Thebans.

This is coolbert:

Read about the massacre of the Roman Theban Legion.

Christian martyrs. Christian martyrs in the western sense of the word martyr. One dying for their faith, but NOT killing at the same time.

NOT a martyr in the modern sense of the word as used by Islamic fanatics. A martyr to the Islamic fanatic is one that dies for their faith, but kills others at the same time.

MOST SURPRISINGLY, THESE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS WERE SOLDIERS. IN THE EMPLOY OF THE ROMAN EMPEROR.

"A traveler on the highway that leads from Geneva to Rome, will notice a small and a very old Swiss town called "Saint Maurice" (now Saint-Moritz or Saint Maurice en Valais or Saint Maurice d'Augaune) in Switzerland. This town was known in the Roman times as "Aguanum", an important communication center."

Maurice was the commander of the Theban Legion. Maurice=Mauritius=Moritz. He too was a martyr, along with the rest of his unit.

This St. Moritz is not to be confused with the much more famous St. Moritz in the eastern part of the Swiss Confederation. St. Moritz en Valais which we are speaking about is in the western part of Switzerland.

"The Theban Legion was a Christian legion of soldiers during the reign of Diocletian. A legion of men consisting of 6,600 (some say: 6,666) soldiers were all Christian."

[A Roman Legion did number about 5,000 soldiers. Please pay no attention to the figure of 6,666. That has significance to some that we will NOT go into.]

These soldiers were members of the Egyptian Coptic Church. A branch of Christianity little understood or respected in the west. NOW undergoing persecution by the Muslims of their home country.

Copts that are true to their faith and resolute. As was Maurice and his followers.

Soldiers are those men that have given their word to choose death if necessary over life. Different from the rest of us. Those 6,600 were indeed!!

coolbert.