Sayings of The Holy Fathers On Martyrdom:

I say that martyrs of that time excel all martyrs,for martyrs hitherto have wrestled with men only ,but in the time of antichrist they shall battle with satan in his own person.

St Cyril of Jerusalem

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Blessed is God! In our time as well martyrs have come forth, and we have been made worthy to see people sacrificed for Christ, people who shed their holy blood to irrigate the entire Church. We have been made worthy to see people, advocates of piety, who are victorious, who are crowned… and we now have these crowned ones among us.

St. John Chrysostom

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... we too, beloved brothers, even if ... we do not put up with chains, beatings, prison, other bodily punishments, persecution at the hands of our fellow human beings for righteousness' sake, nevertheless we are capable of receiving the Saviour's chalice and obtaining the palm of martyrdom if we take care to chastise our bodies and subdue them; if we accustom ourselves to supplicating the Lord in the spirit of humility and with a contrite heart, if we attempt to accept with a calm mind insults inflicted by our neighbor; if we rejoice in loving even those who hate us, who inflict injustice upon us, and in doing good to them and praying earnestly for their lives and safety; if we exert ourselves to be adorned with the virtue of patience and also with the fruits of good works. Indeed if we live our lives in this way and, according to the Apostle's words, display our bodies as a living sacrificial offering, holy [and] pleasing to God, He will with heavenly condescension deign to see to it that we are rewarded with the same glory as those who have given their bodies up to death for the Lord's sake. Just as their death is precious in the sight of the Lord, so will our lives become precious [in His sight]...

The Venerable Bede (+735)

Homilies on the Gospels