The martyrs of Otranto with 800 beheadings are an example of faith and courage
Today we want to talk to you about the history of the 813 martyrs of Otranto a terrible and bloody episode in the history of the Christian Church. In 1480, the city of Otranto was invaded by the Turkish army, led by Gedik Ahmet Pasha, who was trying to expand his dominions over the Mediterranean.
Despite the resistance of the Otranto people, the siege lasted 15 days and in the end the city fell under Turkish bombardment. What followed was a massacre without mercy: men over fifteen were killed, while women and children were taken as slaves.
On 14 August 1480, Gedik Ahmet Pasha led the survivors onto the Minerva hill. Here he asked them to renounce the Christian faith, but faced with their refusal he decided to behead them in front of their relatives. That day they were more than 800 Otrantins martyredthe. The first to be beheaded was an old tailor named Antonio Pezzulla, known as Il Primaldo. According to legend, his headless body remained standing until the martyrdom of the last of the Otranto people.
The canonization of the martyrs of Otranto
Despite the brutality of the episode, the story of the martyrs of Otranto has been recognized as an example of courage and devotion. In the 1771, Pope Clement XIV he declared the people of Otranto killed on the Minerva hill blessed and their devotional cult grew rapidly. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI recognized Antonio Primaldo and his fellow citizens as martyrs of the faith and he also recognized a miracle attributed to them, the healing of a nun.
Finally Pope Francis canonized the martyrs of Otranto, officially declaring them saints. Every year, on August 13, the city of Otranto celebrates the courage and devotion of its heroes and holy martyrs.
The story of the martyrs of Otranto reminds us that, even in more recent times, the Christian Church has had to face persecution and violence in the name of faith. The sacrifice of the martyrs of Otranto also reminds us of the importance of remain faithful to our beliefs and to fight for our religious freedom, even in the face of terrible events.