Beauty of the Faith: The True Story of Saint Febronia Virgin-Martyr of Nisibis | CWJS041 CWP097
•Cloud of Witnesses cast and crew•Episode 97
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Stories of extraordinary courage often emerge from history's darkest moments. Around 300 AD, as Emperor Diocletian unleashed what would become one of Christianity's most brutal persecutions, a young woman's faith illuminated the gathering darkness.
Febronia possessed such remarkable beauty that suitors flocked to her door, none more persistent than Lysimachus, nephew of a high-ranking Roman official. What drew him wasn't merely her appearance but something deeper—a grace and humility absent in the pagan women of his acquaintance. Unknown to him, these qualities flowed from Febronia's secret Christian faith.
When faced with an imminent marriage proposal, Febronia made the unthinkable choice to abandon her comfortable life, fleeing eastward to her aunt's convent in Nisibis. There, her beauty proved so distracting that she read scripture from behind a curtain—a fitting metaphor for how true beauty remains hidden from worldly eyes. Meanwhile, Diocletian's deadly edict against Christians sent Lysimachus's uncle Silenus on a bloody campaign that would inevitably lead to the convent's door.
The confrontation between Febronia and Silenus reveals the power of unwavering conviction. Offered the chance to save herself by either denouncing Christ or keeping her faith private in marriage, she refused both: "I will not enter into marriage with a mortal man." Her martyrdom carried more power than her life, ultimately converting Lysimachus and many soldiers who witnessed her courage.
This forgotten tale reminds us that sometimes our greatest influence comes not from what we achieve but what we're willing to sacrifice. In a world that still values appearances and compromise, would we stand as firmly for what we believe?
It was a time of tremendous and terrible persecution of the church. The year is 300 AD, and Emperor Diocletian has made a name for himself murdering and exiling Christians, the seemingly unconquerable virus of his empire, as he saw it.
Speaker 3:
Few Roman emperors are as true to the Roman gods as is our Diocletian. He stops at nothing to wipe the superstition from the face of the earth. Christianity and good riddance too. They're atheists, you know. They deserve all they get for denying our Roman gods. I dare say they deserve to die. My gentle nephew Lysimachus, why so dour in the corner, come have a drink with us. Stop your womanly scribblings and come carouse like a man.
Speaker 5:
Fairer than any flower. No daughter of any king can compare. No, no, no daughter of goddess, venus herself compares. Oh, oh, beautiful angel, febronia, febronia. How is it that I can think of nothing but you?
Speaker 3:
Lysimachus.
Speaker 5:
Coming uncle Febronia, if I asked for your delicate hand.
Speaker 3:
Nephew, I can see you're writing more love poems to Febinia.
Speaker 5:
Febronia.
Speaker 3:
Well, you certainly have set your sights high, my boy. She's a beauty indeed. Febinia has the attention of many a suitors, or so is all the talk. Febronia.
Speaker 6:
Little did Lysimachus know, that Silenius himself harbored ill imaginings.
Speaker 3:
Let me see if I can talk to your father for you. He's no senator like Fabinia's father, but your father is still of high rank, a nobleman. Perhaps we can get something arranged.
Speaker 5:
Hebronia.
Speaker 1:
Though Lysimachus was a pagan and had no interest in the Christian faith, he saw in Fabinia not mere physical beauty, but a beauty of soul, a grace and humility that he thought came only from Febronia's heart or personality, something that he never witnessed in the pagan women of his society, flaunting and petty.
Speaker 6:
Little did Lysimachus know that Febronia's chief beauty flowed from her faith a life dedicated to denying herself and serving God above all.
Speaker 7:
Your sisters can't help but be jealous, dear Febronia. They stopped even acting excited. When a young man comes calling to our home, they know, whichever boy it is, he's here to see you.
Speaker 1:
I don't wish that any would come calling Mother Febronia, under her robes moved a small prayer rope saying to herself, over and over Kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison. That is, lord, have mercy, lord have mercy.
Speaker 8:
Lord, have mercy. You and Lysimachus seem to get along quite well.
Speaker 7:
He's a good friend, he's nice, yes, and kind he's nice, he's kind. My dear daughter, sometimes that's all a woman can hope for in marriage. Your only alternative is to go live out in the desert with those nuns. What my sister was thinking I'll never know. Anyway, I know you don't want that. What a waste of your beauty that would be.
Speaker 8:
Christ Jesus, you know my heart, you know my fears. Help me to do your will. Give me courage, show me your path for me. I know you have not called me to a marriage with a non-believing man, but I see no other options before me.
Speaker 7:
Vibronia. Is that a tear in your eye? Come now, my daughter. If you knew how many young women weep for wanting your beauty, you'd never cry again. Come, don't stain that gorgeous face with tears. Lysimachus is coming by today with an announcement.
Speaker 8:
An announcement.
Speaker 7:
Kitty.
Speaker 8:
A Lyson.
Speaker 7:
Mm-hmm, you know he's the son of a nobleman, very wealthy.
Speaker 6:
Lysimachus arrives sometime later and, after pleasantries with the family, now walks with Febronia in the courtyard. Lysimachus has been fumbling some small papyrus sheets in his hand. He seems rather nervous.
Speaker 5:
Febronia I. I he seems rather nervous. Febronia I.
Speaker 8:
May the prayers of the Virgin Mary be with me.
Speaker 5:
I I don't know how to say what to say you are, I mean. I have never seen a woman as captivating as you. I love you, Febronia, with all my heart.
Speaker 8:
Oh Yay.
Speaker 7:
Excellent Febronia excellent oh yes, yes, yes, of course, lysimachus, you and my daughter will make such a pair.
Speaker 1:
Whether anyone noticed or not, febronia, feeling dizzy and utterly confused, sits down praying in a whisper.
Speaker 8:
God help me, God help me, God help me.
Speaker 6:
Whether it was in this moment, history may never know. Febronia decided to leave the comforts of her home life, to give it all up to flee in the night, leaving into the east. The decision that would forever change her life.
Speaker 1:
That night, when all the house was sleeping, fabronia gathered all of her things that she could carry for a long travel, taking what money she may need and little else, and left her home never to return. Sleeping Febronia gathered all of her things that she could carry for a long travel, taking what money she may need and little else, and left her home never to return.
Speaker 8:
Please, sir, pass the shoe with Syria. Why do you cover your face? So, Sir, please just pass the shoe with Syria.
Speaker 6:
How many arduous days and chilly nights, the long weeks or even months it took Febronia to travel, this story does not tell. But at last she arrived in Nisibis, at the convent of Abbas Braina, febronia's aunt, her mother's sister.
Speaker 7:
Dear Febronia, Lord, hear our prayer, my sister's daughter. What brings you? What has?
Speaker 8:
happened. I will not marry another. I will not be betrothed. I have given my life to Christ, christ, and I will have no other. I will have no other but Christ.
Speaker 1:
Some weeks later, back in the capital of the empire, Rome. Though little was known, it slowly became apparent over the weeks that followed that Febronia had traveled into the east. Slowly became apparent over the weeks that followed that Febronia had traveled into the East. Laura, having her suspicions that her daughter fell ill along the lines of her sister Brianna, kept it to herself so as to not draw any negative attention to her family.
Speaker 2:
I will seek an assignment in the East.
Speaker 6:
Perhaps my uncle can help arrange an audience with the Emperor. The story of the strange disappearance of the most beautiful maiden in the land caused a stir in the community and through these rumors and gossiping, word that Febronia may have held to the Christian faith began to emerge, even reaching the ears of the emperor Diocletian.
Speaker 1:
Without telling. Lysimachus, Silenus did in fact arrange an audience with the emperor, but it was of a very different nature.
Speaker 3:
Domine meus imperator, diocletianus, my lord, I wish to go and take the flat beauty as my own, If you so allow it. I will do your will on my travels, whatever they may be.
Speaker 4:
I've allowed the assignment of your nephew to travel into the East. He was fond of that young woman, I dare say too fond. Many say she was of that Jesus superstition, which makes me think he was too. All too possible. My lord, I grant you license to go and take her back, silenus, but the price for her will be that along the way you will drive out and wipe out any trace of Christians you come across.
Speaker 3:
Yes, my lord History will remember and celebrate their annihilation.
Speaker 4:
For too long have we tolerated their religion. This very day, I have issued an edict recalling all protections once given to Christians. From this day forward, all Christians are enemies of the Empire. I want that virus eradicated. You'll be escorted by a squadron of my troops. Use them effectively.
Speaker 3:
It will be done as you say, Dominemius.
Speaker 8:
Of course I will pray for your goat's milk this spring. And yes, please, may I purchase this bag of figs for the convent?
Speaker 4:
Please, this is free of charge today.
Speaker 8:
No, no, no, I will pay, I insist. God bless you, brother.
Speaker 1:
In this convent, they adhered to the rule that every Friday be spent only in prayer and the reading of the sacred books, without any other type of work the sacred books without any other type of work.
Speaker 7:
I see that when Febronia reads, far too many sisters and visitors are distracted and captivated by the beauty of her face.
Speaker 6:
Thus, from that point forward, Brianna had Febronia read the sacred books to the convent while she was hidden behind a curtain.
Speaker 1:
books to the convent while she was hidden behind a curtain, Silenus began a march of terror at the emperor's orders.
Speaker 3:
Everywhere he went on his way east he would cunningly seek out Christians and once found, he'd have them executed on the spot. Be sure you ask them all. If you have seen one Febronia, Any word of her, bring her to me at once.
Speaker 6:
Kill the Christians otherwise, as Silenus marched on eastward, he thought that his efforts were succeeding, for he was finding fewer and fewer Christians each town he entered.
Speaker 1:
Lysimachus, having heard of his uncle's mission against the Christians, had begun bravely seeking out the Christians first, warning them to flee or at least hide. Many times Lysimachus bravely hid Christians right under the nose of his very own uncle. Bravely hid Christians right under the nose of his very own uncle.
Speaker 2:
What? Who are you? Listen to me quickly. I come in peace, but others soon come behind me who do not. What are you talking about? Please leave everything behind. Flee to the mountains now. Flee to the hills. What about our family? Tell only your closest family, whom you trust Now go. Your lives are in danger.
Speaker 1:
Why shouldn't we listen to you?
Speaker 2:
My uncle leads a squadron of imperial troops. The March of Terror yes, the ones you've heard about. They are killing Christians wantonly. Please go, take your family now, get the children Set everything up Make room.
Speaker 4:
Halt here, men. We're here to search these premises.
Speaker 5:
I've searched all through here. There aren't any Christians here. None, you can move on.
Speaker 6:
And so it was that Lysimachus protected many Christians against the diabolical plot to exterminate them, even at the hand of his very uncle.
Speaker 1:
In the year 310, as the providence of God would have it, Silenus' march of terror came to the town of Nisibis.
Speaker 3:
Captain Silenus, we have received word that there is a certain nun in this town who reads from behind a curtain. Because of how beautiful she is, that must be her. That must be Febronia. Bring her to me.
Speaker 6:
Febronia refused to be brought before Silenus. So Silenus went to her and, getting past the brave Brianna, your swords may cut and kill here, but the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords will come and judge all and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Speaker 1:
Silenus found Febronia in the quiet of her cell and he interrogated her. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Speaker 3:
My, you are a pretty thing, aren't you? Even with your crazy mumblings, the beauty who ran away from the choice of any man she desired, who fled wealth and honor to come live like this. I've come to set you free. I don't know what you've heard about my travels here, about the edict, but it should not affect you. No, not you. I am not here to hurt you, febronia, I am here to save you, jesus.
Speaker 8:
the Christ is my savior.
Speaker 3:
Beautiful but foolish. You have a choice before you. Pretty thing One. Denounce this Jesus and I will let you live, and I will even let you marry my nephew and I will let you live and I will even let you marry my nephew. Simply denounce this Christ as a lie before the emperor.
Speaker 8:
The devil is a liar, yet every word that proceeds from Christ is life.
Speaker 3:
Or two. Marry me, febronia, I'll take you away from here. I will not hurt you. Marry me as long as you never speak of it and it remains only in your mind. Believe anything, any superstition you want, but marry me.
Speaker 8:
I will not enter into marriage with a mortal man.
Speaker 3:
Then you have chosen death.
Speaker 8:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anointed my head with oil. My cup runs over Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Speaker 3:
What? Where am I? What is happening? Ah, you have failed us. Silenus, you useless vessel.
Speaker 6:
Silenus, in a demonic fit, slammed his head against a marble pillar and fell to death.
Speaker 1:
Hours too late, Lysimachus arrives to find the convent empty. Most of the nuns had fled after the death of Selenus, only to come back once they knew that it was safe. Lysimachus looking upon the corpse of the woman he loved had his heart softened, he ordered that Febronia's body be honorably buried at the convent.
Speaker 6:
He and many other soldiers gave their life to Christ and were baptized that day. Holy Martyr, febronia, pray to God for us.
