Day of the Christian Martyr: 7 notable Christian martyrdoms

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

The mass crucifixion at Nagasaki

A memorial in Nagasaki, Japan dedicated to 26 Christians who were martyred in 1597.
A memorial in Nagasaki, Japan dedicated to 26 Christians who were martyred in 1597. | (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Alex Tora)

As the once fractured Japan became unified under one government during the 16th century, the nation became hostile to foreigners, including the many Catholic priests and missionaries who had arrived to evangelize.

Under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, chief minister to the emperor, 26 Christians, including six foreign missionaries and 20 Japanese, were crucified in the city of Nagasaki.

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The mass execution marked the beginning of a long period of persecution for Japanese Christians that lasted well into the 19th century. In the 20th century, a memorial was erected for the 26 martyrs.

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