Mart Miskenta & Her Two Sons

Miskenta lived during the fourth century in the city of Mosul. During that time, the Persian King Yezdegard swore that he would eradicate Christianity from his kingdom, and for forty years he systematically slaughtered Christians and forced any survivors to flee the country for their lives. He ordered all the captains of his armies to search for and kill any Christians they found, whether man, woman, or child. When an army neared Mosul, news spread of their arrival and the Christians were warned to leave the city if they wanted to live.

Meanwhile, Miskenta was baking bread for her two young sons when news of the armies approach reached her. Instead of taking her children and fleeing the city in a vain hope for temporary safety, she courageously left her home, carried her sons on her shoulders, and went looking for the army. Finding it, she was stopped by a group of soldiers who asked her, “Where are you going?” Miskenta responded, “I am looking for the people who are killing Christians because I wish to be martyred.” When it became clear that Miskenta would not give into their threats and promises, they had her two sons killed before her eyes. As she watched her children die, she encouraged them saying, “My sons, go ahead of me to heaven where Jesus is waiting for you.” The soldiers then killed Miskenta and burned their bodies. A church in her name now stands on where her remains are believed to be, in Mosul.