Every June 30, the Church celebrates the memory of the Protomartyrs of the Church of Rome. Although this memory is optional in the liturgical calendar and often goes unnoticed compared to other solemnities, such as those of Saints Peter and Paul celebrated just the day before, it holds profound significance for the history of Christianity. We are talking about those men and women who, during the persecution unleashed by Emperor Nero after the fire of Rome in 64 AD, shed their blood for their fidelity to Jesus Christ. Many of their names remain unknown to history, but not to God. They were the first witnesses of a nascent Church that learned to live amidst hostility, rejection, persecution, and suffering.
Remembering these martyrs also means looking back at the places where the first Christians professed their faith by giving their lives, to those who knew how to preserve the memory of their deceased brethren and placed their hope in eternal life. Among these places, the Roman catacombs stand out, which are true testimonies of a Church that, even amidst persecutions, never ceased to proclaim Christ's victory over death.
It is in this context that the work Symbols of Eternal Life, from our Paulinas Publishing House, is profoundly illuminating because it allows us to discover how early Christian art became an authentic visual catechesis for believers of the first centuries. Through simple and profoundly biblical symbols, Christians expressed their faith in the resurrection, their trust in the Lord, and their certainty that death does not have the last word for those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Martyrs: “Seed of new Christians”
Commonly, when we talk about martyrs, we tend to think of harrowing scenes that countless saints had to endure, or we imagine extraordinary heroism. However, before becoming supreme witnesses of faith, those Christians were ordinary people with concrete and everyday stories: fathers and mothers of families, young people, elderly, merchants, artisans, slaves, and citizens who had found the full meaning of their existence in Jesus Christ. Nero's persecution undoubtedly marked the life of the Christian community in Rome. Because they had been unjustly accused of causing the city's fire, many Christians were dragged and subjected to terrible suffering; some were crucified, others thrown to wild beasts, and still others burned alive.
This event aroused curiosity, surprise, and even horror in many; however, what impressed their contemporaries most was not only their suffering but the serenity with which they faced death. Those men and women were convinced that Christ had risen and that those who remained united to Him would also share in His victory. This certainty completely transformed the way they and many of their spectators understood life and death. For them, death was not the end of existence, but a step toward the definitive encounter with God.
The catacombs, much more than cemeteries
Often, we think of catacombs as simply underground cemeteries. However, their meaning for the early Christians was much deeper. The catacombs represented a place of remembrance, prayer, gratitude, and hope. There lay the bodies of brothers and sisters who, thanks to their exemplary living of faith, were an inspiration and a source of hope for the entire believing community awaiting the resurrection promised by Christ. Those corridors excavated underground were not spaces dominated by fear or despair. On the contrary, they were filled with images that proclaimed the victory of life over death.
For those who question the use of symbols, the answer is simple: if we look at the context of early Christianity—an era when most people could not read—images fulfilled a fundamental catechetical function. The symbols painted on the walls taught the essential truths of faith and helped believers understand the mystery of salvation.
The work of author and priest Diego Elías Arfuch, pss, precisely allows us to rediscover this richness, sometimes so unknown to contemporary Christianity. Its pages show how early Christian art was not born simply as an aesthetic manifestation, but as a form of evangelization and transmission of faith.
Symbol of the Good Shepherd
Among the images present in the catacombs, one of the most frequent and most relevant is that of the Good Shepherd. It is inspired by the words of Jesus recorded by the evangelist Saint John: "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). This representation sought to show Christ carrying a sheep on his shoulders. For early Christians, this image had a profound meaning, as it reminded them that Christ knows each of his children, seeks them when they are lost, and leads them to tranquil springs where they find the fullness of life.
In the midst of intense persecution and death, contemplating the figure of the Good Shepherd meant remembering that no suffering could go unnoticed by God, much less be a cause of separation from the One who loved us first. Today, this image still retains all its spiritual power; therefore, in a society where many people experience uncertainty, loneliness, or loss of meaning, Christ continues to present himself as the Shepherd who guides, accompanies, and sustains his people.
The fish, a figure of a profession of faith
Another symbol that we find and that has attracted considerable attention is the figure of the fish. It is often a focus of curiosity and study because at first glance it might seem a very simple image, yet it contained a profound confession of faith. The Greek word Ichthys (fish) was formed by the initials of a phrase that meant: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” During times of persecution, this symbol allowed Christians to recognize each other without drawing the attention of authorities, and in this way, to help one another.
However, it is important to recognize that its meaning went far beyond a mere façade to safeguard one’s own life. The fish constantly reminded them that Christ was the promised Savior, the One who had overcome sin and death once and for all; therefore, they only needed to believe and trust. In this way, the catacombs show how early Christians found creative and courageous ways to express their faith and adherence to God’s plan, even when doing so meant paying the ultimate price with their own lives.
The anchor, a call to remain firm
One of the most beautiful symbols present in the catacombs is the anchor. The Letter to the Hebrews uses this very image when it states that Christian hope is like "an anchor, firm and secure for our lives" (Heb 6:19). In this climate of strong storms, the early Christians deeply understood this teaching. They lived in an unstable world, marked by rejection, uncertainty, and constant dangers threatening the life of the community, especially the most vulnerable: the sick, children, women; therefore, remaining firm was not just an option, but a necessity to actively respond to the Gospel.
For this reason, the figure of the anchor appears repeatedly in the catacombs and even in funerary decorations. This was not a symbol of resignation in the face of death, but a proclamation of trust in the promise of resurrection. Today, too, believers need to rediscover this dimension of hope; it is thus that amidst personal, family, and social crises, the Gospel continues to offer a solid foundation capable of sustaining life.
Catechesis and heritage that reaches us today
Almost two thousand years have passed since the construction of the first catacombs, and their images remain strikingly relevant. We live in a culture that, despite enormous technological advances, continues to ask the same existential questions: what is the meaning of life? What happens after death? Is there a hope capable of sustaining human suffering?
The symbols of Christianity born in the catacombs offer answers that spring directly from the Gospel. These figures are not simply decorative designs or archaeological vestiges, but expressions of a community that placed its faith in Jesus Christ, and that led them to transcend and illuminate the questions that dwell in the depths of every human being. These saints deserve our admiration and respect; they did not possess grand temples nor did they enjoy social recognition, yet they had a certainty that transformed their existence: Christ had risen.
The images left by these early Christians in the catacombs continue to convey the same message today, as each symbol speaks to us of a God who accompanies, saves, and leads to Eternal Life. Every painting is a silent proclamation of Christ's victory. It is deeply inspiring to be able, on this occasion, to contemplate and recall the holy protomartyrs in an era marked by immediacy and the enormous quantity of stimuli that easily lead us to lose our bearings.
Contemplating the Symbols of Eternal Life
Father Diego Elías's work offers an excellent opportunity to delve into this fascinating spiritual heritage of the Church. Its pages reveal that behind every image lies a profound catechesis on faith, salvation, and eternal life. More than a historical or artistic study, this book becomes an invitation to contemplate how early Christians understood the Gospel and depicted it in symbols capable of transcending centuries.
In memory of the holy Protomartyrs of Rome, approaching this work also means hearing again the voice of those first witnesses who, with their blood and faith, proclaimed a truth that continues to sustain the Church: Christ has risen, and those who believe in Him are called to share in His life forever. As Saint Augustine taught, "Christian hope is not a fleeting illusion, but the certainty that God will fully fulfill His promises." That same hope continues to shine, silent and luminous, on the walls of the ancient catacombs and in the very heart of our Christian faith.
Prayer
Jesus, divine Teacher, I bless and thank your most sweet heart for the great gift of the Church. She is the mother who teaches us the truth, guides us on the path to heaven, and communicates supernatural life to us. She, your mystical body, continues your same mission on earth. She is the ark of salvation; she is infallible, indefectible, and universal. Grant me the grace to love her, as you have loved her by sanctifying her with your Blood. May all know her, enter her, and humbly cooperate in building your Kingdom. Amen.
(Prayer taken from the prayer book of the Pauline Family)
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