Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist Martyrs
For my congregation’s Day of the Dead service on Sunday I am reading a list of Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist martyrs. The list includes a number of proto-Unitarians or proto-Universalists. I include these people because they were killed because they held a unitarian or universalist theology. My source for this list is primarily This Day In Unitarian Universalist History by Frank Schulman (who, following up on my last post, had Jewish ancestry). If anyone out there has some additions they’d like made to the list let me know…
Ludwig Hetzer, beheaded and burned for renouncing the doctrine of the Trinity, Switzerland, 1529.
Katherine Weigel, burned at the stake, Poland, 1539.
Stephen Dolet, burned at the stake for denying the Trinity, France, 1546.
George Van Paris, burned at the stake for Unitarian beliefs, England, 1551.
Michael Servetus, burned at the stake for his anti-Trinitarian beliefs, Switzerland, 1553.
Patrick Patingham, burned at the stake for his Arian views, 1555.
Giulo Guirlada, executed by drowning for his membership in a Unitarian society, Italy, 1562.
Giovanni Gentile, beheaded for Unitarian Beliefs, Switzerland, 1566.
Ferancesco Sega de Rovigo, executed by drowning for his membership in a Unitarian society, Italy, 1566.
Hermann van Flekyk, burned at the stake our denying the Trinity, Flanders (now Belgium), 1569.
Francis David, died after being imprisoned for his beliefs, Transylvania, 1579.
Matthew Hamont, burned at the stake for denying the divinity of Christ, England, 1579.
John Palaeogos of Chios, burned at the stake for teaching that Christ should not be worshiped, Italy, 1585.
John Tyscovicius, beheaded when he would not swear an oath to the Trinity, Poland, 1611.
Iwan Tyzkiewiczm, beheaded for refusing to renounce his Unitarian Faith, Poland, 1611.
Bartholomew Legate, burned at the stake for advocating Unitarian beliefs, England, 1612.
Edward Wightman, the last person in England burned at the stake for heresy, a Unitarian, 1612.
John Biddle, died from a disease contracted in prison after being jailed for heresy, England, 1662.
Henry Vane, beheaded for Universalist beliefs, England, 1662.
Stanislaus Lubieniecius, Jr., poisoned, 1675.
Thomas Aikenhead, hanged for blasphemy, Scotland, 1697.
Norbert Capek, creator of the Flower Celebration service, this Czech Unitarian minister was murdered by Nazis, 1942.
James Reeb, killed during the marches for civil rights in Selma, Alabama, 1965.
Viola Liuzzo, killed during the marches for civil rights in Selma, Alabama, 1965.
Toribio Quimada, a Universalist minister assassinated by people opposed to his work as a liberal religious leader, the Philippines, 1988.
Greg McKendry and Linda Kreager, Unitarian Universalists killed during a congregational event, 2008.
And the many jailed or exiled for their beliefs including Joseph Priestley, Abneer Kneeland, Richard Coppin, Michael Cellarius, John Webberly, Tobias Arcissevius, Jeremiah Felbinger, Faustus Socinus, Coelius Secundus Curio, Conrad Vorstius, Claude of Savoy, Laelius Socinus, George Blandrata, Matteo Gribaldo, Christopher Sandius, Paul Best, Thomas Emlyn, Harry Toulmin, John Matthews, Samuel Naeranus, Conrad Vorstius, George de Benneville, Nicholas Dumler, Jonas Schlichtingius, Sebastian Franck, Martin Cellarius, Hermann Montanus, Andrew Wissowatius, Jr., Bernardino Ochino, Christopher Crellius and John Assheton.
I believe a UU was shot dead somewhere is north or in northwest Florida a few years ago. He was driving a doctor to an abortion clinic. The doctor was wounded.
Comment by Nathan — October 30, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
Your list should include James Barrett, Lt Col (USAF-ret.) Here’s the information about how he died from the Arlington Cemetery web site:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jbarrett.htm
I would say that Lt Col Barrett is our martyr to reproductive choice in the same way that Rev. Reeb is our martyr to racial equality.
At the bottom of the Arlington Cemetery web page, you can see his tombstone with a flaming chalice on it.
Comment by Steve Caldwell — October 30, 2009 @ 11:01 pm