Flora and Maria
Encyclopedia
Flora and Maria were the first two of nine female Christian
Martyrs of Córdoba
. After denouncing Islam to an Islamic judge
they were imprisoned. Though threatened "with being thrown upon the streets as prostitutes", they were eventually beheaded
. Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.
until she bled
. After the whipping the half-alive girl was released to the custody of her brother. When her wounds healed she ran away to join a Christian community. Flora met Maria at the church of St. Aciscius.
mother. Her mother was baptized some time after she got married. Fearing the charges of apostasy, the couple with their two children left the town they lived in, Elche and moved to the village of Fronianus. Maria lost her mother at a young age. Her father sent her to convent
in Cuteclara. The convent’s abbess
Artemia, told Maria a story about witnessing the execution of her two sons by the Muslim rulers that happened thirty years earlier. The story had a long-lasting impression on the girl. Maria’s older brother Walabonsus also got a religious education, at the monastery
of St. Felix. The siblings, who were separated when Maria was sent to a convent and Walabonsus to the monastery, met again when Walabonsus was appointed to Maria’s convent as one of the supervisors. On July 16, 851, Walabonsus was executed by Muslim authorities. The execution of her brother and the story of Artemia were the major factors that prompted Maria to follow in her brother’s footsteps.
together. They did so to an Islamic judge
, and were imprisoned.
In jail Flora was offered a full pardon
if she "returned" to Islam, but she explained that the only beliefs she had ever held were those of the Christian faith. This explanation was not accepted because, according to Islamic law, a child born to even one Muslim parent should have adopted Islam as his or her religion. Sabigotho used to visit Flora and Maria in jail and once spent a night in their cell "as if she herself were shackled, not only to console the two soldiers, but to confide in them her own intention to die".
In accordance with Islamic law
Flora and Maria were found guilty of two different crimes. Flora was executed for apostasy
, and Maria was executed for blasphemy
. Before the executions the young women were threatened "with being thrown upon the streets as prostitutes", which was an unbearable punishment for the virgins. They were beheaded
on November 24, 851.
Martyrs of Córdoba
described by Eulogius of Córdoba
in his Memorial of the Saints. Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Martyrs of Córdoba
Martyrs of Córdoba
The Martyrs of Córdoba were forty-eight Christian martyrs living in the 9th century Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus, in what is now southern Spain; their hagiography describes in detail their executions for deliberately sought capital violations of Muslim law in Al-Andalus...
. After denouncing Islam to an Islamic judge
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
they were imprisoned. Though threatened "with being thrown upon the streets as prostitutes", they were eventually beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
. Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.
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 kept trying to make Flora adopt Islam; when his efforts failed, he gave his sister up to the authorities. Flora was imprisoned and condemned to be lashedWhip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
until she bled
Bleeding
Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging or haemorrhaging is the loss of blood or blood escape from the circulatory system...
. After the whipping the half-alive girl was released to the custody of her brother. When her wounds healed she ran away to join a Christian community. Flora met Maria at the church of St. Aciscius.
Maria
Maria was born to a Christian father and MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
mother. Her mother was baptized some time after she got married. Fearing the charges of apostasy, the couple with their two children left the town they lived in, Elche and moved to the village of Fronianus. Maria lost her mother at a young age. Her father sent her to convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Cuteclara. The convent’s abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
Artemia, told Maria a story about witnessing the execution of her two sons by the Muslim rulers that happened thirty years earlier. The story had a long-lasting impression on the girl. Maria’s older brother Walabonsus also got a religious education, at the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of St. Felix. The siblings, who were separated when Maria was sent to a convent and Walabonsus to the monastery, met again when Walabonsus was appointed to Maria’s convent as one of the supervisors. On July 16, 851, Walabonsus was executed by Muslim authorities. The execution of her brother and the story of Artemia were the major factors that prompted Maria to follow in her brother’s footsteps.
Arrest, imprisonment, sentence and execution
Flora and Maria met at the church of St. Aciscius, and decided to denounce IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
together. They did so to an Islamic judge
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
, and were imprisoned.
In jail Flora was offered a full pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
if she "returned" to Islam, but she explained that the only beliefs she had ever held were those of the Christian faith. This explanation was not accepted because, according to Islamic law, a child born to even one Muslim parent should have adopted Islam as his or her religion. Sabigotho used to visit Flora and Maria in jail and once spent a night in their cell "as if she herself were shackled, not only to console the two soldiers, but to confide in them her own intention to die".
In accordance with Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
Flora and Maria were found guilty of two different crimes. Flora was executed for apostasy
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
, and Maria was executed for blasphemy
Islam and blasphemy
Blasphemy in Islam is any irreverent behavior toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs that Muslims revere. The Quran and the hadith do not speak about blasphemy. Jurists created the offence, and they made it part of Sharia. Where Sharia pertains, the penalties for...
. Before the executions the young women were threatened "with being thrown upon the streets as prostitutes", which was an unbearable punishment for the virgins. They were beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
on November 24, 851.
Legacy
Flora and Maria were the first two of nine females ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Martyrs of Córdoba
Martyrs of Córdoba
The Martyrs of Córdoba were forty-eight Christian martyrs living in the 9th century Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus, in what is now southern Spain; their hagiography describes in detail their executions for deliberately sought capital violations of Muslim law in Al-Andalus...
described by Eulogius of Córdoba
Eulogius of Córdoba
Saint Eulogius of Córdoba was one of the Martyrs of Córdoba. He flourished during the reigns of the Cordovan emirs Abd-er-Rahman II and Muhammad I .-Birth:...
in his Memorial of the Saints. Their example inspired other Christians to become martyrs.