1571 Superb ILLUMINATED WOODCUT MARTYRDOM of FELICITAS

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1571 Superb ILLUMINATED WOODCUT MARTYRDOM of FELICITAS Tobias Stimmer WOODCUT from Rebas BOOK of MARTYRS Superb ILLUMINATED WOODCUT (by Tobias Stimmer ) Illustration 4.6 x 5.8 inches. Leaf 12.5 x 7.9 inches Printed in red and black with fine hand colouring. Full page woodcut to verso. from Rabus, Ludovicus Historien der Martyrer . Gedruckt durch Josiam Rihel, Straßburg 1571. This was the FIRST BOOK OF MARTYRS printed, written by Ludwig Rabus of Memmingen. Among others it contains descriptions of the death of Hendrik of Zutphen (11 December 1524), Willem of Zwolle (29 October 1529), and Leonhard Kaiser (16 August 1527). Perpetua and Felicitas are two 3rd century Christian martyrs venerated as saints. Perpetua was a 22-year old married woman, while her co-martyr Felicitas or Felicity was her slave. They suffered together at Carthage. Their sufferings in prison, the angry and then despairing attempts of Perpetua's father to induce her to renounce Christianity, the vicissitudes of the martyrs before their execution, the visions of Saturus and Perpetua in their dungeons, were all committed to writing by the last two, in a genre of text that is technically called a "Passion." Perpetua and Felicitas suffered martyrdom together with three companions, Revocatus and Saturninus, and Saturus, their teacher. The details of the martyrdom of these five and their visions while in prison survive in both Latin and Greek texts (see below). Saint Perpetua's account is apparently historical; it is the earliest surviving text written by a Christian woman. After a brief introduction (chapters i-ii), the narrative and the visions of Perpetua (iii-1x) are followed by the vision of Saturus (xi-xiii); the account of their deaths, written by an eyewitness, are appended (xiv-xxi). By order of Septimius Severus (193-211), all imperial subjects were forbidden under severe penalties to become Christians or Jews. Only recent converts were affected. In consequence of this decree, these five catechumens at Carthage were seized and cast into prison. After their arrest, and before they were led away to prison, the five catechumens were baptized. According to her "Acts," terrors of their imprisonment were increased for Perpetua by anxiety for her young child, not yet weaned. Two deacons succeeded in gaining admittance by bribing the jailer, and Perpetua's mother brought in her arms the little son, whom Perpetua was permitted to nurse and retain in prison with her, "and straightway I became well and was lightened of my labour and care for the child; and suddenly the prison was made a palace for me." A vision, in which she saw herself treading on a dragon's head and ascending a perilous bronze ladder leading to green meadows, w a flock of sheep was browsing, assured her of her approaching martyrdom. According to the "Acta," a few days later Perpetua's father, hearing that the trial of the imprisoned Christians would soon take place, again visited their dungeon and besought her not to put this disgrace on their name; but Perpetua remained steadfast. The next day the trial of the six confessors took place, before the Procurator Hilarianus. All six resolutely confessed their Christian faith. Perpetua's father, carrying her child in his arms, approached her again and attempted, for the last time, to induce her to apostatize; the procurator also remonstrated with her, but in vain. She refused to sacrifice to the gods for the safety of the emperor. The procurator tupon had the father removed by force; in the process he was struck with a whip. The Christians were then condemned to be torn to pieces by wild beasts, for which they gave thanks to God. In a vision Perpetua saw her brother Dinocrates, who had died unbaptized at the early age of seven, in a place of darkness and distress (similar to the Eastern Orthodox concept of suffering in Hades). She prayed for him and later had a vision of him happy and healthy. (See prayer for the dead). Another apparition, in whic... read more

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