07 Works, Today, June 17th, is martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ismael's day, their story in Paintings #168

Unknown artist

The Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ismael

The Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ismael, brothers by birth, were descended from an illustrious Persian family. Their father was a pagan, but their mother was a Christian, who baptized the children and raised them with firm faith in Christ.

Unknown artist

The brothers entered military service

When they reached adulthood, the brothers entered military service. Speaking on behalf of the Persian emperor Shapur II. they were his emissaries in concluding a peace treaty with the emperor Julian the Apostate. Julian received them with due honor and showed them his favor. But when the brothers refused to take part in a pagan sacrifice, Julian became angry. He annulled the treaty and incarcerated the ambassadors of a foreign country like common criminals.

Terje Adler Mørk, b. 1949

Julian the Apostate's Dionysian Procession

180 x 155 cms | 70 3/4 x 61 ins

Oil on canvas

ARC Affiliated Artists

Terje Adler Mork was born in Odda, Norway in 1949. He has a background within IT and programming from Bergen and later in Sarpsborg where he moved in 1987. In 2001 he quit working with computers and started painting full time. His favourite subject is the study of the human figure and to recreate it as thinking psychological beings. More on Terje Adler Mork

At the interrogation he told them that if they scorned the gods he worshipped, it would be impossible to reach any peace or accord between the two sides. The holy brothers answered that they were sent as emissaries of their emperor on matters of state, and not to argue about “gods.” Seeing their firmness of faith, the emperor ordered the brothers to be tortured.

They beat the holy martyrs, then nailed their hands and feet to trees. Later, they drove iron spikes into their heads, and wedged sharp splinters under their fingernails and toenails. During this time of torment, the saints glorified God and prayed as if they did not feel the tortures.

Unknown artist

The holy martyrs were beheaded

Finally, the holy martyrs were beheaded. Julian ordered their bodies to be burned, and suddenly there was an earthquake. The ground opened up and the bodies of the holy martyrs disappeared into the abyss. After two days of fervent prayer by the Christians, the earth returned the bodies of the holy brothers, from which a sweet fragrance issued forth. Many pagans, witnessing the miracle, came to believe in Christ and were baptized.

Christians reverently buried the bodies of the holy martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ismael in the year 362. Since that time the relics of the holy passion-bearers have been glorified with miracles.

The battle of Ctesiphon 

When he heard about the murder of his emissaries, and that Julian was marching against him with a vast army, the Persian emperor Shapur II mustered his army and started off toward the border of his domain. 

Unknown artist

Saint Mercurius killing Julian

The Persians vanquished the Greeks in a great battle, and Julian the Apostate was killed by the holy Great Martyr Mercurius. More on the Martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ismael

Luca Giordano

The death of Julian the Apostate

Chromolithograph

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Luca Giordano (18 October 1634 – 12 January 1705) was an Italian late Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain.

Born in Naples, Giordano was the son of the painter Antonio Giordano. In around 1650 he was apprenticed to Ribera, and his early work was heavily influenced by his teacher. Like Ribera, he painted many half-length figures of philosophers, either imaginary portraits of specific figures, or generic types.

He acquired the nickname Luca fa presto, which translates into "Luca paints quickly." His speed, in design as well as handiwork, and his versatility, which enabled him to imitate other painters deceptively, earned for him two other epithets, "The Thunderbolt" (Fulmine) and "The Proteus" of painting.

Following a period studying in Rome, Parma and Venice, Giordano developed an elaborate Baroque style fusing Venetian and Roman Influences. His mature work combines the ornamental pomp of Paul Veronese with the lively complex schemes, the "grand manner", of Pietro da Cortona. He is also noted for his lively and showy use of colour. More Luca Giordano

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