Flora and Maria
Flora and María were the first two of nine female
Flora
Flora was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father. Her father died when she was still very young, and Flora was brought up as a Christian. Her Muslim older brother tried in vain to convert Flora to Islam, eventually surrendering his sister to the authorities. Flora was imprisoned and a Muslim scholar was appointed to teach her about Islam, but she managed to escape and fled towards the Christian settlements.
María
María was born to a Christian father and
María's older brother, Walabonsus, also received a religious education at the monastery of Saint Felix. The siblings, who were separated when María was sent to the convent and Walabonsus to the monastery, met again when Walabonsus was appointed one of the supervisors of María's convent. Walabonsus was executed by Muslim authorities on 16 July 851, and his martyrdom along with Artemia's story drove María to follow in her brother's footsteps.[2][5]
Imprisonment and martyrdom
Flora and María met at the church of Saint Acisclus.[2][5] and decided to denounce Islam together.[2][5] They did so before a Qadi (Islamic judge) and were subsequently imprisoned.[1]
In jail, Flora was offered a full
In accordance with Shari'a law, Flora and María were found guilty of two different crimes: Flora was executed for
Their bodies were left in the open for a day then thrown into the river. The body of Mary was recovered and taken to the convent, that of Flora was never recovered. Their heads were buried at the church of St Acisilus in Cordoba.[6]
Legacy
Flora and María were the first two of nine female Martyrs of Córdoba described by Eulogius of Córdoba in his Memorial of the Saints.[1] Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.[2][3]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4510-0752-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kenneth Baxter Wolf. "The Martyrs of Córdoba".
- ^ ISBN 9780815313922.
- ^ "Roman Martyrology November, in English".
- ^ ISBN 9780700715640.
- ^ Charles Fell; Richard Challoner (1750). The Lives of Saints: Collected from Authentick Records of Church History ... T. Osborne. pp. 251–4.