Category
Martyr & Persecution Sites
The cost of confession, remembered.
Martyr and persecution sites remember Christians who died for their faith, from the Roman arenas to modern memorials. These places of Christian martyrdom carry the hardest and most moving history in the archive — who died there, when, what is preserved on the site and how to visit respectfully.
7 destinations
4/5 SignificanceVatican City, Vatican City
St Peter's Basilica
The biggest church ever built, with Michelangelo's dome over the tomb of Peter the fisherman.
4/5 SignificanceRome, Italy
Catacombs of San Callisto
Long underground tunnels where about half a million early Christians were buried, including nine popes.
4/5 SignificanceWadi El Natrun, Egypt
Wadi El Natrun
The Egyptian desert where monk life began. Four Coptic monasteries still work the same land today.
4/5 SignificanceRome, Italy
Rome
The city where Peter and Paul were killed, and the city that later spread their faith around the world.
3/5 SignificanceCanterbury, United Kingdom
Canterbury Cathedral
In 1170 an archbishop was killed here by four knights. After that it became the most visited holy place in England.
3/5 SignificanceNagasaki, Japan
Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument
In 1597, 26 Christians were killed here for their faith. Japanese Christians then kept their faith secret for 250 years.
2/5 SignificanceRome, Italy
The Colosseum
The huge Roman arena. We are not sure Christians died here, but Rome did kill many Christians for their faith.