26 February 2018

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 11 - Boniface of Tarsus

Not related to any of the popes by that name, Boniface was said to be a slave in Rome who may have been his female owner's lover. They discovered Christianity at the same time, and Boniface was sent to Tarsus by his owner to find relics to bring back to her. Once in Tarsus, seeing the persecution of Christians, he publicly proclaimed his faith and was martyred. His body was returned home, making his remains the relics he was sent to Tarsus to get, kind of a homicidal Gift of the Magi.

It's quite the story, and as is the case for so many early saints it appears to be just that. Without any supporting evidence of Boniface's martyrdom he was removed from the calendar, and from the Roman Martyrology. He is still venerated in Orthodox Christianity, so he's got that going for him.

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