Bademus (also known as Bademe
and Vadim) was a rich, noble citizen of
Bethlapeta in
Persia, who founded a monastery nearby. He and some of his disciples were arrested and Bademus was
martyred in the year 376; he was subsequently recognized as a saint.
Martyrology
In the thirty-sixth year of
Shapur II's
persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another individual or group. The most common forms are religious persecution, racism, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these term ...
, Bademus was arrested with seven of his
monks. For months, he lay in chains in a dungeon. At the same time, a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
lord named Nersan,
Prince of Aria, was also imprisoned because he refused to convert to
Zoroastrianism. At first, he appeared resolved to keep the faith, but at the sight of tortures he gave in, and promised to conform. In order to test Nersan's sincerity, King Shapur ordered that Bademus be moved into Nersan's cell, which was actually a chamber in the royal palace. Shapur further instructed Nersan that if he would kill Bademus, his princely rights and dignities would be restored.
Nersan accepted the conditions. A
sword
A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
was placed in his hand, and he advanced so as to plunge it into the abbot's chest. However, he was seized with a sudden terror, so he stopped short, and was unable to lift up his arm to strike for some time. Even so, he attempted to harden himself, and continued, trembling, to aim at Bademus' sides. A combination of fear, shame, remorse, and respect made his strokes weak and unsteady. The martyr's wounds were so numerous that the bystanders are said to have been in admiration of his invincible
patience.
The resolute martyr chided his torturer, saying, "Unhappy Nersan, to what a pitch of
impiety do you carry your
apostasy. With joy I run to meet
death; but could wish to fall by some other hand than yours: why must you be my
executioner?"
It took four strokes for Nersan to successfully separate Bademus' head from his body. A short time after, Nersan committed
suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
. The body of Saint Bademus was cast out of the city by the
Sassanids, but was carried away and buried in secret by the Christians. His disciples were released from their chains in 379, after the death of King Shapur.
See also
*
Martyrs of Persia under Shapur II
References
External links
Hagiography from Butler's "Lives of the Saints," 1864Saint of the Day - Bademus of Persia, Abbot M (AC)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bademus
Persian saints
People executed by the Sasanian Empire
Christians in the Sasanian Empire
376 deaths
Converts to Christianity from Zoroastrianism
4th-century Christian saints
Year of birth unknown