In a message dated 12-8-1999 6:05:13 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
> Still commemorated on this day by the Orthodox Churches.
>
> "The Seven Macchabean Martyrs: Avim, Antoninus, Gurias, Eleazar,
> Eusebon, Alim and Marcellus, their mother Solomonina and their teacher
> Eleazar"
>
> Fr Ambrose
>
Thank you Fr Ambrose. The names are not quite what I expected. Are these the
seven sons of the high priest Mattathias (one is named Judas Maccabeus) who
fight (BC 176-161) against Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 2 Maccabees? Or is it
seven Catholic saints of a later period who were similarly admired for their
steadfastness in defence of their faith?
I don't have any ideological reasons for asking so many questions about this.
It's just that Dante refers to 2 Maccabbees in each of the three Canticas of
the Commedia, and I'm trying to understand why he (or any Christian of that
day) would have given it that much importance.
Does the Orthodox Bible include the same books as the Roman Catholic Bible?
pat sloane
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