“They are the True Victors”

Contemporary Usage of Early Christian Martyr Rhetoric

Abstract

This paper argues that the description of contemporary Christian martyrs deliberately imitates the rhetoric of early Christian martyr literature to articulate continuity of identity, to render present suffering theologically intelligible, and to consolidate communal memory. It examines how contemporary rhetoric echoes martyrdom accounts from the ancient period as presented in diverse texts such as Eusebius’s History of the Church, Tertullian’s To the Martyrs, the Martyrdom of Polycarp, the Martyrdom of Marian and James, Maccabees, among others with a focus on three key themes: imitation of Christ, the athletic/military contest, and intercessory power. Such rhetoric has been used in papal discourse and narratives crafted by Christian groups to describe contemporary persecutions. This analysis demonstrates how ancient typoi are being deployed to depict modern martyrs as victorious witnesses, spiritual athletes, and heavenly intercessors, shaping Christian imaginaries ahead of the 2025 Jubilee while reinforcing the transhistorical narrative of a persecuted yet triumphant Church.