San Pietro In Vincoli Cripta (St. Peter in Chains)

Maccabees Hanna and Her seven Sons
Story dated to About 160b.c 1st August

Their story is told in II Mach. 7, the seven brothers were given the name of Maccabees, the only book talking about it. The Mach II. is a summary of the story, written in greek by Jason, a Jew from Cyrene, who wrote shortly after 160 B.C., which tells the persecution suffered by these faithful Jews by the hand of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, in particular, the martyrdom of Eleazar (Ch. 6) and that of our martyrs (Ch. 7). The narrative of the chapter. 7 is taken up and extended in the apocryph of Mach IV.

On August 1st the Roman Martyrology reports: "In Antioch, the Passion of the Seven Saints. Maccabees, martyrs, who suffered with their mother, under King Antiochus Epiphanes. Their remains, brought to Rome, and were Laid to rest in the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. "

Here are the highlights of Mach II. 7: "Seven brothers, arrested along with their mother and forced to eat pork meat … One of them, the eldest Son who became the spokesman for all, said:" What would you ask or hear from us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our father. "

The Eldest Boy's Tongue is Cut Out

Hannah's eldest child spoke up for the others and told the king that there wasn't any point in questioning them, as they would die rather than violate God's law. His words angered the king, prompting the monarch to have all of the pans and cauldrons brought out and put on fires. While the cookware was heating, the king ordered his men to cut out the tongue of the outspoken lad, and to amputate the boy's hands and feet while his mother and brothers watched in horror.

The Torture Worsens

The king then ordered the boy to be fried alive. Hannah and her sons knew that they wouldn't be spared either if they refused, but were willing to suffer and die. Each, in turn, proclaimed before being murdered that while the king might deprive them of this life, in the afterlife they would be raised up by the King of the world, and that they were willing to die for the laws of that king.

Then the second Boy led to the Refusal, he too suffered the same torture as the first. But come the last breath he said: "You mad genius, we wave our present life: but the king of the world will resurrect us to eternal life, and those who have died for his laws."

… At their request, the third put out his tongue and immediately stretched out his hands boldly, proudly saying: "These limbs I have received from heaven, and for laws of god I do not make any account, but I do hope to get them back from him some day."

… This also killed, tortured the fourth in the same torture. On the verge of death, said: "it is preferable to die at the hands of men than from God and have hope of one day raised by him; For you, there certainly will not be a resurrection to life."

… The fifth brought torture, staring at the king, said: "You have authority among men and, although mortal, do what you want, but do not believe that our race has been abandoned by God as for you, have patience and see how his awesome power torment you and your descendants.

The Mother Says Farewell to Her Last Son

" Similarly for the sixth … remaining the youngest. Antiochus the king offered him not only with words, but also assured him with oaths of richness and promises to have him as a friend and entrust him with government offices,. As the young man was not paying the slightest attention, the king called his mother, Allowing her to be salvation for her youngest.

After so many warnings, she accepted to persuade her son. Supporting him for mocking the cruel tyrant, so she said in the language of his father: "Son, have mercy on me that I have brought within … I've trained … I beg you, my son, to look at the sky and the earth and all things between them and assure that God has made all things that exist, and that mankind has the same origin. Do not fear this tormentor, but accepts death, showing worthy of thy brothers, so that I can get you back together with your brothers at the time of mercy. "

She was still speaking, when the young man said: "What are you waiting? I Do not obey the order of the king, but I obey the precept of the law given to our forefathers through Moses. But you, you've had the inventor of all evil against the Jews, certainly will not escape the hands of God For we suffer because of our sins. If our punishment and correction for our living God was angry for a short time.  You, Instead, unholy, and vain you will not escape the judgments of God that is all powerful and sees all .

And now, after enduring a brief anguish, our brothers have come to the divine covenant of eternal life, but you'll restore the judgments of God for just punishment of your pride. As for me, I give myself, like my brothers, body and soul to our ancestral laws, and I pray to God that shows himself soon begins to remind his people, you end up with confession, including evidence and flagella, that he alone is God, and that the wrath of the Almighty, that hit right on our whole nation stops me and my brothers. "

Then the king, furious with him a treatment used most ferocious than with the others, unable to endure the ridicule. So, too, the young passed from this life without any stain at all, full of trust in the Lord. last after all her children, the mother dies. "

The Bible does not give us their names, nor does it indicate where the martyrdom took place, made to suffer by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, nor specifies the date (perhaps 168; jerusalem?).

It is generally agreed that they were martyred at Antioch. The early Christians admired these brave martyrs of Judaism, precursors of the martyrs of Christ. Their cult spread quickly and their festivity seems to have been universal in the Church toward the V century.

The history of the cult of saints, martyrs is well summed up by the Vies des Saints, Already appeared in the Syriac Martyrology (412), in the Calendars of Polemius Silvius (448) and Carthage (secc. V-VI), and in all the mss. Martyrology of Jerome. Texts of these martyrs possess s. Gregory Nazianzen (PG, XXXV), s. John Chrysostom, St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, s. Gaudenzio of Brescia, pseudoLeone.

According to St. Jerome (d. 420), the remains of the seven brothers were at Modiin, and he was surprised that they were venerated at Antioch. The Itinerarium said Antoninus (ca. 570) names Antioch where they rested with the saints and other s. Justina "the Maccabees, a total of nine graves, each topped by the instruments of their punishment."

The siriac book of martyrology names the Maccabees "sons of Samunas" in Antioch, at the Jewish quarter, to August. The Byzantine Synaxarion offers seven names and the mother is named Solomonis. The syriac and Armenian lists are different. The Neapolitan marble Calendar (ninth century) joins the Maccabees and is also declared saint EELI.
In all likelihood the martyrdom took place in Antioch, where the tombs were venerated until the century. VI. After 551 the remains were brought to Constantinople and from 11, at least in part, brought to Rome under Pelagius I (556-561) and it is also possible, maybe during, Pelagius II (579-590) and that the remains have come directly from Antioch. They are still venerated in Rome, at St. Peter in Chains Church, whose titular festivity falls on this same day, August 1st .

In 1876 a sarcophagus was found containing seven compartments, containing bones and ashes with 2 lead inscriptions relating to the seven brothers, dating from the ninth century. (Or XV century? ).
The festivity of the seven Maccabee brothers is not mentioned in any liturgical book, both Gallican, Roman and, excluding the Sacramentary Gelasian; their festivity has been overshadowed by perhaps the festivity of St Peter Vinculis. Also on 1st of august.