The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.
— Tertullian, Apologeticum 50
After the fire of Rome in the year 64, Emperor Nero blamed the Christians and had them executed en masse – in arenas, on crosses and as living torches. We do not know their names, but their faithfulness laid the foundations of the Church in Rome. Nameless heroes live in God's memory.