressed by Dr. Katherine E. Milco, Ph.D., on January 30, 2024, in her discussion entitled "Patristic Conceptions of Martyrdom and Their Relevance Today." This talk was part of the ongoing series of Patristic Talks organized by the Pontifical Faculty of Theology at St. Augustine’s Seminary.

Dr. Milco, Assistant Professor of Classics and Early Christian Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Wisconsin, explored patristic conceptions of martyrdom before the rise of Emperor Constantine. She examined how the Church Fathers defined martyrdom and why they considered it so important.

Focusing her research on patristic and medieval conceptions of sanctity, especially martyrdom, Dr. Milco also assessed the relevance of the Church Fathers' ideas on martyrdom in today's context of contemporary global events.

You can view Dr. Milco’s full talk below.

Please join us for our final talk in the Divina Eloquia series this year: https://staugustines.on.ca/events-listing/patristic-talk-feb2024.

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